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Fourth Circuit Vacates Exclusion of Grand Jury Evidence in Human Trafficking Case
Categories: 4th Cir. Blog Criminal Cases
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By John Van Swearingen
On Wednesday, October 26, 2016, the Fourth Circuit issued a published opinion in the criminal case United States v. Alvarado. The district court had issued an order precluding the government from calling upon two witnesses to testify about anything discussed during a grand jury proceeding for a post-superseding indictment; the order also excluded those witnesses' grand jury testimony for all purposes at trial, including impeachment. The government appealed, arguing the district court abused its discretion by excluding this evidence. Further, the government argued that, in the absence of a finding of prosecutorial misconduct, evidentiary exclusion cannot be used as a remedy. The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's order, holding that the district court abused its discretion by ordering the exclusion of the evidence for two reasons. First, the district court did not provide any legal justification for determining how the scope of the government's questions at the grand jury proceeding exceeded permissible grounds. Second, the district court did not explain how delay, cited by the district court as a reason supporting the exclusionary remedy, was appropriately related to the remedy. However, the Fourth Circuit refused to adopt a blanket policy forbidding district courts to enact exclusionary remedies regarding grand jury proceedings in the absence of prosecutorial misconduct.
Facts and Procedural History
On December 4, 2014, Maria Rosalba Alvarado McTague ("Alvarado") and Felix Chujoy ("Felix") were indicted by a federal grand jury for visa fraud and immigration charges. More specifically, Alvarado and Felix were accused of smuggling undocumented immigrants into the country to work, in horrendous conditions and for below minimum wage, in their Peruvian restaurant in Virginia. Alvarado and Felix were released on bond. Expecting a superseding indictment, the defendants and the government moved jointly for a continuance. The district court set trial for June 22, 2015.
The grand jury returned a superseding indictment on March 12, 2015. Alvarado and Felix were charged with additional counts of labor trafficking, Gladys Chujoy was added as a defendant, and all three Defendants were charged with witness tampering, conspiracy to witness tamper, and obstruction of justice. Because evidence suggested Alvarado and Felix were using third-parties' phones to contact witnesses, their bonds were revoked by the magistrate.
The government continued investigating these matters by questioning individuals whose phone numbers appeared in the phone records of witnesses. Carolyn Edlind ("Edlind") and Sheriff Donald Smith ("Smith") were interviewed during this investigation in May 2015, and both were subsequently subpoenaed to testify at trial.
On June 21, 2015, the government moved to continue the trial because of a personal emergency. Defendants did not object and explicitly waived any speedy trial objection; however, Alvarado did have to retain new counsel. The district court set trial for October 26, 2015.
In August 2015, counsel for an inmate incarcerated alongside Felix contacted the government with an invitation to interview that inmate. The inmate advised that he and others had provided PINs to Felix in order to facilitate Felix making surreptitious phone calls. After obtaining the recorded conversations, the government discovered evidence that Felix, Edlind, and Smith were potentially engaged in a witness-tampering scheme.
On October 6, 2015, the government subpoenaed Edlind and Smith to testify before the grand jury regarding the post-superseding indictment tampering scheme. This information was disclosed to both the district court and Defendants.
On October 20, 2015, Felix, Edlind, and Smith testified before the grand jury about the scheme, and the grand jury returned a new indictment. Felix and Edlind were charged with new counts of witness tampering, conspiracy to witness tamper, and obstruction of justice. Edlind was also charged with an additional count of obstruction (based on her prior grand jury testimony) and perjury.
Alvarado thereafter filed a motion to continue in order to investigate the possibility of prosecutor misconduct. The court granted the motion, set trial for December 1, 2015, and invited all Defendants to join the investigation regarding prosecutorial misconduct.
On November 13, the Defendants filed a joint motion for dismissal of all indictments, alleging the government used the third grand jury proceeding with the primary intent of uncovering evidence for the charges on the March 12 indictment as well as determining the Defendants' trial strategy. The district court found no prosecutorial misconduct and denied dismissal of the indictments. However, the district court forbade the government from calling Edlind or Smith to testify about anything covered in their testimony before the October 6 grand jury; the court also excluded that testimony for any use at trial, including impeachment.
The district court stated this exclusionary remedy was appropriate for two reasons. First, the district court stated the government's questions during the October 6 grand jury proceeding delved too far into the original underlying charges. Second, the court stated, in the interests of fundamental fairness, the delay caused by the government's June 21 continuance and Alvarado's later continuance supported exclusion.
The government appealed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3731 and 28 U.S.C. § 1291, arguing two points. First, the district court's exclusionary remedy was an abuse of discretion. Second, an exclusionary remedy could never apply without prosecutorial discretion.
Exclusion of Evidence Based on the Government's Questioning, Where the Questioning Had the Dominant Purpose of, and in Fact Did, Produce New Indictments, Was an Abuse of Discretion
The Fourth Circuit held the district court abused its discretion in excluding the grand jury evidence. Absent compelling evidence that the grand jury process was abused – for example, finding that the dominant purpose of a grand jury proceeding was building evidence against a defendant already charged – district courts are generally guided to refrain from intervening. See United States v. Moss, 756 F.2d 329, 331–32 (4th Cir. 1985).
Also, grand jury proceedings have a presumption of regularity that is bolstered when those proceedings result in new indictments. Id. The function of those proceedings, gathering evidence for an indictment, requires broad latitude in questioning witnesses. See id. at 332. Investigating additional crimes, for example, does not require the government to ignore previous ones.
Here, the district court did not find any improper purpose behind the October 6 grand jury proceedings. Additionally, the district court did not explain its legal basis for determining that the government's lines of questioning in the October 6 proceeding – given the regularity of grand jury proceedings and the fact that new indictments were, in fact, issued – merited an exclusionary remedy. Rather, the court based its remedy on incidental benefits to the government's case as a result of the proceeding, as well as the court's determination that some questions seemed too far removed from the new allegations. Lacking a finding of bad faith or improper purpose, the district court essentially excluded the government's evidence as punishment for not being clairvoyant. The Fourth Circuit therefore held the district court abused its discretion by issuing an exclusionary remedy.
Exclusion of Evidence Based on Delay Without a Supporting Legal Basis Was an Abuse of Discretion
The Fourth Circuit also held the district court's exclusion of evidence based on delay was an abuse of discretion. The district court never explained in its order why the continuances it once granted later justified exclusion of evidence. The district court did not find bad faith on behalf of the government; further, the court did not state that the government did anything other than conduct a good-faith investigation into the new witness tampering and obstruction charges.
If a district court is going to exclude evidence on the basis that the evidence was attained due to a bad-faith continuance, grand jury abuse, or other prosecutorial misconduct, then the court must clearly state so in its order. Failing to do so – yet ordering exclusion of evidence – was an abuse of the district court's discretion.
Strict Categorical Limitations on District Courts' Powers to Issue Remedies in Grand Jury Proceedings Rejected
The Fourth Circuit rejected the government's argument to categorically limit a district court's available remedies regarding grand jury proceedings. As argued by the government, if a grand jury proceeding is found to have a proper dominant purpose, the district court will be unable to issue any remedies regarding evidence and testimony obtained during that proceeding. Such is the case in the Eleventh Circuit – a district court may only issue an exclusionary remedy if grand jury proceedings were conducted with the improper dominant purpose of obtaining evidence for existing charges. See United States v. US Infrastructure, Inc., 576 F.3d 1195, 1215 (11th Cir. 2009).
The Fourth Circuit did not want to exclude the availability of a remedy for lines of questioning that skirt the limits of permissibility but do not go beyond them. In certain situations, the court held, remedial actions may still be justified despite a proper dominant purpose for grand jury proceedings.
However, the district court here failed to justify its exclusionary remedy. The district court failed to state any findings of bad faith or prosecutorial misconduct in its order. The government's lines of questioning did not support a finding of improper purpose. The delays were not connected to reasons for the district court's exclusionary remedy. For those reasons, and not – as the government proposed – due to a blanket prohibition on available district court remedies, the Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's order.
The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's order excluding evidence and testimony from or relating to the October 6 grand jury proceedings. The court remanded the case back to the district court with instructions to either (a) admit the excluded evidence or (b) issue a new order specifically stating how the exclusion of the evidence is narrowly tailored to the court's concerns regarding the government's conduct.
Tags: appeal criminal Evidence exclusion grand jury remedy
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Fourth Amendment Protections Weakened in Deportation Proceedings
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On June 16, 2015, the Fourth Circuit issued a published opinion in the civil removal case Yanez-Marquez v. Lynch. Maria Yanez-Marquez (Yanez) was petitioning to the Fourth Circuit for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision dismissing her appeal from an order for her removal from the United States. The Circuit Court held that the violations of Yanez's Fourth Amendment rights were not egregious, and thus denied her petition for review.
The Execution of the Search Warrant
In June of 2008, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were granted a search warrant for 402 Harbor Drive, Annapolis, Maryland, because it was suspected that the landlord was harboring illegal aliens. The warrant was to be executed between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and described the residence as a "single-family home." The warrant was broad and authorized agents to seize "illegal aliens, travel documents, financial records, and photographs of harbored aliens." At approximately 5:00 a.m. on June 30, ICE agents knocked on the door of the residence and entered to begin the search. According to Yanez, the agents burst into the bedroom where she and her partner were sleeping, and pointed guns at them while demanding that they "don't move" in both English and Spanish. Upon being informed that Yanez was pregnant, the agents called a female agent to assist and reassure her. Yanez was never handcuffed or led outside of the dwelling, but was questioned for 5-10 minutes about her identity. As a result of the search, the agents arrested Yanez's partner, and had her sign several forms indicating that Yanez had been illegally present in the United States since April of 2007. The agents also seized Yanez's pay stubs, tax returns, and photo albums as they left at 9:15 a.m. The ICE contested Yanez's statements regarding the timing of the search as well as the force used during the search.
The Removal Proceedings
Yanez was issued a notice to appear before an Immigration Judge (IJ) for removal proceedings. On February 10, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a submission of intended evidence, including the forms Yanez signed during the search, the warrant itself, and the affidavit supporting the warrant. Yanez filed a motion to suppress the evidence, arguing that during the search, the agents "egregiously violated" her Fourth Amendment rights. The IJ found that, accepting Yanez's claims as true, her rights had not been "egregiously violated." Although the execution of a search warrant prior to the time it was granted would constitute a violation of Yanez's Fourth Amendment rights, the IJ reasoned that being early by a single hour "does not amount to conduct that 'shocks the conscience,'" and thus was not an egregious violation. As to the force used, the IJ found that Yanez had made no showing of excessive force, noting that agents executing a search warrant are reasonably cautious about dangerous situations. The IJ found that the agents had acted reasonably, had not brandished their guns for longer than necessary to assure their safety, and had gotten a female agent to aid and comfort Yanez as soon as was reasonable. For these reasons, the IJ denied the motion to suppress the evidence. On December 13, 2010, the IJ found that the DHS had satisfied their burden, and ordered that Yanez be removed from the United States and returned to El Salvador.
On appeal to the BIA, the BIA held that the exclusionary rule, which operates to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights, does not apply in civil removal proceedings unless the violations were egregious. The BIA then, relying on the reasoning of the IJ, held that the violations had not been egregious, and thus affirmed the IJ's order.
The Applicability of the Fourth Amendment in Civil Removal Cases in the Fourth Circuit
Initially, the Fourth Circuit noted that the question of the applicability of the Fourth Amendment exclusionary principle was a matter of first impression for the Circuit. The Court began by analyzing the Supreme Court of the United States' ruling in INS v. Lopez-Mendoza, 468 U.S. 1032 (1984). In Lopez-Mendoza, the Supreme Court held that the ordinary Fourth Amendment exclusion, which barred all evidence obtained through any violation of the Fourth Amendment, was inapplicable to civil removal proceedings because the costs of exclusionary principle, including dramatically increased complexity to the streamlined process of removal, outweighed the benefits of the exclusionary principle. Additionally, because civil removal proceedings are not criminal and do not punish but merely prevent continued illegal activity, the Court reasoned that the Fourth Amendment protections were not as critical. Four Justices in Lopez-Mendoza vigorously dissented, and the majority opinion opined in dicta that "egregious violations" and "widespread" violations by officers may nevertheless render the exclusionary principle applicable in some instances.
In this case, the Fourth Circuit held that the exclusionary principle must apply to all egregious violations of the Fourth Amendment because "[t]o hold otherwise would give no effect to the language used by the Supreme Court in Lopez–Mendoza expressing concern over fundamentally unfair methods of obtaining evidence." The Circuit Court further held that refusing to apply the exclusion "would ignore the fact that eight justices in Lopez–Mendoza seem to have agreed that the exclusionary rule applies in removal proceedings in some form." Thus, in the Fourth Circuit, an petitioner in a civil removal case must show not only that her Fourth Amendment rights were violated, but also that those violations were "egregious."
The Standard for "Egregiousness" of a Fourth Amendment Violation
The Lopez-Mendoza Court stated "egregious violations of Fourth Amendment or other liberties that might transgress notions of fundamental fairness and undermine the probative value of the evidence obtained" might be reason to apply the exclusion. Despite the use of "and" by the Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit held that a petitioner can succeed if she can show either (1) egregious violation or (2) a violation that undermines the probative value of the evidence. To hold otherwise, the Circuit explained, would dramatically reduce the application of the rule because nearly all evidence obtained through egregious violations is physical evidence, which has the same probative value regardless of the manner of acquisition. Examples given by the Circuit of egregious violations included "a stop based on Hispanic appearance alone," "repeatedly ignor[ing a] detainee's request for counsel," and "a nighttime warrantless entry into the aliens' residence."
The Fourth Circuit rejected the Ninth Circuit's standard for egregiousness, which focuses on the "bad faith" of the agents, and embraced the "totality of the circumstances" test used by the Second, Third, and Eighth Circuits.
Yanez's Alleged Fourth Amendment Violations
Yanez's first allegation of egregious violation of her Fourth Amendment rights was that the warrant listed her residence as a "single-family home," when it was in fact a multi-unit dwelling. The Fourth Circuit explained that the warrant is sufficiently tailored when an agent executing it can "reasonably ascertain and identify the intended place to be searched." In holding that the warrant used to search Yanez's home was adequate, the Circuit emphasized that the premises had been under ICE surveillance and agents had no reason to believe multiple families dwelled there, it was a small single-story home, and the premises had just one mailbox. Thus, because the outward appearance is reasonably identified by a description of a "single-family home," the Fourth Circuit rejected Yanez's first argument.
Yanez next argued that, upon entry, the agents should have known it was a multi-family dwelling because "the bedroom door was locked," which transforms it into a separate dwelling. However, because it is not unusual for a bedroom door to be locked and there was no other indication in the home that it was a multi-unit dwelling, the Circuit held that the ICE agents had not made any mistake in proceeding with the warrant, and even if they had, it was an innocent and reasonable mistake.
Yanez's final argument was that entering the home at 5:00 a.m. constituted a "nighttime search," which fell outside of the warrant and implicates higher scrutiny because of the heightened intrusion. The Fourth Circuit agreed that because a daytime search is defined as between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., the search of Yanez's residence was by definition a nighttime search. The Fourth Circuit went on to hold that nighttime execution of a daytime warrant is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, absent consent or exigent circumstances. Thus, because there was no consent given by either Yanez or the judge who issued the warrant, nor were there any additional facts which may have constituted exigent circumstances justifying a nighttime search, the Fourth Circuit held that the ICE had violated Yanez's Fourth Amendment rights by executing the search. However, when considering the totality of the circumstances, the Circuit held that this violation was not egregious.
Facts to support a finding of egregiousness included the fact that it was a nighttime search and the fact that the search was of Yanez's home, where her privacy interests are strong. Supporting the non-egregiousness of the search included the fact that no ICE agents threatened, coerced, or physically abused Yanez, nor did they offer or promise her anything in exchange for cooperation. Additionally, Yanez was not handcuffed, nor was she removed from the home. Furthermore, there was no evidence of diminished capacity, the questioning was not particularly lengthy, and there is no evidence that the agents were motivated by racial considerations. Finally, the Circuit explained that presence of a valid search warrant for the premises reduces the harm of the intrusion, and the agents executing the warrant did not use force beyond that necessary to secure their safety. The Fourth Circuit thus held that the nighttime search, while a violation, was nevertheless not an egregious violation of Yanez's Fourth Amendment Rights.
The Fourth Circuit Denied Yanez's Petition for Review
Because the alleged violations of Yanez's Fourth Amendment rights were all either not violations at all or not egregious, the Fourth Circuit denied Yanez's petition for review of the IJ's order for her removal from the United States.
Tags: admissible Alien Civil Removal constitutional Department of Homeland Security Deportation DHS dwelling egregious El Salvador Evidence exclusion exclusionary First First Impression Fourth Amendment house Housing Illegal Immigrant Immigration immigration and naturalization service Impression INS Motion to Suppress Removal Search search and seizure search warrant Seizure unconstitutional Warrant
