The 24th annual Belfast Film Festival is back with a host of exciting events taking place right up until November 9. Belfast Film Festival is an international festival running since 1995 dedicated to screening the best in new, short and classic cinema from all over the world. The Festival proudly boasts a diverse and wide-ranging…
NewsVoirPune (Maharashtra) [India], November 2: Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, one of India’s leading producers of industrial & mining chemicals and fertilisers (“DFPCL” or the “Company”), announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company reported a remarkable 237% year-on-year surge in net profits.Also Read | Srinagar Encounter: 2 CRPF Troopers, 2 Policemen Injured in Gunfight Between Terrorists and Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir (Watch Video).*Q2FY24 includes the impact of NBS subsidy on channel inventories of Rs 106 Cr and Rs 87 Cr on account of stabilization of Ammonia Plant Key Highlights for Q2FY25* EBITDA Margin Growth: Improved to 18% compared to 12% year-over-year.Also Read | Gujarati New Year 2024: PM Narendra Modi Wishes People for Nutan Varshabhinandan; Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Meet Supporters.* Record Sales Volume in Bulk Fertilizer: Achieved an 83% year-over-year increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, marking the highest sales in a quarter.* Anti-Dumping Duty Implementation: USD 217 per metric ton Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) on IPA for a period of 5 years.* In-House Capture of Ammonia Price Hikes: Increases in global ammonia prices are now fully captured internally.* Capacity enhancement of approximately 10% resulting from debottlenecking of the TAN plants, delivering an additional 50 KTPA and bringing the total TAN capacity volumes to 587 KTPA to support the growing needs of India’s Mining sector.* Debt Reduction: Prepaid Rs. 200 crores in debt, improving the Net Debt to EBITDA ratio from 2.66x to 1.64x.* Change in key RM Prices in Q2FY25: Ammonia: ~11% YoY; MOP: ~40% YoY; Gas: ~9% YoY Commenting on the performance, Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director said, DFPCL has shown impressive performance in Q2 FY25, achieving a 13% growth in revenue. This growth was primarily driven by the Crop Nutrition business, which experienced an 18% YoY increase in revenue, while the Chemical business grew by 8% YoY despite a lean quarter for the chemical sectors. Fertilizer and Chemical businesses acted as a natural hedge, enabling the company to deliver consistent and improved performance.There has been a consistent increase in the proportion of revenue from specialty products, along with an overall rise in revenue, driven by the strategic move of transitioning from commodity to specialty.- Crop Nutrition Business (CNB) achieved a remarkable 83% YoY increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, which is highest ever sales.- Mining Chemical: Monsoon is a lean period due to slowdown in mining activities. Accordingly, we had taken a planned shutdown of Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) plant for maintenance and capacity enhancement of 50 KTPA, taking total capacity to 587 KTPA.- The Industrial Chemicals business experienced a healthy revenue growth of 9%, despite marginal decrease in volumes. This performance underscores our strategic shift from commodities to specialty chemicals, which has effectively mitigated price volatility.- The ammonia plant has enabled all our businesses to reap substantial benefits from backward integration, effectively mitigating supply chain risks and price volatility. As a result, we are now able to capture the increases in global ammonia prices within the group. As India continues to grow, the chemical and fertilizer sectors are poised to thrive. The demand outlook for the Crop Nutrition, Mining Chemicals, and Industrial Chemicals Business is well aligned with India’s growth story, providing strong and positive tailwinds. We are actively working on the execution of the TAN Project and the Nitric Acid Project in Gopalpur and Dahej, respectively, to capitalize on future growth.Chemicals Review* Mining Chemicals (Technical Ammonium Nitrate):- In Q2 FY25, our premium product LDAN’s sales volume soared by 16% YoY and rose by an impressive 20% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24- Overall sales volume was down by 21% YoY in Q2 due to a planned shutdown and lean seasons due to monsoon. The volumes were down by 1% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24.- Business Outlook: The mining and infrastructure is expected to pick up post monsoon as demand for Power (Coal), Cement & Steel is expected to increase thereby providing robust support for TAN demand.* Industrial Chemicals: – Nitric acid volumes was marginally down by 1% on YoY basis and up by 13% on QoQ basis.- The specialty stainless steel grade nitric acid has received positive feedback from customers.