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How to watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez livestream online

A few weeks after UFC 300, the mixed martial arts promotion company returns with UFC Fight Night, which has Brazilian fighter Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1) going up against American Alex Perez (24-8-0) in the main event.

 

UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

On Saturday, April 27, the prelims began at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. The main card started at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. If you want to watch the event online, it livestreams with an ESPN+ subscription.

 

$503 and up

BUY: UFC FIGHT NIGHT: NICOLAU VS. PEREZ TICKETS ON VIVID SEATS

Last-minute tickets to UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perezin Las Vegas are still available on sites like Vivid Seats. meanwhile, you can use promo code VAR2024 to get $20 off your purchase at Vivid Seats. Tickets are also available at StubHub.

 

Want to watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online? This event is streaming on ESPN+, ESPN and ESPN2, so there are a few ways to watch UFC Fight Night. Let’s break it down.

$10.99/Month

WATCH UFC FIGHT NIGHT: NICOLAU VS. PEREZ ON ESPN+

To watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online, you’d have to sign up for a subscription to ESPN+ for $10.99/Month. If you don’t want to go month-to-month, you can sign up for an annual subscription for $109.99/Year — which is about a 15% savings from the monthly price.

 

$109.99/Year

BUY: ESPN+ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

You can also sign up for the Disney Trio — which includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ — starting at $14.99/month.

 

In addition, UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perezbroadcasts on ESPN for the main card and ESPN2 for the prelims, which are both available to watch on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling Orange. And since DirecTV Stream and Fubo offer free trials, you can watch UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez online for free.

 

Check out the full fight card below, and stream UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs. Perez here.

 

Main Card, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

  • Flyweight: Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez — main event
  • Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov — co-main event
  • Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski vs. Karine Silva
  • Heavyweight: Austen Lane vs. Jhonata Diniz
  • Featherweight: Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama
  • Welterweight: Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

 

Prelims, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

  • Bantamweight: Rani Yahya vs. Victor Henry
  • Lightweight: Austin Hubbard vs. Michael Figlak
  • Heavyweight: Don’Tale Mayes vs. Caio Machado
  • Women’s Strawweight: Ketlen Souza vs. Marnic Mann
  • Lightweight: James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla
  • Women’s Flyweight: Ivana Petrovic vs. Na Liang
  • Lightweight: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gabriel Benitez

 

Read More

 

 

— Variety

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TimberTech® Composite Decking recognized by industry and design professionals for performance, innovation and sustainability

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) (“AZEK” or the “Company”), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas, is proud to announce that the new TimberTech Composite Terrain+ CollectionTM has been recognized for its innovative design and performance characteristics as well as its sustainability attributes, receiving Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Award and being named to HGTV Magazine’s 2024 Green List.

 

TimberTech Composite Terrain+ decking features sophisticated aesthetics with multi-color variegation and realistic emboss patterns combined with the high performance and durability found across all of TimberTech’s Composite decking collections. With its protective 4-sided capping, the Terrain+ Collection palette includes three on-trend colors, including Weathered Oak, Natural White Oak, and Dark Oak – each delivering a sophisticated, versatile and natural wood look. It is sustainably manufactured in the USA with up to 85% recycled content and protected with Product and Fade & Stain Limited Warranties for up to 30 years.


“As we celebrate the recognition of our TimberTech Composite Terrain+ Collection by Green Builder and HGTV Magazine, it’s clear that our commitment to innovation and sustainability is resonating with industry experts and consumers alike,” said Chief Marketing Officer Sam Toole. “This award-winning collection is a testament to our dedication to creating products that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible. It also reinforces AZEK’s position as an industry leader, where our focus on innovation enables us to consistently launch new outdoor living solutions that meet and exceed homeowner expectations.”

 

The Terrain+ Collection was named a winner in Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Awards, which recognizes the best innovations in sustainable home and building product design. Receiving accolades for its nature-inspired design, realistic wood looks, and superior performance and durability, the collection’s environmental sustainability attributes also stood out to the judges who deemed TimberTech as one of the brand leaders defining the future of green building.

