Author Mark McAvaney was thrilled to return to Clare for his book signing and meet Gypsey Sandow. (Jaynie Morris: 444369) – Advertisement – Jaynie Morris Clare Valley is centre stage for international Author, Mark McAvaney’s new book – For Everything a Time. – Advertisement – Originally from Clare, Mr McAvaney moved to London 22 years…
A boat named Sea Story has reportedly sunk off the coast of Egypt. Dozens of tourists, near a popular diving spot, Shaab Satayah, close to the tourist resort of Marsa Alam. The alarm was raised by a crew member at approximately 5.30am this morning, prompting the coastguard to launch a search operation, reports the Mirror.…
A new publisher has claimed it aims to “disrupt” the books industry by publishing 8,000 books in 2025 alone using artificial intelligence (AI). Spines, founded in 2021 but which published its first titles this year, is a startup technology business which—for a fee—is offering the use of AI to proofread, produce, publish and distribute books. The company charges up to $5,000 a book, but it can take just three weeks to go from a manuscript to a published title.
Spines isn’t the only tech firm trying to make its mark on publishing. Last week tech giant Microsoft launched its own imprint, 8080 Books, in order to accelerate it, telling the Guardian that “technology has quickened the pace of almost every industry except publishing”. While ByteDance, the company behind the video-sharing platform TikTok, also announced that it will start selling print books in bookshops from early next year, published under its own imprint, 8th Note Press.
Spines recently secured $16m in seed funding and claims to have so far published 273 titles in 2024, 33 of which were published on the same day in September. “We want to publish up to 8,000 books next year. The goal is to help a million authors publish their books,” Yehuda Niv, c.e.o and co-founder of Spines told The Bookseller.
Niv said he realised “three years ago that the publishing industry was about to be disrupted by this emerging technology named AI”. At the time, he ran a hybrid publisher and publishing services business in Israel called Niv Books. “I realised I had two options: either to be made irrelevant by AI, or to lead this opportunity in the world,” he said.
Of course, AI is already “disrupting” the publishing industry, with last week’s news that HarperCollins US is asking some of its non-fiction authors for permission to license their books to Microsoft to train its large language models (LLMs), following on from a slew of university presses, including Sage, Taylor & Francis and Wiley, who have already made deals offering tech firms their backlists to train chatbots and other AI tools. In early November, The Bookseller reported that Simon & Schuster-owned Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK) was “trialling” the use of AI to translate a limited number of its titles into English.
Like Microsoft’s 8080 Books, Spines has a focus on speed. Niv claimed the platform can reduce the time it takes to publish a book from six to 18 months, to two to three weeks. He claimed authors are willing to pay “tens of thousands” on publishing services for self-published books, but Spines costs $1,200 to $5,000 to automate proofreading, cover design, metadata optimisation and limited translation services, starting with Spanish.
Authors pay for the publishing services and retain 100% of their royalties as well as rights to their words once their books are in the world, which looks like self-publishing. Niv, however, claims Spines “isn’t self-publishing, is not a traditional publisher and is not a vanity publisher”. He added: “We are a publishing platform. That’s a new concept.”
Continued…
Business-related air travel is driving record growth at Michigan’s third-busiest airport, which is in the early stages of planning a $120 million expansion to meet demand. More Traverse City residents than ever are using the Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) for both business and leisure travel, spurring unprecedented growth for the airport located only about 2…
Alongside the current road network, the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), representing Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the area, has advocated constructing a railway corridor connecting all member nations.
The proposition was presented after their first exhibition and workshop, which was held from November 21 to November 23 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The event, which the ESBC arranged in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Ivory Coast, brought together small business owners from around the region, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The alliance emphasized how difficult it is for SMEs in the ECOWAS subregion to transport goods and services.
They underlined the necessity of improving product and people movement, communication, and understanding cross-border trade commitments.
Although ECOWAS has affirmed that people and commodities can transit freely under current procedures, it made it clear that formalities and customs charges must still be followed.
Resolving Trade And Transportation Obstacles
According to NAN, ESBC members offered a variety of solutions to transportation-related issues at the meeting.
