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Card game focuses on mining safety
Card game focuses on mining safety

Hamilton Spectator

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Hamilton Spectator

Card game focuses on mining safety

Cynthia Furlotte, communications lead at NORCAT, was excited to share the invitation to an evening showcase event. NORCAT nurtures entrepreneurial activities, out-of-the-box thinking, and learning through games is a 'cool tool' route to knowledge acquisition and awareness. 'We'll be unveiling Muck, Bolt, Drill, Blast — a safety-focused card game designed for the mining industry and ideal as a branded employee gift,' Furlotte said. 'There will be a live demo, networking, and a look at customization options for organizations. 'It is a really unique project and came to us as an approach we had not seen before. We thought it might help break the stigma about jobs in mining. Playing the game is like doing a shift. We are helping support local start-ups. It is what we do.' Based in Sudbury, NORCAT is a not-for-profit technology and innovation centre. Hannah Jefferies, principal of One Love Empire Games, was at the door welcoming guests at the event promoting the game. 'Muck, Bolt, Drill, Blast is the game we are highlighting during this night, but we do have others,' she said. 'There are educational games and consumer games in our portfolio.' It fits in a box. There is a rule or guidebook. There are points and winning hands. Its graphic capabilities allow One Love Empire to provide customizable options on the cards to highlight specific company branding. 'Knowing kids are familiar with card-based games, it is easy for any age to engage,' Jefferies said. Gamification is an important platform for exploring issues, challenges and opportunities. 'Yes, we want an interactive way for those in the mining world to bring the mining experience to their friends and family,' Jefferies said. 'We identified a unique business opportunity for staff appreciation, trade shows or B2B (business-to-business) relationships. L. May lunchboxes is running a promotion with us right now.' Tyron Smith is the game designer and actually works in mining. 'I want people to know what really goes on in the industry,' Smith said. 'It only makes sense to focus on the world that is my work and the work of so many in Northern Ontario.' 'I work with Ty at Creighton,' added Brian Reeves, dressed in mining personal protective equipment. 'I've been a game tester since Ty first thought of this. 'It is a fun game. You don't have to be in a mining town to play this. It opens up conversations about what we do and about jobs in mining. It might spark even my own kids' interest in employment in mining.' Mining in the Sudbury mining has been going for more than a century, but why has no one done this before? 'Many people have designed games with only the gameplay being the focus,' Jefferies said. 'Our game creator envisioned playing this game in the refuge (an underground safe spot), as well as bringing it up to surface to enjoy with friends and family and highlight what happens underground on a shift.' Jefferies said more than three years of development have gone specifically into this game. 'I've played it hundreds of time now to get it right. We have been testing this game for over two years and have brought in experts from the mining world, including miners, geologists, and engineers. All those who have play-tested this game have enjoyed the experience and are very excited to be able to bring this game home to play with others. 'We have just begun the marketing of this product with this night at NORCAT. This can be used for companies to highlight their brand and give their employees an opportunity to showcase what their company does.' One Love Empire Games is active on other projects. 'We have many projects in the works and we are very excited by what is to come.' Check out this game and others at . The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government. Bluesky: @ X: @SudburyStar Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

My husband and I spent nearly 3 months traveling in Europe. Avoiding these 8 mistakes would've saved us time and money.
My husband and I spent nearly 3 months traveling in Europe. Avoiding these 8 mistakes would've saved us time and money.

Business Insider

time3 days ago

  • Business Insider

My husband and I spent nearly 3 months traveling in Europe. Avoiding these 8 mistakes would've saved us time and money.