 

2024 marks the second year in a row that TimberTech Decking was featured on HGTV Magazine’s Annual Green List, which features the editors’ best picks for eco-friendly furniture, décor and outdoor spaces. The Terrain+ Collection was their standout pick for homeowners looking to make their outdoor spaces more environmentally friendly.

 

To learn more about TimberTech’s beautiful, low-maintenance and sustainable outdoor living solutions, visit timbertech.com.

 

About The AZEK® Company

The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas. Consistently awarded and recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality, aesthetics and sustainability, our products are made from up to 85% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of waste and scrap out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. The AZEK Company has recently been named one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today, a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report, and a winner of the 2024 Real Leaders® Impact Awards. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com.

Contacts

Amanda Cimaglia

312-809-1093

media@azekco.com

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TimberTech® sets new industry standard with top-rated fire resistance for composite decking; best choice for fire zones

TimberTech Advanced PVC collections feature exceptional flame spread resistance, now with an Ignition Resistant designation from California’s State Fire Marshal

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) (“AZEK” or the “Company”), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas, is proud to announce that its TimberTech Advanced PVC Vintage Collection® and Landmark Collection® are the first in the composite decking industry to receive an Ignition Resistant designation from California’s State Fire Marshal.

 

Ignition Resistance, as defined by the California State Fire Marshal, and by the surrounding states that have adopted its standards, refers to building materials that resist catching fire or burning easily and that may slow the spread of flames. The new Ignition Resistant designation for these Advanced PVC Collections underscores TimberTech’s commitment to providing homeowners with not only beautiful and durable outdoor living solutions but also products that help enhance the safety of their outdoor spaces by adding an extra layer of protection against fire hazards.

“TimberTech is not just leading but revolutionizing the decking industry through innovation,” said Jonathan Skelly, President of Residential and Commercial for AZEK. “These fire designations underscore our relentless pursuit to not only meet but to exceed fire safety standards. Considering the staggering number of over 46 million homes across 70,000 U.S. communities at risk from the impacts of wildfire, our comprehensive portfolio can help consumers harden their homes to reduce risk and increase resistance to heat, flames, and embers typical of most wildfires.”

 

In addition to the new Ignition Resistant designation, TimberTech’s Vintage and Landmark Collections hold a Class A Flame Spread Rating. Class A is the best rating available and indicates a material is in the highest range of resistance to flames. This means that in a fire, flames will spread slower across the deck surface. Class A Flame Spread Rated decking will resist catching fire and will not readily contribute to the spread of flames. TimberTech’s Advanced PVC Decking also meets Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) compliance standards. Local building codes in WUI zones mandate fire-resistant materials for construction projects, including decks. WUI-Compliant materials resist flame spread and catching fire due to flying embers.

 

“The significance of these ratings cannot be overstated, especially for homeowners like me living in California and those living in other areas prone to wildfires or those simply seeking to enhance the safety of their homes,” said Sam Toole, Chief Marketing Officer for AZEK. “No other decking matches the beauty or performance of our Vintage and Landmark Collections and features top-rated fire resistance.”

 

TimberTech’s recently introduced Aluminum Framing product pairs perfectly with Advanced PVC decking. Because it is made of aluminum, it is particularly well-suited for areas prone to fires as compared to wood, enabling TimberTech to provide homeowners with a comprehensive wood alternative decking and framing solution.

 

To learn more about TimberTech’s innovative decking solutions and their flame spread ratings, visit https://www.timbertech.com/about/fire-resistant-decking/.

 

About The AZEK® Company

The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas. Consistently awarded and recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality, aesthetics and sustainability, our products are made from up to 85% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of waste and scrap out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. The AZEK Company has recently been named one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today, a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report, and a winner of the 2024 Real Leaders® Impact Awards. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com.

Contacts

Amanda Cimaglia

312-809-1093

media@azekco.com

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SageSure to Acquire GeoVera MGA, Including GeoVera’s Industry-Leading Underwriting Franchise in Residential Earthquake Risk

Transaction and track record of underwriting outperformance solidify SageSure as the leader in catastrophe-exposed property insurance.

 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — SageSure, one of the largest managing general agents focused on catastrophe-exposed markets, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GeoVera Advantage Insurance Services, Inc. (“GeoVera MGA”), an existing managing general agent within the specialty property insurance provider GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (“GeoVera”).

