Washington — Voters in Missouri cleared the way to undo one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans in one of seven victories for abortion rights advocates, while Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota defeated similar constitutional amendments, leaving bans in place. Abortion rights amendments also passed in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland and Montana. Nevada voters also…
In today’s fast-paced business world, meetings are more than just a gathering of minds; they are opportunities to impress, engage, and inspire. One way to enhance the overall experience is through creative catering. By transforming the traditional meeting meal into something memorable, companies can boost engagement and leave a lasting impression on clients and employees alike.Enhancing Attendee ExperienceCreative catering goes beyond simply providing food; it creates an experience. Offering unique, high-quality meals can set the tone for your meeting and make attendees feel valued. When the food is memorable, it adds to the positive perception of the event, encouraging participation and engagement.Promoting Engagement and NetworkingA thoughtfully designed menu can serve as an icebreaker and foster networking among attendees. Consider incorporating interactive food stations or themed meals that encourage conversation. These elements can create a relaxed atmosphere, making it easier for participants to connect with each other.Reflecting Company CultureThe catering choices you make can also be a reflection of your company’s values and culture. Offering sustainable, locally sourced options might highlight a commitment to environmental responsibility. Meanwhile, opting for diverse cuisines can emphasize inclusivity and global consciousness, showcasing the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that exist around the world.Interactive Food StationsInteractive food stations, such as build-your-own taco bars or custom sushi rolls, invite attendees to engage with the catering experience. Not only does it add an element of fun, but it also allows for personalization, catering to various dietary preferences.Themed MenusThemed catering can align with the purpose of the meeting or the brand’s identity. For example, a tech company might choose a futuristically themed menu, while an international firm could offer a global cuisine tasting to celebrate diversity.Health-Conscious OptionsAs more people become mindful of their dietary choices, offering health-focused catering can be a smart move. Consider incorporating fresh, organic ingredients and providing options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary restrictions.Understanding Your AudienceBefore choosing a catering service, it’s important to understand your audience’s needs and preferences. Conduct surveys or gather feedback from previous events to tailor the menu accordingly. This careful consideration ensures that the catering will not only meet the expectations of the attendees but also resonate well with their tastes and preferences, creating a more enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone involved.Evaluating Catering ServicesResearch potential catering services thoroughly to find one that aligns with your vision. Look for caterers with a reputation for creativity and quality, and consider scheduling a tasting to experience their offerings firsthand.Setting a BudgetCreative catering doesn’t have to break the bank. Establish a clear budget and discuss it with your chosen caterer to see how they can maximize your budget with innovative solutions. A good caterer will offer options that are impressive yet cost-effective.Practical Advice for Impressing Clients and EmployeesPlan AheadEnsure that your catering arrangements are made well in advance. This allows ample time for menu customization and any necessary adjustments. Planning ahead also helps avoid last-minute stress and ensures a smooth execution on the day of the event.Incorporate FeedbackAfter each event, gather feedback from attendees about their catering experience. Use this information to refine future meetings, continuously improving and adapting to meet the expectations of clients and employees.Highlight Unique OfferingsIf your catering includes unique elements, such as a signature dish or an exclusive chef, be sure to highlight these in your meeting invitations or during the event. This builds anticipation and excitement among attendees.By embracing creative catering, businesses can transform their meetings into engaging and memorable experiences. From enhancing attendee satisfaction to reflecting company values, the right catering can make a significant impact. With innovative ideas and careful planning, your next business meeting can stand out, impressing clients and employees with flair and finesse. Contact a catering service like Tasty Table Catering to discuss your catering needs. short url:https://bsng.us/h97
FeaturesNordLayer offers a massive list of features including DNS filtering, network segmentation, dedicated IP, browser extension, smart remote access, and a dedicated account manager – making it one of the most comprehensive business VPN solutions. This multi-layered security approach plays nicely with AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure if you’re looking to integrate it into one of these cloud services.NordLayer’s control panel is highly intuitive, featuring sections for organizing teams, managing servers and gateways, remote access settings, downloads, activity tracking, and device security alerts, making it one of the most beginner-friendly business VPN solutions. From this panel, you can also set permissions and allow network segmentation which is important if you’re looking to restrict access to sensitive data. Network segmentation divides the network into subsections for improved security and performance.Its Cloud Firewall (FWaaS) offering, brings an additional layer of security, functioning as a cloud security service edge element. Unlike a traditional firewall, the maintenance requirements are low, while its scalability and adaptiveness allow you more flexibility in managing your company’s resources.If you have a remote workforce, NordLayer has got you covered with a site-to-site networking connection, which basically functions like a secure VPN tunnel between two or multiple networks. There is also Smart Remote Access for the creation of a virtual LAN if you need to grant access to devices on an internal network. An additional interesting feature is the browser extension, which functions as a secure web gateway that allows access to resources exclusively