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Retail As We Know It Is Over. It's Time To Reengineer. (4:21)
Why Asia is Leading the Way in Retail (3:10)
How COVID-19 Changed the Way We Live, Work, and Shop (4:43)
What's Next? Predictions for the Future of Amazon. (3:15)
Is E-commerce Killing Retailers? (5:30)
Why Going to the Store Is an Experience (2:58)
The Immersive Future of Virtual Shopping (4:01)
Making Retail Less Predictable (4:17)
Customer Engagement is Key to Success (6:55)
Are Retailers Under Siege by E-Commerce? (3:35)
How Can Marketers Embrace Digital Retail? (5:49)
How Is Retail Following the Music Industry? (4:34)
Predicting the Future of the Store (22:26)
Introducing the Third Shelf (8:01)
Hand-picked by iconic companies like IKEA, Intel, and Walmart to redefine their retail strategies, Doug Stephens is one of the most influential retail futurists on the planet. In visually dynamic, fully customized, and up-to-the-minute researched keynotes, Stephens shows you the deep tectonic shifts that are shaking up the retail industry, and what you can—and must—do to become a true competitor in it.
"It doesn't matter what type of retail you do—if you sell something, somewhere, you need to read Doug Stephens' The Retail Revival. Packed with powerful insights on the changing retail environment, it's what good retailers should be thinking about now."
— Gregg Saretsky, President and CEO, WestJet
As the Founder of global consultancy Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens has made a name for himself as one of the world's leading retail and consumer futurists, not to mention as a top global retail influencer. His books, The Retail Revival and Reengineering Retail, have accurately predicted the transformation of retail in the post-digital world. In his aptly titled forthcoming release, Resurrecting Retail: The Future of Business in a Post-Pandemic World, Stephens once again offers an essential roadmap for the industry, this time outlining how a public health emergency of this size and scope will shape retail and consumer behaviors long after the threat of COVID-19 has passed.
Stephens' research and insights help major organizations—such as Johnson & Johnson, BMW, Citibank, Disney, Google, and more—understand exactly how trends in demographics, global economics, AI, and media are forever altering consumer/brand relationships. We're all shoppers, says Stephens. Consumers are now empowered with technology—experts in their own right. What can we learn from our buyers (and browsers) to ensure that we look forward, not backward, when it comes to innovating new retail strategies? Drawing on over 20 years of analytical and on-the-ground experience, Stephens will leave you feeling entertained, enlightened, and inspired to put his wisdom into action.
Prior to founding Retail Prophet, Stephens spent 20 years in retail, holding senior international roles, including the leadership of one of New York City's most iconic retail chains. Stephens is also the syndicated retail columnist for CBC Radio Canada, and appears regularly on North American and international radio and television shows. As a business journalist, Stephens' writing has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the National Post, The Globe and Mail, Chicago Tribune, Fortune Magazine, Business Insider, Business of Fashion, Daily Beast, and the Toronto Star, among many others worldwide.
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"As our committee reviewed a variety of speakers this year, Douglas immediately stood out from the others from the first video I saw of him presenting. Not only did he seem to be exceptionally knowledgeable about a range of highly relevant business topics, he seemed to be genuine, and, an entertaining speaker! All of these first impressions turned out to be completely accurate. Douglas was beyond good; he blew us away!"
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"Doug's passion for retailing and connection with consumer trends, attitudes and behaviors brought a fresh perspective and energy to Citi Retail Services annual leadership conference. We valued his willingness to push the boundaries on how retailers can better serve their customers and how our company could be a strong partner in ensuring their success."
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Connecting Point Marketing Group
"Doug recently presented at a product launch for leaders in the retail world. Doug's presentation was relevant, funny and eye-opening. The audience was captivated."
"Doug Stephens' keynote delivery and the insight he shared with our audience was dynamic, bold, thought-provoking, relevant and an ultimately fascinating experience. He's an inspiring and forward-thinking presenter."
CSPNet
"You were the talk of the evening with all agents realizing that change is inevitable. You hit the key points which forced all of them to look in the mirror and ultimately adjust moving forward."
"Doug's presentation was one of the highlights of our recent Retail Customer Experience Executive Summit. He loaded it with historical detail and context, and delivered it with confidence and style. He's also an expert panel moderator. It has always been a pleasure and a privilege working with him, and I look forward to many more years of doing so."
"Doug was invited to speak as part of our program. Doug's was one of the most talked about presentations. He was engaging and the information he presented was fresh and insightful. I would highly recommend Doug as a speaker."
North American Retail Hardware Association
"Many speakers say they will tailor their comments, but it's the exception that I work with someone who actually does. Doug Stephens was definitely the perfect kickoff to our conference. He easily picked up on the challenges facing our stores, and not only gave them insight, but inspired them to act. His style is completely engaging, and his content just what we need. We couldn't have asked for anything better!"
National Association of College Stores
"You did an excellent presentation, and one of my colleagues said you were the best futurist he's seen…high praise since many of us see a lot of sessions and speakers!"
The Future of Retail Navigating Through a Post-Pandemic World
In the annals of retail history the coronavirus pandemic will be a permanent mile marker, remembered for generations to come. Companies in all sectors will point to this unprecedented time as the moment everything changed. The moment that every market, industry, vertical, profession, and category of product or service would, in some way, be shifted off its axis—and for the first time in recorded history, every wheel, cog, and gear in the global retail machine would grind to a virtual halt.
Bestselling author and Founder of the global consultancy Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens provides an incisive look into the future of retail in a post-COVID-19 world. How will behaviors at consumer, staff, and executive levels be forever changed? What does this all mean for the future of physical retail? How will digital commerce evolve to meet our new realities? How will global supply chains adapt? The most critical questions for retail will be tackled in this fast-paced and gripping talk, led by one of the industry's foremost experts.
Leading Through Crisis Lessons From the Frontlines of Disaster
There has been, perhaps no other time in modern history when so much hinged on effective leadership and communication. In times like these, steady-handed leadership is the only thing that sits between strategic cohesiveness and organizational chaos. And yet the pandemic has also show us how few leaders truly rise to the occasion when the moment demands it. And with Black Swan events becoming ever more frequent, the question is how can leaders hone a new level of skill and effectiveness in preparation for the next crisis?
In this fascinating new talk, Doug Stephens lays out the 4 key principles of effective leadership through any crisis, including COVID-19. Filled with examples from both the current and previous global crises, we show you the surprising secrets of the world's most effective leaders.
The Most Important Metric in Retail Making Sense of the Next Decade of Consumption
In a world where consumption is increasingly moving online—and the lines between digital and physical are blurring—how should the performance of physical stores be measured? In his 2017 book Reengineering Retail, acclaimed futurist and author Doug Stephens argued that the industrial-era metrics tell an incomplete story of a physical location's value. Simply put, in a multi-channel world, we cannot rely on traditional sales data to help us evaluate our store's performance.
There is, however, a more relevant metric we can go by—one which Stephens believes will be the only metric that matters in the near future: the media value. Stores have become "the most manageable, tangible, and measurable media channel available to a brand," Stephens says. "Unlike digital media where the consumer's true level of interest or engagement can be debatable, a physical store can validate the consumer's actual physical presence and participation in the experience. We can connect directly and intimately with them. And, increasingly, we can measure the causal outcome of that physical experience."
Join Stephens as he shares a compelling vision of the future of retail, the changing nature and value of both physical and digital retail, and the one metric that will define success.
Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World
Join author and internationally renowned consumer futurist Doug Stephens for an amazing tour of the future, where every aspect of the retail experience as we know it will be radically transformed.
Since the release of Doug Stephens' first best-selling book The Retail Revival, change in the global retail sector has accelerated beyond even the boldest forecasts. As predicted, online giants like Amazon and Alibaba.com are growing at a dizzying pace. Hundreds of well-known brick and mortar retailers have closed their doors, and brands and retailers across categories are struggling to understand the shifting needs and expectations of a new consumer. Stephens will show you that this is only the beginning. From online to bricks and mortar, the very concept of what stores are, how consumers shop them, and even the core economic model for revenue will be profoundly reinvented. Changes are sure to affect not only retailers large and small but any business with a stake in the global retail industry. Drawing on research from his new book, Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World, Stephens will share actionable strategies that will separate the winners and losers in the market and show you what smart brands and retailers are doing today to secure their place in the hearts and minds of tomorrow's consumer.
What's In-Store?
Doug Stephens is an expert on retail business strategy, and he brings his wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge to your company in this highly customizable keynote and workshop. What are the latest retail trends within your industry or category? How are demographic and technological shifts affecting your customer base? What can your company do to stay ahead of the curve? To help your company excel in the ultra-competitive realm of retail, manufacturing or consumer packaged goods, Stephens is constantly collecting data and case studies—in a variety of fields—to give you strategies that are broad in scope, yet focused in purpose.
Millennial Shoppers Connecting with a New Generation of Consumers
Millennials are now the largest single generational segment on the planet. Their spending will exceed that of Baby Boomers, representing unprecedented opportunities for brands that adapt and innovate to engage them—and an existential threat to those that don't.
In this unique take on the Millennial shopper, Doug Stephens delivers cutting edge insight into this generation, their economic reality, social needs, their unique traits and preferences as shoppers, as well as the surprising essence of their relationships with brands. Stephens also shares the broad generalizations about Millennials that brands would be wise to avoid. This enlightening and unconventional keynote is a must-see for business leaders looking to connect with this all-important generation of consumers.
Big Data and the Retail Revolution
90 percent of the data that exists today was created within the last two years. And while the sheer volume and velocity of data is definitely astonishing, what's even more compelling is our growing capacity to gather, analyze, and make sense of it all. From social media streams, videos, and reviews to weather, traffic, and machine-to-machine communication, each day a virtual universe of data is being created. Smart brands are honing their understanding of that data and its potential impact on every aspect of their customer's experience with their brand. This talk will provide a clear view into the future of retail by examining this new and amazing data deluge, and how pioneering brands around the world are turning it into a new world of opportunity.
The Future of Consumerism
In this fascinating talk, Doug Stephens tackles the future of consumerism. He sheds light on the key shifts in economics, demographics, technology, and media that are completely transforming the consumer landscape, and the very essence of how we buy. Who the consumer is, in addition to how, where, and even why they shop, is changing rapidly and forever. The way our stores look—and how we interact with them—are constantly in flux. Mobile technology, social commerce, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, virtual reality, big data, and a deluge of developing technologies are all conspiring to forever change how we buy. How do we cope with all these transformations? Stephens shares what smart brands are doing today to re-imagine their businesses and capitalize on these historic changes.
Lessons from the World's Most Innovative Companies
In a world where mediocre will no longer cut it, what are the common strengths that the world's most dominant brands bring to market? How exactly do top companies innovate to create uncontested market space? Most importantly, what pitfalls do great innovators avoid that most others fall prey to? Referencing years of research, this inspiring talk examines the surprising links between the world's most successful businesses and provides actionable ideas and steps to emulate their success. It's an uplifting and mind-expanding peek into the realm of radical innovation and strategy.
Reengineering Retail
The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World
The Retail Revival
Reimagining Business for the New Age of Consumerism
The End of Amazon
A New Era of Retail Is Coming
Amazon's Whole Foods acquisition isn't about groceries. It's another play for your data
Op-Ed | Why Retail Is Getting 'Experience' Wrong
How to design the perfect retail customer experience
Syndicated Retail Column
#Dx32016: Retail Prophet Doug Stephens on the "end of the beginning of ecommerce"
#CRE Coffee Break: Q&A with Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens
Why Ron Johnson's JC Penney Plan Simply Can't Work
Profit Guide
What to Sell In a Sluggish Economy
The rise of Walmart's small box
Holiday sales like "crack" for retailers
Retail Futurist Doug Stephens Explores How Coronavirus Will Change Consumer Behaviour
In the latest Business of Fashion podcast, Doug Stephens explains how the pandemic will affect...
In Brands We Trust: Retail Prophet Doug Stephens Explains Why Companies Are the New Communities
For his latest article in The Business of Fashion, retail futurist Doug Stephens explains why...
Doug Stephens Joins the Voice of Retail to Discuss the Rapid-Fire Change in the Industry
Retail prophet Doug Stephens breaks down the challenges retailers face in today's fast-paced, hyper...
Where Are We Headed? Doug Stephens Discusses The Past, Present, and Future of Retail
Retail Futurist and bestselling author Doug Stephens joins Tiffani Bova—"Innovation Evangelist" at...
The End of Amazon: Retail Prophet Doug Stephens Imagines the Mega-Retailer's Downfall
Like Wal-Mart before it, Amazon today feels untouchable: a monolithic empire selling us everything...
The "Conspiracy of Success": Retail Visionary Doug Stephens Predicts the End of Amazon
Doug Stephens is a retail visionary—author, podcaster and consultant to some of North America's...
"The Future of Retail Is Amazon—and It's Not Even a Retailer." Listen to Doug Stephens' Excellent New Podcast.
Doug Stephens' new podcast, Retail Prophet, kicked off this week with an analysis of Amazon:...
Are You Ready for the Retail Revolution? Douglas Stephens' New Book Reengineering Retail Maps the Future of Selling
Physical stores have vanished. Online giants rule the market. The very concept of the 'store,' and...
Lavin Weekly #47: Leibovich, Heffernan, Wood, & Stephens
1. Under the RNC Big Top with Mark Leibovich Writing from the Republican National Convention...
"The Store Is Becoming Media": Douglas Stephens at the Dx3 Retail Conference
Earlier this month, sales speaker Douglas Stephens served as curator of Toronto's Dx3 Retail...
#AskASpeaker #6: Twitter Q&A with Douglas Stephens
On Thursday, December 10, we held our sixth #AskASpeaker Q&A on Twitter, and for this edition, we...
Black Friday Not a Deal for Companies, or Consumers: Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, retailers are gearing up for the biggest shopping event of...
The Internet Didn't Change Retail. Mobile Did. New Douglas Stephens Video
They call Douglas Stephens the Retail Prophet for a reason. In a fast-paced new keynote, he looks at...
Live at Lavin: Douglas Stephens on Big Data's Retail Revolution [VIDEOS]
In a recent visit to Lavin's Toronto office, Douglas Stephens spoke to us about big data—what it is...
Why Loyalty Programs Don't Work: Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens
"Any loyalty program you create probably won't work." That's the hard-to-swallow argument retail...
Responsbile Retail: Douglas Stephens On Making Ethical Purchases
As retail speaker Elizabeth Cline showed us in her book Overdressed, cheap fashion comes at a...
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You: Douglas Stephens On Privacy & Big Data
When it comes to our online activities, have we struck a Faustian bargain that delivers us...
Turn Big Data Into Big Sales: Retail Speaker Doug Stephens
"90 per cent of the data right now that exists in the world was created in the last two years,"...
When Times Get Tough, The Tough Innovate: Retail Speaker Doug Stephens
The United States has recently been struggling with an unstable economic climate, political...
Experience First—Product Second: Doug Stephens On The New Age Of Retail
We are in the midst of a massive overhaul in retail—one that's turned almost 200 years of...
Doug Stephens: Win—Don't Buy—The Consumer's Attention [VIDEO]
"In 1965, all you needed was 3 commercials in prime time to reach 80 per cent of the audience,"...
Doug Stephens Launches His New Book, The Retail Revival
Friday marked the launch of retail speaker Doug Stephens' book, The Retail Revival: Re-Imagining...
Consumerism Is Back In A Whole New Way: Doug Stephens On The Retail Revival
"I think [we are living in] unquestionably the most exciting time in business, certainly in...
What Innovative Companies Don't Do: A New Talk By Doug Stephens
"Problem solving is about narrowing and focusing thinking," innovation speaker Doug Stephens writes...
Profiting From The Retail Revival: Doug Stephens' New Book Shows You How
We're in the midst of a new era in consumerism—and retail speaker Doug Stephens knows what it's...
Retail Speaker Doug Stephens: The Future Of Mobile Commerce [VIDEO]
"For me, mobile 3.0 is pulling everything together," retail speaker Doug Stephens explains in a...
Douglas Stephens: Customer Service Can Counteract "Showrooming"
"We live in a very, very hyper-connected world," retail speaker Douglas Stephens explains. "The...
Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens: The End Of Marketing
"Imagine a world without marketing," retail speaker Douglas Stephens writes in a blog entry on his...
Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens On The Stores Of The Future [VIDEO]
"Rather than us seeking products, it's products that are seeking us," retail speaker Douglas...
Taking The Leap: Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens On Going First & Winning [VIDEO]
"Brands that go first are brands that are winning," retail speaker Douglas Stephens said in a recent...
Retail Splits in Two: High-Fidelity Experiences vs. Convenience: Doug Stephens
Consumer spending habits are drastically evolving, says retail speaker Doug Stephens. As he tells...
Retail Speaker Douglas Stephens: Detailing the Apple Store's Success
Why are Apple stores better than most retail outlets? In a recent visit to the Lavin offices, retail...
beyond the big box
Shopping: Anywhere, All the Time. Doug Stephens on Retail's Future
In Advertising Age this month, Retail Prophet founder Doug Stephens offers insights on how the Big...
Doug Stephens: The Dismal Present, and Bright Future, of Online Shopping
In a recent interview, Doug Stephens discussed Canada's dreadful e-commerce vacuum as well as—his...
retail reality
Doug Stephens: How Companies Can Survive the Consumer Power Shift
In a recent keynote, Retail Prophet founder Doug Stephens—one of the world's only retail industry...
Doug Stephens on How We Shop Now
Today, Doug Stephens, who runs Retail Prophet, stopped by The Lavin Agency's Toronto offices to talk...
Destroying Returns: Retail Speaker Doug Stephens on PR Disasters
For years now, retail speaker Doug Stephens has explored the complex relationship between companies...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