- IPA volumes experienced a 10% YoY decline due to process constraints and a plant shutdown. However, the recent implementation of an ADD at USD 217 per metric ton for a period of five years is anticipated to enhance both demand and pricing moving forward.- Business Outlook: For Nitric Acid, the demand and margins are expected to be stable over the next few quarters. Propylene-based IPA demand and margins are expected to be stable and improve following the implementation of the ADD on Chinese suppliers over few quarters.Crop Nutrition Business (Fertilisers) Review* In Q2 FY25, manufactured bulk fertilizer has achieved highest ever sales volume of 268 KMT, an 83% YoY increase, driven by improved demand from above-average rains, which led to 102% Kharif crop sowing and positive market sentiment across all regions.* Sales volume of Croptek surged to 37 KMT, reflecting a 70% YoY growth, with continued focus on providing crop-specific solutions for targeted crops, including cotton, soybean, sugarcane, corn, grapes, pomegranate, and banana.* The company has recently launched premium water-soluble fertilizer grades.* Sale of specialty fertilizer Bensulf was 9 KMT, up 7% YoY.* Business Outlook: Above-normal monsoon rainfall in our core states has significantly enhanced groundwater table as well as water reservoirs for irrigation, which will help promising rabi season ahead.* We expect the acreages under rabi cash crops to go up especially for Sugarcane, Onion, Potato etc.Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (DFPCL) is among the India’s leading manufacturers of industrial chemicals and fertilisers. With a strong presence in Technical Ammonium Nitrate (mining chemicals), Industrial Chemicals and Crop Nutrition (fertilisers), the Company supports critical sectors of the economy such as infrastructure, mining, chemicals, pharmaceutical and agriculture. DFPCL is a publicly listed, multi-product Indian conglomerate and has plants located in four states, namely Maharashtra (Taloja), Gujarat (Daher), Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam) and Haryana (Panipat).DFPCL is Leading manufacturer and marketer of Iso Propyl Alcohol (IPA) in India and Largest Manufacturer of Nitric Acid in Southeast Asia. The Company is developing specialised grades of Nitric acid and IPA to meet specific requirements to cater needs of the industry/consumer.DFPCL is one of the leading manufacturers of Technical Ammonium Nitrate in the world, it is the only producer of pilled Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate solids and medical grade Ammonium Nitrate in India. The Company has commenced best in-class Technical Services to drive downstream productivity benefits for the mining end consumers.CNB Segment (fertilisers) offers a basket of 48 products which include bulk fertilisers, Crop nutrient solutions, specialty fertilisers, water-soluble fertilisers, bio-stimulants, micro-nutrients, and secondary nutrients, catering to every crop’s nutrient requirement. Enhanced-efficiency speciality fertilisers are developed basis rigorous R&D efforts and product trials at over 50,000 farmer demo plots. The R&D efforts have shown distinct yield and quality improvements for crops across segments such as cotton, sugarcane, onion, fruits and vegetables. Over last three years, value-added nutrition products have benefitted 6 million farmers.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
It has been nearly 70 years since Francis Thomas Bacon developed a source of clean green energy that would help power the first moon landing and change the course of history.Yet, few are aware of the Cambridge-based engineer, known as Tom, whose invention of the first working hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell helped send Apollo 11 to the moon. His pioneering work is still a source of inspiration for scientists working on renewable energy solutions today.Now, the charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future is seeking to shine a light on Bacon’s remarkable achievements by honouring him with a blue plaque at his former home in Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire.Bacon’s fuel cells – nicknamed “Bacon Cells” by Nasa in his honour – provided secondary power for the Apollo missions, producing electricity for the communications, air conditioning and lights, as well as water for the astronauts.“Normally, in the course of time, a battery runs down and you’ve got to recharge it,” Bacon told BBC Radio 4, shortly before the moon landings in 1969. “Now, [with] this device, as long as you go on feeding hydrogen and oxygen into it, and you remove the water formed, it will go on generating power indefinitely – and the astronauts drink the water.”View image in fullscreenThe efficiency and high energy density of the fuel cells played such an integral role in the success of the Apollo missions that President Richard Nixon told Bacon: “Without you, Tom, we wouldn’t have gotten to the moon.”Sam Stranks, professor of energy materials and optoelectronics at Cambridge University, said: “He was a pioneer. Fuel cell technology was extremely important to the space programme, because as long as you can continuously