 

Upon the transaction’s completion, SageSure will assume the underwriting operations of GeoVera MGA’s best-in-class residential earthquake franchise.

With the addition of the GeoVera MGA’s deep earthquake expertise, the transaction will further enhance SageSure’s robust catastrophe risk underwriting capabilities and accelerate its entrance into new markets, including Oregon and Washington.

 

“We are excited to enter into an agreement that solidifies SageSure as one of the leading underwriters of catastrophe-exposed property risk in the US. This transaction is a rare opportunity to create significant value for employees and investors of both companies,” said Terrence McLean, President and CEO of SageSure. “The addition of Nesrin Basoz and the GeoVera MGA team will ensure continuity in GeoVera’s product offerings and a seamless experience for GeoVera distributors and policyholders.”

 

Both SageSure and GeoVera MGA teams will continue to drive their respective areas of expertise with the common goal of delivering underwriting outperformance.

 

The transaction will also establish SageSure’s partnership with GeoVera’s insurance carriers, which will provide residential earthquake capacity in California, Oregon, and Washington, and E&S homeowners, commercial habitational, and residential wind capacity in Florida. SageSure’s existing carrier partner SafePort Insurance Company will join GeoVera’s insurance carriers, enhancing an already strong, well-capitalized, and diversified AM Best-rated carrier group.

 

“We are proud to partner with SageSure on this innovative transaction,” said John Forney, President and CEO of GeoVera. “Our MGA team will provide SageSure with additional underwriting expertise and product diversity, while our new carrier partnership will ensure stability and continuity for GeoVera agents and policyholders. We look forward to the exciting opportunities this partnership will bring.”

 

To support the transaction, credit funds managed by Ares Management, SageSure’s long-standing capital provider, will provide an expansion to SageSure’s existing debt facility.

 

Howden Capital Markets & Advisory is serving as exclusive financial advisor to SageSure on the transaction, with Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP serving as SageSure’s legal counsel.

 

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

 

About SageSure

SageSure is the managing general agent specializing in coastal residential and commercial property insurance. SageSure offers more than 50 competitively priced insurance products in 14 coastal states on behalf of its carrier partners, serves more than 550,000 policyholders, and has more than $1.6 billion of inforce premium. Since its launch in 2009, SageSure has been pioneering property insurance through its market-leading online quoting and binding platform and its sophisticated risk modeling and scoring technology. For more information, visit sagesure.com.

 

About GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd.

GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd. is a provider of specialty property insurance products focused on catastrophe-exposed properties in the earthquake and wind markets, operating on both an admitted and surplus lines basis. GeoVera is headquartered in Fairfield, CA with offices in Sheboygan, WI, Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL. GeoVera and its subsidiaries maintain a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best. For more information, visit GeoVera.com.

Contacts

Walker Sands

sagesure@walkersands.com

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Brightcore Energy developing 2.2MW solar project portfolio on Princeton University campus

Project to produce an estimated 2,588 MWh of electricity annually

 

ARMONK, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Brightcore Energy, a leader in developing and implementing renewable energy solutions for the commercial and institutional markets, is developing a portfolio of solar projects for the Facilities Organization at Princeton University which will be installed on rooftop and canopy- mounted structures on the University’s campus in Princeton N.J.

 

The project consists of four arrays, two of which will be rooftop-mounted and two canopy-mounted. The aggregate size of the project will be approximately 2.2MWdc. The rooftop projects will be installed on the TIGER and CUB buildings while the canopy-mounted projects will be at the Meadows and Stadium garages. In its entirety, the solar arrays will consist of 4,039 panels and are projected to produce an estimated 2,588 MWh of electricity annually. Brightcore expects to begin constructing the projects in the summer of 2024.

 

“We are so very proud to have been selected for this project,” said Mike Richter, President of Brightcore.

 

“The University has rigorous selection standards and was extremely thoughtful and supportive throughout the process. The school has shown great leadership with its ambitious and detailed sustainability plans, and we are excited to play a role in that.”

 

Princeton University has committed to achieving Net Carbon Neutrality by 2046. A key component of Princeton’s Sustainability Action Plan is using renewables as the campus energy source.