They demanded an end to corruption and cross-border harassment, which they blamed on the introduction of needless tariffs.
They also recommended that local Small Business Coalitions (SBCs) be given the authority to grant entrepreneurs certificates of origin to expedite trade procedures.
In order to improve SBCs’ ability to assist SMEs, the alliance also suggested creating online training platforms.
Ideas For Enhancing Information And Funding Accessibility
The alliance also emphasized the significance of information access for SMEs’ success and encouraged them to utilize frameworks like the ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
They demanded that more people be aware of these programs that assist SMEs in overcoming trade obstacles.
Additionally, according to sources, the coalition emphasized the necessity of ECOWAS-wide fiscal policy harmonization and counseled SMEs to select appropriate business models and seek advice from consulting firms for improved direction.
Sustainable Development And Innovation For SMEs
The coalition also discussed how the region’s SMEs must be more innovative and sustainable to become more competitive.
To assist companies in expanding internationally, they suggested training programs emphasizing certification, effective technology transfer, and more research.
The group noted that although SMEs have financing options, many small enterprises find it difficult to obtain these funds because of a lack of resources and a low absorption capacity.
In response, they recommended concentrating on advancing fresh business concepts appropriate for African conditions and drawing inspiration from the economic growth strategies of the BRICS countries.
Future Plans To Support SMEs
To help SMEs in the area even more, ESBC suggested a number of measures.
These included building a specialised bank for financing SMEs, creating an ESBC television network to increase awareness, and formulating plans to promote a single currency throughout ECOWAS.
In order to enhance logistics, they also demanded the opening of international shipping lines and the abolition of financial and customs restrictions. The group suggested improving landlocked countries’ access to ports to meet their demands.
The ESBC concluded that much more needs to be done to improve the growth and competitiveness of SMEs in the ECOWAS region, especially in financing, innovation, and facilitating cross-border commerce.
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Overtourism needs to be tackled jointly by the Spanish and UK travel industries, delegates at this year’s Aito Overseas Conference have heard.The message came during a sustainability panel debate at the conference in the lesser-known city of Valladolid in Spain, described as one of the country’s “hidden gems”.Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, said: “We have to face the responsibility of tourism. Tourism is a social right but there is no easy solution.“We have to build a solution between the Britons and Spaniards, we have to think together about the measures we take and see it an holistic way. We have lost the point of tourism, which is to meet other people.”Butler called for a “new business model” to be created with careful consideration given to the all stakeholders.Comparing Spain’s tourism growth as a child becoming an adult, he stressed the importance of mature destinations now having to reinvent themselves.“Tourism is now an adult and has responsibilities. We have got to get all the stakeholders involved. The key element is that we have to build a new business and collaboration between the British and Spanish industries will be key to invent this,” he said.Also speaking on the panel, Experience Travel Group co-founder and director Sam Clark said there were “huge opportunities and challenges” for tour operators to help tourist boards battle overtourism.“For us as specialist operators, there are huge opportunities to show people places where people welcome you. It’s up to us to help curate that experience,” he said, adding: “We create experiences on the ground, that needs to be done in collaboration with communities and people in the community need to see the benefit [of tourism]. There needs to be a reciprocal exchange.”In Spain, cities are already starting to take action individually to tackle overtourism, said Butler, with Barcelona (pictured) recently announcing a crackdown on apartment owners renting out their accommodation to tourists from November 2028.“There are new rules in different parts of Spain where there are limits being imposed on tourist flats or tourism taxes are being adopted or increased. Cities can decide what measures they want to impose,” he said.Following high profile protests in parts of Spain on overtourism, the tourist board has also launched the campaign ‘Spain For All’ with another themed ‘Stay Longer, Discover More’ to launch next year.Speaking afterwards, Butler outlined plans to bring representatives from eight different municipalities in Spain to the UK in the spring of next year to talk to the trade about their sustainability plans.A special event will be held for the trade in London where representatives from Torremolinos; Loret de Mar; Benidorm; Arona; Adeje; Alvia; San Bartolomé de Tirajana; and Salou, will meet UK tour operators.