supply the gases, you can keep producing electricity.” This is vital in a remote location like outer space. “Obviously, there’s no easy means to get electricity there.”Bacon’s legacy is still inspiring scientists working on new technologies for solar power, hydrogen generation and battery storage today, Stranks said, and fuel cells remain “very relevant” as a potential way of providing green electricity and emergency power, particularly in remote places.They could also power the electric engines of long-haul trucks and ships in the future, avoiding the need for impossibly large and heavy rechargeable batteries and fulfilling a dream Bacon shared in his BBC radio interview. “I always hoped it would be used for driving vehicles about,” he said, before predicting: “In a modified form, it is going to come.”Stranks said: “I see him very much as a visionary and an unsung hero. The fuel cell is a sustainable power solution that foreshadows today’s clean energy efforts and was decades ahead of its time.”A direct descendent of the Elizabethan philosopher and empiricist Francis Bacon, he began researching fuel cells while working for an engineering firm in 1932, a few years after graduating from Cambridge with a third-class degree in mechanical sciences.Nearly a century earlier, the physicist William Grove had demonstrated the theoretical concept of fuel cells in 1839, but failed to generate much electricity. Excited by the huge potential, Bacon secretly started conducting experiments with the highly flammable gases, on his employer’s premises.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionTold to either stop or leave, he quit his job and devoted his life to engineering a solution to this complex problem, working first at Cambridge University, then Marshalls, a local manufacturer.He later revealed in his BBC interview that it was unclear for decades what the practical use of his invention would be, and he struggled to fund his research as a result. Then, in 1962, Nasa decided to develop his alkaline fuel cell for the Apollo programme and a US company invested $100m in the project.“British engineers have some of the most brilliant ideas, but turning those ideas into commercial successes is what then often fails, and Bacon faced this,” said Cambridge professor Clemens Kaminski, head of the chemical engineering and biotechnology department where Bacon once worked. “Yet he persevered.”After they returned to Earth, astronauts Neil Armstong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins met Bacon at Downing Street and presented him with a signed photograph of Armstrong’s famous first “small step” on the moon.Outside the scientific community, however, Bacon, who died in 1992, is not very well known, Kaminski said. “He was an incredibly modest and quiet man. His delight was solving problems and coming up with real solutions for the benefit of society.”
Real Estate
Residents of a picturesque London street clash with Airbnb after tourists flock to home turned into ‘Paddington’ film set
Eve Crosbie
2024-11-02T10:47:53Z
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Locals told Business Insider they’re tired of tourists flocking to the street.
Studio Canal, Business Insider/Eve Crosbie
Airbnb is running a competition for families to win a free stay in a house in Primrose Hill, London.The property has been transformed to look like the home from the “Paddington” movies.Locals told Business Insider they’re tired of tourists flocking to the street.
Running a food business, however, has come with its challenges. Kainaz acknowledged the difficulties of stepping back and allowing a professional team to manage operations.Kainaz Messman Harchandrai, co-founder of Theobroma, a renowned bakery chain, encountered a life-altering experience at age 24. A trained pastry chef, her career took an unexpected turn after a severe accident left her confined to bed rest. Having studied at the Institute of Hotel Management in Mumbai and the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development in Delhi, Kainaz previously worked at Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur. Reflecting on that difficult time, she shared, “I loved my job, and being told I couldn’t continue as a chef was devastating because it required long hours on my feet.” Despite this setback, Kainaz and her sister, Tina Messman Wykes, pursued their shared dream, founding Theobroma in 2004.
To launch their venture, the sisters borrowed Rs 1 crore from their father, who had only one request: instead of repaying the loan, they should use the funds for a cause he supported. Almost 20 years later, Theobroma has blossomed into a beloved brand, with 78 outlets across major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
By the fiscal year 2021, Theobroma reported a remarkable revenue of Rs 121 crore, with plans to double in the near future. Kainaz reminisced about the early days, saying, “We only made what we loved to eat and promised to do it well and keep things simple. Our business has evolved over time, but we didn’t have a detailed plan when we started.”