No matter how much you plan or how well-traveled you are, you're bound to make a few mistakes. That's what my husband and I realized after our first trip together to Europe last spring. Despite our best efforts, our almost-three-month adventure in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain included more than a few miscalculations — some of which happened before we even boarded the plane. Before your next trip to Europe, you may want to learn from our mistakes to save yourself time, money, and stress. Relying on rideshares and cabs instead of learning how to navigate public transportation right away During our first week in London, we used the city's famous black cabs and ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber. This cost us hundreds of dollars, and we also wasted a lot of time sitting in traffic. We eventually figured out how to navigate public transit (with the help of the Citymapper app), and this was a huge time and money saver everywhere we went in Europe. I wish we'd done it sooner. Not being more skeptical about rental listings We booked a few rental spaces for our trip and didn't realize until after arriving that we'd been duped by some of the hosts' photos. Turns out, many of them had been taken in 0.5 zoom, which can make spaces (especially bathrooms) look a lot bigger than they are. We now scrutinize images on rental sites more closely, ask hosts specific questions about the space, and read all user reviews. Sometimes, we even request more photos. Renting a car to cross countries Part of the excitement of our European adventure was traveling by plane, train, and automobile. We loved taking trains, but driving through the south of France and northern Spain was more stressful than idyllic. We weren't prepared to navigate the roads, from the expensive tolls to the confusing signs with symbols we'd never seen before. Looking back, we shouldn't have rented a car. From now on, when we're abroad, we're sticking to trains and planes. Packing the wrong shoes and not breaking them in My husband has an uncommon shoe size, so he packed two pairs of new sneakers. The problem was, he didn't wear them much before the trip. Turns out, there's a big difference between walking a mile in Santa Monica and 6 to 8 miles a day in Paris and London. If he'd broken them in more, we would've known he needed replacement insoles. Instead, by the end of our trip, we'd spent hundreds of dollars on moleskin pads and bandages — and my husband's feet were so blistered and bruised that they didn't go back to normal for weeks. Next time, he's making sure his shoes are effectively tested and broken in before going on a trip that requires a lot of walking. Hiding our passports in our rental apartment … then forgetting about them We didn't necessarily want to carry our passports with us while exploring different cities and towns. So, in an effort to keep them safe, we'd hide them in some of our Airbnbs when a safe wasn't available. However, we forgot to take our passports with us while checking out of one rental in Spain — partly because we were in such a rush to leave. To avoid making this scary mistake again, we now use a packing checklist and double-check that we have all of our belongings when we check out of an accommodation. Not learning enough of the local languages before the trip Though it was easy for us to get by in Spain with my conversational Spanish, it was difficult to communicate in France with our very limited French. Granted, most locals spoke English, but our lack of language proficiency was particularly distressing when we ended up at a Parisian hospital trying to explain my husband's headache symptoms and understand the doctor's advice. (Thank goodness for Google Translate!) With so many free language-learning apps and resources out there, we should've brushed up months beforehand instead of waiting until the last minute. That way, we could've navigated each country more comfortably, efficiently, and independently. Assuming our Platinum Amex would be the only card we'd need Getting the Platinum Amex Card was phenomenal for its sign-on bonus points and perks like car-rental insurance, $15 monthly Uber Cash, and no foreign transaction fees. However, most places we visited in Europe didn't accept American Express cards. Instead, we had to use our other credit cards that charged international fees. Now, when traveling abroad, we don't rely on Amex alone — we also take at least one Mastercard or Visa that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Booking a monthlong stay in a city we hadn't planned on visiting Initially, our European adventure wasn't going to include a month in Donostia-San Sebastian, a seaside town in Spain's Basque Country. But a friend told us about the region, and we figured it'd be fun to visit this renowned gastronomic hub. It was beautiful — but after 10 days of pintxos (local bite-sized snacks) and promenade walks, we got bored and left. Knowing we wouldn't get a refund for our rental was difficult, but we determined it was worth the extra cost so we could return to Paris and enjoy a city we truly love. Next time, we'll follow our instincts and also try a place out for a shorter period of time if we're not sure we'll love it.

5 questions for the Chargers offense entering training camp
5 questions for the Chargers offense entering training camp

USA Today

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • USA Today

5 questions for the Chargers offense entering training camp

The Chargers open training camp on Thursday after veterans reported to the Bolt on Wednesday, starting their preseason program a week early due to their inclusion in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. Los Angeles hopes their offense will outperform last year's with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman at the controls again. But a few major questions about the unit remain. Let's go through them, position by position. QB: Can Justin Herbert stay healthy through the offseason? The face of the Chargers franchise has dealt with some sort of nick in each of the last two offseasons, as he was recovering from labrum surgery in 2023 and then dealing with plantar fasciitis last offseason. While Herbert has barely ever missed time with injury, his durability has been one of the only questions about his status among the league's best quarterbacks. He enters training camp healthy this season and will need to get as many reps as possible with so many new projected starters on offense. RB: When will Najee Harris be back, and will it even matter? One of those projected starters will likely not be on the field to start training camp, as general manager Joe Hortiz told the media Wednesday that running back Najee Harris will likely be placed on the non-football injury list after suffering a minor eye injury in a fireworks incident. Harris was penciled in as the Week 1 starter in the backfield, but his absence will also open the door for first-rounder Omarion Hampton to develop a stranglehold on the starting job and relegate Harris to more of a complementary role. WR: When will Tre Harris sign his rookie deal? 30 of the 32 second-round picks from this year's draft class remain unsigned, with Harris the first to take a stand by holding out largely because of the timing of the Chargers starting camp. Picks 33 (Browns LB Carson Schwesinger) and 34 (Texans WR Jayden Higgins) received fully guaranteed contracts, while Pick 65 (Giants DL Darius Alexander) received only $1.5 million guaranteed on his rookie deal. That's caused a bottleneck on both ends of the second round as they all wait for the league to blink first on the guarantees. But with Mike Williams opening training camp on PUP with a minor injury, having Harris signed and ready to go would've gotten the rookie valuable first-team reps. TE: Can Oronde Gadsden II shake up the depth chart? Los Angeles figures to play Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly the majority of the time at tight end, with jumbo package blocker Tucker Fisk working his way in as well. But Gadsden was the star of OTAs, and neither Conklin or Dissly are so good or expensive that they should block the fifth-rounder from seeing the field more frequently if the rookie continues to ascend. OL: Who's starting on the interior? The million dollar question of the offseason is who - and where - the Chargers are going to start at left guard and center in front of Herbert. OTAs seemed to suggest that it will be Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman for the second year in a row, but it still remains to be seen whether the two will switch positions (Johnson at center, Bozeman at guard) or remain the way they lined up last season. Trey Pipkins, who was the better guard last season on the right side but has been pasted over by free agent signing Mekhi Becton, could get back into the competition at left guard, but the Chargers seem more inclined to let him be the swing tackle.

Rideshare apps have turned our city into the wild west – it's making the roads more dangerous and destroying our trade
Rideshare apps have turned our city into the wild west – it's making the roads more dangerous and destroying our trade

Scottish Sun

time3 days ago

  • Automotive
  • Scottish Sun

Rideshare apps have turned our city into the wild west – it's making the roads more dangerous and destroying our trade

They lifted the lid on some of the dangerous acts being caused by the situation CALL FOR ACTION Rideshare apps have turned our city into the wild west – it's making the roads more dangerous and destroying our trade Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TAXI Drivers in Edinburgh have told how their streets have been turned into the 'wild west' by 'out of control' private hire numbers. The capital's cabbies say they are being forced off the road as they struggle to compete with rideshare apps and a surging number of drivers working on them. 13 Edinburgh taxi driver Keith Auld said the number of private hire cars on the road are making the city streets more dangerous Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Private hire driver Stewart Livingston wants the numbers brought down to stop bad working practices by rideshares Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Dozens of taxi drivers gathered to protest in Edinburgh Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Black cabs lined the Royal Mile last week Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Keith hands his petition to Edinburgh's Lord Provost Credit: Michael Schofield Thousands of private hire cars on apps like Uber and Bolt have taken to the roads in Edinburgh in recent years compared to just over 1,000 black cabs. Dozens of cab drivers gathered outside the city chambers to demand action from Edinburgh Council. They claim Edinburgh's streets have been taken over by private hires, with 3,002 drivers against 1,100 black cabs, which has hammered their trade. Taxi driver Keith Auld, 44, presented the petition to Edinburgh's Lord Provost calling for a cap on the number and an overprovision survey to properly look into the problem. He said: 'The petition was raised just out of pure experience in working day shift, night shift as a black cab taxi driver. 'I was seeing so many private hires loitering about the streets, competing for the same spoils as what I was doing. 'When I was driving along the road I would see private hire car after private hire car and then you see a black cab. And then I'd think to myself, sometimes it would be ten private hire cars. 'What's going on here? So after a few conversations and association meetings and union meetings, seeing all these different things, I thought we'd maybe try and investigate what the statistics were in terms of what we were competing against. 'Our pockets are getting hit, absolutely. Black cab trade and the private hires, we're working longer hours for the same money we were earning before, so the current trajectory is going to make it really, really hard to be in the trade for any longer.' But their trade being decimated isn't the only fear these drivers have, they claim dangerous working practices in the private hire industry are putting the public at risk, with drivers working long hours and performing dangerous manoeuvres on the road. Shocking moment passenger hurls herself out of moving Uber to avoid paying £1.40 fare Keith added: 'We were just talking with some of the private hire representatives, they're saying that the practices engaged there are making it unsafe for the public because of the amount of hours guys are having to work. 'What we are seeing is, we're seeing guys making really bad manoeuvres, dangerous manoeuvres, questionable manoeuvres. 'We're seeing people being picked up out of the street illegally, unbooked jobs out of private hire cars, which again, you're breaching your licence conditions, it's against the law, but it seems to be prevalent in Edinburgh right now. "You're seeing guys going up one-way roads, you're seeing guys going no right turns, you're just making really bad, unsafe driving decisions.' And the concerns are shared by Edinburgh's private hire drivers who also want to see a cap on their own numbers. Stewart Livingston, the Edinburgh convener of the Scottish Private Hire Association said some people are having to work up to 18 hours a day just to make a living because there are too many drivers on the road. 13 The protest was held outside the city chambers Credit: Michael Schofield 13 David Horsburgh, Clerk for the Assoc of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Taxi drivers say they cannot compete with the surge in trade Credit: Michael Schofield 13 They have called for more barriers to be brought in to be a private hire driver Credit: Michael Schofield 13 They also want an overprovision survey and a cap on numbers Credit: Michael Schofield The driver, 36, added that some people are having to sleep in their cars and a drop in standards is putting people in danger. He said: 'So there's a lot of guys that are doing an extra two, three, four hours on their shift than they used to do to make the same amount of money, which is obviously due to there being increased competition. And that's a public safety risk and that's the approach that we've come at this from the whole time. 'You've got guys working, multi-apping, working on lots of different apps, working full hours on one, jumping on to the next afterwards, working 16, 17, 18 hour shifts, sleeping in their cars. 'If you've got drivers working 16, 17, 18 hour shifts, it's a public safety risk.' What do the cabbies think? OUR reporter spoke to some Edinburgh cab drivers at the protest to ask about their experience on the city's roads. Greig Cockburn has been on the roads for around 20 years and reckons more barriers should be in place for people to become private hire drivers. He said: "On an everyday basis we see a lot of activity from private hire. On the flip side we also see a lot of sedentary activity from private hire sitting at the side of the road. "To be a private hire driver in Scotland is generally quite a low barrier to entry. And because of that low barrier to entry, the standards fall. "With the excessive numbers of private hire, earnings are reduced and when earnings are reduced, standards fall. "And that's why it's of crucial benefit, not just to both the taxi and private hire trade, but to the travelling public that these numbers come down so standards can be improved." Taxi driver John Somerville added: "It's impacting us a lot, work wise we're having to work longer hours to try and make the money, our overheads are very expensive on these black cabs as we have to buy proper taxis as opposed to just using a normal car, so overall our overheads are going up and our money's going down. "It's even been noticed that they're going the wrong way down one way streets, They're doing right turns where they're not allowed, they're going in bus lanes, they're basically pulling in front of people, speed along, the guys are in a hurry to get the job over and done with because they're getting paid so little by Uber." Cabbie Joe Robbins has been driving his taxi for 28 years. He said: "Over the last few years, we've seen less and less business. There's a lot of tourists but it doesn't translate into extra taxi journeys because the work is more diluted. "We're looking at three times the number of private hire than what there is black cabs and it's just diluting the work incredibly. And what have you seen the impact on the taxi trade? "We lose a lot of drivers because they can't make a living. There used to be 1,300 black cabs, now we're down to 1,102. "With inflation and our overheads we're now just about making minimum wage." He added that bad working practices have turned the city's streets into the 'wild west' and called for more barriers into their industry. Stewart said: 'We've also asked for increased standards of barriers of entry into the trade. And we're asking for increased enforcement, because there's no enforcement officers out there. And it's the Wild West out there, there's all sorts of stuff going on. 'There's a lot going on in the private hire industry. Whether that can be from the bare minimum that you have a dress code. Those standards are dropping, every day you'll see that. 'You just need to sit at the airport for 10 minutes. Standard of vehicles, cleanliness of vehicles, showing your license badge when you're working. 'All these things, and going to as far extremes as dangerous and reckless driving. Working longer hours than you should be.' "You're seeing guys going up one-way roads, you're seeing guys going no right turns, you're just making really bad, unsafe driving decisions." Keith Auld Adding to the calls for a cap, David Horsburgh, 52, the Edinburgh Clerk for the Edinburgh Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers said the number of private hires has 'exploded' and made it impossible for them to compete. He said: 'The impact we're seeing is we get the same amount of work but there's more numbers bidding for those jobs. It has a lot of impact on not only ourselves but the Private Hire drivers because everybody's trying to get the same jobs and the constant increase in licence plates by the council is unsustainable. 'It's been a long time issue but it's just in the recent years. the numbers have exploded and it's just now that we've found our voice and it's enough, it's enough. 'It's not only the black cab trade, it's the Private Hire industry. They're also screaming out for a cap because they're feeling the effects of these numbers coming out. 13 Greig Cockburn wants more standards in place for people driving private hire cars Credit: Michael Schofield 13 Joe Robbins said the taxis are barely keeping their heads above water because of the explosion in numbers Credit: Michael Schofield 13 John Somerville has witnessed dangerous driving on the road Credit: Michael Schofield 'Guys are struggling to make their living. They've got to pay their dues to the companies they get their jobs from. 'Just like ourselves, we're finding our ranks drying up because people are using apps. 'It all comes down to one business and it's only one business that's benefitting from these numbers and that's a multi-corps who use the numbers to constantly cut their prices.' Keith, David and Stewart met with council officials after handing over the petition and said their meeting was productive. Councillor Neil Ross, Edinburgh Council's regulatory convener, said: 'We regularly review the number of PHCs in the city, most recently in January 2025. 'We have received a petition on this issue, and it will be addressed under the council's petition process. 'The council maintains regular contact with the relevant trade groups and will continue to listen to their broader feedback.' 'You've got guys working, multi-apping, working on lots of different apps, working full hours on one, jumping on to the next afterwards, working 16, 17, 18 hour shifts, sleeping in their cars." Stewart Livingston A spokesperson for Uber said: 'Private hire vehicles provide good earning opportunities for local drivers, give passengers greater transport options and support local businesses, in particular in the night time economy. 'All drivers have access to industry leading worker rights such as holiday pay and a pension, as well as formal representation through GMB Union. Passengers are able to count on a safe trip through a range of industry-leading safety features.' And a spokesperson for Bolt added: "Black cabs, private hire vehicles, and all other modes of transport - including public transport - each play an important role in helping people in Edinburgh get around. "Private hire vehicles aren't here to replace black cabs, but offer an additional option for passengers whilst creating even more flexible earning opportunities for local drivers. "Drivers and passengers are at the heart of what we do, and we support a balanced system that works for everyone. "We are the only operator that enables drivers to set their own minimum pricing per mile and also take advantage of dynamic pricing. "All drivers also receive holiday pay and monetary supplements to ensure they earn at least the national living wage, alongside a pension. Feedback is important to us, and we continue to engage with local forums directly."