Moviegoers at the Waterville Opera House watch “Sages-Femmes (Midwifes)” at the 27th Maine International Film Festival. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
These days it feels like there’s not a lot to be thankful for.
But there is.
I’ve been writing this column, with its mandate to find a Maine movie story each week, since 2010. And while I’ve got plenty of individual, 2024-vintage thanks to go around, the deadline-watching writer in me is indeed thankful that the job has only gotten easier.
That’s thanks to the dedication, creativity and sheer bloody-minded stubbornness that has marked the Maine film industry over the past 14 years. There are more films, more filmmakers, more festivals, more scrappy, independent-minded venues.
Maine isn’t Hollywood, or New York, or even a state with an economic philosophy to encourage film and TV production. (Look below for a big thank-you to those working to fix that.) If you’re making movies in Maine, it’s because you want to, or have to. Thankfully (there’s that word again), experience has taught me that Maine filmmakers – and filmgoers – don’t have to do it alone.
I’m thankful to Maine moviemakers making their voices heard.
This year, I spoke with USM graduate Mariah Larocque, who turned her all-too-real life story of sexual abuse into the bracing short, “Good Morning Sunshine.” The now award-winning film is gutsy and inspiring, particularly in a 2024 America where women are too often disbelieved while their abusers rise in power and prestige.Advertisement
A scene from “Heritable,” Eli Kao’s satirical film about what makes a real Mainer. Photo courtesy of “Heritable”
Same goes for Belfast native Eli Kao, whose cheeky but insightful short “Heritable” asked the deceptively complex question, “Are you a Mainer?” Examining the way that race and perceived “otherness” act to exclude some Mainers from the state’s official narrative, Kao’s film satirizes old ideas about nativism, all while embracing the absurdity.
Meanwhile, fellow Belfast native Jim Merkel’s “Saving Walden’s World” offers up a practical and timely depiction of societies combatting that looming climate crisis the incoming administration keeps telling you is no big deal. It is.
I’m thankful for Mainers keeping the past alive.
There are the dedicated preservationists at Portland’s Kinonik, who lovingly collect, restore and exhibit films on film, the way they were meant to be seen.
There are Maine’s independent arthouse cinemas like Belfast’s Colonial Theatre, Brunswick’s Eveningstar Cinema, Boothbay Harbor’s Harbor Theater, The Strand in Rockland, and The Lincoln in Damariscotta. Like Kinonik, these temples to the movies are run (and attended) by people who care about moviegoing as an experience.
Portland doesn’t have its own arthouse theater any more. (Movies on Exchange St., how we miss you), but here’s to mixed-use venues like Space, The Apohadion Theater and PMA Films for seeking out and bringing the best and the weirdest to us weekly.
And this lifelong video store clerk and aficionado can only give it up to Belfast’s Opera House Video, still keeping the video store dream alive in a streaming wasteland. I salute you.Advertisement
I’m thankful that Maine-made movies are making waves outside the state.
Maine filmmakers work their industrious, adaptable, ingenious butts off, so I get a jolt of energy whenever I see a Maine-made movie hitting the big time. This year saw successful national releases of “The Ghost Trap” (whose Maine cred stems from its locations and Mainer K Stephens’ source novel), Waldo County indie maverick Matt Enos’ martial arts comedy “Battle Legends: The Legend of the Battle Master” and Billy Hanson’s icy Maine monster-military thriller “Bone Cold,” among others.
Zak Steiner as lobsterman Jamie in “The Ghost Trap.” Photos courtesy of Khanlarian Entertainment
Sure, we champion all things Maine around here, but it’s about time the rest of the world starts to recognize as well.
I’m thankful for Maine film festivals who bring the movie world to us.
Speaking of easy, there’s nothing more of a no-brainer than strapping in to write about one of the growing number of excellent Maine film festivals we’re blessed with during the year. I mean, except that these bulk movie experiences routinely feature more great movies – from Maine and around the world – than I can possible squeeze into a single article.