CBS just renewed NCIS for another season. The popular crime procedural will be back for another run next year, and, despite rumors to the contrary, Mark Harmon is all in for Season 17. Here's an inside look at the NCIS star's new contract with CBS TV Studios.
Renewing NCIS for another season was a no-brainer for the network. The show has spawned a number of different spin-offs, including NCIS: New Orleans and NCIS: Los Angeles, and continues to draw huge ratings for CBS.
Despite 16 seasons under its belt, NCIS still draws around 16 million viewers, making it the top drama on TV. It is also the second most watched show period, trailing only The Big Bang Theory.
Given the show's success, it makes sense that CBS would renew it for another season, especially if Harmon is back on board. Although Harmon has not commented about his future on the show, CBS president Kelly Kahl, mentioned him in the renewal announcement, praising his leadership over the years.
Although it looks like Harmon will be back for another run, that has not stopped rumors that Season 16 will be his last. The storyline this season hasn't helped matters, as fans are convinced his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, has reached the end of the line. In fact, many fans have been speculating that Harmon will bow out at the end of episode 20.
There's also the news that Harmon is working on another show called Prey, which will take up a lot of his time. Even if Harmon commits to another season, he may need to slow down to give both projects his full attention.
Apart from NCIS, CBS has already renewed several shows, including Mom, Criminal Minds, God Friended Me, Magnum P.I., FBI, The Neighborhood, and Young Sheldon.