Running a food business, however, has come with its challenges. Kainaz acknowledged the difficulties of stepping back and allowing a professional team to manage operations. Despite these hurdles, she finds fulfillment in creating a brand that resonates deeply with loyal customers.
For small business owners, time is one of the most valuable – and limited – resources. Running a business often means juggling multiple tasks, from customer relations to finances, marketing to production, and about 101 other things. Fortunately, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing time management, allowing small business owners to automate tasks, streamline workflows, and reclaim valuable time. Here’s a closer look at how AI is transforming the way small business owners and solopreneuers manage their time.Automating routine tasks to reduce daily workloadOne of the biggest time-sucks when running a business is completing routine, repetitive tasks. AI tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot and Zapier excel at automating these tasks, from scheduling emails and posting on social media to taking care of data entry and generating reports. By leaving the repetitive tasks to the robots, you can free up hours of your time to focus on the strategic aspects of your business.For example, Microsoft Co-Pilot can automatically draft replies to common customer emails, as well as integrate with your calendar. The AI can take a look and suggest meeting times, draft agenda points, and create follow-up tasks discussed in meetings, saving you from having to worry about every detail.AI-enhanced project management for task prioritizationPrioritizing tasks effectively can be challenging, especially for small business owners juggling several projects at once. AI-enhanced project management tools such as Asana, Trello, and Monday.com use machine learning to analyze past data and project statuses to recommend the best order for completing tasks. For instance, in Asana, AI can analyze your tasks and deadlines to suggest the best order to complete them. This ensures that the most urgent and impactful tasks are completed first. This intelligent prioritization takes the guesswork out of what to do next and reduces the mental fatigue of running your business.
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Improving decision-making with AI-driven data insightsSmall business owners often need to make quick, data-informed decisions. However, analyzing data manually can take hours, especially if you don’t have a dedicated analytics team. Tools like Microsoft Power BI and Tableau use AI to process large datasets, generate insights, and visually present trends. With AI-generated recommendations, business owners can make more informed decisions in less time.Boosting communication efficiency with AI-powered assistantsAI assistants like Microsoft Co-Pilot, Google Assistant, and other virtual agents can handle a range of communication tasks, from responding to emails to scheduling meetings. They can even handle basic customer service queries. AI tools are great for these tasks as they can respond quickly, work around the clock, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. With AI handling scheduling requests and reminders, business owners are less likely to miss important meetings or deadlines.Streamlining finances with AI in bookkeeping and expense managementFinancial management is an important part of running a business, but it’s also complicated and time-consuming – especially if you don’t have a financial background. AI-powered tools like QuickBooks and FreshBooks streamline the bookkeeping process by automating tasks like expense categorization and cash flow tracking. For example, QuickBooks can automatically categorize transactions or alert you when cash flow dips below a certain threshold. It can also generate and send invoices based on recurring payments. Simplifying customer relationship management (CRM)Customer relationship management (CRM) is important for business growth, but keeping track of customer interactions and feedback can be overwhelming. AI-powered CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce offer intelligent insights into customer behavior, automate follow-ups, and recommend the best times and methods to reach out, so you can nurture relationships more efficiently. These recommendations can drive customer engagement without the need for hours of manual CRM management.Enhancing marketing with AI for targeted and efficient campaignsBuilding and managing marketing campaigns requires creativity and time. AI tools like Jasper, Canva, and Hootsuite can streamline the marketing process by generating content ideas, designing on-brand visuals, and automating social media posting. Additionally, the AI analytics within these tools give you insights into campaign performance, so you know which ads and posts resonate most with your target audience.Enhancing team collaboration and productivityFor small business owners managing remote teams or freelancers, collaboration can be a challenge. AI-driven platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams streamline communication by automating reminders, assigning tasks, and integrating with other business tools, ensuring that everyone stays aligned without the need for constant check-ins.