OK, so it’s not easy. But it is a treat to speak to the hard working film fanatics who lovingly curate and run the Maine International Film Festival, the Camden International Film Festival, the Maine Jewish Film Festival, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival, Damnationland, the French language Champlain Film Festival, the Maine Deaf Film Festival, Biddeford’s brand-new Vacationland Film Festival and more. (Pro tip: Always buy the festival pass and then go nuts.)
I’m thankful for Maine lawmakers trying to ensure Maine-set movies are filmed here too.
I wrote in the last legislative session about L.D. 1075, a bill to encourage film and TV production in Maine through tax incentives and other financial benefits. These are the perks that see even good Maine-set movies (like this year’s “Lost on a Mountain in Maine”) mock up more film-friendly states to look like Maine. Meanwhile, Maine gets zero free publicity, no lucrative jobs for Maine professionals, and we have to hear from-away actors sound like they’re from Mars rather than Machias.
So thank you to Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Mattie Daughtry, Rep. Traci Gere, Sen. Henry Ingwerson, Rep. Amy Roeder – keep fighting the good fight.
And finally, I’m thankful for all you readers out there.
Movies have always made me feel like I’m part of a bigger, more interesting world. Writing about movies and coming into contact with people who make, enjoy and read about movies is almost as good. Now get out of the house, support a local Maine theater, filmmaker or venue, and have some fun, you kooks. Happy Thanksgiving.
Dennis Perkins is a freelance writer who lives in Auburn with his wife and cat.
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CONCORD — Cabarrus County’s official destination marketing organization, the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, honored the area’s hospitality and tourism professionals on Thursday, Nov. 21, during their 11th Annual Celebrate Cabarrus and Golden Helmet Awards event.“Cabarrus County is home to an incredible collection of offerings that are each unique in their own way,” said Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO Donna Carpenter. “Like a kaleidoscope, when they come together, the inherently welcoming and awe-inspiring nature of this destination shines even brighter. We’re thankful for every one of our partners and are honored to work alongside them to foster an amazing visitor experience in Cabarrus County.”The 2024 Celebrate Cabarrus honorees and Golden Helmet Award recipients are:Housekeeping Employees of the Year
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Cabarrus County CVB President and CEO Donna Carpenter, left, is shown with the Housekeepers of the Year.
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Top Visitor Center ReferralsLinda Albers, Hendrick MotorsportsVolunteer of the YearSandra Watson-CorbyRestaurant of the YearGianni’s TrattoriaHometown HeroTrevor Wilt, Kannapolis Cannon BallersHotel of the YearCourtyard by Marriott Charlotte/ConcordAttraction of the YearConcord MillsSmall Business of the YearJustin Moore, SublmnlOutstanding AmbassadorDirk Vanderleest, Concord-Padgett Regional AirportHospitality Professional of the YearKenny Robinson, Cabarrus Arena & Events CenterDestination Visionary AwardCharlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway officials accepted the Destination Visionary Award.
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Unsung HeroPatrick Helm, Jay M. Robinson High School
Jay M. Robinson High School Athletic Director Patrick Helm was honored with the Unsung Hero Golden Helmet.
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Smith Family Lifetime Achievement AwardDiane HoneycuttThe Golden Helmet Awards honor those who create memorable experiences for visitors through exceptional customer service and go beyond the call of duty to wow guests and strengthen our destination’s reputation.Tourism economic impactIn 2023, Cabarrus County had the eighth highest visitor spending growth rate of the state’s 100 counties and among the top counties in North Carolina for increases in direct tourism employment. Tourism generated $624.89 million in visitor spending, $171.5 million in payroll, $41.1 million in state and local taxes and 4,821 jobs. For more information on the contribution of tourism in Cabarrus County, view “The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties” — a study prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics.As a globally recognized destination marketing organization through Destination International’s Accreditation Program (DMAP), the CCCVB is dedicated to promoting Cabarrus County as a visitor destination and enhancing the complete visitor experience. For more, visit CabCoCVB.com or connect with Explore Cabarrus on social media.
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The holiday season is here, and there’s no better place to experience it than Angsana Velavaru Maldives. From 21st December to 7th January, the resort invites guests to embrace the magic of the season with a perfect blend of tropical beauty and festive cheer. Whether you’re looking to relax, explore, or enjoy time with your loved ones, Angsana Velavaru offers the ideal escape.