via the browser that has the extension installed and enabled. Moreover, there are desktop and mobile, with both apps designed to be simple and intuitive.Upon opening, the app presents a list of available servers, allowing you to connect with a single click (though more servers would be a welcome addition). Users can choose between OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, and customize features like the kill switch, auto-connect, and ThreatBlock based on their preferences. You can also set up a list of trusted Wi-Fi networks that don’t require a VPN. The mobile app offers similar functionality, with the added convenience of automatic server connection. The app’s user-friendly layout and customization options make it adaptable for different preferences and needs, ensuring a smooth experience across both desktop and mobile platforms.Activity Monitoring reports allow you to get granular with user-level connections that pass through gateways giving you details such as names of the members, devices, and source IP addresses, with activity history and date and time of a particular connection. Device Posture Monitoring further enhances security, where administrators can predefine security rules, and all non-compliant devices are then flagged and removed.ThreatBlock provides an essential layer of protection by automatically blocking access to malicious websites and ads, shielding employees from phishing attempts and malware. It also filters out intrusive pop-ups and autoplay ads, creating a safer and more productive browsing experience for users.To round out the feature list, Auto-connect is another feature we found useful. It allows you to set up the VPN to automatically activate as soon as an internet connection is activated. This is often found in personal VPNs, but often rare in business environments, but it can reduce the hassle and worry of employees forgetting to use a VPN.Pricing & PlansWhile not the cheapest option in the market, NordLayer does offer reasonable pricing for the amount of functionality and security you end up getting. The pricing plans are based on a per-user model, with the lowest tier Lite going for $8 per user (yearly subscription option), with a minimum requirement of 5 users which is standard across all plans except the Enterprise offer plan. All pricing plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee which is great if you’re on the fence and just want to test the product.(Image credit: NordLayer)The next plan, Core, is $11 per user and comes with a dedicated server with a fixed IP, but also a $40 a month surcharge for this service. The next tier is Premium at $14 per user and also the same offer for the server. Finally, the Enterprise plan starts from $7 per user, but you will have to reach out to NordLayer to get your custom offer, as it depends on your organization’s needs. Core seems to be the best buy plan covering advanced security such as Biometrics, 2MFA, SSO, and enough bandwidth for small to medium organizations.PerformanceNordLynx tunneling protocol allows NordLayer to deliver fast and stable speeds across their VPN service. In terms of VPN protocols, it supports IKEv2, OpenVPN (both UDP and TCP), and the aforementioned NordLynx which is a fork of the open-source Wireguard protocol. Note that all pricing plans offer up to 1Gbs server performance, which of course will vary depending on the server country you’re using. While mostly equal, there can be some drops in Asian countries, at least during our demo test.Privacy & SecurityThe logging policy is right up the alley of any corporate VPN, which means that it does not log visited websites but does log each employee’s email address, IP address bandwidth usage, and connection timestamps. The platform complies with GDPR and other major privacy regulations, ensuring data security for businesses operating in sensitive industries.NordLayer secures internet traffic with modern encryption, offers 2FA via SMS or TOTP, and provides SSO options like Azure AD, Google, JumpCloud, Okta, and OneLogin for employee access, enhancing data breach prevention. In terms of encryption, it uses AES 256-bit and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers, which are fairly robust protocols. Most of the protocol settings are set up as default and we would recommend leaving them as is unless you’re an advanced administrator who wishes to set up a more granular policy. Furthermore, there is a kill switch, which acts as a fail-safe mechanism that prevents data leakage in instances where a VPN disconnects.SupportNordLayer offers 24/7 customer support through both email and live chat on their website. For self-service, users can access a comprehensive knowledge base that includes guides for setup and troubleshooting. These resources are particularly helpful for first-time configurations. Subscribers to the Custom plan with 30 or more active licenses also benefit from a dedicated account manager, providing personalized assistance tailored to their specific needs. This support structure ensures that users have ample help, whether through self-guided resources or direct communication with NordLayer experts.AlternativesTwingate is a competitively priced business VPN solution that, like NordLayer, goes beyond basic VPN functionality to include advanced security features. Although its setup process is slightly more complex, Twingate compensates with a free plan for up to 5 users and 1 admin, making it an ideal choice for small teams wanting to test its capabilities before committing to a paid plan.Perimeter 81, with its Secure Network as a Service model, offers a cloud-based alternative to traditional hardware firewalls and VPNs. It provides robust security features, including network segmentation and zero-trust access, at a comparable price point. This makes it a compelling choice for businesses seeking flexible, scalable security solutions without the need for on-premise hardware.Final VerdictNordLayer is quickly becoming a top choice for businesses with remote and hybrid workforces due to its comprehensive security features. The platform offers military-grade encryption, a robust firewall, and a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model to minimize risks from malicious actors. We also admire its clean, user-friendly interface, making setup and management intuitive. While it’s not the most budget-friendly option—especially when compared to competitors offering free plans—NordLayer’s pricing is competitive given the advanced security it provides. It’s an ideal solution for businesses looking for reliable, scalable protection in a remote-work era, with a robust and secure VPN.