Learn how to restart on your Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. You can force your device to restart or shut down in situations where it stops responding or won't restart normally. No settings or personal data get deleted.
You can also reset your device to its original factory settings, with or without deleting some of your personal data, such as music and pictures. This action is sometimes necessary if your device stops functioning properly, but note that if you want to keep any important data, you have to first back up this data to a memory card or other non internal memory. For more information refer Backing up and restoring content.
Note: Your device may fail to restart if the battery level is low. Connect your device to a charger and try restarting again.
Press and hold down the power key.
In the menu that opens, tap Restart, then tap OK to confirm. The device restarts automatically.
Detach the cover for the nano SIM card holder.
Using the tip of a pen or a similar object, press and hold down the OFF button.
Note: Do not use overly sharp objects that could damage the OFF button.


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With Bryan Harsin's job on the line, Auburn football escapes Missouri on overtime miracle
Bennett Durando
AUBURN — The officiating crew gathered the captains of the teams that simply refused to win and began overtime with the greatest punchline of the 2022 college football season.
"Congratulations on a great game so far."
After a second half that featured 12 consecutive punts and a fateful fourth-and-1 failure seemingly spelling the end for embattled coach Bryan Harsin, Auburn football had just been saved from pulling the plug. For the time being, anyway. Missouri kneeled out the last minute from the 1-yard line in order to kick a chip-shot field goal as time expired. Then Harrison Mevis missed it from 26 yards.
Harsin was fighting for his job Saturday, 17 games into his Auburn tenure. He might not have fought hard enough, but Auburn escaped regardless, 17-14 in overtime, thanks to a series of Mizzou mistakes ending in Nathaniel Peat's fumble into the end zone on what would have been the walk-off touchdown for Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC).
Instead, redshirt freshman Cayden Bridges recovered in the end zone, and Auburn (3-1, 1-0 SEC) won despite producing 129 yards of total offense after the first quarter.
REPORT CARD:Auburn football and Bryan Harsin didn't deserve to beat Missouri. Our grades reflect that.
BRYAN HARSIN:'I thought he was in': How much time can 1 yard buy Bryan Harsin on Auburn football hot seat?
Auburn got back to its running roots, but blocking is abysmal
Harsin seemingly answered the cries for running back Tank Bigsby to get the ball more frequently after his nine carries vs. Penn State. On the Tigers' first possession, they drove 59 yards on 14 plays − all runs, capped by a Robby Ashford 11-yard QB draw. Bigsby had seven carries on the drive, and by the end of the first quarter he had surpassed his total from the previous week. His 10th carry went for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Auburn didn't pass until its 17th play.
But Auburn's lack of an offensive line caught up with Bigsby. Missouri, which was credited with three tackles for loss against Abilene Christian, had twice as many by halftime against Auburn. Nick Brahms' replacement at center, Tate Johnson, struggled. Then he got injured. Jalil Irvin was option No. 3. The situation did not improve.
Auburn couldn't get any push in its run blocking, especially through the A gap, and pass protection continued to be a fatal flaw. Play-calling is limited by what Auburn cannot do in the trenches.
EXCLUSIVE:Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz's first college football job? Coffee intern and national champ at Auburn football
HARSIN'S FUTURERich McGlynn: Who is Auburn interim AD? Cam Newton, basketball investigation and more
Auburn edges stepped up in big spots, but run defense buckled again
After failing to sack Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, Auburn desperately needed a momentum boost from its defensive front. Colby Wooden provided one early with a sack. Edge rushers Hall and Eku Leota added three combined. Pass rush was inconsistent but mostly clutch.
But Mizzou gashed Auburn with gap-scheme runs. Eli Drinkwitz's play-calling spread out Auburn's defense with side-to-side plays. Running backs Cody Schrader and Nathaniel Peat combined for more than 100 yards in Missouri's methodical (but rare) scoring drives.
Auburn's coverage stepped up. Cornerback Jaylin Simpson was in coverage on a pair of crucial third-down incompletions in the second half, redeeming himself after not getting started. D.J. James started in his place and had a pass breakup. Nehemiah Pritchett's tipped pass on a slant led to Auburn's first interception of the year.
Bryan Harsin's 'fourth-and-1 mentality' backfires with bitter irony
The motto of the Harsin era inside Auburn's facility has been a "fourth-and-1 mentality" at all times. It was put to the test against Missouri, and Harsin stuck to his guns with his job on the line. It backfired.
In the first half, the Tigers found themselves in three fourth-and-1 situations on offense. They went for it every time and converted every time. Twice, Bigsby barreled forward for the yardage. The third time, Robby Ashford got the first down with a quarterback sneak.
With less than two minutes remaining, the situation arrived again. Auburn had fourth-and-1 at the Missouri 29. After a timeout and maybe with an earlier missed field goal in mind, Harsin sent the offense back on the field. Bigsby tried to leap over the pile, but Auburn's offensive line gave out immediately with linebacker penetration. Bigsby tried to pick himself up and run to the outside. He was dragged down.