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Throughout the festive period, the resort hosts exciting events. From lighting the grand Christmas tree to ringing in the New Year with style, each moment creates lasting memories. With 101 unique ways to celebrate, the resort offers something for everyone, ensuring that each guest can experience the season in their own special way.
The festivities kick off on 21st December with the grand Christmas tree lighting. This marks the start of a season filled with joy, warmth, and unforgettable moments. As the tree lights up the island, the holiday magic begins, followed by a series of events designed to keep the celebration going.
On Christmas Eve, 24th December, Santa makes his grand entrance, delighting guests of all ages. After his arrival, join the festive cocktail party where carols fill the air. Later, head over to the Kuredhi Pool Bar for a lively DJ party. If you’re in the mood for a quieter evening, treat yourself to a Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at Kaani Restaurant, where local Maldivian flavors meet global festive favorites.
Christmas Day is filled with even more holiday cheer. Kids will love the Santa Meet & Greet, creating memories to cherish for years to come. Later, unwind at the Christmas Movie Night under the stars, the perfect way to enjoy a festive film in a tropical setting.
As the year draws to a close, the excitement peaks. On 31st December, guests can enjoy a selection of creative cocktails at the Innovative Cocktail Counter, setting the stage for the final moments of 2024. The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Countdown Party is the ultimate celebration, complete with glamour and style to welcome in the new year.
Endless Adventures for Every Traveler
But that’s not all. Angsana Velavaru offers endless adventures for every kind of traveler. If you’re a thrill-seeker, enjoy jet skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on the resort’s pristine waters. For those wanting to explore beneath the surface, the dive center offers world-class diving experiences to discover vibrant coral reefs and marine life.
Guests can also get involved in the Marine Lab Coral Planting program. This hands-on activity lets you contribute to preserving the island’s delicate coral reefs while learning about marine conservation.
Angsana Velavaru also gives you a chance to dive deeper into the Maldivian culture. Take part in activities like palm weaving, Maldivian cooking classes, and live Boduberu performances. The “Let’s Talk Local” sessions offer a more personal look at the island’s history and traditions.
Families with children will find plenty to do. Arts and crafts workshops and creative sessions keep little ones entertained while sparking their imagination. Adults can unwind at the resort’s luxurious spa. Where a range of treatments will soothe both the body and the mind. With a variety of dining options available, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a casual meal by the beach or an elegant dinner with global flavors.
With 101 exciting ways to celebrate, Angsana Velavaru Maldives is the place to experience the holiday season in its truest form. From thrilling water sports and cultural activities to relaxing moments of indulgence, each day offers a new adventure. Let Angsana Velavaru help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information on the festive season please visit here
Most people probably hear buzzing and chirping when they imagine what a bug sounds like, but there are thousands of insects that humans can’t hear.Rex Cocroft has made a career out of capturing the live performances of one species – treehoppers – to better understand how they communicate. The University of Missouri professor of biology, who studied music before science, attaches tiny microphones to a silk plant stem on his desk to demonstrate.“So this plant is humming with tree hopper sounds,” he said. “Most of those are actually males singing to each other.”With the microphones connecting to a small speaker, a melody of low drones and crackling becomes audible. It’s coming from the vibrations of thorn-like bugs that live on the plant’s stem.
Héctor Alejandro Arzate
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Harvest Public MediaRex Cocroft, a biology professor at the University of Missouri, uses musical equipment to help capture the sounds treehoppers make. An accomplished pianist who studied music before biology, Cocroft attaches tiny microphones to a plant stem on his desk to amplify the vibrations of an insect into sound.