With Apple dominating the tablet market, selling over 1 in 3 of all devices sold, Samsung has established itself as the only serious competition, with the Galaxy Tab S series as the flagship model. You know what you’re getting with a Tab S tablet: cutting-edge specs, Samsung’s most advanced features, and arguably the best screens in the business, all at price points that position them directly against Apple’s high-end iPad Pro. Well, the new Tab S10+ fits that profile perfectly. It’s as good as Android tablets get.This year there is no ‘standard’ Tab S10, making the S10+ the most affordable option in the two-strong line-up. With prices starting at £999 and a smaller 12.4in screen, it’s both physically and financially more manageable than the 14.6in/£1199 Tab S10 Ultra, and arguably a more practical choice for many users. But do you miss out on anything by plumping for the S10+, and how does the smaller slate hold up against Apple’s finest?Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: DesignWith a few exceptions, the Galaxy Tab S10+ is basically the Tab S10 Ultra, only smaller. Its 285.4 x 185.4mm frame and 571g weight make it easier to stuff inside a bag or use one-handed, and the Tab S10+ works better in situations where space may be limited or you’re trying to use your tablet on the go. It comes in the same attractive Moonstone Grey and Platinum Silver finishes, with slim bezels around the screen and the module for the front-facing cameras encroaching in at the center of the top or right-hand edge.There’s no headphone socket, just a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, which doubles up for charging (up to 45W) and data transfer (up to 5Gbits/sec). The only features on the rear worth noting are the slightly inset magnetic strip that holds the bundled S-Pen securely in place, and the 13MP and 8MP cameras which sit to one side.Oddly, the S10+ is slightly thicker than the larger S10 Ultra, but only by an unnoticeable fraction of a millimeter. Otherwise, it feels every bit as premium and every bit as robust, with a redesigned framework that’s supposed to protect the tablet from drop damage, and IP68 water and dust resistance to keep it safe out on the road.(Image credit: Future)Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: DisplayThe display is smaller than the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s and it doesn’t go as bright. Where we measured the larger screen hitting 603cd/m2 with SDR content and adaptive brightness turned on, the smaller version maxed out at 497.1cdm/m2. In no other respect could you call it inferior. In fact, the 2800 x 1752 resolution image is spectacularly crisp and clear, with a 266ppi pixel density that beats the Tab S10 Ultra and the 11in iPad Air.What’s more, Samsung’s AMOLED tech gives you stunning contrast, punchy colors, and beautifully subtle darker tones. It covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 92.8% of DCI-P3, and you could use it for editing movies, not just watching them. Having said that, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy Dolby Vision and HDR material, where you can also make the most of the clear and surprisingly rich sound.We think the 12.4in screen size puts the Tab S10+ in something of a sweet spot, giving you a bigger picture and more working space than you’ll get on a standard 11in tablet, without the bulk of the larger 13in and 14in models. It’s great for split-screen multitasking, but there’s not too much in the way of wasted space when you’re working in a single app.The S10+ gets extra credit for having an effective set of cameras. The dual 12MP front-facing cameras are brilliant for video chats and online meetings, with the option of a wide-angle view. The image is bright, detailed, and consistently well-exposed. And while the rear-facing cameras aren’t going to replace a decent smartphone’s, they can still take good shots in most lighting, especially if you don’t make too much use of the digital zoom. For business purposes, you have everything you need.Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: Software and accessoriesSamsung’s S-Pen has long been one of the Tab S range’s killer features, not just because you get it in the box, but because Samsung’s apps assume you’re going to use it. It makes the Tab S10+ a note-taking, document-annotating, idea-sketching machine out of the box, while also working well for navigating complex productivity and design apps.What’s more, Samsung has designed many of its new Galaxy AI features around the S-Pen, transforming handwritten scrawl into editable text or dubious doodles into slightly less awful illustrations or cartoons. You can also rely on Galaxy AI to translate notes, transcribe recordings, and even craft responses in the messaging and chat apps. The results aren’t always perfect – one sample transcription was riddled with misheard nouns and embarrassing mistakes – but there are signs here that Samsung is working out what AI can do to make a tablet more useful in and out of work.The other strength of Samsung’s One UI software is its support for multitasking. Just about every Android tablet now offers split-screen views, but Samsung’s approach is more flexible and – with familiarity – more efficient. What’s more, Samsung’s DEX interface, available at the tap of an icon, transforms One UI into a functional desktop UI, perfect for navigating with the optional AI Book Cover Keyboard or you’re a third-party Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. With resizable, floating windows and a dock, you get a laptop-like experience that’s perfect for more demanding tasks, especially where you need to work across multiple apps.Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: Specs and performance(Image credit: Future)The Tab S10+ doesn’t have the exact same spec as the S10 Ultra. It has Wi-Fi 6E for its network connection rather than the Ultra’s Wi-Fi 7, and the battery capacity is smaller, with 10,090mAh instead of 11,200mAh. But when it comes to the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ CPU and 12GB of RAM, it’s identical. It’s the joint-fastest Android tablet that money can currently buy.This translates to Geekbench 6 scores of 2154 in the single-threaded tests and 7154 in multi-core. To put that in perspective, the Huawei MatePad Pro 12.2 we looked at recently scored 1298 and 4272 in the same tests, while the old Galaxy Tab S9 Plus scored 2115 and 5695. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, the old model was itself no slouch. The S10+ also has some serious 3D horsepower, delivering 30fps in the 3Dmark Wildlife Extreme benchmark, and 13.15fps in the most intensive Steel Nomad Lite test. That might not sound that impressive, but the majority of Android tablets can’t get much above 5 to 10fps in the latter test.The only issue Samsung faces here is that the newest iPad Air and iPad Pro tablets are faster, thanks to their desktop class M2 and M4 processors. There’s an argument that most tablet apps don’t actually need that kind of power, but if you’re looking for maximum performance and the best line-up of professional and creative apps, the iPad Pro is still the way to go. Just bear in mind that the cheapest 13in model will still cost you north of £1250, while the £999 model has a smaller 11in display.Battery life isn’t quite as good as on the iPad Pro or Tab S10+ Ultra. The 11in iPad Pro can last for over 16 hours in our video rundown test, while the bigger Tab S10 can do close to 14 hours. With the S10, the battery ran dry four minutes shy of 13 hours; not a bad result, but a little underwhelming from a tablet that’s exceptional in almost every other way.Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: Is it worth it?The Galaxy Tab S10+ is either the best or second-best Android tablet you can buy, depending on how much you value the additional size of the Ultra model. Through the S-Pen, AI features and the One UI, Samsung has done its best to make it a powerful business tool that can run the most demanding Android apps. It is expensive, but the screen, features, and overall quality do a solid job of justifying the premium price. And while Apple still has the performance advantage and the richer app and service ecosystem, a lot of business users are going to find all they need through web-based apps and the Google Play Store. That’s enough to make the S10+ a viable alternative to a laptop for travel and mobile use – especially with the right accessories. It’s still not going to be your primary PC, but it’s a brilliant sidekick slate.Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+: SpecificationsSwipe to scroll horizontallyCPUMediaTek Dimensity 9300+Row 0 – Cell 2 Display12.2in AMOLED, 2800 x 1752 resolutionRow 1 – Cell 2 Rear cameras13MP – f/2, 8MP wide lens – f/2.2Row 2 – Cell 2 Front camera12MP – f/2.2, 12MP f/2.4Row 3 – Cell 2 RAM12GBRow 4 – Cell 2 Storage256GB, 512GBRow 5 – Cell 2 PortsType-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1)Row 6 – Cell 2 Dimensions (HWD)285.4 x 185.4 x 5.6mmRow 7 – Cell 2 Weight571 gramsRow 8 – Cell 2 Battery10,090mAhRow 9 – Cell 2 Operating systemOne UI 6.1.1 on Android 14Row 10 – Cell 2