What are some of our favorite ethnic delights? Odds and ends spark an American food obsession, an ancient tradition arrives stateside, and a chic little number is back in style. Plus, an Old World classic gets an American make-over!


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Share this Story: 'I don't look a day over 80': Beverly Cleary turns 100, remains every bit as feisty as one Ramona Quimby
'I don't look a day over 80': Beverly Cleary turns 100, remains every bit as feisty as one Ramona Quimby
People are delving into Cleary nostalgia, a woman who still talks about her characters as if they are friends
Apr 05, 2016 • April 5, 2016 • 5 minute read
Beverly Cleary's Private Collection
Beverly Cleary doesn't really want to talk about turning 100. "Go ahead and fuss," she says of the big day, April 12. "Everyone else is."
Across the country, people are delving into Cleary nostalgia, with celebrations and new editions of her books with introductions by the likes of Amy Poehler and Judy Blume. Kids and adults are being asked to "Drop Everything and Read" to commemorate Cleary's contribution to children's literature.
'I don't look a day over 80': Beverly Cleary turns 100, remains every bit as feisty as one Ramona Quimby Back to video
But the beloved children's author has something far more low-key in mind for herself: a celebratory slice of carrot cake, she says, "because I like it."
Cleary is as feisty and direct as her famously spirited character Ramona Quimby — an observation that she hears often and doesn't care for. "I thought like Ramona," she says in a phone interview, "but I was a very well-behaved little girl."
Beverly Cleary's Private Collection
Today, Cleary lives a quiet, well-behaved life in a retirement home in northern California. She gets up at 7:30 a.m. and spends the day reading the newspaper and books (on her night stand when we talked in mid-March: Alexandra Fuller's Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight) and doing crossword puzzles. She watches Doc Martin and CNN and enjoys visits with her family. She doesn't have a computer, and though she enjoys writing letters, she notes dryly that "when you get to be 99, there aren't many people to write letters to."
Cleary is both set in her ways — "I don't think I joined this century" — and keenly aware of how times have changed. "I think children today have a tough time, because they don't have the freedom to run around as I did — and they have so many scheduled activities."
In her youth, she points out, "mothers did not work outside the home; they worked on the inside. And because all the mothers were home — 99 per cent of them, anyway — all mothers kept their eyes on all the children." This is part of the reason, she says, that the children in her books were so often out tromping through the neighbourhood without adult chaperones.
Cleary's last book was Ramona's World, published in 1999. Her plucky heroine remains frozen at age 9; her sister, Beezus, is 14 and just entering high school. Who knows what Ramona might have been like when she hit puberty. Cleary, for one, is happy to leave her before that nightmare. "I think writers need to know when to retire," she says.
Yet Cleary's books live on. In January, HarperCollins published new editions of three of her most popular works: Henry Huggins; Ramona Quimby, Age 8; and The Mouse and the Motorcycle, with introductions by Blume, Poehler and Kate DiCamillo, respectively. There are more than 40 Cleary titles in print, and you can even watch Selena Gomez and Joey King play her two most famous characters in the 2010 movie Beezus and Ramona.
Cleary has won a National Book Award, a Newbery Medal and a National Medal of Art from the National Endowment of the Arts, among other accolades. In 2000, the Library of Congress gave her a Living Legend Award.
Yet she wears her literary stardom lightly. "I'm just lucky," she says. Throwing zingers — "People tell me I don't look a day over 80"; "Don't expect me to analyze my books!" — she's both modest and outspoken.
Perhaps these qualities are a product of her upbringing. Born Beverly Bunn in rural Oregon, she spent much of her early life doing farm work. When her family moved to Portland, she says, "city life was a shock."
Although her mother read to her regularly, she wasn't always eager to read on her own. "I liked to have her read to me," she says. "So I thought, what's the point in my having to do it myself?"
She nearly failed first grade, she says, and didn't read on her own until third grade. Even then, it happened organically: "I was looking through The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins," she recalls, "and I discovered I was reading — and enjoyed it."
Cleary long yearned to be a writer — a passion she explains eloquently in her memoirs A Girl from Yamhill (1988) and My Own Two Feet (1995) — but she met resistance from her mother, who told her, "You must have some other way of earning a living," Cleary recalls. "So I became a children's librarian — the next best thing."
During the Depression, Cleary attended Chaffey Junior College in Ontario, California, where tuition was free. To help pay for the rest of her education, at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Washington, she worked a variety of jobs — including as a seamstress and a chambermaid.
She struggled through her classes with poor eyesight; her mother denied her money for glasses because she feared it would spoil her daughter's appearance. Eventually, her mother relented — to no ill effect on Beverly's love life. In 1940, she eloped, marrying her longtime sweetheart Clarence Cleary, who died in 2004.
Cleary's first book, Henry Huggins, was published in 1950. Based loosely on a story she had overheard while working at a military hospital library, the book (originally titled Spareribs and Henry) came slowly. And it was, at first, rejected by her publisher. As Cleary reworked it, she added Beezus and Ramona — the latter a name she heard being called out by a neighbour — to the mix.
Her own children — twins Marianne and Malcolm — born five years later, inspired the book Mitch and Amy and even helped shape that story.
"My son pointed out that you cannot ride a bike with a banana in your hip pocket," she says. "So I did take that out. I didn't want my character to have a squashed banana in his pocket."
As she approaches 100, Cleary still talks about her characters as if they are friends. Even if she doesn't want to be compared to Ramona, she confesses that the spitfire is her favourite. The charming and better-behaved Ellen Tebbits is a close second. She would have both girls over to dinner, she says, "but not at the same time."
How a 12 year old actress signed a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster
Funny things are everywhere, or, how to riff off children's books for their bedroom decor
Ramona, she says, has to some degree been misunderstood. It's not that she's naughty, Cleary says, it's that "things just didn't work out the way she thought they should." But for her creator, things pretty much have.
"I live in a very pleasant place with a very nice room that looks out on trees and rabbits and birds," she says. She has her books, her newspaper, her family and her memories. Bring on the carrot cake.