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I have always taken the philosophy that gardens are living classrooms, full of lessons we can learn if we can just spare a few moments to stop and observe what it is trying to tell us. You can see how plants grow, what insects visit and when, how the weather affected the timing of things, and you can be humbled by how each day is different. Even though no day is the same, there is still a wealth of knowledge and data that we can get from our gardens and the Pollinator Haven Garden behind the McSwain Center off Tramway Road is no different. We’d like to share what we’ve found with you!Garden Management Philosophy
THE Exorcist movie has sent chills down the spines of horror film fans ever since the Seventies.The 1973 scenes, branded the “scariest ever”, centred on possessed 12-year-old child Regan MacNeil and saw terrified cinemagoers vomiting and fainting when the flick hit screens.12The Exorcist movie has been hailed the ‘scariest ever’ filmCredit: Getty12The plotline centred on 12-year-old Regan MacNeil, who became possessed after playing with a Ouija BoardCredit: AlamyYet the nail-biting plotline, showing Regan play with a Ouija board to tap into the terrors of the spiritual world, also prompted series of unfortunate events that happened off-screen.Several surprising occurences led to claims that the film was “cursed” – after deaths and injuries on set.Now we take a look at some of the troubled film’s cast – and where they are now.Ellen Burstyn12Ellen Burstyn suffered a spinal injury during the movieCredit: Getty12Ellen played single mother Chris MacNeilCredit: Getty – ContributorEllen, now 91, played actress and single mother Chris MacNeil who relocated to Washington DC with her daughter.She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Regan’s petrified parent.Yet during filming, she suffered a spinal injury while being hoisted around on a harness.The Michigan-born actress was left on crutches for the rest of the production and recalled the accident during a 2018 interview with The Guardian.She has since starred in Requiem For A Dream, Queen Bees and The Exorcist: Believer spin-off.Linda Blair12Linda Blair played The Exorcist’s young protagonistCredit: Getty12She found worldwide fame for her role as Regan MacNeilCredit: GettyLinda, now 65, played possessed schoolgirl Regan MacNeil.The actress won an Academy Award for her absolutely terrifying role, which saw her head left spinning in a worrying paranormal moment and killing her friends and family.The Exorcist: BelieverDuring filming, she suffered a back injury after being strapped to a harness which suffered a technical malfunction.In an eerie moment off-screen, she also suffered the loss of family members while the project was being filmed.Linda then went on to star in movies Savage Streets, Roller Boogie and Born Innocent.Jack MacGowranBest horror films to watch this HalloweenBy Conor O’BrienHalloween is the perfect time for horror movie to fans to indulge in all the scares, shocks and thrills.Whether old favourites or a new chilling tale, here are some top picks to watch this Halloween.Alien (1979): Starring Sigourney Weaver, this film follows a spaceship crew who investigate a derelict spaceship and are hunted by a dangerous extra-terrestrial creature.The Shining (1980): Based on Stephen King’s novel, the movie stars Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who takes a a job as winter caretaker for a haunted resort hotel. Meanwhile, his young son possesses clairvoyant powers.Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s horror classic introduced audiences to legendary villain Freddy Kreuger. This movie also notably marked Johnny Depp’s film debut.The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): An independent horror film, the story follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals. It also introduces the character Leatherface.Friday the 13th (1980): Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film kicked off a franchise and introduced Jason Vorhees. follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Among the cast is a young Kevin Bacon.Scream (1996): Written by Kevin Williamson, this film sees Wes Craven pay homage to horror classics – including his own Nightmare on Elm Street. The beginning of a long-running franchise; the cast includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.Poltergeist (1982): Directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, this supernatural horror film focuses on a family whose home is invaded by ghosts who abduct their daughter.12Jack MacGowran played film director Burke Dennings but died before the film’s releaseCredit: RexJack played the eccentric film director Burke Dennings and in the film, he was killed by demon-plagued Regan.His character was attacked by the possessed child, who used her superhuman strength to break his neck and then flung him out of her bedroom window.Ahead of the film’s release, Jack tragically died from complications related to influenza, which he caught during the London flu epidemic in 1973.Some believe this was