 

Once operational, the estimated annual production will prevent approximately 1,834 metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of burning more than 2 million pounds of coal.

 

About Brightcore

Brightcore, based in Armonk N.Y., is a leading provider of end-to-end clean energy solutions for commercial and institutional markets. Services include high-efficiency heating and cooling systems (geothermal) for both new construction and existing building retrofits, commercial-grade solar, LED lighting and controls, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, smart building products and other emerging technologies. Brightcore’s turnkey, end-to-end solutions encompass preliminary modeling & feasibility, financing & incentive guidance, design & construction, system implementation, and performance monitoring.

 

Visit www.BrightcoreEnergy.com to learn more.

 

About Brightcore

Brightcore, based in Armonk NY, is a leading provider of end-to-end clean energy solutions for commercial and institutional markets. Services include high-efficiency heating and cooling systems (geothermal) for both new construction and existing building retrofits, commercial-grade solar, LED lighting and controls, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, smart building products, and other emerging technologies. Brightcore’s turnkey, end-to-end solutions encompass preliminary modeling & feasibility, financing & incentive guidance, design & construction, system implementation, and performance monitoring. Visit www.BrightcoreEnergy.com to learn more.

Contacts

Brightcore Energy, LLC

Michael Tracy

914-719-6027

michael.tracy@brightcoreenergy.com

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Environmental documentary ‘Wild Coast Warriors,’ about a legal battle against Shell in South Africa, picked up by Limonero

Limonero Films has picked up world rights to distribute environmental documentary, “Wild Coast Warriors,” which launches at Mipdoc.

 

The film aims to raise awareness of the plight of small coastal communities on South Africa’s Wild Coast, who are standing up to the oil and gas industry.

 

It follows a David vs. Goliath court-case against Shell, which halted oil and gas exploration, winning protection for the community, the ocean and the local culture.

 

“Wild Coast Warriors” is directed by Nick Chevallier and Leigh Wood, who also edits the film. It is produced by Chevallier for Contemporary Film Productions. The cinematographer is Warren Smart, who was part of the camera crew on Oscar winner “My Octopus Teacher.”

 

Pippa Ehrlich, director of “My Octopus Teacher,” said “Wild Coast Warriors” was “a critical story about the power of community advocacy, and a warning to big corporations that there is strength in the voices of vulnerable people who are connected to and dependent on their land.”

 

She said the film was “an empowering case-study showing how South Africa’s constitution protects its people.” She added: “It is exquisitely shot and paints a beautiful portrait of the people working to defend their communities and the land they love.”

 

The film is supported by Greenpeace Africa, Natural Justice and Oxfam Intl.

 

Chevallier’s credits include “Blood Lions.” His clients have included BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Animal Planet and South African broadcasters.

 

Twenty years ago, Chevallier produced a documentary called “The Wild Coast….a Fragile Paradise” in which he explored the natural beauty and rich natural resource base of the Wild Coast.

 

Mipdoc runs April 6-7 in Cannes, ahead of the MipTV market and conference.

 

Read More

 

 

— Variety (EXCLUSIVE) 

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How Ukraine recreates Soledar Salt Mine, let players compete for prizes, plus donate to restore school hit by Russian missile

—  The Soledar Salt Mine in eastern Ukraine shut down in early 2022 amidst the Russian invasion.  The Ukrainian government recreated it in Minecraft to raise funds to restore a school hit during the war.

 

Justin Ling / Wired:

 

— On Feb. 24, 2022, Stepan Bandrivskyi woke up before dawn and got ready for a special day: his birthday.

 

It wouldn’t be a particularly happy one. Hours earlier, a couple dozen miles away, Russian tanks had rolled across the borders of his native Ukraine. The full-scale invasion had begun.

 

Like so many other Ukrainians, Bandrivskyi didn’t know what to do. So he went to work, to the Soledar Salt Mine, a cavernous state-run operation in Eastern Ukraine. Kyiv says it is the biggest such mine in Europe. His manager told him to go home: The mine was closed. It hasn’t resumed operations since.