As a premium VPN solution, it supports a variety of clients covering Windows, MacOS, and mobile platforms ensuring easy access for remote workforces across all of their devices. Additionally, we should note here that the VPN is tightly integrated with Check Point’s security management platform, tied to other advanced threat detection and prevention tools that the company offers. In simpler terms, the best comprehensive solution can be gained if the entire Check Point package is chosen, since you can get hardware security solutions from Check Point and can easily integrate them into their powerful SmartConsole, an admin dashboard solution.Features like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), and Identity Awareness improve security and ease of use. Furthermore, the Always-ON VPN feature ensures constant security by keeping users connected securely to corporate networks at all times. If you have a need to create temporary users who will be able to access your VPN for a set period of time, you can do so as well. This is ideal for customers visiting your site and needing access to some resources for a few hours or days.Check Point offers a variety of remote access VPN solutions tailored to different business needs. These include Harmony Endpoint for comprehensive endpoint protection, Endpoint Security VPN for IPsec-based connectivity, and Mobile Access Web Portal for clientless SSL VPN access. Additional options include Check Point Mobile for Windows, SecuRemote, and Capsule VPN for iOS and Android, each designed to provide secure connectivity for remote users.Pricing & PlansThough we’re used to enterprise solutions hiding their pricing behind a “must-attend demo session” or directly contacting sales for company pricing, we’re really not fond of this practice. Depending on the number of users you have, you will probably have to choose between one of the mobile access blade tiers. The MOB-U is an unlimited access for unlimited users. The other license levels are MOB-50 and MOB-200 for 50 or 200 concurrent users respectively. The licenses do not stack, complicating the choice.Recently, the company introduced a cloud comprehensive solution named Harmony Endpoint which among other things, under Access Control offers VPN. The advantage here is that you will not have to worry about licensing or the number of users, and could potentially present a better solution if you need comprehensive security and not just a VPN solution.ConfigurationIf you have a Check Point appliance in your company as part of the package, such as the 1530 Appliance, then the configuration of the VPN can be done using the SmartConsole for users accessing resources through the company network. On the left side menu, you will need to navigate to the VPN tab and then, under Blade Control, enable Remote Control and enable SSL VPN. Before you can actually access SSL VPN services you will have to configure them under the SSL Bookmarks section and then add and define the users. Here you can define permanent or temporary users, with the process being manual and time-intensive if you have numerous users to add, as you have to define the user names and passwords yourself.For PC client configuration, there is a wizard once the package has been downloaded that leads you through the setup. You will have to make sure you know all of the details of your network as there is no auto-filling option, even if the PC is in the business network, which unnecessarily complicates the installation process.All in all, we would have liked the setup to be more in line with the modern standards set by commercial clients targeting wider audiences; though we do understand that this is a more complex solution that requires comprehensive networking knowledge and experts who are used to setting up corporate networks and protecting resources.PerformanceQuantum VPN excels in speed and stability, ensuring uninterrupted access to business resources thanks to the powerful hardware in the background. The more powerful the gateway hardware, the better it handles increased remote access users. But that’s not the whole story. Both AMD and Intel have added AES encryption features directly into their CPUs, which helps boost VPN performance.This technology, known as AES New Instructions (AES-NI), allows hardware to handle many encryption tasks more efficiently, reducing the load on software and significantly improving speed and security. This means businesses can support more users with better performance, thanks to these built-in capabilities. Check Point promises AES-NI compatibility (AES-128, AES-256) to be supported by default, ensuring the highest possible performance gains without any hick-ups.Despite all of this, users should note to optimize the interface affinity by enabling multi-queuing, and check that you have no or low fragmented packet rate to ensure the best performance. Finally, despite the powerful hardware and protocols you still need to ensure that you utilize configuration best practices to guarantee the best performance. With all of that being said, Check Point ranks in the top five enterprise VPNs when it comes to performance.Privacy & SecurityOne of the standout features is the IPsec suite. It provides robust security by encrypting data, ensuring that sensitive information is shielded from man-in-the-middle attacks or unauthorized decryption. By leveraging advanced mathematical algorithms and end-to-end encryption, IPsec effectively blocks hacking attempts, keeping data transmissions secure from start to finish.This powerful combination of security protocols makes it an essential tool for protecting business communications and maintaining privacy in enterprise environments. For the mobile app, this feature is available only on Check Point Capsule VPN for Android or Check Point Capsule Connect for iOS.Overall, it offers industry-leading encryption, compliance with GDPR, and no-logging policies. Advanced encryption methods protect sensitive data, and integration with Check Point’s broader security suite enhances overall business security.Check Point actively monitors and addresses emerging VPN threats. In a recent advisory, they urged users to review VPN configurations, highlighting an increase in attacks using weak, password-only authentication. The company swiftly mobilized teams to investigate incidents where outdated login methods were targeted. To enhance security, Check Point recommends disabling unnecessary local accounts and implementing stronger multi-factor authentication methods. They also released a solution to automatically prevent unauthorized access through weak authentication, ensuring customers’ VPNs are better protected against evolving threats.AlternativesIf you’re shopping for an enterprise-wide solution but are not ready to pay the top dollar, then the first alternative could be Fortinet. FortiClient functions as both a firewall and a secure solution for connecting your devices to a VPN. It allows you to link your entire office on a secure VPN, enabling easy and safe data sharing. With FortiClient, you can access office archives and files remotely, providing flexibility for on-the-go work. It’s a fast and reliable network with minimal maintenance needs, making it a great choice for businesses looking to streamline their remote access and security.An additional alternative is Cisco’s AnyConnect; which offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your data stays protected, while its adaptive security policies help guard against threats. With support for multiple devices and platforms, AnyConnect makes it easy to connect teams and manage remote access securely. Its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Cisco security tools make it a versatile alternative thanks to a more streamlined setup process and a clearer pricing structure.Final VerdictCheck Point Quantum VPN is a high-end solution for enterprises that are best utilized as the entire package combining hardware and software to provide comprehensive, company-wide security. With that being said, you will have to pay much more for such an approach, but you can then be sure you have one of the best solutions on the market. Set up is a bit more complex, but the client-side software (mobile apps) have clean UI’s and are logically laid out and easy to use overall. Moreover, if you’re in charge of backend maintenance through the admin console, you will also be greeted by a modern UI that seamlessly transitions between tabs and provides single-click solutions for most of the configurations.While it may be overkill for small businesses, it’s a worthy investment for large-scale operations prioritizing security, knowing that you have a reliable partner for company cyber security that stays abreast of new threat development. If you’re on a tighter budget then one of the suggested alternatives could be a solid choice as they provide solid features for less money.
A few specific Christmas movies influenced Dallas Jenkins when making his own upcoming Christmas flick, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, but there were also a few non-holiday movies that also inspired him.Most filmmakers can pinpoint a few films that they look up to when making specific titles. Most of the time, the movies that inspire them are from the same genre, but in Dallas Jenkins’ (who is also the creator and director of the wildly popular religious series The Chosen) case when he was directing an adaptation of the 1972 book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, he looked to some projects that have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.The movie, which officially comes out on Friday, November 8, follows the Herdmans, a family of children who end up hijacking the local church’s Christmas Pageant and are described as “the worst kids in the history of the world.”5 Big Movies Influenced Dallas Jenkins When Making The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant EverIn an exclusive interview with The Direct while promoting his upcoming film, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Dallas Jenkins revealed which classic Christmas movies influenced him the most while filming.Jenkins began by revealing that “the most influential movie in [his] life is It’s A Wonderful Life,” indicating that that was a major influence on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. However, he also directly named A Christmas Story due to how both it and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever feature “an adult narrating through their eyes as a child:””Yeah, what’s interesting is the most influential movie in my life is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ It’s my favorite movie of all time. I watch it every year. So that’s always going to be an influence, especially when you’re doing a Christmas movie. ‘A Christmas Story’ is an obvious one. It’s got narration like this movie does. It’s an adult narrating through their eyes as a child.”However, Jenkins also mentioned a few other movies that greatly influenced The Best Christmas Pageant Ever which are not part of the Christmas genre. One of those other films was Babe, which is a 1995 flick about a piglet who isn’t instantly accepted by the other animals on the farm he lives on.The other two movies that Jenkins mentioned were “the Paddington movies,” which the director referred to as “masterpieces:””But honestly, there’s a couple other movies that aren’t Christmas movies, like ‘Babe’ or ‘Paddington.’ The ‘Paddington’ movies, which are just masterpieces, ‘Paddington’ one and two, because they have that timeless feel, and they’re funny, but they feel real. It’s, you know, it doesn’t get too slap-sticky.”The director also mentioned how “all good classic Christmas movies have a lot of humor,” which is something he strived for, but he also wanted to make sure The Best Christmas Pageant Ever “felt real.” He went on to talk about how there are “maybe even more tears an emotion” in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever than there is in “most Christmas classics:””I really wanted it to feel funny, yes, and all good Christmas movies, classic Christmas movies, have a lot of humor, but I ultimately wanted to make sure that when we got to the meaningful part, that it felt real, that it didn’t feel like we’re in a place that doesn’t actually exist. And so I think that this movie has maybe even more tears and emotion than most Christmas classics that I’ve loved, because I think we grounded it in enough reality that it felt like something that we could really feel was reflective of our own experience.”When asked what he wanted audiences to take away from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Jenkins mentioned that there were two main things, with the first being “the final words of the movie,” which are, “Unto you a child is born:””I think there’s two things that are really important to me for the audience to take away. One is the final words of the movie from Lauren Graham, ‘Unto you a child is born.’ We’ve heard that phrase before. It’s been in songs. It’s what the angels said to the shepherds when they announced that Jesus was born. And I think that truth of what that actually means, that Jesus came as a humble servant, born in a stable.”The other main message that the director wants people to take with them when they walk out of the theater is “how we think of other people,” and mainly “people who are different than us:”” It’s not the typical thing we think of when we think of conquering kings, or when we think of the nativity that always looks so bright and cheery and so the truth of the nativity story is something that I really want people to take away, but also how we think of other people. People who are different than us, people who come from the other side of the tracks, people that we consider other, that we would maybe reconsider that and that ignorance isn’t always bliss, that maybe knowing and understanding people and making sure that they’re seen can not only help them, but actually teach us something new as well.”The Direct also spoke to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever lead actors Judy Greer and Pete Holmes, who echoed Jenkins’ sentiments about why the movie is so special and why they think it will resonate with audiences.Specifically, Holmes stated that he is “thrilled to be in something that [he] can see” with his family and a movie “that is true to the spirit of Christmas.” Holmes, who is also a comedian, jokingly added that he likes the movie because it “doesn’t have Judy (Greer) in an ape outfit,” referencing her casting in the Planet of the Apes films:”And I’ll sidle up to that comment and say that now I’m a dad. I have a six year old. I’m thrilled to be in something that we can all see as a family together that is true to the spirit of Christmas, and doesn’t have Judy in an ape outfit, which is not my favorite Greer.”Greer revealed that she “[loves] the message of this movie,” and that it features “a gorgeous message about acceptance and being non-judgmental and having an open heart:””I love the message of this movie, and that’s, yes, he was right. I’ve always wanted to be in a big Christmas movie, but the message of this film is so beautiful. And it’s really like, it’s like the inside of the cake, the frosting is that it’s so funny and it’s charming, and it’s sweet and it’s beautiful looking, like it’s shot so well, and then you have, like, hidden underneath all that is this, like gorgeous message about acceptance and being non-judgmental and having an open heart.”One of the biggest elements of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are the children and how they impact the story, and to say that there are a lot of kids in the movie would be an understatement.When asked about what it was like working with so many children, Greer admitted that she is “not used to working with that many children,” and that, at one point, she had to take a step back and take it all in:”I’m not used to working with that many children, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t really think much about it until I actually got to set. Then I was like, ‘Whoa.'”Holmes chimed in and said what Greer stated was true, and that she even said, “‘I didn’t really think about this practically.'”Greer continued by saying she “[got] so sucked into the story and the message” that she didn’t fully think about how many kids she would be working with:”I know it’s like, you read a script, and I get so sucked into the story and the message, and then like, you know it’s gonna be so fun, and we’re gonna shoot in Winnipeg, and it’s Dallas Jenkins and yada yada. And then all of a sudden they get on set, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, there are so many children here.'”Holmes jokingly stated that Greer would “have a coffee cup with a flask” before Greer ultimately revealed that “[she] would do it over and over and over and over again.” The Halloween (2018) and Ant-Man actress also talked about how “amazing” all of the kids were and even admitted that “they were so much more well-behaved than” she and Holmes were:”That being said, I would do it over and over and over and over again, especially with this group, they were amazing. They were so much more well-behaved than we were on set and and they just added, you know, kids like they can’t help but add themselves. I mean, the great ones, and I think ours are great, can’t help but add themselves to the character.”Jenkins jokingly agreed that “the kids were sometimes easier” to handle than Holmes and Greer, but the director ultimately praised both actors and the performances they gave in the film.Specifically, he stated that “they are great comedic actors” but can both “shift towards the emotion” in the snap of a finger:”Well, everyone asks, ‘How was it like handling all these kids? That must have been chaotic.’ I’m like, ‘The kids were sometimes easier than Judy and Pete.’ I had to corral them just as much. No, I love them. They were fantastic. I’m so proud of their performances. But yeah, they are great comedic actors, and what makes them even better is that they can, on a dime, shift towards the emotion that you see in the movie. And so it’s very hard to pull that off, but they understand timing, they understand humor, pathos. They’ve got all the moves.”Jenkins also praised Lauren Graham, who briefly appeared in the film near the end but served as the narrator throughout. Grouping her with Holmes and Greer, Jenkins stated that “[he] was really fortunate” and knew he was “in good hands:””I was really fortunate. So when you’ve got a movie with Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes, you’re in good hands as a director, and I think it really played out on screen.”As Jenkins mentioned, there is a lot of comedy in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and likely one reason that an actor like Pete Holmes was able to elevate the comedic elements of the film is due to his career in comedy.Alongside acting, Holmes entertains fans through stand-up comedy (he is on tour as of writing). It is also worth noting that, at one time, he even hosted his own late-night show on TBS called The Pete Holmes Show.When asked which specific scenes Holmes let his improv skills shine in, he made sure to mention that “Dallas really is a comedy fan.”However, while thinking of moments that weren’t scripted, Greer pointed out that there was one during “the dinner” where Holmes’ character states that a frozen dinner “smells like loneliness:””The dinner. The ‘smells like…’ That was funny. When you’re eating the frozen dinner and you say, ‘It smells like loneliness’ or something.”Holmes then recalled that scene as well, while also noting another scene where he tells his on-screen wife (Greer’s character) to not “tell [him] when it’s wrong,” but to instead “just tell [him] when it’s right.” In Holmes’ eyes, he felt that that line (which was not in the script) was “like the non-confrontational confrontation of a long-married couple:””Oh, and I say it smells like, yeah, it just smells like you haven’t been home for awhile. And there were moments where I’m like, setting up the Christmas tree, and I don’t know why this tickled Dallas so much. I said, ‘Don’t tell me when it’s wrong. I’ll assume that it’s wrong. Just tell me when it’s right,’ which just felt like the non-confrontational confrontation of a long married couple, and that wasn’t in the script.”The actor and comedian also directly referenced a scene where he is “slipping around” while “putting the tree on the car,” noting that his actions were “not in the script” and that he “was very happy anytime a moment like that” made it into the final cut:”I was very happy anytime a moment like that got in there. Or like when I’m putting the tree on the car and I’m slipping around that is not in the script. Nobody told anybody to do that. And Lord, I did it so much. I loved doing it.”The actors also spent some time praising the work of director Dallas Jenkins. When asked what it was like to work with the man behind The Chosen (a show which just announced when its next season will come out), Greer noted how passionate he was about making the movie and making it the right way, especially since “he was so desperate” to adapt it for so long:”No, the best thing about Dallas, and there’s so many great things about working with him, is just his passion for the project. And it’s really, it’s strange to me, sometimes when I go to work on a job and you think like the director doesn’t even seem like they want to be there. Like there couldn’t be anything more opposite than Dallas. Like he was desperate to make this movie. He hung on to this idea for literally years, knowing that he was going to do it someday, having faith that that would happen, and when he got the reins of it like he just made the most beautiful version of this story that I could imagine.”Greer also pointed out how much energy Jenkins had on set, as well as how “he was so happy all the time:””And every single step of the way, he had more energy than all of us. He was so happy all the time. He was so excited to be at work. Like he seems like, almost not human in his ability to like, not even be cold when it’s very, very cold and outside (in) Winnipeg in the winter time.”Holmes made sure to point out that Jenkins “has the physique of a terminator robot” due to the amount of push-ups he performed on set and that it was “as if he was made by cybernetic systems.”Jenkins also talked about his passion for the story in general. While the movie is his creation, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was first a book released in 1972 that Jenkins has enjoyed with his family for many years.When asked about what the book meant to him, Jenkins held up the very first copy that he has owned for 20 years and talked about how he was “ugly crying” when he read it to his children for the first time:”I actually have the copy of the book that