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The Citizen
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Why modern cinemas are failing to keep audiences happy
Cinemas offer recliners and snacks, but fail at basic comfort and service. Human interaction could keep patrons returning despite streaming competition. Cinemas shouldn't exist. Like the dinosaurs, or vinyl, they should have gone extinct in the relentless face of technological advancement: videos (VHS and Betamax) allowed us to break free of the 8mm home movie tyranny, while DVDs were a godsend. Blue Ray introduced us to a new frontier of high definition and then home theatres literally took Hollywood into our lounges with surround sound. And yet, somehow, cinemas didn't get the message. The pandemic, with its lockdown and the prospect of everyone breathing each other's germs in a warm and dark insulated room should have been its death knell. Tom Cruise is widely credited with preventing that through his slew of derring-do adventure flicks untainted by CGI that literally are better on the big screen. His determination during Covid – and a masterful campaign of misinformation – scared other studios into not shuttering their sets and getting back to work during the industry's greatest inflection point since the VCR. ALSO READ: New film unveils the world of John Lennon and Yoko Ono It also galvanised his own studio into completing work on the blockbuster Top Gun sequel which, in turn, led to the last two instalments of his Mission Impossible franchise, the last of which pays generous cinematic tribute to some of South Africa's most breathtaking landscapes. Cinemas, too, have done a bit to ward off the advance of time by partnering with corporates to take down the ever-spiralling cost of tickets, although not the price of popcorn, Coke and sweets, which continues to do as much for smuggling as Covid did for the illegal tobacco industry. Where cinemas are missing a trick is in not taking a leaf from the past and having human beings doing the work that digitisation and algorithms do today. At least one cinema chain has created the wheeze of getting you to pay extra for a reclining padded seat (fatal for anyone over 45 to stay awake for the duration) and mid-film service of victuals to your armrest. A more practical halfway point might be employing people to check in on cinema patrons while the film is underway to make sure no-one is chatting on their phone, shooting a pirate version of it – or freezing/boiling because of the robotic programming of air-conditioning. ALSO READ: Of Enderman and creepers: Minecraft movie is a romp In the end, all Cruise's laudable efforts might be undone by just that – not the cost of tickets, but the very real risk of freezing to death in summer or melting into a pool of sweat in winter.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
38 Things People Over 30 Used To Do That Would Be Seen As Wiiiiiiiild Today
@talantorriero asked people on TikTok, "What's one thing millennials did back in the day that today's generation would think was crazy?!" @talantorriero/ As a millennial (I know, shocking,) here are the ones I found especially relatable in the replies: 1."Getting asked and asking A/S/L." 2."Calling the radio station to request a song in order to hear it." 3."Asking a gas station worker directions somewhere." 4."Literally calling 411 to 'look up' stuff." 5."Used to check out cinema listings in the newspaper." 6."Using Photobucket to store photos." 7."Use a phone on our kitchen wall with no privacy." 8."Recording a TV show with our VCR!" 9."Take MacBook photo booth pics with the filters and the rollercoaster backgrounds etc. before going out for the night." 10."Hang out at a mall." 11."Wait 3 hours to download one song on limewire just to find out it's a clip of crazy frog." 12."Waiting for your fav song to come on the radio to record it on your boom box." 13."Slamming a phone when hanging up." 14."'Burning' CDs." 15."Jean skirts and uggs lol." 16."Calling our parents jobs when we needed them, and asking another coworker if they were there." 17."Pay for ring back tones." 18."Rushing home to watch TRL." 19."Hitting a number key on a flip phone 3 times to get the letter you wanted to type in a text." 20."Tanning as a teenager literally every day after school, with a lil stick[er] on your hip to show the progress." 21."Call[ing] people after nine and talk on the phone the whole night." 22."TV guide channel and spacing out, forgetting to look at a certain channel, and having to rewatch it." 23."Carrying a digital camera around our wrist to the bar." 24."Having to wait for a certain day and time to watch your favorite show and its one episode per week. No binge-watching or anything." 25."Accidentally opening the browser on your cell phone." 26."Going to blockbuster and renting a movie/video game." 27."Wearing business casual to the club." 28."Leave the house without a phone." 29."We had to just sit and wait for our parents to pick us up, and hope they didn't forget us." 30."Memorize your friends' phone numbers .... their HOUSE phone." 31."Having to call a friend's house and talk to their parents first. It was awful." 32."Print off mapquest to know where to drive." 40 pictures to Facebook from a single night out." 34."Waiting for your school to scroll across the bottom of the TV to see if you had a snow day or not." 35."Spend hours coding and creating the perfect MySpace profile." 36."Recording 20 seconds of a song for your voicemail." 37."Ranking our friends publicly LOL aka MySpace top 8." lastly, "Made our own ankle socks by rolling over crew socks." Now that's a look.