For the past 30 years, Cocroft has been a pioneer in the study of insect vibrational communication and the larger field of biotremology – which focuses on the overall production, reception, and behavioral effects of animal vibrations. His work has helped scientists better understand how these insects communicate. And with more than 3,000 species of treehoppers across six continents, there might be a lot being said.“Most of the sounds out there have never been heard by humans, and you can literally go into a backyard in Missouri and hear a sound that no one has ever heard before,” he said. “And it might be something rather strange and interesting that no one has ever heard before.”Now more researchers are studying insect vibrations to find new and practical applications. Researchers at Oregon State University, for instance, are using robots to mimic insect sounds to protect vineyards from pests. Washington State University researchers have looked into protecting pear trees from a pest species called pear psylla by disrupting their mating vibrations and reproduction rates.While Cocroft is not solely responsible for the growth of his research field, many of those scientists have credited Cocroft for his contributions and personal impact.
Abbie Lankitus
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University of MissouriA thorn-like treehopper species called Umbonia crassicornis. “We’re used to having large species make low pitched sounds and small species making high pitched sounds,” said Cocroft. “But with vibrations, those constraints are gone. So even a very small creature the size of a sesame seed can produce a sound that’s as low pitched as an American alligator.”
Influence both near and farAt St. Louis University, Kasey Fowler-Finn and her colleagues are trying to understand how climate change could impact insect populations.“We look at how it affects the rates of mating, how it affects how they sound, and whether they can still detect each other, even though temperature makes animals sound different,” said Fowler-Finn.They do this by using the chirping rates of crickets as a sort of thermometer, since muscle vibrations are faster at hotter temperatures.Biotremology has grown over the years, but it’s still a relatively small research community. “We all kind of know each other,” said Fowler-Finn.Fowler-Finn’s post-doctoral research advisor was Cocroft. She also considers him a mentor; one who’s helped develop inexpensive equipment and software to make the field more accessible for researchers in countries where resources and funding are limited.She said Cocroft has even helped her students build equipment to record and process their own research.“Truly some of my projects would not have been possible without his assistance and feedback,” she said “He just has a real mind for figuring out the exact way to design experiments to get at the questions he is asking.”
Damian Elias
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Damian Elias Kasey Fowler-Finn, a professor at St. Louis University, uses custom vibration-detection equipment developed by her lab to record and listen to the vibroscape – the vibrational signals that insects on plants are making to communicate with each other.
Rafa Rodríguez also studied with Cocroft, nearly 30 years ago. He now researches insect communication, along with the memories and predatory behavior of spiders at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. That research was inspired in part by the first time he heard treehoppers, said Rodríguez.“That just blew my mind,” he said. “It was like the first time you go snorkeling underwater and then this whole new universe, this whole new dimension of color and corals, kind of opened up. It was like that, but in sound.”Like Fowler-Finn, Rodríguez said Cocroft has been generous with his time and expertise. He’s done a lot of outreach with researchers in Central and South America, where many species of treehoppers can be found, to share simple methods to access their signals and other information.“That dissemination that’s happening here in the Midwest is also beginning to happen throughout Latin America, mainly thanks to Rex’s efforts,” said Rodríguez.Cocroft’s work has also inspired researchers far beyond the Midwest. That includes Sam J. England, a postdoctoral scientist at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Germany.Like others, England has learned a lot from Cocroft – from his research contributions to even sharing his specimens. “There’s very few people that rival him,” he said.When England and his team discovered a new species of treehopper in Costa Rica, they named it Cladonota rex in honor of Cocroft.“He’s really fleshed out this field in a way that certainly deserved acknowledgment. So it was kind of my way of saying thank you to him for providing me with all this background information,” said England.
Sam J. England
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Sam J. EnglandA specimen of Cladonota rex. When Sam J. England and his team discovered a new species of treehopper in Costa Rica, they named it in honor of Rex Cocroft to recognize his contributions to the field. “I really can’t think of anyone else that’s championed the promotion of this amazing communication system,” said England, a postdoctoral scientist at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Germany. “Because it’s, of course, not only treehoppers that do this. There’s many, many other species of animal from other species of small insect all the way up to elephants, in fact, communicating in this kind of substrate borne vibration modality.”
Cocroft is humble about the recognition. And he points out that, so far, researchers have only found the one, single Cladonota rex.“I don’t know if there’s any chance for me to go out and see one, but it’s a beautiful insect,” he said. “And it was an honor to have it named after me.”This story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.