my wife brought home 20 years ago. It’s all dog-eared and messed up just because I’ve had it for 20 years. And when I was reading it to my kids, I had read it as a kid, but I didn’t remember a whole lot about it. Just because it’s been out, as you know, for a long time. But as I’m reading it, I’m loving the laughs, the Christmas of it, the timelessness of it, the nostalgia. But I get to the last chapter and I am crying so hard I can’t read. I’m just ugly crying.”Jenkins then talked about the timelessness of the story and how “the message is so resonant” with him:”And my wife takes the book from me, and she starts reading it to the kids, and we’re just basically passing it back and forth, trying to get through it, because the message is so resonant, and that’s what is timeless about it. The Herdmans, who are described in the book as ‘the worst kids in the history of the world,’ that’s what the other kids think. They come from the wrong side of the tracks. They’re in poverty. Their parents are absentee.”The director also pointed out that one of the biggest takeaways from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is that the Herdmans, who are seen as the villains of the town and of Christmas, “are actually closer to the truth of the story than everyone else:””And when they hijack this Christmas pageant, you think it’s going to be horrible, but because of their poverty and because of their unique perspective, they’re actually closer to the truth of the story than everyone else.”Jenkins then mentioned that the Christmas story of how Jesus “came in a barn and as a humble servant” is a story “for everyone,” no matter who they are or where they come from:”That message of seeing others differently than how we perceive sometimes, making sure that we know that this story, this Christmas story, is for everyone, and that maybe the things we take for granted about the story, the fact that Jesus came in a barn and as a humble servant, not as a conquering king, those things are, I think, more resonant now than ever. Especially during an election season, when we are so divided and we think of people who are in other tribes as being other.”While it has already been confirmed, many fans (especially of country music) will find a bit of a surprise once the credits roll for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and that surprise is Blake Shelton performing the song “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”When asked how the country star got involved with the movie and how he ultimately came to record a song to go at the end of the film, Jenkins revealed that it happened after Shelton publicly talked about “how much he loves The Chosen:””So, we see Blake tweet, or X, or whatever you want to call it now, how much he loves ‘The Chosen.’ And then his wife, Gwen Stefani, is commenting how she’s obsessed. And I’m like, ‘I love both of these artists.’ And so when we were looking for a song to kind of bring the movie to a close, we were thinking about various artists who could do it, and we thought, ‘Well, maybe Blake Shelton would consider it, if he’s such a ‘Chosen’ fan.'”Jenkins was ultimately right. According to the director, Shelton got back in touch with him and not only “loves Christmas,” but “loves [Jenkins’] work:””So, on the set of ‘The Chosen’ while I was filming Season 5, I made a video that I sent to Blake, and I said, through his manager, I said, ‘Hey, would you consider doing a song for this movie?’ Turns out he loves Christmas, loves my work, and was honored to do it. And so we suggested ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain.’ And he did what I think is my favorite version of ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ I’ve ever heard.””Having Blake Shelton kind of bring the movie to a close” was something that was ultimately very special to Jenkins and something that he called “a huge honor:””And so having Blake Shelton kind of bring the movie to a close with such a great message and great lyrics and he just brought it for the song, it really captured the spirit of the movie. And so it was a huge honor to have that in my film.”A special release of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will hit theaters on Saturday, November 2, and the film will officially release on Friday, November 8.
The Central Somerville Avenue Project aspires to become a hub of artistic and technical innovation.
By Katherine Davis
On October 28 the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development kicked off its first meeting regarding the Central Somerville Avenue Project, the area also known as the stretch between Market Basket and Conway Park.
The idea of the Central Somerville Avenue Project is not new, the city and the impacted community have been working for around 4.5 years to preserve the artist/maker and also grow the climate tech industries simultaneously, the interim Director of Somerville’s Planning Preservation and Zoning, Dan Bartman, saying “We’re really trying to not redo everything, but bring all of those loose threads together and come to a consensus so that we can move forward into the future.”
Opening discussion to the public is the next step in order to provide the necessary input needed by the Development Office to ensure the final plans for this area are handled with respect and efficiency. Mayor Ballantyne officially started the meeting by saying that the main concern of the Mayor’s Office is, “How do we ensure that our city continues to thrive as a hub of innovation and economic growth while protecting the creative spaces that have been at the heart of our community for so long?”
In order to accomplish the balance between the arts and science in the Central Somerville Avenue area, this meeting proposed a Five Point Plan:
Clarify zoning language addressing arts and office / laboratory uses. 2. Draft a research and development zoning district for start-ups and incubators. 3. Update the SomerVision map to accommodate potential redevelopment areas. 4. Create an Urban Design Framework to guide future development. 5. Write a zoning overlay district to allow for expansion of the research and development uses.
Speakers from the three stakeholders involved in this project gave presentations on the importance of this issue, and the multiple perspectives of who will be impacted by the changes that could or will ultimately occur with the Central Somerville Avenue stretch. These three groups that made up the Stakeholders panel were the Union Square Neighborhood Council (USNC), the #ArtStaysHere and Don’t F With Fab movement, and lastly SomerNova.
The meeting also included a brief section on the history of the area, and an important note was made by the Senior Planner with the Planning Preservation & Zoning Division, Sarah White, which was that “You can’t have the large industries without the small businesses, [and] without the residents, so it’s this absolute constellation of moving parts and this symbiotic relationship between the big and the small and the medium and everything.”