Protesting e-hailing drivers say policy, rate changes have hit their pockets hard
Protesting e-hailing drivers say policy, rate changes have hit their pockets hard

Eyewitness News

time5 days ago

  • Automotive
  • Eyewitness News

Protesting e-hailing drivers say policy, rate changes have hit their pockets hard

JOHANNESBURG - Protesting e-hailing drivers have complained that policy and rate changes made by service providers have hit their pockets the hardest. The group demonstrated outside Uber offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, aggrieved by policy changes that have resulted in deductions of up to 50% from the funds they make on each of their trips. Uber driver, Florence Mokgwale, said that she now made ten times less than what she used to when she started ten years ago. The drivers returned to demonstrate after handing over a memorandum on Wednesday, and were promised a response by the close of business, which did not happen. The memorandum of demands said drivers wanted e-hailing companies to reduce commission to below 20%. They want the clients to be charged R8 per kilometre and for waiting time to be 60 cents per minute. They also asked for amnesty for the impounding of cars, which costs a lot to get back. Mokgwale added that she was not able to make ends meet. "In a month, at the beginning, you probably get R40,000 to R50,000, that's the profit that comes to you, and now it's less, you can't even pay rent, it's not even R3,000, it's minus." The group consisted of drivers from Uber, Bolt and InDrive, who want better pay.

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