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Elektra Luxx
What's a pregnant porn goddess to do? Elektra Luxx (Carla Gugino) decides to quit the industry to start a new life — but not until she wrestles with a slew of wild characters. It's one hysterical ride with plenty of uninhibited comedy along the way. Also starring Timothy Olyphant and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Sebastian Gutierrez
Carla Gugino, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Adrianne Palicki, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Malin Åkerman, Isabella Gutierrez, Vincent Kartheiser, Justin Kirk, Lucy Punch, Kathleen Quinlan, Amy Rosoff, Marley Shelton
© 2010 Gato Negro Films. All Rights Reserved.
Critics Consensus: A bizarre sex comedy full of meandering subplots, some occasional wit, and, unfortunately, not a whole lot of funny jokes.
Stephen Holden
Has some scattered witty notions, but it is not funny.
A porn star's midlife crisis makes for a limp story in "Elektra Luxx."
Ronnie Scheib
Despite the fine thesping seen in this innocuous piece of fluff, the whole amounts to less than th...
Mark Olsen
"Elektra Luxx" has a playful, breezy sexiness that gives the world of the film, porn biz and all,...
Moira MacDonald
You sense that the characters, as much as we, are waiting for something to happen.
"Elektra Luxx'' needs a star whose secret weapon is that she only looks and sounds as dumb as peop...
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
The sum total is a black hole of blinding pain.
Kimber Myers
Elektra Luxx has its moments, but the overriding reaction is "Why?" Not only did its predecessor n...
Scene-Stealers.com
Eric Melin
Writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez is all over the map with a bizarre multi-character drama that...
NewsBlaze
Kam Williams
Elektra"-fying!
Genre:Comedy, Drama
Release Date:March 11, 2011


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'Tis the season of…generosity!
Post in Our Story on 4th December 2018 by Sodashi
Contributing to valuable causes via i=Change
Since establishing our partnership with i=Change in mid-2017, Sodashi is so proud to have contributed over $5000 to three charity partners on behalf of our customers to date.
A novel idea seeded by i=Change's Founder, Jeremy Meltzer's own experiences in Havana, Cuba, today i=Change offers an innovative online platform through which companies can seamlessly donate to great causes on behalf of their customers.
To mark the start of the season of giving, we spoke to the Akilah Institute, Childwise and Food Bank Australia to find about what's coming up in 2019 and the valuable impact our contributions will continue to make in the New Year.
Child Wise
To date, Sodashi has proudly contributed over $1,700 to this brilliant cause on behalf of our customers.
An estimated 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will experience some kind of sexual abuse in Australia. s to encourage a sense of body autonomy amongst children and to empower children to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions.
In 2019, Child Wise plans to increase their reach by establishing an online Child Safety Community in a powerful bid to impact children in rural and isolated communities throughout Australian. This online resource will be launched with the central objective of better equipping teachers with the tools to prevent, identify and respond to any allegations or incidences of abuse and to ensure the safety of children and young people within their care.
Child Wise also plans to launch Kid Speak Conferencing; a new avenue through which children can provide feedback and easily voice their opinions on what makes them feel safe.
For more information or to sign up for Child Safety Workshops in 2019, please go to www.childwise.org.au, call 1300 CHILDWISE or email info@childwise.org.au.
Akilah Institute
As it is estimated that the African population will increase by 100 million by 2035, it is vital that younger generations are educated to make the most of and to avoid the many potential pitfalls of population growth.
Since its inception in 2010, the Akilah Institute has been working with young women in Rwanda to educate and equip them with the tools to build meaningful careers. Assisted by a highly effective, competency-based curriculum, 90% of Akilah Institute graduates secure and retain employment; dramatically contributing to a fruitful, sustainable future for Rwandan communities and economy.
In 2019, the Akilah Institute hopes to build on the immense success of this initiative to date. The launch of a Bachelor's Program will enable a more solid platform from which graduates can experience personal and professional success. Furthermore, the launch of a blended 'flex' learning program will allow courses to be delivered both online and in person based on students' unique strengths. With so many fantastic developments, the Akilah Institute looks forward to exponentially extending the reach of their offering in 2019.
Foodbank Australia
To date, Sodashi has contributed over $1,800 to this brilliant cause on behalf of our customers.
As Australia's largest hunger relief organisation, Foodbank helps to restore hope to millions of Australians in crisis by rescuing and sourcing food and groceries and redistributing to individuals and families in need.
Not only does Foodbank play an important role in collecting food from farmers, manufacturers and retailers, but also a vital part in tackling Australia's $20 billion food waste issue. Last year, Foodbank was able to rescue over 32 million kilograms in food waste; an amazing achievement.
Building upon the success of this amazing initiative in 2018, Foodbank plans to expand their Key Staples Program and School Breakfast Program going into the New Year. While the Key Staples Program aims to source and secure pantry staples (such as fresh fruit and vegetables) for families in need, the School Breakfast Program aims to set children up for meaningful educational experiences by offering nourishing meals ahead of the school day.
From Sodashi's contribution to date, we are so proud to have provided an additional 3,700 meals to people in need.
DOUBLE OUR CONTRIBUTION
'Tis the seasion…of giving!
To mark the official start of the festive season, Sodashi is delighted to be doubling our contribution to our charity partners! For the period of the 3rd – 9th December, we will be doubling our contribution with every purchase made on www.sodashi.com ($2 AUD per transaction).
The best part? You get to choose the cause we contribute to when your successful order has been processed on our website.
We look forward to contributing to these amazing causes in 2019.
To find out more about i=Change, click here.
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Cellulite is a condition that affects many men and women alike. Read more about our key tips to tackle cellulite by using Sodashi's all natural, cruelty-free products. What essential oils ...


This knife by Kevin L Hoffman features a double edged satin finished blade with .180" blade stock and 1.474" blade depth, full tang construction with black linen micarta scales. Comes with a kydex sheath with shoulder rig. Excellent condition.
Kevin has been a full-time maker since 1981.
Nylon Zippered Case - 16" x 4"


Emily Bell & The Talkbacks recently released their EP Kali, three years after their 2014 'In Technicolor' debut. Once, Austin's secret, Bell's music is making its way across the country and into the hearts of everybody who hears this five-track album.
"Can't Talk Back" opens the EP, with an edgy mixture of rhythmic speaking and tones that ring in your ears afterward. This one's a power ballad with attitude – it's definitely no Bryan Adams. The Talkbacks hold all the energy of that garage-rock band that's always 'waking up the neighbors', but with all the skill of well-honed professionals. There's no doubt who's in charge here and it's definitely Bell, in this easy to listen to tune, vamped up with synthesizers.
Bell has a message she wants the world to know; empowerment is not something to be afraid of. She is, and she wants every female to be, with all proceeds of her April 29th Official Release Party being donated to The Girls Empowerment Network. Bell believes in you, even if you don't believe in yourself and her voice will pick you back up from the cold floor after a hard week.
This message is reverberated throughout the EP, with the first song released "Goddess of Destruction" taking a much softer approach. Her accent is prominent as she calls out for 'Kali', sweet and honest. But the song turns choppy and turbulent; like gritty coffee beans not quite stirred into your morning coffee, bitter and interesting enough to glue you to it, as the sweetness warms your stomach. "We'll all be bigger than the dream," she promises. She's leading a crowd and we can't help but follow. This is a protest and I hear what she's saying; nothing can stop you now.
Known for blazing stages and rock 'n' roll style, she's the epitome of women in contemporary rock. A modern day female Nikki Sixx, but with much more tension and vulnerability. She refuses to lose her femininity and as you make your way through the EP, she shows this with pride, stronger with the stain of her pain.
The final song on this album will leave you craving more. "Crashing Hearts" is vulnerable and soulful, a side to Emily that shows you that it's okay to be sad sometimes, it makes you feel like you know her. She sings softly "one day together, and the next day alone", captioning a feeling of heartbreak in this song. She speaks metaphorically, depicting it as a car crash; brutal, violent and fatal, yet oddly so beautiful. She shows that you can be strong and still have fears too.
She captions every doubt and every painful step, exposing her weaknesses, but she doesn't care and nor will you. Vulnerable or not, she's empowered and she is in charge.