The plan moving forward for the project before the next meeting is straightforward. The first is to submit zoning amendments, which has already been completed. These are as follows: the Arts and Creative Enterprise and Office Use Category Changes, the Research & Development or Laboratory Use Category Changes, and the New “Research & Development” Zoning District. The second is to form a stakeholder group which involves consolidating prior work from the last 4.5 years, and determining the redevelopment potential of SomerNova.
The hope of the group is to have the project’s drafts relatively wrapped up before the Christmas holiday. Future meetings and key dates to mark on calendars are:
November 12, 2024 Central Somerville Avenue Topic Summary Public Meeting – Civic Space and Mobility
November 18, 2024 Central Somerville Avenue Topic Summary Public Meeting – Infrastructure and Zoning
December 02, 2024 Central Somerville Avenue Public Presentation of Drafts
To gain an in-depth understanding of the project and its processes, access presentation slides, and make your voice heard to the city, visit voice.somervillema.gov
Politics
Trump ‘won fair and square’: Business leaders from Mark Cuban to David Sacks react to election result
Noah Sheidlower,
Alice Tecotzky,
Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, and
Beatrice Nolan
2024-11-06T11:14:53Z
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The business world was divided in the run-up to the election.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Business leaders have been reacting to Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.Silicon Valley was politically divided in the run-up to the election.Here is what some of the most influential business figures have to say about the election outcome.
What do the brain map of the fruit fly, the location of exoplanet WASP-77 A b, the identification of antibiotic resistance in the bacterium Escherichia coli and crop security of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta) in Uganda have in common? They are all the subjects of breakthroughs made possible by citizen scientists.Members of the public have long engaged in scientific pursuits — they were recording locust outbreaks in China nearly 2,000 years ago, for example. Today, amateur researchers can help to track endangered animals, record weather events and hunt for galaxies.Use citizen science to turbocharge big-data projectsBut chemistry can seem out of reach for amateur scientists, with its laboratory work technicalities and essential safety protocols. These concerns are valid — yet surmountable, as my foray into participative chemistry shows.In 2015, I was struggling to make enough samples for a research project. My colleague Julia Parker and I wanted to understand the formation of calcium carbonate — a compound found in natural materials ranging from chalk and pearl to the shells of eggs and molluscs.Pure calcium carbonate comes in three crystalline forms — calcite, vaterite and aragonite. In nature, amino acids and proteins determine which type is made, but it’s unclear how. We aimed to explore the effects of various additives, their concentrations and reaction times. But it would have taken us about 200 days to make the 1,000 samples we wanted, plus the time needed to clean mountains of glassware. We couldn’t fit this around our other commitments.But we realized that secondary schools use most of the chemicals needed, and so pupils, teachers and lab technicians might be able to help us. We approached 110 schools through national teaching networks and advertising in the media, asking for 10 samples per school. We named the effort Project M, after 1,000 in Roman numerals.Data on SDGs are riddled with gaps. Citizens can helpProject M scientists synthesized calcium carbonate with certain additives. They weighed starting materials, mixed and filtered solutions, dried the resulting powders and prepared them for characterization — keeping rigorous records. They sent us their samples and we ran a 24-hour experiment to reveal the crystals’ structures.In the end, 80% of the schools participated, and 20% of these did not send the 10 samples requested, because some teachers could not fit the experiments — two sessions of 45 minutes each — into their tight curricula. From the 659 suitable samples we received, we identified additives that favoured or deterred the formation of vaterite, and found that the structure of calcite expands to incorporate additives, but that of vaterite doesn’t (C. A. Murray et al. CrystEngComm 26, 753–763; 2024).When I tell fellow chemists and other scientists about Project M, many ask if school samples can be trusted. Some wonder whether we sacrificed scientific rigour. We did not.Any results are only as good as the experiment’s design and data. We carefully designed a robust protocol, working with teachers. We found out what equipment they had; we provided chemicals, filter paper and funnels; we used units and terms that schools were familiar with. The schools ran control tests and repeated measurements.Trust goes both ways. Just as chemists must be able to trust the data provided by citizen scientists, participants must be able to understand the aim and steps of a project. Our team built a website to allow all participants to check their results, identify which structure they had made and compare their results with others.There are risky experiments that amateur chemists should not perform. But the contents of a secondary-school lab hold more possibilities than you might have thought. And many teachers have done chemistry degrees, research or lab work. Their expertise can set experiments up for success.Asteroid collisions show how much amateur astronomers have to offerCitizen scientists, like professional ones, have various motivations. Fantastic participative chemistry projects can be initiated or led by non-chemists. Some existing ones are grounded in local, traditional or Indigenous communities — such as an effort by women in Yolombó, Colombia, to map mercury contamination from mines, and a project by members of the Shinnecock Nation to monitor water quality and track microbial sources in Shinnecock Bay, New York.Many Project M students told us how proud they were to be taking part in a real research project. Teachers were keen to reuse skills from their degrees. And our colleagues were excited about our unusual collaborators.The project was a lot of work — it took two years for us to even approach schools — but it was much more enriching than making all the samples ourselves. We learnt a lot (see C. A. Murray et al. Front. Commun. 8, 1229616; 2023). If we were to embark on such a collaboration again, we would provide better visual resources for the students to present to their peers, create an online community for teachers and ask each school for fewer samples.For me, the most rewarding part of Project M is that it led to meaningful science. We explored a chemical space that was too vast to tackle on our own, with some incredibly enthusiastic collaborators. I was surprised by their insights and their commitment to rigour. And we expanded the range of people who might see themselves as chemists.The world is full of budding scientists ready to make and break chemical bonds. Their curiosity can lead you down (reaction) pathways you never expected.
By Harry Howard, History Editor Published: 06:04 EST, 6 November 2024 | Updated: 07:04 EST, 6 November 2024