Latest news with #Orca
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mystery surrounds ‘abandoned' Center Parcs lodges left to rot with algae on windows and furniture still inside
EERIE footage shows an abandoned Center Parcs building that has been left to rot, with furniture still inside it. 4 Kempervennen is a popular holiday park in the Netherlands Credit: TripAdvisor 4 It is not clear why the buildings have been abandoned Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok 4 Furniture has been left inside the lodges Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok apocalypse film . Algae covers the dirty patio windows, whilst overgrown plants have taken over the outside area. Exposed brick on the outside wall makes the buildings look like they were never finished whilst dirt covers the interior of the lodges. The lodges are situated at Kempervennen in the Netherlands, a popular resort which boasts two large lakes, "endless activities" and even an "indoor snow hall". The website for the Dutch holiday resort features adverts for stylish modern cottages, featuring TVs, huge patio doors and chic kitchens, with no mention of the abandoned cottages. Read more World stories The video of the decaying buildings was posted by author V S Nelson ( "It's not even on the map." It is not clear why the cottages have been abandoned, or whether there are any plans to do anything with the buildings. The video has attracted the attention of social media users, who rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts on the dilapidated buildings. Most read in The Sun One person said: "Didn't know there was a partially built centre parcs!" A second person said: "Where on site was this was? Abandoned theme park left 'frozen in time' where stranded Orca whales and bottlenose dolphins have been left to rot "I was there a few months ago would love to take a look." Another person commented: "I hope your lodge didn't look like this." Despite the abandoned buildings, Kempervennen, where cottages start from 197 euros a night has countless good reviews, with One person said: "Wonderful! We rented a cottage for four, with a stream at the bottom of the garden, surrounded by trees. "If you love nature, this is for you!" A second person said: "Brilliant stay. "The cottage was clean and comfortable with plenty of appliances for self catering." A third person said: "For us, this will always be a special place. " Nice park, quiet with lots of greenery and a nice environment." Center Parcs has been contacted for comment. 4 The windows are covered in algae Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Mystery surrounds ‘abandoned' Center Parcs lodges left to rot with algae on windows and furniture still inside
Watch the video to see the creepy footage of the abandoned buildings HOL NO Mystery surrounds 'abandoned' Center Parcs lodges left to rot with algae on windows and furniture still inside EERIE footage shows an abandoned Center Parcs building that has been left to rot, with furniture still inside it. 4 Kempervennen is a popular holiday park in the Netherlands Credit: TripAdvisor 4 It is not clear why the buildings have been abandoned Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok 4 Furniture has been left inside the lodges Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok Center Parcs may be a popular family friendly holiday destination but this lodge looks more like something out of a zombie apocalypse film. Advertisement Algae covers the dirty patio windows, whilst overgrown plants have taken over the outside area. Exposed brick on the outside wall makes the buildings look like they were never finished whilst dirt covers the interior of the lodges. The lodges are situated at Kempervennen in the Netherlands, a popular resort which boasts two large lakes, "endless activities" and even an "indoor snow hall". The website for the Dutch holiday resort features adverts for stylish modern cottages, featuring TVs, huge patio doors and chic kitchens, with no mention of the abandoned cottages. Advertisement Read more World stories ghost ride Inside theme park left abandoned for 18 years with empty stadium & Ferris wheel The video of the decaying buildings was posted by author V S Nelson (vsnelson_author), who explained: "It's part of the park that's not used. "It's not even on the map." It is not clear why the cottages have been abandoned, or whether there are any plans to do anything with the buildings. The video has attracted the attention of social media users, who rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts on the dilapidated buildings. Advertisement One person said: "Didn't know there was a partially built centre parcs!" A second person said: "Where on site was this was? Abandoned theme park left 'frozen in time' where stranded Orca whales and bottlenose dolphins have been left to rot "I was there a few months ago would love to take a look." Another person commented: "I hope your lodge didn't look like this." Advertisement Despite the abandoned buildings, Kempervennen, where cottages start from 197 euros a night has countless good reviews, with TripAdvisor users rating it 3.7 stars overall. One person said: "Wonderful! We rented a cottage for four, with a stream at the bottom of the garden, surrounded by trees. "If you love nature, this is for you!" A second person said: "Brilliant stay. Advertisement "The cottage was clean and comfortable with plenty of appliances for self catering." A third person said: "For us, this will always be a special place. "Nice park, quiet with lots of greenery and a nice environment." Center Parcs has been contacted for comment. Advertisement 4 The windows are covered in algae Credit: vsnelson_author/TikTok
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The era of free views on TikTok Shop is fading fast
For years, TikTok sent organic traffic to videos from US merchants to help jump-start interest in its e-commerce business. But now, product sellers generally have to pay for TikTok ads in order to get significant views on their videos, three company partners and two TikTok staffers said. The drift away from free views began last year, but has really picked up in 2025, these people said. The shift has been painful for some small businesses that were drawn to TikTok because it was a low-cost sales tool. A key part of the company's pitch to e-commerce brands had been: Hey, we're a platform for viral videos, and if you're lucky, we'll make your products take off, too. Whether you sold pickle-jar themed sweatshirts or freeze-dried skittles, you had a shot at grabbing millions of views for free. And after a video gained steam, sales would often follow (sometimes faster than sellers could handle). But in 2025, those unpaid views and serendipitous order surges are few and far between, three TikTok agency partners said. The platform has a lot more companies on its roster that are competing for attention, and it's not juicing their views as often, they said. As free traffic fades, brands are turning instead to paid ads to promote their shopping videos. "My recommendation to all brands is to model your business to be sustainable on an ad-driven marketplace or you're destined to falter," Max Benator, CEO of the social-commerce agency Orca, told Business Insider. "Whether that's because you benefited from early traffic or a viral moment, you can't sustain it without an ad program, which costs money." The shift toward paid traffic is a sign that the platform is maturing, said William August, CEO of the social-shopping firm Outlandish. When TikTok first began testing Shop in the US in late 2022, it had to send free traffic to sellers in order to drum up interest and demonstrate its platform could drive sales. Ultimately, the company wants its business to look more like that of its Chinese sister app Douyin, or Amazon, which make money from ads in addition to taking a commission on product sales. A TikTok spokesperson said its team works closely with sellers to provide tips and guidance on content strategies that work well with the app's audiences. The end of freebies TikTok Shop has been pulling back on other seller perks this year, including sunsetting free shipping subsidies last week. The platform's sales have slumped this year amid tariffs and other global economic factors. The company's leadership was disappointed with the performance of its US e-commerce business in 2024 as well. As freebies disappear, the company could have trouble convincing its roster of small businesses to pay for better performance. There are still circumstances in which TikTok will boost views for Shop videos, three company staffers said. If a brand is selling a product in a category that the company is prioritizing, or that falls under a broader promotional campaign, its videos or livestreams could get a boost, the employees said. If a brand is operating in a new market like Mexico or Brazil, it may get a bump in views. And TikTok account managers can also request that one of their clients get boosted in the feed to help drive up sales, one of the staffers said. The company has the ability to promote non-shopping content in users' feeds, too. The shift away from free traffic for sellers comes at a tenuous moment for TikTok in the US.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The era of free views on TikTok Shop is fading fast
The honeymoon period for TikTok Shop is over. For years, TikTok sent organic traffic to videos from US merchants to help jump-start interest in its e-commerce business. But now, product sellers generally have to pay for TikTok ads in order to get significant views on their videos, three company partners and two TikTok staffers said. The drift away from free views began last year, but has really picked up in 2025, these people said. The shift has been painful for some small businesses that were drawn to TikTok because it was a low-cost sales tool. A key part of the company's pitch to e-commerce brands had been: Hey, we're a platform for viral videos, and if you're lucky, we'll make your products take off, too. Whether you sold pickle-jar themed sweatshirts or freeze-dried skittles, you had a shot at grabbing millions of views for free. And after a video gained steam, sales would often follow (sometimes faster than sellers could handle). But in 2025, those unpaid views and serendipitous order surges are few and far between, three TikTok agency partners said. The platform has a lot more companies on its roster that are competing for attention, and it's not juicing their views as often, they said. As free traffic fades, brands are turning instead to paid ads to promote their shopping videos. "My recommendation to all brands is to model your business to be sustainable on an ad-driven marketplace or you're destined to falter," Max Benator, CEO of the social-commerce agency Orca, told Business Insider. "Whether that's because you benefited from early traffic or a viral moment, you can't sustain it without an ad program, which costs money." The shift toward paid traffic is a sign that the platform is maturing, said William August, CEO of the social-shopping firm Outlandish. When TikTok first began testing Shop in the US in late 2022, it had to send free traffic to sellers in order to drum up interest and demonstrate its platform could drive sales. Ultimately, the company wants its business to look more like that of its Chinese sister app Douyin, or Amazon, which make money from ads in addition to taking a commission on product sales. A TikTok spokesperson said its team works closely with sellers to provide tips and guidance on content strategies that work well with the app's audiences. The end of freebies TikTok Shop has been pulling back on other seller perks this year, including sunsetting free shipping subsidies last week. The platform's sales have slumped this year amid tariffs and other global economic factors. The company's leadership was disappointed with the performance of its US e-commerce business in 2024 as well. As freebies disappear, the company could have trouble convincing its roster of small businesses to pay for better performance. There are still circumstances in which TikTok will boost views for Shop videos, three company staffers said. If a brand is selling a product in a category that the company is prioritizing, or that falls under a broader promotional campaign, its videos or livestreams could get a boost, the employees said. If a brand is operating in a new market like Mexico or Brazil, it may get a bump in views. And TikTok account managers can also request that one of their clients get boosted in the feed to help drive up sales, one of the staffers said. The company has the ability to promote non-shopping content in users' feeds, too. The shift away from free traffic for sellers comes at a tenuous moment for TikTok in the US. The platform could shut down in the country due to a 2024 law that requires owner ByteDance to divest from the app. Some merchants have been exploring selling in new markets like Mexico, where TikTok is putting promotional weight behind e-commerce.