a sign of The Exorcist film’s “curse.”Vasiliki Maliaros12Actress Vasiliki Maliaros, who played Mary Karras, died before the movie hit screensCredit: GettyThe actress played Father Damien Karras’ mother, Mary.She passed away that same year before The Exorcist hit the big screen.The star, who had no previous acting experience and was cast after being spotted at a restaurant, was ruled to have died from “natural causes” at an inquest.In the film, Vasiliki’s character died after being admitted to a hospital and later haunted the dreams of Father Karras.Max Von Sydow12Max Von Sydow played Father Merrin in the movieCredit: Kobal Collection – Shutterstock12The Game Of Thrones actor died in 2000Credit: GettyHe played man of the cloth and paleontologist, Father Merrin, who performed Regan’s exorcism.He died, aged 90, in 2000 at his home in France.Yet prior to his passing, the Swedish-born star enjoyed a stellar career on screen.He starred in more than 200 films, TV and radio programmes including Shutter Island and the Game of Thrones TV series.Jason Miller12Jason Miller played Father Damien Karras, yet died in 2001Credit: Warner BrosJason played Father Damien Karras, who helped Father Merrin in Regan’s exorcism.Yet his role was short-lived, as the demon jumped into his own body instead, causing him to kill himself.Read More on The US SunSince the movie he starred in a host of Exorcist spin-offs before his death, aged 62, in 2001.12The movie was released in 1973Credit: Alamy
THE Exorcist movie has sent chills down the spines of horror film fans ever since the Seventies.The 1973 scenes, branded the “scariest ever”, centred on possessed 12-year-old child Regan MacNeil and saw terrified cinemagoers vomiting and fainting when the flick hit screens.12The Exorcist movie has been hailed the ‘scariest ever’ filmCredit: Getty12The plotline centred on 12-year-old Regan MacNeil, who became possessed after playing with a Ouija BoardCredit: AlamyYet the nail-biting plotline, showing Regan play with a Ouija board to tap into the terrors of the spiritual world, also prompted series of unfortunate events that happened off-screen.Several surprising occurences led to claims that the film was “cursed” – after deaths and injuries on set.Now we take a look at some of the troubled film’s cast – and where they are now.Ellen Burstyn12Ellen Burstyn suffered a spinal injury during the movieCredit: Getty12Ellen played single mother Chris MacNeilCredit: Getty – ContributorEllen, now 91, played actress and single mother Chris MacNeil who relocated to Washington DC with her daughter.She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role as Regan’s petrified parent.Yet during filming, she suffered a spinal injury while being hoisted around on a harness.The Michigan-born actress was left on crutches for the rest of the production and recalled the accident during a 2018 interview with The Guardian.She has since starred in Requiem For A Dream, Queen Bees and The Exorcist: Believer spin-off.Linda Blair12Linda Blair played The Exorcist’s young protagonistCredit: Getty12She found worldwide fame for her role as Regan MacNeilCredit: GettyLinda, now 65, played possessed schoolgirl Regan MacNeil.The actress won an Academy Award for her absolutely terrifying role, which saw her head left spinning in a worrying paranormal moment and killing her friends and family.The Exorcist: BelieverDuring filming, she suffered a back injury after being strapped to a harness which suffered a technical malfunction.In an eerie moment off-screen, she also suffered the loss of family members while the project was being filmed.Linda then went on to star in movies Savage Streets, Roller Boogie and Born Innocent.Jack MacGowranBest horror films to watch this HalloweenBy Conor O’BrienHalloween is the perfect time for horror movie to fans to indulge in all the scares, shocks and thrills.Whether old favourites or a new chilling tale, here are some top picks to watch this Halloween.Alien (1979): Starring Sigourney Weaver, this film follows a spaceship crew who investigate a derelict spaceship and are hunted by a dangerous extra-terrestrial creature.The Shining (1980): Based on Stephen King’s novel, the movie stars Jack Nicholson as a recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who takes a a job as winter caretaker for a haunted resort hotel. Meanwhile, his young son possesses clairvoyant powers.Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s horror classic introduced audiences to legendary villain Freddy Kreuger. This movie also notably marked Johnny Depp’s film debut.The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): An independent horror film, the story follows a group of friends who fall victim to a family of cannibals. It also introduces the character Leatherface.Friday the 13th (1980): Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, this film kicked off a franchise and introduced Jason Vorhees. follows a group of teenage camp counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer. Among the cast is a young Kevin Bacon.Scream (1996): Written by Kevin Williamson, this film sees Wes Craven pay homage to horror classics – including his own Nightmare on Elm Street. The beginning of a long-running franchise; the cast includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.Poltergeist (1982): Directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, this supernatural horror film focuses on a family whose home is invaded by ghosts who abduct their daughter.12Jack MacGowran played film director Burke Dennings but died before the film’s releaseCredit: RexJack played the eccentric film director Burke Dennings and in the film, he was killed by demon-plagued Regan.His character was attacked by the possessed child, who used her superhuman strength to break his neck and then flung him out of her bedroom window.Ahead of the film’s release, Jack tragically died from complications related to influenza, which he caught during the London flu epidemic in 1973.Some believe this was a sign of The Exorcist film’s “curse.”Vasiliki Maliaros12Actress Vasiliki Maliaros, who played Mary Karras, died before the movie hit screensCredit: GettyThe actress played Father Damien Karras’ mother, Mary.She passed away that same year before The Exorcist hit the big screen.The star, who had no previous acting experience and was cast after being spotted at a restaurant, was ruled to have died from “natural causes” at an inquest.In the film, Vasiliki’s character died after being admitted to a hospital and later haunted the dreams of Father Karras.Max Von Sydow12Max Von Sydow played Father Merrin in the movieCredit: Kobal Collection – Shutterstock12The Game Of Thrones actor died in 2000Credit: GettyHe played man of the cloth and paleontologist, Father Merrin, who performed Regan’s exorcism.He died, aged 90, in 2000 at his home in France.Yet prior to his passing, the Swedish-born star enjoyed a stellar career on screen.He starred in more than 200 films, TV and radio programmes including Shutter Island and the Game of Thrones TV series.Jason Miller12Jason Miller played Father Damien Karras, yet died in 2001Credit: Warner BrosJason played Father Damien Karras, who helped Father Merrin in Regan’s exorcism.Yet his role was short-lived, as the demon jumped into his own body instead, causing him to kill himself.Read More on The US SunSince the movie he starred in a host of Exorcist spin-offs before his death, aged 62, in 2001.12The movie was released in 1973Credit: Alamy
GLENS FALLS – From Nov. 1 to 30, Valenza Publishing is committing to expanding its efforts of giving back to the community by donating one book for every two sold.In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, Valenza Publishing is now pledging to donate a novel from their catalog for every two sold. These donated books will go to schools, libraries, or USOs around the world.At the end of the month, VP will still make their monetary donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation, on top of the physical donation.VP is the publisher of “Thrall” and “Bookends,” by Saratoga natives J.T. McGee and Ella M. Hayes respectively, “The Second Act Comeback” by Hudson Falls resident Jamie Norton, and “Empire of the Void” by Andrew Valenza.Valenza Publishing is a veteran-owned publishing house for literary fiction and self-publishing assistance, founded by Andrew Valenza. At the end of every month, Valenza donates a portion of the company’s gross income to a non-profit veterans/first responder organization.
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In order for books to be properly tracked for donation, books can be purchased at www.valenzapublishing.com. There are options to purchase standard copies of the books, signed gift boxes, or, on the “shop” page, a book can be paid forward in the purchaser’s name under the “donate a book” option for only $10.
Editor’s note : Andrew Valenza works in the Post-Star newsroom.From a press release.
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font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, “Apple Color Emoji”, “Segoe UI Emoji”, “Segoe UI Symbol”;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article h2 {
font-size: 24px;
margin: 15px 0 5px 0;
font-family: “serif-ds”, Times, “Times New Roman”, serif;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article .lead {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article .email-desc {
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-bottom: 5px;
opacity: 0.7;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article form {
padding: 10px 30px 5px 30px;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article .disclaimer {
opacity: 0.5;
margin-bottom: 0;
line-height: 100%;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article .disclaimer a {
color: #222;
text-decoration: underline;
}
#pu-email-form-business-email-article .email-hammer {
border-bottom: 3px solid #222;
opacity: .5;
display: inline-block;
padding: 0 10px 5px 10px;
margin-bottom: -5px;
font-size: 16px;
}
@media (max-width: 991px) {
#pu-email-form-business-email-article form {
padding: 10px 0 5px 0;
}
}
.grecaptcha-badge { visibility: hidden; }
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