Bandrivskyi fled the region not long after, as Russian forces advanced. After nearly a year of fighting, during which the mines were turned into bunkers, Russia seized and occupied the town of Soledar—although fierce fighting continues nearby. Over time, Bandrivskyi came to the painful realization that he may never see the salt mine, and its eerie and isolated beauty, ever again.

 

Last year, Bandrivskyi received a phone call from a colleague. “He invited me to participate in a very interesting project,” he says.

 

The Ukrainian government wanted to completely map the mine “and translate it into a game environment,” he says. Bandrivskyi seized the opportunity. “I wanted to keep it in my memory, and I wanted other people to be able to kind of immerse themselves in this world as well,” he says.

With that, Minesalt was born.

THE IDEA FOR Minesalt comes from United24, the official crowdfunding arm of the Ukrainian government. For nearly two years, United24 has raised funds to rebuild apartment blocks and purchase de-mining equipment. Last year, United24 began shipping batches of salt to donors, through its “Soledarity” campaign—raising some $3 million to purchase reconnaissance drones.

 

But as the war drags into its third year, donor fatigue has set in. That has pushed United24 to come up with new and innovative ways of attracting the world’s attention—and support.

 

Minesalt, which launches last Thursday might be their most inspired effort yet.

 

A recreation of the mine in Minecraft.

 

“It is important for us to remember and talk about every Ukrainian city that is under temporary Russian occupation,” Yaroslava Gres, chief coordinator of United24, told WIRED in a statement. Last summer, when a team suggested bringing Soledar to life as a video game, it was a very easy idea to say yes to.

 

Built for the wildly popular sandbox game Minecraft, Minesaltchallenges players to race through the mine, collecting 140 hidden salt crystals as fast as possible. At the end of the run, a quiz tests players’ recollection of details from Soledar. But, like in the rest of Minecraft, Minesalt players can also opt to wander at their own pace.

 

Read More

 

 

— Techmeme

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Protestors disrupt Jill Biden Human Rights Campaign keynote address for Gaza to ceasefire

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala in Los Angeles hit a snafu on Saturday when protestors of the Israel-Hamas war interrupted Jill Biden’s keynote address at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in Los Angeles.

 

Just as the first lady started speaking, about five people rose from their seats and began shouting, “Free Palestine.” One held a sign that said, “Queer Jews Say Ceasefire Now.”

 

The evening serves as a major fundraiser for HRC, one of the country’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organizations.

 

They protestors continued yelling as security ushered them out of the room.

 

Biden stopped speaking and resumed when the protestors were out of the ballroom.

 

It was announced earlier this week that Biden would be delivering the keynote remarks during the dinner and awards ceremony.

 

Earlier in the night, protestors blocked the driveway leading to the hotel’s front entrance on Avenue of the Stars. At one point, some could be heard shouting, “Genocide Joe!”

 

The evening’s program also includes awards being presented to Jean Smart “(Hacks)” and Sterling K. Brown “(American Fiction).”

 

A similar protest – with celebrities including Sara Ramirez (And Just Like That).” and Indya Moore “(Pose)” in attendance — was held at HRC’s New York City gala in February. Activists denounced HRC’s ties to weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman and called on the LGBTQ group to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

 

Just days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, HRC president Kelley Robinson issued a statement regarding the ongoing violence in the Middle East. “The toll on both Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives rises daily. And many in the United States who are Jewish and Muslim recognize that hate-motivated bias and violence will rise here. Antisemitism is wrong. Islamophobia is wrong. Full stop,” the statement said, in part.

 

“[M]any members of our community feel very broken right now. The world is heavy and frightening. And the future is uncertain. This violence is a reminder that the struggle for liberation against extremism, discrimination, and hate is a global struggle. It’s my struggle. It’s your struggle. It’s our struggle.”

 

Earlier this month, protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza also disrupted the Oscars by blocking streets leading to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. With the A-list crowd scrambling to get into their seats in time, producers delayed the start of the Academy Awards by about five minutes.

 

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— Variety

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Mercer County Improvement Authority announces availability of free recycling buckets, again

Mercer County — On March 6, the Mercer County Improvement Authority announced that free recycling buckets are available again for Mercer County residents.

“We have ordered an additional 2,500 free recycling buckets to ensure everyone can get one if they need it,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

“Recycling coordinators across the county are prepared to provide a county recycling bucket to any resident in need. If residents are unable to obtain a bucket, they can call the Improvement Authority …” explained Mercer County Improvement Authority Director Anthony S. Verrelli.

Due to an increase in contractor employee’s collection-related injuries, County residents are asked to please utilize county provided recycling buckets.

The Mercer County Improvement Authority will continue picking up all flattened cardboard outside of the bucket.

For replacement buckets, please contact your municipality’s Recycling Coordinator using the information below.

Please note that Hightstown and East Windsor do not participate in the county-wide recycling program.

Free recycling buckets are also available to Mercer County residents, at The Mercer County Connection Route-33 at the Acme Shopping Center in Hamilton. Residents can reach the County Connection by calling (609) 890-9800.

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‘Nocturnes’ review: A hypnotic documentary about moths unfolds to also reveal climate change concerns

Co-directors Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan craft an observational Indian nature doc that makes its case poetically and powerfully.

 

 

The nature documentary is inherently preservationist, but Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s “Nocturnes” offers environmental persuasions not through verbal arguments, or even an aesthetic appreciation.

 

Rather, its meditative, hyper-fixated approach to process — as seen through the eyes of seasoned lepidopterists — proves so hypnotic that any appeals or augments the movie makes are deeply felt before they’re intellectually understood. The pieces snap into place eventually (which is to say, the “why” of studying moths and their patterns), but the “how” is foregrounded so forcefully and poetically throughout that viewers will likely come to care about these creatures, and this field of study, well before they understand the very real and pressing reasons they should.

 

In northeastern India, bordering Bhutan, scientist Mansi and her indigenous assistant Bicki (belonging to the local Bugun tribe) partake in the nightly ritual of suspending a cloth sheet and illuminating it with bright lights in the middle of the forest. Slowly, but surely, hundreds of moths flock to this makeshift station, resting along the sheet’s checkered grid pattern so Mansi can observe, photograph, and eventually measure them.

 

Between her frequent voiceover and her instructions to Bicki, the audience learns a great deal about Mansi’s practice. We even meet an elderly man who appears to be her mentor, hinting at the depth of this scientific tradition, though there’s something intentionally stilted about her delivery. Mansi is not an actor, after all, but she’s given the role of one, both in her narrations, as well as in some of these interpersonal conversations. These appear to be staged for the camera, but contain thoughtful discussions and nuggets of truth, despite this docu-fictional appearance, and with the help of Nainita Desai’s heavy, wistful score, they become, in their own way, melodic.

 

However, more than via any of Mansi’s words, the movie’s arguments are made through images, silences and the sounds of nature. Fluttering wings and the echoes of trilling insects make up much of the serene soundscape, whether during close-ups of the moths — their texture, their patterns, their vibrating movements when they sit still are all intriguing to observe — or during wide shots of the scientists’ setup glowing in the darkened forest, drawing us toward it, not unlike the moths themselves.

 

These nighttime scenes are provided with ingenious contrast during intervening mornings, made up largely of establishing shots of green mountainsides and nearby communities, captured from afar. Cinematographer Satya Rai Nagpaul films these clarifying scenes through morning fog, giving them an ethereal quality as morning prayers ring out like harmonized insect hums, but the camera rarely approaches human beings or settlements.

 

Instead, it observes from a distance, as though it were performing an anthropological study too, and in the process, it creates intrinsic aesthetic connections between the lives of people and the lives of moths, hidden away from us, in ways we need to lean forward to observe and understand. Long before Mansi delivers a lecture on the specifics of her studies and their overlap with global climate change, the moths feel monumentally important, and deeply connected to us.

 

Dutta and Srinivasan have effectively reverse-engineered an aesthetic approach from the basic concept at the heart of these entomologic studies, with sheets painted in light as the central object of allure for the moths, and for the audience. Humans have been around a mere fraction of the time that moths have — despite their individual life spans of less than a week — and for an even smaller portion of our existence, light projected onto fabric at 24 frames per second has monopolized our collective attention. “Nocturnes” takes full advantage of this for an altruistic cause, resulting in a documentary that is immediately, powerfully, and above all cinematically convincing.

 

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— Variety