text:
package com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.action;

import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Random;
import java.util.Set;
import java.util.UUID;
import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
import javax.annotation.Nullable;

import org.bukkit.Location;
import org.bukkit.Material;
import org.bukkit.World;
import org.bukkit.block.Block;
import org.bukkit.block.BlockFace;
import org.bukkit.configuration.ConfigurationSection;
import org.bukkit.entity.Entity;
import org.bukkit.entity.LivingEntity;
import org.bukkit.entity.Player;
import org.bukkit.plugin.Plugin;
import org.bukkit.potion.PotionEffectType;
import org.bukkit.util.Vector;

import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.block.MaterialBrush;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.block.UndoList;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.effect.EffectPlay;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.effect.EffectPlayer;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.CasterProperties;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.Mage;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.MageClass;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.MageContext;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.MageController;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.MageModifier;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.MaterialSet;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.magic.VariableScope;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.spell.Spell;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.spell.SpellResult;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.spell.TargetType;
import com.elmakers.mine.bukkit.api.wand.Wand;

public interface CastContext extends MageContext {
    @Nullable
    @Override
    Entity getEntity();
    @Nullable
    @Override
    LivingEntity getLivingEntity();
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Location getLocation();
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Location getTargetLocation();
    @Nullable
    Location getTargetCenterLocation();
    void setTargetCenterLocation(Location location);
    @Nullable
    Location getTargetSourceLocation();
    @Nullable
    Vector getDirection();
    BlockFace getFacingDirection();
    void setDirection(Vector direction);
    @Nullable
    World getWorld();
    @Nullable
    Plugin getPlugin();
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Location getEyeLocation();

    /**
     * Currently return the cast source location, but in the future may change
     * to return only the wand location, or null if this spell was not cast with
     * a wand.
     * @return The location
     */
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Location getWandLocation();

    /**
     * Get the source location of this cast.
     * @return The location
     */
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Location getCastLocation();
    @Nullable
    Block getTargetBlock();
    @Nullable
    Block getInteractBlock();
    @Override
    @Nullable
    Entity getTargetEntity();
    void setTargetEntity(Entity targetEntity);
    void setTargetLocation(Location targetLocation);
    void setTargetSourceLocation(Location targetLocation);
    void setTargetBlock(Block targetBlock);
    @Nonnull
    Spell getSpell();
    @Nonnull
    @Override
    Mage getMage();
    @Nullable
    @Override
    Wand getWand();
    @Nullable
    MageClass getMageClass();
    Collection<EffectPlayer> getEffects(String key);
    boolean hasEffects(String key);
    @Override
    @Nonnull
    MageController getController();
    void registerForUndo(Runnable runnable);
    void registerForUndo(Entity entity);
    void registerForUndo(Block block);
    void registerModified(Entity entity);
    void registerDamaged(Entity entity);
    void clearAttachables(Block block);
    void updateBlock(Block block);
    void registerVelocity(Entity entity);
    void registerMoved(Entity entity);
    void registerPotionEffects(Entity entity);
    void registerPotionEffectForRemoval(Entity entity, PotionEffectType potionEffectType);
    void registerModifier(Entity entity, MageModifier modifier);
    void registerModifierForRemoval(Entity entity, String modifierKey);
    void registerBreakable(Block block, double breakable);
    void registerReflective(Block block, double reflectivity);
    double registerBreaking(Block block, double breakAmount);
    void unregisterBreaking(Block block);
    void registerFakeBlock(Block block, Collection<WeakReference<Player>> players);
    Block getPreviousBlock();
    Block getPreviousPreviousBlock();
    void setPreviousBlock(Block previous);
    boolean isIndestructible(Block block);
    boolean hasBuildPermission(Block block);
    boolean hasBreakPermission(Block block);
    boolean isBreakable(Block block);
    boolean isReflective(Block block);
    @Nullable
    Double getBreakable(Block block);
    @Nullable
    Double getReflective(Block block);
    void clearBreakable(Block block);
    void clearReflective(Block block);
    void playEffects(String key);
    void playEffects(String key, float scale);
    void playEffects(String key, float scale, Block sourceBlock);
    void playEffects(String effectName, float scale, Location source, Entity sourceEntity, Location target, Entity targetEntity);
    void playEffects(String effectName, float scale, Location source, Entity sourceEntity, Location target, Entity targetEntity, Block sourceBlock);

    @Override
    void cancelEffects();
    @Override
    Collection<EffectPlay> getCurrentEffects();
    @Nullable
    Location findPlaceToStand(Location target, int verticalSearchDistance);
    @Nullable
    Location findPlaceToStand(Location target, int verticalSearchDistance, boolean goUp);
    void castMessage(String message);
    void sendMessage(String message);
    void castMessageKey(String key, String message);
    void castMessageKey(String key);
    void sendMessageKey(String key, String message);
    void sendMessageKey(String key);
    void showMessage(String message);
    void showMessage(String key, String def);
    void setTargetedLocation(Location location);
    Block findBlockUnder(Block block);
    Block findSpaceAbove(Block block);
    @Deprecated
    boolean isTransparent(Material material);
    boolean isTransparent(Block block);
    @Deprecated
    boolean isPassthrough(Material material);
    boolean isPassthrough(Block block);
    boolean isDestructible(Block block);
    boolean areAnyDestructible(Block block);
    @Nullable
    MaterialBrush getBrush();
    void setBrush(MaterialBrush brush);
    Collection<Entity> getTargetedEntities();
    void messageTargets(String messageKey);
    Random getRandom();
    UndoList getUndoList();
    void setTargetName(String name);
    String getTargetName();
    int getWorkAllowed();
    void setWorkAllowed(int work);
    void addWork(int work);
    void performedActions(int count);
    int getActionsPerformed();
    void finish();
    void retarget(double range, double fov, double closeRange, double closeFOV, boolean useHitbox);
    void retarget(double range, double fov, double closeRange, double closeFOV, boolean useHitbox, int yOffset, boolean targetSpaceRequired, int targetMinOffset);
    CastContext getBaseContext();
    CastContext getParent();
    Set<UUID> getTargetMessagesSent();
    boolean teleport(final Entity entity, final Location location, final int verticalSearchDistance);
    boolean teleport(final Entity entity, final Location location, final int verticalSearchDistance, boolean preventFall);
    boolean teleport(final Entity entity, final Location location, final int verticalSearchDistance, boolean preventFall, boolean safe);
    boolean teleport(final Entity entity, final Location location, final int verticalSearchDistance, boolean preventFall, boolean safe, boolean teleportVehicle);
    @Deprecated
    boolean allowPassThrough(Material material);
    boolean allowPassThrough(Block block);
    int getVerticalSearchDistance();
    @Deprecated
    boolean isOkToStandIn(Material mat);
    boolean isOkToStandIn(Block block);
    boolean isWater(Material mat);
    @Deprecated
    boolean isOkToStandOn(Material mat);
    boolean isOkToStandOn(Block block);
    @Nullable
    @Deprecated
    Set<Material> getMaterialSet(String key);
    void setSpellParameters(ConfigurationSection parameters);
    SpellResult getResult();
    void setInitialResult(SpellResult result);
    void setResult(SpellResult result);
    void addResult(SpellResult result);
    boolean getTargetsCaster();
    void setTargetsCaster(boolean target);
    TargetType getTargetType();
    boolean canContinue(Location location);
    boolean canCast(Location location);
    String parameterize(String command);
    @Deprecated
    String parameterizeMessage(String message);
    boolean isConsumeFree();
    void addHandler(ActionHandler handler);
    SpellResult processHandlers();
    boolean hasHandlers();
    void addMessageParameter(String key, String value);
    long getStartTime();
    long getLastTriggerTime();
    void updateLastTriggerTime();
    @Nonnull
    ConfigurationSection getVariables(VariableScope scope);

    /**
     * Returns cast-local variables
     */
    @Nonnull
    ConfigurationSection getVariables();

    /**
     * Returns all variables, this can be an expensive call so avoid using it if possible.
     * This is also not modifiable, the configuration section returned is a copy.
     */
    @Nonnull
    ConfigurationSection getAllVariables();
    ConfigurationSection getWorkingParameters();
    ActionHandler getRootHandler();
    void setCastData(@Nonnull String key, Object value);
    @Nullable
    Object getCastData(@Nonnull String key);
    void setDestructible(MaterialSet destructible);
    void setIndestructible(MaterialSet indestructible);
    @Nullable
    CasterProperties getCasterProperties(String propertyType);
    @Nullable
    CasterProperties getTargetCasterProperties(String propertyType);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Redsan set to launch album in star-studded concert
Kenya's dancehall king Redsan is set to launch his new album titled 'The Baddest' in two weeks at the Carnivore Grounds. The concert...
Six things we learned from Sauti Sol's album launch
Sauti Sol's performance and launch of their new album Live And Die In Afrika was another game changer by the group in the way live music...


text:
Mibe happy as rampant Bantwana punishes Namibia
4 December 2022 – The South African Under-17 women's team is looking forward to the semifinals of the football competition at the Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi, after handing Namibia a 12-0 drubbing.
Player of the Match Adrielle Mibe was in devastating form as she scored a brace to complete a commanding display by Bantwana on Saturday, 3 December 2022.
Gositang Motshegwe opened the scoring in the second minute of the match and SA never looked back, with Sinazo Ntshota, Ntando Phahla, Olwethu Sosibo (brace), Nobahle Mdelwa (brace), Julia Goncalves, Tatiana Correia and Naledi Nkosi adding the other goals.
Mibe said she was happy to see the team click the way they did against the Namibians and in the process secure qualification to the semifinals.
"I am feeling very good, very proud of the team, very proud of the way we played and the way we reacted throughout the game. I am happy," Mibe said.
"I am feeling very good after winning Player of the Match. I am happy, I am overjoyed in fact. This is the national team and it is a great record on my CV."
Mibe also scored a brace in the 4-1 rout of hosts Malawi during the opening match of the football competition last week.