Business Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Business Times
Sengkang General Hospital leads the way in automating sterile supply management
[SINGAPORE] As Singapore's population ages rapidly, the demand for healthcare services is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. According to the Ministry of Health, by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or above, placing unprecedented pressure on hospitals to deliver faster, safer and more efficient care. In order to meet these challenges head-on, medical institutions must embrace innovative solutions that optimise operations and enhance both patient and staff well-being. To that end, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) has taken a bold leap into the future of healthcare logistics with the implementation of its groundbreaking Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) in the Central Sterile Supplies Unit (CSSU). This innovative system, the first of its kind in Singapore's healthcare sector, is setting new benchmarks for efficiency, safety and staff well-being. Designed to streamline the often labour-intensive process of managing surgical instruments, the ASRS integrates advanced robotic technology with sophisticated software, marking a significant shift from traditional manual methods. Traditionally, staff were required to perform physically demanding tasks, including manually locating, retrieving, and tracking thousands of surgical instrument sets. This not only posed a risk of errors but also placed a considerable strain on the workforce. Besides the inefficiencies in instrument management, there were risks of errors leading to surgical delays and difficulties in maintaining sterility assurance. The ASRS project aimed to address these critical issues head-on, and SKH embarked on a journey to revolutionise its CSSU operations through automation. Robotic system At the heart of the ASRS lies a complex integration of several key components. A three-arm robotic system, coupled with four Vertical Carousel Systems (VCR), automates the storage and retrieval of instrument sets. SEE ALSO Revolutionising drug discovery with AI in South-east Asia GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up VIEW ALL The system is powered by a sophisticated Warehouse Management System (WMS) that integrates seamlessly with the hospital's existing Total Documentation (T-Doc) system, used for tracking surgical instruments. This integration eliminates the need for double data entry, ensuring accuracy and streamlining workflows.
Globe and Mail
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Looking for Exposure to TSLA Stock? Try These Two ETFs
Tesla's (TSLA) growth prospects remain robust, driven by its strong position in the electric vehicle (EV) market and progress in autonomous driving technology. The company's focus on cost efficiency, such as reducing the cost of goods sold per vehicle, enhances its financial position. While a drop in deliveries remains a key concern, TSLA's efforts to expand presence in new markets like Saudi Arabia are impressive. Thus, to gain exposure to TSLA stock, investors may consider investing in these two ETFs: Nightview Fund (NITE) and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR). Don't Miss Our End of Quarter Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks. Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter. Let's take a deeper look at these two ETFs. Nightview Fund The NITE ETF is an actively managed fund aiming for long-term growth. It seeks to beat the S&P 500 Total Return Index over five years and invests in 15-25 undervalued U.S. stocks with strong growth potential. TSLA stock constitutes 19.1% of the ETF's holdings. Apart from TSLA, some of the top stocks in the NITE ETF are Alibaba (BABA), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM). Overall, the ETF has $22.18 million in AUM. Also, it has an expense ratio of 1.25%. The NITE ETF has returned 6.48% in the past year. Turning to Wall Street, the ETF has a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Of the 18 stocks held, 15 have Buys and three have a Hold rating. At $33.22, the average NITE ETF price target implies a 22.59% upside potential. Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF The VCR ETF tracks the performance of the MSCI U.S. Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index. This index includes stocks of large, medium, and small U.S. companies in the consumer discretionary sector, such as retail, entertainment, and automotive industries. Importantly, Tesla stock accounts for 13.67% of VCR's total holdings. Some of the top holdings in VCR ETF include Amazon (AMZN), McDonald's (MCD), and Home Depot (HD). Overall, the ETF has $5.57 billion in assets under management (AUM). Also, an expense ratio of 0.09% makes it cost-effective for long-term investors. Over the past year, the VCR ETF has generated a return of 8.9%. On TipRanks, VCR has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 191 Buys, 93 Holds, and 10 Sells assigned in the last three months. At $415.19, the average VCR ETF price target implies 23.65% upside potential. Concluding Thoughts ETFs provide indirect exposure to TSLA, reducing risk compared to investing directly in the stock. Furthermore, ETFs are a liquid and transparent way to participate in the market. Investors seeking ETF recommendations might consider NITE and VCR, as these ETFs offer exposure to Tesla stock.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Burr tells 'The View' Elon Musk going to 'trash' the planet
Comedian Bill Burr told the co-hosts of "The View" on Thursday that Elon Musk was going to "trash" the Earth because the billionaire allegedly had no concern for the planet. "Is there anybody getting your ire up these days more than usual?" co-host Joy Behar asked the comedian. Burr replied, "the nerds," adding, "The nerds that own the politicians. All these tech nerds that want to build robots because they don't know how to talk to hot women. They're going to take over the world. They are literally going to replace us. We're like Beta right now and they're coming out with the VCR." "And I think Elon has got the rockets going because they realize there's other Earths out there, and they're going to trash this one. Because they don't have any concern for it. And they're going to move onto the next Earth and, you know, everybody's going to be standing down here in their blue and red ties going, 'Wait a minute, I was on your side.' And they're just going to leave," he continued. Comedian Bill Burr Demands Billionaires Be 'Put Down' Like 'F---ing Rabid Dogs' Burr joined the co-hosts to discuss his new stand-up special, "Drop Dead Years," and his debut on Broadway in "Glengarry Glen Ross." Read On The Fox News App The comedian also took aim at Musk during a Tuesday appearance on "The Tonight Show." "Billionaires are not happy having a billion dollars," Burr told host Jimmy Fallon. "Why does Elon Musk dress like he just got out of a Hot Topic? I am so sick of that guy trying to rewrite his origin story like he was Matthew McConaughey pulling into the high school." Musk has been the target of liberal anger since President Donald Trump took office and put the Tesla, X, and SpaceX owner in charge of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal spending. When reached for comment regarding recent criticism of Musk, a spokesperson for the DOGE chief directed Fox News Digital to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's Thursday interview on Fox News' "Faulkner Focus." Comedian Bill Burr Explains 'Why I Hate Liberals' In Rant About Toothless Democrats, Hollywood 'White Chicks' "Their hatred for Donald Trump fuels everything that they do, and it's the only reason for the Democrat party today. And it's unfortunate for the American public and for Democrat voters who are looking to their party for real leadership, well they should become Republicans," Leavett told host Harris Faulkner, responding to a question about the comedians taking aim at Musk. "Because if you look at what President Trump and Elon Musk are doing, we're making this government more efficient, we are being more accountable to the American taxpayer, we are securing our southern border, producing law and order in this country, securing our homeland. These are basic common sense principles," she continued. "The Democrat Party is the party of crazy. The Republican Party, thanks to Donald Trump, is the party of common sense," Leavitt added. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Burr revealed at the beginning of "The View" interview that his wife was "freaking out" over the fact that he would be a guest on the daytime talk show. "My wife is freaking out that I was coming on the show. She was like, 'Who the hell booked you on that show?'" he said, continuing to imitate his wife, adding, "'You say all this dumb stuff about women, don't go on that show.'" Behar responded that the co-hosts were not "snowflakes" and could handle his brand of humor. Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this article source: Bill Burr tells 'The View' Elon Musk going to 'trash' the planet