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Nature is coming out of the closet, and that's a good thing for all of us
By Connel Bradwell, presenter of Animal Pride Growing up, I was obsessed with the natural world. So when I saw queer behaviour in orca as a young researcher, I was shocked. I had never learned about it in all my reading and education. Why had no one told me about this? Turns out, queerness is prevalent in the natural world. But I hadn't heard about it because, for over a century, research referencing same-sex behaviours in animals has been hidden. In making Animal Pride, a documentary from The Nature of Things, I took a closer look at the natural world around us and discovered that so many parts are not as straight as we thought they were. Throughout this journey, I have not only marvelled at the beauty of nature but also been blown away by its complexity. It's truly nature's coming-out story. But at the same time, I've learned about the pushback faced by scientists for simply recording instances of same-sex behaviour. Here and queer, but buried and distorted When I first learned about the resistance experienced by researchers studying queer animal behaviours, I wasn't surprised that they encountered such negativity. As a queer person, I'm sadly all too familiar with how often that happens. But what did shock me was the scale of it. These scientists weren't just dealing with a few critical comments; they were facing multiple attacks on their integrity from their peers, as well as sensationalist headlines that undermined the impact of their research. It felt completely absurd. Animal Pride sheds light on the significance of diverse perspectives in science and underscores that these voices are often met with skepticism — even today. Consider the work of Douglas Russell, a meticulous curator at London's Natural History Museum. When he uncovered scientific papers from Robert Falcon Scott's 1910 to 1913 expedition of Antarctica, he was surprised to find documentation about queer behaviour in Adélie penguins. The expedition's photographer, zoologist and surgeon, George Murray Levick, was likely the first person to observe Adélie penguins through an entire season, Russell says in the documentary, and he recorded seeing same-sex behaviour in the birds. But Levick's submitted reports about the penguins ended up hidden in the archives, labelled "Not for Publication." Penguin's sex lives 'not for publication' 21 hours ago Duration 2:05 "I think they weren't published because it was very challenging and graphic content," says Russell in the film. "It's a wide range of sexual behaviours that society in the early 1900s would have perhaps found difficult." In 2012, Russell and his colleagues published Levick's report. But even though almost 100 years had passed since it was written, he told me that they still encountered negative feedback, as well as reductive and even distorted media coverage about Levick's findings. Russell's experiences demonstrate how societal biases can sometimes overshadow the pursuit of truth, emphasizing the urgent need for greater acceptance of diverse viewpoints in research. Biologist Lindsay Young has documented same-sex pair bonding in seabirds and faced a similar struggle. She discovered that one-third of paired Laysan albatross on the island of Oahu were actually same-sex pairings. But despite her rigorous research, which she published in 2008, Young told me she encountered skepticism from peers who questioned the validity of her findings. Some critics argued that her interpretations were anthropomorphic, suggesting that she must have mistakenly attributed human emotions to animal behaviour. This reaction highlights a broader issue within the scientific community: the reluctance to accept findings that challenge traditional assumptions. This type of dismissal can hinder important discussions and discourage researchers from pursuing groundbreaking work that falls outside the conventional understanding of animal behaviour. It also sends a discouraging message to aspiring researchers and scientists: that their contributions may not be valued or welcomed. Nature is queer as f*** 22 hours ago Duration 2:08 Same-sex behaviours have been documented in more than 450 species of animal, so why haven't we heard much about it? Connel Bradwell takes a closer look at the natural world around us and discovers so many parts are not as straight as we thought. Watch Animal Pride on CBC Gem. Embracing diversity in science prepares us for an uncertain future Animal Pride is a celebration of the rich diversity of the animal kingdom, where behaviours often defy traditional classifications. It reflects the complexities of sexuality and identity. But the film is also a call to action. It underscores the necessity of diversity in science, not only in terms of representation but also in the ideas we embrace. When experts like Russell and Young can share their findings without fear of backlash, they contribute to a more nuanced and accurate understanding of nature. And at a time when the survival of the natural world is under threat, it has never been more important for us to expand the limited definitions of "acceptable" research, and open the door to discoveries and deeper understanding — for the good of people and animals. Watch Animal Pride on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel.