There are no municipal elections this year with more candidates than District D. After serving the district well for six years, Councilmember Wanda Adams will be forced out by term limits. Though this board made our best efforts to reach out to the dozen candidates, we were only able to receive responses to our interview questions from a handful of candidates. Instead of depending too heavily on this board's interview materials alone, we strongly recommend checking out New Media Texas, where Durrell Douglas conducted video interviews with most of the candidates. Additionally, we recommend consulting this blog, specifically about the District D election, which is being run by TSU Students.
This election features a plethora of well-qualified, well-intentioned candidates that this board believes would be remarkable additions to the City Council. However, we disagreed sharply about who was the best candidates, who earned our support the most. While none of the members of this board reside in District D, Texpatriate's office is located within the district. Accordingly, we feel a special connection to the district.
Texpatriate will not endorse a candidate in District D, as each member of this board instead selected the candidate he or she supported, which turned out to be all unique selections.
District D, like many other areas within the City, deserves a strong progressive voice on the City Council. I believe that Assata Richards is best positioned to be that voice.
Ms Richards is a consistent fighter for the underdog, a skill she no doubt refined as a major decision-maker at the Houston Housing Authority. She has committed herself to progressive values throughout this campaign, and is a tireless advocate for those in need. In a recent interview, Ms Richards talked about how, if elected, she would fight hard for Houston to be "one of the most progressive and compassionate" cities.
And just as how Ms Richards has taken note of progressivism and compassion, the organizations representing those interests have taken note of Ms Richards. She has been endorsed by such progressive groups as the Houston GLBT Caucus, Houston Stonewall Young Democrats and Democracy for Houston.
Accordingly, I endorse Assata Richards for the Houston City Council District D.
Politics is often dominated by the old and the distant. Rarely does the opportunity ever arise to support a young, avid candidate who is heavily involved in her community to make a difference. Christina Sanders represents one of those rare opportunities.
Ms Sanders got her start in politics the same way everyone involved with Texpatriate did: on the Mayor's Youth Council. Like us, she continued to be heavily connected with the local political community after High School, and later served as a key leader on the League of Young Voters.
One of the core tenets of Ms Sanders' candidacy is to increase transparency within the City government and give constituents and voters more of a say on the goings-on of the City. She has also advocated the implementation of programs educating residents on the current events of the local government. This effort to lift the veil off of City Hall is well-received, and is a validation of many of the points the other members of this board have been talking about for months.
Accordingly, I endorse Christina Sanders for the Houston City Council District D.
I have determined there to be five candidates worthy of recognition in this election: Dwight Boykins, Georgia Provost, Assata Richards, Anthony Robinson and Christina Sanders. I sincerely believe that any of these candidates would make a valiant Councilmember and believe each would be an assiduous champion for the often-neglected district.
In part, I come to this conclusion because these candidates boast nearly identical positions on all major issues. Historically, and this race will prove to be no exception, when the candidates have been politically indistinguishable, I have made selections based on the personality and backstory of the candidates.
When left to that option, the choice is very, very clear. I join the Houston Chronicle in supporting Anthony Robinson. For those who do not know, Mr Robinson has an unbelievably inspirational story. In 1986, Mr Robinson was convicted of a crime he did not commit, wrongly serving a decade in prison. After raising enough money for a DNA test of his own, Mr Robinson's innocence was proven and he was pardoned by the Governor.
Many people, after being abused and wronged so fatefully by the system, would turn their backs on society. But Mr Robinson has now decided to give his everything to the same society that wrongfully imprisoned him. That amount of wisdom and forgiveness is reminiscent only of such individuals as Nelson Mandela.
Mr Robinson offers both a unique perspective and an unparallelled set of experiences to municipal politics. It is my hope that he be able to bring them to City Hall.
City Council Districts boast just a single representative. Accordingly, it is invaluable find candidates for these offices who lack the need for on-the-job training. I believe that Dwight Boykins is the best candidate for the office of the Houston City Council District D for exactly that reason.
Mr Boykins has previously run for the City Council a number of times in the past, spanning nearly twenty years. He has done so in at-large positions as well, garnering massive publicity and experience in both politics and government in the process.
Accordingly, I endorse Dwight Boykins for the Houston City Council District D.
The Texpatriate Editorial Board is comprised of Olivia Arena of Austin, George Bailey & Noah M. Horwitz of Boston and Andrew Scott Romo of New Orleans.
This entry was tagged 2013 Election, Anthony Robinson, Assata-Nicole Richards, Christina Sanders, Dwight Boykins, Editorial Board, Endorsements, Georgia Provost. Bookmark the permalink.


More brutal, terrifying and personal than ever before, experience the horror sequel right where the fun happens – at home. When Cindy and her husband Mike take their rebellious teenage daughter Kinsey and son Luke on a road trip, what begins as an ordinary, gripe-filled family excursion soon becomes their worst nightmare come to life. Upon arrival at a secluded mobile home park, a knock on their trailer door leads to an inescapable night of terror as three strangers, with inexplicable deadly intentions, force this fractured family to come together and fight for their lives.
The Strangers: Prey at Night is gleefully unrelentless and unpredictable in its chaos, never slowing down and leaving us in perpetual fear of what may be lurking behind the next corner – a frightful experience for vintage thrillseekers and series strangers alike.


text:
Soch Fact Check سوچو پھر بولو
Politics Science Culture Methodology Submit Soch Videos Soch Writing
Soch Videos
Soch Writing
About Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
Yes, coronavirus can be transmitted in hot weather
By Fizza Qureshi and Zainab Husain 19 March 2020
Claim: COVID-19 cannot be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climate.
Fact: The World Health Organisation and numerous infectious diseases specialists state that COVID-19 can indeed be transmitted in hot climates.
Recently, there have been rumours that claim that the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a seasonal virus, which means that the reason it has not spread as rapidly in countries such as Pakistan and India compared to European countries is the relatively higher temperature levels of the South Asian regions.
These rumours were given more legitimacy after the United States President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Manchester, US. "The virus that we are talking about, many people say it will go away in April with the heat," said Trump.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) clearly states, " From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather. Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19."
While some experts have suggested a correlation between COVID-19 and the weather, there is no evidence to suggest that the hot weather would stop transmission of the virus entirely.
An infectious diseases specialist at Aga Khan University Hospital discussing the correlation between heat and #COVID19 #CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/CGmT5Uz0ym
— Soch سوچ (@SochVideos) March 17, 2020
Dr John Nicholls, a pathology professor at the University of Hong Kong, was quoted by AccuWeather saying that there are three things the coronavirus does not like: sunlight, temperature and humidity. He, therefore, believes that weather conditions will be the key factor in the demise of the novel coronavirus, referencing the SARS outbreak from 2002 and 2003.
"Sunlight will cut the virus's ability to grow in half, so the half-life will be 2.5 minutes, and in the dark, it's about 13 to 20 [minutes]. Sunlight is really good at killing viruses," Nicholls said.
National Geographic cited Ian Lipkin who is the director of the Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity, saying that sunlight, which is less abundant in winter can also help break-down viruses that have been transmitted to surfaces. He said, "UV light breaks down nucleic acid. It almost sterilises [surfaces]. If you're outside, it's generally cleaner than inside simply because of that UV light." Effective at killing bacteria and viruses, UV light is often used in hospitals to sterilise equipment.
Deutsche Welle also cited a virologist from Germany's Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Thomas Pietschmann, who said the coronavirus is "not very heat-resistant, which means that the virus quickly breaks down when temperatures rise".
From the above quotes by experts, it seems clear that there is a correlation between weather conditions and the spread of the virus. However, the proposition that the virus doesn't spread in regions with warmer climate is false. What is known, however, is that the virus doesn't survive well in a warmer and more humid environment. This is not synonymous with the former.
Al Jazeera quoted Dr Edsel Maurice Salvana, who is the director at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines saying that a direct correlation between warmer countries and slower spread of the virus is a myth. Warmer weather may deactivate the virus faster if it is on surfaces or in the air thereby impeding it from travelling farther and faster, but it does not stop the virus from being transmitted through for example someone's coughing or sneezing. Furthermore, warm weather reduces the survival time of the virus but it does not obliterate it.
Dr Abdul Ghafur, an infectious disease specialist based in the Indian city of Chennai, was quoted by Al Jazeera saying that the virus travels farther and persists longer in cold-weather regions such as those in Europe and parts of the US because of the general dryness of the air and lower temperature. But even as the weather gets warmer in these countries, Ghafus does not expect the virus to go away completely. This underscores the importance of personal hygiene as a primary means of impeding transmission.
Summary: According to the World Health Organisation and numerous infectious diseases specialists, COVID-19 can indeed be transmitted in hot climates. There is no evidence to suggest that hot weather would kill or deter the virus. However, the exact correlation between the weather and COVID-19 remains unclear.
No evidence to suggest Covid vaccine impacts male fertility
WhatsApp message is old, no recent Covid-19 outbreaks in South City, Imtiaz, Chase Up
Eating locusts won't save us from Covid-19
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text:
Mimudea subochracealis is een vlinder uit de familie van de grasmotten (Crambidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1884 door Pagenstecher.

subochracealis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia