Latest news with #Dalton
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
New EU rules on digital accessibility to come into force
New EU rules come into force tomorrow which will require websites, apps and devices to be accessible for people with disabilities and elderly people. If companies fail to comply with the European Accessibility Act they could be hit with fines and even prison sentences for senior staff. Brian Dalton is blind and is a wheelchair user. He is also a senior accessibility test engineer who works with clients to ensure their websites are accessible. Mr Dalton relies on screen reader software to navigate through the internet. "I will read the news headlines on various websites. I will want to book flights for holidays. I will want to book concert tickets. I'll want to do online shopping, just as anybody would," he said. Even with the best software, if the website is not well designed it can pose problems for people with disabilities. "The key is, are headings on websites accessible? Do they have accessible text? Are they structured in a right way?" Mr Dalton said. "Is the text on the link going to tell me exactly where I'm going to be taken to when I click it?" Mr Dalton is welcoming tomorrow's introduction of the European Accessibility Act. "I think it will be amazing, because it's going to harmonise the standard of accessibility across EU member states. "For example, there are guidelines around audio description, which says that pre-recorded video content has to be accompanied by an audio track. "There are also guidelines around the functionality needed for accessibility for keyboard users," he added. At the studios of New Graphic in Dublin, designers work with clients to make their websites more accessible. "The new act means that any kind of digital product, be it a website, an app, or an ATM, needs to be accessible," said Diarmuid Slattery, Director at New Graphic. "And websites should be accessible; you wouldn't build a new leisure centre and not make it accessible. "Right now, I think there is a knowledge gap, businesses don't know enough about accessibility and they need some help," Mr Slattery said. "Businesses need to think about how they write their content, as well as the images and videos they put up. "Videos need transcripts and content needs to be structured in a way that is understandable," he added. Digital Business Ireland (DBI) has expressed concerns about a lack of understanding of the new rules among companies. A recent survey carried out by the group showed that nearly half of Irish businesses were unaware of the requirements. DBI is calling for additional supports for businesses. "We feel that the Government should be looking at grant support," said Caroline Dunlea, Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland. "They could tier that support based on the size of the business. "There is an investment into making a website accessible, ensuring screen readers are there, or the colour contrasts are correct. "All of that has to be funded," Ms Dunlea said. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been designated as one of the lead supervisory authorities in Ireland for the European Accessibility Act. It has produced a set of guidelines for small businesses. Internet users like Brian Dalton say the new rules should not be something to be feared by businesses but rather should be viewed as an opportunity to deliver better websites and a better user experience for all. "For me, independence is the freedom to do what I want to do when I want to do it. "So, if I decide in the middle of the night to sit down and book my holidays or do my online shopping or read the newspaper, I can do it independently of anybody else, because the accessibility requirements will be implemented," he said.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Pump track plan for Rotherham recommended for approval
Plans to build a pump track in Rotherham have been recommended for on greenbelt land off Magna Lane in Dalton, the facility would be open to bikes, scooters, skateboards and rollerblades and would cater for all Council planning officers said the scheme would meet national and local planning policy and would represent "not inappropriate" development within the green plans have attracted more than a dozen public comments, with roughly half in support of the facility. A planning statement submitted to the council said the track would help improve health, support inclusive activity and enhance the existing green space without harming its character or council's ecologist agreed and said there would be a biodiversity net gain of more than 10% on track would cover 0.6 hectares of land and sit at least 32ft (10m) from all boundaries and 65ft (20m) from Dalton Brook, according to the Local Democracy Reporting the 17 public comments received, supporters said it would provide a much-needed facility for young people and encourage physical activity in a safe, purpose-built setting. However, others raised concerns about traffic, noise, and the potential for anti-social behaviour, particularly potential misuse of the track by off-road motorbikes. Residents also cited Magna Lane's existing road safety issues, with one objector pointing to a past fatality plans will now go before the authority's planning board for a final decision on 3 July. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
SoraNews24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Fuji TV president to lean heavily into anime production to revive beleaguered network
Is anime the answer or just the only answer he knows? Fuji TV has long had a somewhat bad rep among Japanese television networks. The network itself has made headlines for inappropriate behavior like revealing magic tricks on live TV, adding a countdown ticker for the execution of ISIS hostages, or showing the movie Titanic two weeks in a row days after a sub traveling to the Titanic imploded and killed everyone inside, to name a few. They even pissed off Shohei Ohtani by reporting the location of his newly bought home in California, resulting in my favorite Ohtani clip, where he totally blows off the Fuji TV crew right after winning the World Series. ▼ A guy tries to call Ohtani over to the Fuji TV reporters. Despite Ohtani's euphoric feeling at the moment, you can see his face darken as he mouths something dismissive and then goes the other way, leaving the guy to give a little 'Well, I tried' look to the camera. But by far the network's biggest transgression has been unfolding over the past year in which accusations of widespread systematic sexual harassment and misconduct were made, centered on former SMAP member and host Masahiro Nakai as well as top executives who allowed this environment to go on for so long. The fallout led to all of Fuji TV's sponsors removing ads from all of their shows, and the resignations of several top executives. Early into the scandal, Fuji Media Holdings appointed Kenji Shimizu as the new president of Fuji TV. His name might ring a bell to anime fans as he was the producer for several major series such as Dragon Ball , Yu Yu Hakusho , and Assassination Classroom . Despite his impressive anime resume, his current duties involve putting out the multiple fires still going on at Fuji TV. In addition to gradually repairing the reputation of the entire network by replacing most of the top brass and making concessions to the one confirmed victim, Shimizu has been facing a great deal of pressure from American firm Dalton Investments, who hold an influential amount of about 7 percent stock in the network. They were quick to call for sweeping changes in the toxic management of Fuji TV and still aren't satisfied with Shimizu's efforts so far. Dalton made a list of 12 board of director members that they wanted, but Fuji Media Holdings and Shimizu denied all of them, so Dalton launched a proxy battle in which they appealed to other stockholders to side with them on the matter. In response, Shimizu went to the Japanese media in an effort to be more transparent about what he plans to do with Fuji TV moving forward. In addition to promises of a work environment that values human rights, he made a surprising announcement that he planned to devote 125 billion yen (US$862 million), half of Fuji Media Holdings' entire reformation budget, to content production. While 'content production' is a vague term, Fuji TV is most known for its anime programming in this regard. To put things in really simple terms, a huge portion of Japanese TV is variety programming, which involves panels of personalities known as 'tarento' discussing current events, visiting restaurants, playing games, doing crazy stunts, and so on. The remaining entertainment programming time is usually given to anime, dramas, movies, and music programs. ▼ Fuji TV's long-running Noitamina block of anime was home to some classic series. Variety shows are good for networks because production is generally inexpensive, but they almost solely rely on domestic ad revenue during broadcasts. This, of course, turned out to be a fatal flaw when the Nakai scandal drove away all advertisers from Fuji TV. Content creation in the form of anime and dramas is more costly, but offers protection from an exodus of advertisers because they can also generate money by being exported to other countries or through merchandising. There's also the added benefit of anime not having any real humans who can get embroiled in scandals, though Goku was up to some questionable stuff in his early years. ▼ If you've been watching Fuji TV in the early part of 2025, you'll likely have seen public service announcements from NPO AC Japan/Advertising Council Japan, like this one advising everyone to check their heart rates regularly, about 1,000 times because no one else was willing to run ads on the network. Leaning into anime seems like a sensible plan to improve the network's financial situation, and Shimizu said he plans to establish an Anime Business Department to oversee the creation and promotion of it. However, some are accusing him of simply wanting to make more anime because that's all he knows as a former producer of it, all while turning his back on a staple genre of live-action Japanese TV. Readers of the news online had mixed feelings about the plan. Variety shows are very popular in Japan so even many anime fans aren't sure they want to do away with them. 'There's a lot of long-running shows that would be a shame to lose.' 'This whole problem was caused by a variety show, so good riddance.' 'Variety? All they have are quiz shows and those don't need a budget.' 'They don't put much effort into variety shows anymore anyway.' 'The only interesting anime on Fuji TV is Sazae-san, isn't it?' 'Dramas don't make money and the actors are expensive, but anime is cheap.' 'Variety shows are boring and all the same. It's time they go.' 'Fuji's got a lot of problems, but I think this is the right move.' 'Would it be better as an all-anime channel?' It should be mentioned that of the five major networks in Japan, Fuji TV tends to hang out around fourth place. With little to lose and a lot to gain, especially at this point, even radical ideas like making it an all-anime channel don't seem all that crazy. And I'm happy to report that just as I wrote this article a decisive vote was held at the Fuji Media Holdings Annual General Meeting where shareholders rejected Dalton's board member proposals, officially clearing the way for Shimizu to enact his plans. This means, it looks like we're in for some more anime from a hopefully reformed Fuji TV in the future. Source: Daily Shincho, My Game News Flash, NHK Featured image: ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Will Attending An Elite High School Boost Your Admissions Odds At Top Schools?
Trinity School Main Building, on West 91st Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, USA - March ... More 26, 2025. Founded in 1709, the Main building was completed in 1893-94 by architect Charles C. Haight in an Anglo-Italianate brownstone. From 2022–2024, Horace Mann sent sixty graduates to the University of Chicago. From 2020–2024, more than thirty graduates from Deerfield matriculated to Brown University and Yale University, respectively. From 2019–2024, thirty-six Dalton graduates enrolled at Cornell. In light of these staggering matriculation statistics, many assume that an elite private high school is a ticket to a top college—so much so that they're willing to pay upwards of $375 an hour for private consultants to prepare their kindergarteners for admission to schools like Dalton, Chaplin, or Spence. With small class sizes and dozens of students admitted to the Ivy League every cycle, the data seems to suggest that attending such a school dramatically improves a student's odds of admission. In reality, it's not quite that simple. While a prestigious secondary school can offer significant benefits for the admissions process—including extensive support networks, in-depth college counseling, and noteworthy academic rigor—it can also place a student in a more competitive applicant pool. This means that admissions officers will likely scrutinize an applicant from an elite private school more than they would one from a lesser-known public school. Before you set your sights on Phillips Exeter, here's what you need to know about how your choice of high school can impact your chances of admission to a top college: The Pros: Rigor, Resources, and Reputation Elite private schools such as Hotchkiss School, Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Riverdale Country School are renowned for their academic rigor, small student-to-faculty ratios, and exceptional resources—qualities that likewise distinguish the Ivy League schools. In some cases, the similarities between the Ivy League and prestigious secondary schools are not coincidental, but the result of deep historical ties. Many of the most elite secondary schools in the U.S. were founded with the explicit purpose of preparing young students for study at Ivy League institutions. Hotchkiss School in Connecticut was born out of Maria Harrison Bissell Hotchkiss' discussions with Yale President Timothy Dwight V with the explicit intention of preparing young men to attend Yale. Lawrenceville, likewise, was founded by Presbyterian minister Isaac Van Ardsdale Brown as a school that would channel well-qualified students into Princeton University. Regardless of any shared roots, Ivy League and other top schools value the fact that the academic culture at these institutions prepares students for the demands of rigorous, collegiate coursework. 'Ivy League admissions officers are deeply familiar with these institutions and are eager to admit their graduates into their college classrooms,' says Erin Cao, a former Columbia University admissions officer. 'They know these graduates will step onto campus wholly prepared for the Ivy League experience.' In addition to the academic preparation, private schools' smaller class sizes afford students more personalized support and guidance from teachers and college counselors. Likewise, because these schools often boast multimillion dollar endowments, students benefit from a wealth of resources, from cutting-edge facilities to forward-thinking technology. Phillips Exeter, for instance, houses a library with over 390,000 volumes and a collection of Medieval manuscripts, as well as an observatory with a 0.70m PlaneWave CDK-700 Corrected Dall-Kirkham telescope. Groton's Campbell Performing Arts Center features 'a fully equipped scene/paint shop, a costume shop, a trap and orchestra pit level, a full fly, a 65-foot fly loft, Equity-level dressing rooms, and a computerized box office,' as well as state-of-the-art theater equipment for performers, technicians, and stage directors. Andover's Gelb Science Center features a seismometer, a molecular biology research laboratory, and an observatory. A student interested in STEM at one of these schools might have access to high-level research opportunities, state-of-the-art lab equipment, and mentorship from faculty with advanced degrees. While this access alone is not enough to distinguish a student, it can provide the basis for a student to build an impressive sustainability-focused passion project, excel in a robotics competition, publish original research, or patent their own unique invention, all of which would elevate their applicant profile in the eyes of admissions officers. The Cons: Cutthroat Competition However, precisely because of the abundant resources, rigorous curricula, and extensive support that these schools offer, standing out against one's peers is an incredibly challenging task. Not only are more students from prestigious private schools applying to the Ivy League, but the students who are applying from these schools are the best of the best—simply listing a brand-name boarding school on your application will not impress admissions officers. 'For students who attend public school, it's easier to be a big fish in a small pond,' says Cao. 'While an Ivy League school might accept five from Horace Mann and only one from a public school in Virginia, the student from a public school will not have to do as much to demonstrate that they have taken advantage of opportunities, made an impact on their communities, and pursued their passions in and outside of the classroom. A student from a rural public school who would wow admissions officers might be an average applicant from Lawrenceville.' Because challenging academics, competitive extracurriculars, and community service are the baseline at elite private schools, students have to be considerably more creative to explore and articulate their guiding interests in engaging and eye-catching ways. It is also worth noting that an elite private school is not the right fit for every type of learner—if a student struggles academically or thrives in less traditional learning environments, they might struggle with the traditional academic culture of a private or boarding school—and earning less than stellar grades is a quick way to negatively stand out from their peers in the application process. Ultimately, students and families should pursue a high school on the basis of fit, rather than brand name. While an elite private school may offer students a wealth of resources and opportunities that benefit them in the admissions process, college admissions success boils down to how a student takes advantage of the opportunities wherever they may be. Whether you're attending Exeter or your local public high school, it is imperative to discover and hone your interests through creative, original, and community-enhancing initiatives both in and outside of the classroom.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Bautista Circling ‘Road House 2'
We hear that Dave Bautista has an offer to appear in Road House 2, but that's it at this point. Talks for the Dune and Guardians of the Galaxy thespian joining the Amazon MGM Studios sequel haven't even begun. Stay tuned. Guy Ritchie is directing the follow-up, with Jake Gyllenhaal reprising his role as ex-UFC fighter Dalton off a script by Will Beall (Bad Boys: Ride or Die). Road House 2 is produced by Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven and Alex Gartner, Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories Productions with Josh McLaughlin and Ivan Atkinson executive producing. More from Deadline Russell Crowe Arming Up Opposite Henry Cavill In Chad Stahelski's 'Highlander' At Amazon MGM Studios & UA Guy Ritchie On Board To Direct 'Road House 2' Charles Roven Reflects On Career & Collaborations, Says 'Road House 2' Likely Starting In September - Taormina The 2024 Doug Liman reboot of the 1980s cult title Road House world premiered at SXSW. In the movie, Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems. On Prime Video, Road House pulled in 50 million-plus viewers over its first two weekends. At the time, Amazon reported that as a record — beating the viewership of any original movie they've ever produced for the OTT service. That number eventually rose to 80M viewers worldwide in the movie's first eight weeks on Prime Video. Upcoming for Bautisa is The Trap House and Amazon MGM Studios' Wrecking Crew opposite Jason Momoa. The pro wrestler-turned-actor also is lensing the Zellner brothers comedy Alpha Gang opposite Cate Blanchett. Bautista played Drax in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, a role he continued in the Russo brothers' Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame movies. The latter two combined to gross nearly $5 billion at the global box office. Reps for Bautista and Amazon MGM Studios did not comment. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg
