Back on 2014 Aastra official merged with Mitel and most of their phones now share the same underpinnings which can be a little confusing to the untrained eye. But what happens when you plug in your corded headset or wireless one and it doesn’t work at all? Majority of the times someone can think that is a faulty headset, however by default the newer models from Mitel/Aastra like the 6867i for example don’t have the option to use a headset enabled at all. Here are the steps that will allow you to enable this feature. On this example we will use the mentioned 6867i desk phone for reference.
You need to select the headset audio mode by going into the Phone UI. Press and then navigate to audio, then audio mode and press Enter or the Select Soft key.
2. Then scroll down and high light the Headset/Speaker tab. With this tab will allow the user to take the call primary with the headset either corded or wireless and then if needed to switch to the Speaker or handset.
3. Then press the Save soft key and this will keep the changes on the phone.
Once you have enable the headset port, you will be able to press the headset key on the phone and this will allow you to hear the dial tone and make/receive calls on the headset.
If needed to adjust the volume on the mic of the headset you can adjust it again by navigating to the Audio tab, then Headset and that will show you the Headset mic Tab and can be increased or lowered.
Important note:
You need to make sure that your Mitel/Aastra desk phone either still has the RJ9 converter or not before ordering a headset, here is the reason why:
Right here you can see that the RJ9 Converter is at place, which allows you to use corded headset from Plantronics or Jabra with the rightful RJ9 connector.
Now lets see the next:
In this example the RJ9 Converter had been removed, unfortunately they don’t sell those converters as they are only included with the phones. If this is the case you will need different adapters from Plantronics or Jabra if want to use a corded headset as the opening of the port is bigger and even if you plug in a RJ9 headset will not stay in place and will not work properly.
Right now, ruthless puppy scammers are lurking online — hoping you’ll click on their websites, post or offer to help. Spotting signs of a puppy scam can save you from ending up heartbroken and broke. Scams include “dog breeders” who only accept bank or wire transfers or won’t have a live video call so you can see a puppy, her littermates and mother.
Dogster interviewed animal welfare insiders who revealed these criminals’ tricks and how to recognize a scam.
Before you put a deposit down on that puppy, do your research on the dog breed and on potential breeders. Know how much the puppy should cost, what the size standards are and the colors. Any puppy that seems too good to be true (cost below market value, special color or size outside the breed standard), probably is. Here’s a list of tips to protect yourself from puppy scams.
Pay with a credit card
Find a reputable breeder by answering these questions: Does she belong to the national dog breed club or any other dog organization, does she hold any positions in any organization, do the dogs meet the breed standard, do people on the breed’s Facebook group page know her?
Ask to review the contract
Check if the puppies in question are part of reported puppy scam lists on sites like PetScams.com, which lists the latest website scammers.
Know the going rate for that type of puppy. If the cost is below that rate, it might be too good to be true.
Does the puppy deviate from the breed standard in any way? Fad sizes or colors could indicate a scam or a dog breeder who breeds unhealthy pups
Google the name of the breeder and the company’s name. Look for reviews and comments from previous customers.
Meet the puppy and the litter in person or have a live video chat
How are you to get the puppy? Many breeders ask that you pick the puppy up in person rather than shipping the puppy. If they want to ship the puppy, make sure they are not a puppy shipping scam (see below)
Do a reverse image search of the puppy’s picture to ensure it is not a stock photo
Adopt from a shelter or rescue in person
Types of puppy and lost dog scams
Not sure if it is scam? Dig into these top four puppy and dog scams to know what they look like.
Online puppy scams
The online puppy scam is one of the most prevalent schemes on the internet. Fraudsters set up sharp-looking websites and pretend to be dog breeders offering adorable puppies for sale. They post pictures of popular breeds like French Bulldogs, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and Dachshunds, banking you’ll fall in love with photos of the happy, fluffy pups. But the images are often stock photos or hijacked from other dog breeders’ websites.
“I have seen videos and pictures of my own puppies being advertised for sale, sometimes old videos of dogs that are now fully grown,” says Vivianne Hulsey, a preservation breeder who runs Vixbull French Bulldogs. “It’s insane and predatory.”
If you contact these so-called dog breeders, they’ll demand a deposit for the puppy, saying something like, “Send us cash now, or you’ll lose the pup. We have 10 people interested.” After you send money, they vanish. Since the “dog breeder” doesn’t accept credit cards, you may have fewer ways to dispute the charge and get your money back.
Some puppy scammers take your deposit money and run. Others transition to the often-ugly shipping phase.
“They find out where you are based, then tell you they are at the opposite end of the country,” says Paul Brady, a cybersecurity consultant who started PetScams.com, which tracks puppy-swindling websites. “If you’re in California, they’re in New York. If you’re in New York, they’re in California — so they can charge you huge money for shipping.”
Then the “dog breeder” tells you there’s a transport problem (for a puppy who doesn’t exist), and things get expensive. Paul knows one person who lost $20,000.
“They’ll say, ‘The airport refused your puppy, and you need to pay for an air-conditioned box (crate),’” Paul says. “If you don’t pay, they will pile on the pressure saying, ‘The puppy will languish in an airport.’” Keep in mind, airlines don’t require temperature-controlled crates.
The scammers may say your puppy missed her flight and demand you pay them for another one. They insist on money for insurance, vaccines or medications.
Once they’ve bilked you, they may give you an actual flight number for your puppy. Some victims have gone to the airport to find no puppy, realize they’ve been scammed and leave crushed.
Want ad, social media and Craigslist puppy scams
Money-sucking thieves also write social media posts and want ads with sad, fake stories.
“They say, ‘I have a rescue dog in need,’ or ‘I’m a missionary assigned to some foreign country. I have to rehome my dog quickly; he’s free,’” says Kathleen Summers, the director of outreach and research at the Stop Puppy Mills Campaign at the Humane Society of the United States.
When you respond, the person may tell you he needs money to get the dog to you, and it morphs into a shipping scam.
“Sadly, kind-hearted animal lovers are often reluctant to give up because they think the animal is in a bad situation,” Kathleen says. “It takes advantage of people who think they’re doing the right thing.”
Some ads are about real dogs up for sale by thieves, puppy mills and backyard breeders. “You get a sick dog, spend thousands on medical bills and the dog dies anyway,” says Madeline. “The seller becomes unreachable, and you’re stuck with the expenses. It’s pretty depressing.”
Lost dog scams
Scammers also troll lost dog posts to dupe worried families.
“It’s devastating,” says Leslie Poole, the executive director of Pet FBI, a free database to list lost and found pets.
Fraudsters call the number on the post and pretend they have your pup. They request money to drive your dog to you or for medical expenses because she was injured. Overjoyed and relieved pooch parents send the money — of course, via a bank transfer, payment app or even gift cards.
“Then they never hear from the person again,” Leslie says. “It’s the worst. You need to get verification that they have your pet before you transfer any funds.”
Like the online puppy-seller scams — you can ask to do a live video chat with the person and your dog. Or find out exactly where they are and contact their local animal control agency or police.
Dog lovers who spotted puppy scams
Madison Nak from California connected with a website selling exactly what she wanted: a cream-colored French Bulldog.
“They’re like, ‘I’m gonna send you videos,’” Madison says. “It wasn’t FaceTime or Skype, but they did say something like, ‘Here are videos of the dogs in our yard this morning.’”
Madison was suspicious and asked them to write her name on a piece of paper, put it next to the puppy and send her the photo. That’s when she spotted it was a scheme. “They photoshopped the picture,” she says. “I never sent the money. Luckily, I didn’t get scammed.”
But Marsha M. from Kansas wasn’t as lucky.
She tried to buy a French Bulldog for her mother, who is battling cancer. “Her dog had just died,” Marsha says.
Marsha found a website offering darling puppies for a reasonable price. (Puppies priced below the usual going rate are a sign of a scam.) When she inquired, they asked a barrage of questions.
“What kind of house do you have? What kind of yard? They said they wanted to make sure their babies were going to the right home,” Marsha says.
Marsha sent an $850 deposit through a payment app. Then she discovered the same “dog breeder” had a dozen similar websites, each selling a different type of dog.
She emailed Petscams.com and it confirmed the site Marsha paid was on its scam list. Despite trying, she did not get her money back.
“I cannot believe people are so evil,” she says. “My mother ordered toys. She got food. I’m so upset.”
How do puppy scammers get away with it?
How do these scammers keep swindling dog lovers?
“Many scammers operate out of Africa with little fear of being caught or extradited to the United States to face criminal charges. The scammers know that,” Paul says.
Paul says the only way to stop the scams is to educate dog lovers to stop falling for them. “If you receive an email saying, ‘My son is a Nigerian prince, and we have 50 million dollars.’ You know it’s a scam,” Paul says.
Marsha says she was hesitant to talk about what happened to her, but she wants to warn others about the pain scammers cause.
“I was so embarrassed,” Marsha says. “But word needs to get out, even if I can help just one person.”
Spot a puppy scam quickly: look for a fake logo
Beware fake and stolen logos on puppy and dog scam websites
Swindlers swipe the names and logos of legit organizations for credibility. If you have a lost dog, a scammer may email you claiming they’re with a real lost pet recovery service — but they’re not.
“They say, ‘I can find your pet, but I will need the fee upfront.’ That’s a red flag right there,” Leslie says.
Some scammers post the American Kennel Club (AKC) logo on their “puppies for sale” website. The AKC is a well-known registry of purebred and pedigree dogs.
“It’s a regular occurrence,” says Brandi Munden, vice president of public relations and communications for the AKC. “Our logo is easily found online. It’s not hard to download and slap it on a website, unfortunately.”
The AKC doesn’t license or certify breeders or dogs. The group registers dogs with the required lineage paperwork. If you have questions about AKC references on a website, email info@akc.org and the AKC will help you separate fact from fiction.
“Dig and do your research,” Brandi says. “The scammers are messing with somebody’s emotional heartstrings, and that’s unfair.”
Canadian design studio Yabu Pushelberg has created the Moxy and AC Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles to encapsulate a variety of references to the surrounding city.
The two hotels were placed side by side within a Gensler-designed building in central Los Angeles, with Yabu Pushelberg carrying out the design for both hotels.
The designers used a variety of LA-oriented references across both hotels, referencing local artist culture, streetlife, the desert, as well as the imagery of movies from Hollywood.
The Moxy Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles was designed based on deserts and cinema
“Moving making and the California Dream are all mashed up together to create this atmosphere,” studio co-founder George Yabu told Dezeen.
“We also captured the grittiness,” added co-founder Glenn Pushelberg.
The hotels were designed to complement each other, providing various experiences for guests, who the team hopes can be staying in one while visiting the bars and restaurants of the others.
Yabu Pushelberg wanted to challenge guests with a sense of “grittiness”
According to the duo, the hotels are meant to be the day and nighttime versions of the same person or “like the same person in different movies”.
AC Hotel provides a more work-oriented vision and the Moxy representing a more dimly lit atmosphere.
The Moxy includes lounge areas with plush furniture
Using desert themes and references to the 1969 film Easy Rider starring Peter Fonda, the Moxy has rammed earth walls, woven wall hangings and homages to motorcycle culture with a custom pouf designed with Harley Davidson in mind. It even has a motorcycle in the lobby lounge.
“If you look at the materialities and colors and textures, it is kind of off-off, which makes it on,” said Pushelberg.
AC Hotel is more restrained
Also in the Moxy’s lobby is a snakeskin-like carpet with a graphic of a snake.
The hotel includes studio spaces above the lobby with neon lights and plush furniture; minimal rooms with tile and stone walls; and a bar inspired by the “roadside gas station” with mottled stone countertops, metal mesh liquor cabinets and “cocoon-like” chairs.
The AC Hotel is meant to evoke the artist’s loft
The AC Hotel is more restrained. The lobby is on the 34th floor and was designed to evoke the “artist’s loft” with views of the city below. Materials were inspired by Spanish architecture – such as textured plaster and stucco.
These details continue throughout the bars, guestrooms and library lounge, with the addition of wooden sculptures and dark black tile.
Yabu Pushelberg designed the carpets in the guest rooms to “reflect the geometric pattern and color story found throughout the hotel” and contrast the birch wood flooring.
According to the team, the hotels together are meant to bring together a variety of local influences to attract people to the downtown core.
“It’s a perfect time for the hotels to be there because all these different types of people have never ever had a reason to go downtown,” said Pushelberg, who referenced the growing gallery scene in the area as an additional inspiration.
The AC’s lobby is on the 34th floor of the building
The design follows a slew of other hotels designed for LA’s downtown, including Hotel Per La designed by Jaqui Seerman, which occupies a 1920s bank building.
Trump has been prosecuted several times, both while in and out of the White House.
Each time, Republicans have predicted it would galvanize their base in upcoming general elections.
But time and time again, the prosecutions failed to energize his voters to turn out.
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President Donald Trump has been prosecuted repeatedly in recent years, both while in the White House and outside of it. And each time, experts and those close to Trump have predicted the proceedings could energize his supporters and the Republican base.
Time and time again, however, prosecuting the former president has yet to lead to any notable positive electoral consequences.
On December 18, 2019, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump for, in part, trying to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Trump’s political rival, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter.
Following the proceedings, former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale predicted the impeachment would lead to a high Republican turnout in the 2020 presidential election.
“Any time people try to lessen this legitimate president, in any way, his voters fight back,” Parscale said in December 2019.
Trump, however, ultimately ended up losing the 2020 presidential election to Biden, and Democrats ultimately won control of the US Senate, giving them control of each branch of the federal government for the first time since 2011.
Several years after Trump left the White House, in August 2022, he found himself embroiled in more prosecutorial drama after the FBI raided his Mar-A-Lago in an investigation over the mishandling of classified documents.
Former adviser to President Bill Clinton, Doug Schoen, noted in an opinion piece for The Hill that the FBI’s search of Mar-A-Lago likely wouldn’t sway voters to switch parties but that it could “further galvanize an already-enthused Republican base to the detriment of the Democratic Party.”
Prior to the 2022 election, Republicans and pollsters repeatedly predicted the election would result in a “Red Wave,” or a GOP landslide victory.
And while Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, they did so in a much narrower manner than predicted. Democrats also, crucially, maintained control of the Senate. Ultimately, GOP voters in the 2022 midterm elections weren’t as energized by the Mar-A-Lago raid as Democratic voters were — the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade’s federal abortion protections in mid-2022 proved to motivate Democrats to turn out in larger droves than expected.
And on April 4, 2023, the Manhattan District Court indicted the former president for falsifying business records. That same day, two elections were scheduled to occur in Wisconsin and Chicago for a new state supreme court justice and mayor, respectively.
Following the indictment, Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of The Cook Political Report, predicted that with “all of the energy among his base, the sense that he’s being wronged, might make things a little more unstable when it comes to understanding turnout.”
That evening, progressive Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz handily defeated her conservative opponent by more than ten percentage points and the more progressive, Democratic Chicago mayoral candidate, Brandon Johnson, narrowly won as well.
While prosecutorial efforts against Trump have yet to energize his base in general elections, they likely could help him out in the 2024 presidential primary election — the former president has campaigned and marketed extensively off of the recent indictment against him.
Additionally, fellow presidential candidates and prospective ones, such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have yet to attack Trump for the indictment, instead rallying to his aid.
Despite repeated predictions and warnings that prosecuting the former president would invigorate his base in upcoming elections, investigations against Trump simply haven’t energized his base as expected. Voters, alternatively, appear to care much more about issues that affect them personally, like abortion, inflation, and crime.
Besides our home, the workplace is where we spend the most time — and unfortunately, create the most waste. It’s the place where we find ourselves printing out 100-page reports and powering masses of computers. If you’re wondering how to promote recycling and other green practices at work as well as at home, here are sustainability tips for both places.
Whenever possible, conserve energy by turning off all electrical equipment, including your computer (and monitor) or laptop. It may be best even to unplug all devices, appliances and chargers because these devices still suck energy even when turned off. Pulling the plug might be your best bet.
2. Green Your Commute
Walking, biking, working remotely or taking public transport are all methods of reducing your footprint. If you need a car, carpooling is also another option to consider for transportation that’s more eco-friendly. Try out a greener commute, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. You’ll find that it not only helps save the planet and promote environmental well-being, but it also makes you healthier and more active.
3. Energy-Efficient Lights
Swap your traditional light bulbs for energy-saving lights. Energy-saving light bulbs last up to 12 times as long as standard bulbs, providing the same amount of light quality for far less energy, according to GreenMatch.
“80% of the energy used to power traditional bulbs is lost in heating energy, whereas LED light bulbs run at 80-90% energy efficiency.”
4. Get Smart With Paper
A green office starts with limiting hard copies and instead using email, presentation screens and phones. If you have to print, select the double-sided option to save paper. And of course, recycle.
5. Lunch On The Go
If you’re brown-bagging it to work, try recyclable containers. Our staff loves to reuse jars for snacks and to transport ketchup, salad dressing and other condiments. Other favorites include Lunchskins for sandwiches, metal water bottles for drinks and Lunchbot metal bento boxes for carrying meals to the office.
6. Don’t Throw Out Wearable Clothes Or Uniforms
To avoid contributing to the millions of tons of textile waste per year, make easy alterations and repairs to clothes or workplace uniforms to keep them for as long as possible. Fast fashion and online shopping has made the temptation to throw out and replace addictive, but once clothes are in landfill, they take hundreds of years to decompose and they emit greenhouse gases (GHG) while doing so, according to GreenMatch. Another way you can stop the cycle is by donating what you don’t wear. Consider giving away clothes you never reach for — you never know who else will appreciate it.
7. Donations (Buy And Sell)
If you pass on items you no longer need and purchase new items secondhand, the earth will thank you. Donate and buy or sell used items such as:
Office furniture, appliances and equipment
Electronics like cell phones and cameras, earbuds and computer equipment
Stationery
Canned food and unwanted boxes
8. Composting
Composting helps reduce food wastage because you can throw leftover scraps in your compost bin. Set up a composter in your outdoor office space or in the corner of your garden. Consider composting food scraps, coffee grounds, grass, newspaper, wood chippings, cardboard and even sawdust.
Did You Know? Eminence Green Facts
Fact 1: Our most popular green initiative is called Forests for the Future™, which is our commitment to helping heal the planet through eco-friendly projects. We plant a tree for every Eminence retail product sold and to date, we have planted over 23 million trees around the globe.
Fact 2: Our packing chips are made of 100% biodegradable corn that dissolves in water – try it! Just drop a few packing peanuts into a glass of water, stir and watch them dissolve. Additional pieces of our packaging are made from post-consumer recycled material, printed on Forest Sustainability Council-Certified paper with eco-friendly inks and are recyclable.
Fact 3: We have received our Demeter certification. Demeter is a non-profit organization that serves as the authorized certifying entity for Biodynamic® ingredients, encompassing farming, manufacturing and labeling. The certification standards for Biodynamic products are exceptionally stringent, where the raw materials must be certified by the Demeter Association and the product must contain the requisite percentage of Demeter Certified Biodynamic® ingredients. Moreover, all packaging must be devoid of preservatives, fungicides, insecticides, and fumigants. Our Beyond Organic Collection is composed of formulations that feature ingredients sourced from Demeter International Certified Biodynamic® farms, as well as certified Biodynamic products like our Facial Recovery Oil.
Fact 4: We hold a B Corp™ certification. Evaluated by the nonprofit, B-Lab, this certification means that we meet the highest standards of environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
We’re inspired daily by the creative ways that others take action to make our planet a happier and healthier place. We’re also extremely proud to say that our business partners, loyal spa partners and Eminence Organics’ fans are all doing their part for the green movement with a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
Interested in finding a Green Spa for your next Eminence spa treatment? Find a spa near you.
A visual and sensual treat was in store for us at the Chanakya Ateliers, which opened doors for the very first time to visitors from India and across the world, a day before Dior’s Pre-Fall 2023 show at the Gateway of India. Earlier, a press conference at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel had introduced Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior’s creative director of women’s collections, and Karishma Swali, who directs the Chanakya Ateliers and the Chanakya School of Craft, to local and international press. The synergy between the two women as well as their commitment to endorsing India’s artisanal heritage became apparent as Swali reiterated, “What she (Chiuri) is talking about is creating a new language for craft together…. One that people are able to celebrate since it is more contemporary….” Earlier, in an Instagram post, Chiuri had referred to Chanakya as “the treasure chest of Indian craftsmanship”. Both the women displayed a strong will to preserve the craft of embroidery while imbibing it with modern savoir faire.
Chanakya Atelier — The Living Museum
The Chanakya School of Craft, co-founded by Swali in 2017 and supported by Chiuri, is a non-profit institute that aims to create a platform of multidimensional learning. It particularly attempts to empower and provide autonomy to women artisans by providing them with an education in hand embroidery and craftsmanship. A 25-year-old friendship, a shared “sisterhood”, and the desire to empower other women, while projecting artisanal techniques into the modern world, are the foundations on which the Chanakya School of Craft was built.
Chanakya Atelier — The Dior Retrospective
Exceptional collaborations between Dior and Chanakya, have extended the boundaries of embroidery and blurred the lines between craft, art and couture. The amazing virtuosity of traditional Indian practices have been underlined while ensuring that these have been expressed in contemporary ways. A monumental feat of textile art, for instance, was witnessed at the Dior Spring/Summer 2022 Haute Couture Collection, where the set design created by Chanakya reinterpreted the artworks of renowned Indian artists Manu and Madhvi Parekh.
Interestingly, Dior has had a decades-long relationship with Chanakya. For visitors to the Chanakya School, therefore, the presentation that welcomed them, was indeed an eye-opener. An exclusive Dior retrospective featuring pieces from 50 haute couture and prêt-à-porter collections made in collaboration with Chanakya, a curation of Chanakya’s private archives (with a focus on rare global art, antiquities and craft objects some spanning over 1,000 years), a living museum of 13th-generation ustads (master artisans) demonstrating live the savoir-faire from the Dior Pre-Fall 2023 show and a preview of the soon-to-be-opened Chanakya Cultural Centre were the showstoppers.
Chanakya Atelier — The Dior Retrospective
Chanakya Atelier — The Living Museum
Excerpts from a conversation with Karishma Swali….
What does the association between Dior and Chanakya mean to you? It has led to Indian embroideries and artisans finally getting the acknowledgement that they deserve for their work for various European fashion houses, something that luxury brands have avoided talking about until now. We are so deeply honoured to have been able to share this collective celebration for craft excellence with Dior and Maria Grazia Chiuri, and to be able to have this aligned vision coming to life. And also for this deep reverence that we together have had for craft through the decades. For all of us at Chanakya, it’s a momentous coming together that we will cherish forever. For the artisans who watched the show with us, it will be etched in their memories and hearts forever.
How do your artisans and our age-old crafts benefit from Chanakya School of Craft’s association with Dior? My father [Vinod Maganlal Shah started the business in 1984 creating fine hand embroidery for international fashion houses] wanted to share India’s impeccable craftsmanship with the world. And so, over the decades, our vocabulary (at Chanakya) has always been one of contemporising it to keep it alive for future generations. When something like the Dior show happens in India, where our artisans are acknowledged for their skills — and lauded for being the finest at what they do — it obviously plays a huge part in being able to keep the crafts alive for our future generations. This is because it becomes aspirational. It is a culture that we are standing for, it’s a culture that we are taking forward…and so, of course, you are talking about a larger benefit.
For years we have had global compliances in place. But this is about so much more, isn’t it? It’s about being able to stand together for a global vision for craft and express a deep reverence for our artisanal legacies. We work very closely with the artisans. Most of my time is spent in the atelier and most of my inspiration comes from there.
Chanakya Atelier — The Dior Retrospective
How has Chanakya been contemporising traditional embroideries? Let’s say that I look at a Lucknowi ceremonial jacket from our archives — we are very fortunate because my father started collecting antiquities and textiles and my husband’s (Shyamal Swali) family has been doing so as well. Earlier, the zardozi work on it would be heavier. If we want to make it relevant for the generations of today, we consider making it more fragile, more poetic…. It’s really about taking a technique and a skill and making it adapt to a new language so that it has a fresher perspective. It is also an exercise in revival….
What does embroidery mean to you personally? Have you tried your hand at it? While my skills are very poor compared to that of our artisans, I am aware of how to do it. For me, embroidery is a very personal reflection, something that I learnt from them. I see their approach to it and for them the riyaaz (practice) of embroidery is also a way to align with yourself — there is a certain discipline and excellence that comes along with it…. So, for me, craft and diving deep into a craft, is really associated with not only the cultural aspects that inform me hugely but it’s also about your own personal journey.
Chanakya Atelier — The Living Museum
And how has that been for you? I feel very fortunate to be able to do something I love every day. And it’s something that I can learn from every day. It’s exciting because every season you are able to find a new language and you discover how to look at it through a different lens. So, craft is infinite.
What are the principal techniques used in Dior’s Pre-Fall 2023 collection? For this season, we have created geometric grids with the micro bullion technique, which is part of the zardozi school. We also used appliqué where we created the toile de Jouy. We ended up celebrating Indian symbolism so we had the elephant or the banyan tree worked with the appliqué technique. We also used mirror work; we treated mirrors like little jewels, and the colourful mirrors were placed all over jackets and dresses. We also had zari embroidery….
What has it been like working with a brand like Dior and with Maria Grazia Chiuri in particular? Maria Grazia Chiuri and I have known each other for over 25 years so it’s been a long relationship. She began working with my brother Nehal [Vinod Shah] in 1992 and I started working with her a few years later. We have constantly tried to celebrate craftsmanship together. She has also been a mentor and someone that we founded the Chanakya School of Craft with. She really is a champion of crafts throughout the world and inspires us tremendously.
You work in a busy Contact Center or Office? The sound of one’s own thoughts, some dread it but those that work in a crowded office and contact center can attest to how underrated the sound of silence truly is. If you have the misfortune of needing to make a lot of phone calls in a loud or crowded workplace, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is invaluable. Every headset seems to offer noise-cancellation but few actually measure up and even fewer offer true Noise Cancellation. Meet the new Voyager Focus 2 Office by Poly, formerly known as Plantronics, with new Digital Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation and Smart Sensor Technology. The Voyager Focus 2 Office provides an unparalleled mix of noise cancellation, studio-level comfort and audio quality not seen in a Bluetooth headset. It’s sleek, intuitive design that doesn’t sacrifice audio quality for comfort or looks means its equal parts style and substance. Its Smart Sensor technology knows when you are wearing the headset, allowing users complete control of music or phone calls without the need to fumble for buttons or cables. The Voyager Focus 2 Office allows you to mute the mic with Acoustic Fence technology by just moving it up or down, and allows the user to wear the mic boom on either side. Besides, you can take the headset with you down the road and can be used as a Bluetooth headset or as a corded via USB with the included cable that does not compromise performance on microphone or speaker for those times when you can’t use Bluetooth or you are using it with another computer.
Thanks to its Office Base, you can skip the old setting of the first generation Focus and the MDA 220, making it one of the best headsets in the market. Get yours HERE.
Another option now in the market comes from Jabra, The new Jabra Evolve2 75 is a wireless USB headset, with the new adjustable Jabra Advance Active Noise Canceling which blocks the environment noises and can be graduated so you can focus on your call no matter the environment that is being used. With a fresh and discrete design, easy to use the Jabra Evolve2 75 has a built in busy light that allows you to let everyone know when you are in a call, the microphone boom has 2 setups one that is Performance with the mic boom out that gives the best sound quality during a call and Discreet mode that with the boom arm stored in has built in microphones that allows the user to use it in a more discrete way, and those microphones had met the Microsoft Open Office requirements. New and improved mix of hard and soft foams in order to block the unwanted noises and give a perfect ventilation for cooling.
In order to make your Jabra Evolve2 75 work with virtually any desk phone, you will need the new Jabra Kink 950 , this switch makes possible to plug in any USB headset (corded or wireless) from Jabra to work with your desk phone and your computer if needed, compatible with Jabra EHS cables, that allows you to remote answer your desk phone makes the Jabra Link 950 one nice option for your Jabra USB corded or wireless headsets.
Another option in this market is the recently launched Plantronics Savi 8220 Wireless Headset Binaural Savi 8200 series, this had been a top seller from Plantronics, compatible with most of corded desk phones, the Savi 8220 offers a easy to turn on and off Active Noise Canceling, built in volume controls to the headset , mute and answer/end calls commands. Offering one of the best ranges with 590ft line of sight, making it one of the longest ranges offers up today. Integration to be used with desk phones, computers and cell phones or tablets via Bluetooth built in to the base. One of the first wireless headsets in the market to be Telecoil hearing aid compatible, making it one nice option in a very competitive market.
Lastly we have the the new Voyager 4320 from Poly, this is the new entry level for a Bluetooth headset, thanks to Poly the Voyager 4320 offers Acoustic Fence in its flexible microphone boom arm , with 2 microphones facing the user and one facing the outdoor, with an amazing battery life of up to 24 hours of talk time or 47 of listening. An improved range of up to 164 feet, thanks to its Bluetooth Class 1 dongle and with a fast charging setup that allows you to have a fully charge in about hour and half. The Voyager 4320 can be used as a corded headset as well, thanks to the included USB-C to USB-A cable, allowing the user to use it when either the dongle is not available or can’t use Bluetooth. You can use your Voyager 4320 with your desk phone as well by using the MDA 220, which will explain on how to setup next.
What you will need:
To set-up:
On your desk phone, disconnect the receiver from the receiver port and plug in the the telephone interface cable (included with your MDA220) into the receiver port. Once the interface cable is plugged in to the phone, connect the receiver to the splitter located on the interface cable with the telephone icon. Then connect the interface cable to the RJ-9 Port on the MDA220.
Then power your MDA220 by connecting the USB cable to your Mac or PC, (an AC/DC wall adapter is available if you don’t have a computer to connect with).
Then connect the Voyager 4320 USB Bluetooth dongle in the USB port in front of the MDA220 and you are ready to go. It should look something like this:
You can now take advantage of the best noise-cancelling headset on the market for your busy contact center.
Feel free to call 877-999-3838 if you have questions on how to select the perfect headset for your office.
Right now, ruthless puppy scammers are lurking online — hoping you’ll click on their websites, post or offer to help. Spotting signs of a puppy scam can save you from ending up heartbroken and broke. Scams include “dog breeders” who only accept bank or wire transfers or won’t have a live video call so you can see a puppy, her littermates and mother.
Dogster interviewed animal welfare insiders who revealed these criminals’ tricks and how to recognize a scam.
How to protect yourself from the top puppy scams
Before you put a deposit down on that puppy, do your research on the dog breed and on potential breeders. Know how much the puppy should cost, what the size standards are and the colors. Any puppy that seems too good to be true (cost below market value, special color or size outside the breed standard), probably is. Here’s a list of tips to protect yourself from puppy scams.
Pay with a credit card
Find a reputable breeder by answering these questions: Does she belong to the national dog breed club or any other dog organization, does she hold any positions in any organization, do the dogs meet the breed standard, do people on the breed’s Facebook group page know her?
Ask to review the contract
Check if the puppies in question are part of reported puppy scam lists on sites like PetScams.com, which lists the latest website scammers.
Know the going rate for that type of puppy. If the cost is below that rate, it might be too good to be true.
Does the puppy deviate from the breed standard in any way? Fad sizes or colors could indicate a scam or a dog breeder who breeds unhealthy pups
Google the name of the breeder and the company’s name. Look for reviews and comments from previous customers.
Meet the puppy and the litter in person or have a live video chat
How are you to get the puppy? Many breeders ask that you pick the puppy up in person rather than shipping the puppy. If they want to ship the puppy, make sure they are not a puppy shipping scam (see below)
Do a reverse image search of the puppy’s picture to ensure it is not a stock photo
Adopt from a shelter or rescue in person
Types of puppy and lost dog scams
Not sure if it is scam? Dig into these top four puppy and dog scams to know what they look like.
Online puppy scams
The online puppy scam is one of the most prevalent schemes on the internet. Fraudsters set up sharp-looking websites and pretend to be dog breeders offering adorable puppies for sale. They post pictures of popular breeds like French Bulldogs, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and Dachshunds, banking you’ll fall in love with photos of the happy, fluffy pups. But the images are often stock photos or hijacked from other dog breeders’ websites.
“I have seen videos and pictures of my own puppies being advertised for sale, sometimes old videos of dogs that are now fully grown,” says Vivianne Hulsey, a preservation breeder who runs Vixbull French Bulldogs. “It’s insane and predatory.”
If you contact these so-called dog breeders, they’ll demand a deposit for the puppy, saying something like, “Send us cash now, or you’ll lose the pup. We have 10 people interested.” After you send money, they vanish. Since the “dog breeder” doesn’t accept credit cards, you may have fewer ways to dispute the charge and get your money back.
Some puppy scammers take your deposit money and run. Others transition to the often-ugly shipping phase.
“They find out where you are based, then tell you they are at the opposite end of the country,” says Paul Brady, a cybersecurity consultant who started PetScams.com, which tracks puppy-swindling websites. “If you’re in California, they’re in New York. If you’re in New York, they’re in California — so they can charge you huge money for shipping.”
Then the “dog breeder” tells you there’s a transport problem (for a puppy who doesn’t exist), and things get expensive. Paul knows one person who lost $20,000.
“They’ll say, ‘The airport refused your puppy, and you need to pay for an air-conditioned box (crate),’” Paul says. “If you don’t pay, they will pile on the pressure saying, ‘The puppy will languish in an airport.’” Keep in mind, airlines don’t require temperature-controlled crates.
The scammers may say your puppy missed her flight and demand you pay them for another one. They insist on money for insurance, vaccines or medications.
Once they’ve bilked you, they may give you an actual flight number for your puppy. Some victims have gone to the airport to find no puppy, realize they’ve been scammed and leave crushed.
Want ad, social media and Craigslist puppy scams
Money-sucking thieves also write social media posts and want ads with sad, fake stories.
“They say, ‘I have a rescue dog in need,’ or ‘I’m a missionary assigned to some foreign country. I have to rehome my dog quickly; he’s free,’” says Kathleen Summers, the director of outreach and research at the Stop Puppy Mills Campaign at the Humane Society of the United States.
When you respond, the person may tell you he needs money to get the dog to you, and it morphs into a shipping scam.
“Sadly, kind-hearted animal lovers are often reluctant to give up because they think the animal is in a bad situation,” Kathleen says. “It takes advantage of people who think they’re doing the right thing.”
Some ads are about real dogs up for sale by thieves, puppy mills and backyard breeders. “You get a sick dog, spend thousands on medical bills and the dog dies anyway,” says Madeline. “The seller becomes unreachable, and you’re stuck with the expenses. It’s pretty depressing.”
Lost dog scams
Scammers also troll lost dog posts to dupe worried families.
“It’s devastating,” says Leslie Poole, the executive director of Pet FBI, a free database to list lost and found pets.
Fraudsters call the number on the post and pretend they have your pup. They request money to drive your dog to you or for medical expenses because she was injured. Overjoyed and relieved pooch parents send the money — of course, via a bank transfer, payment app or even gift cards.
“Then they never hear from the person again,” Leslie says. “It’s the worst. You need to get verification that they have your pet before you transfer any funds.”
Like the online puppy-seller scams — you can ask to do a live video chat with the person and your dog. Or find out exactly where they are and contact their local animal control agency or police.
Dog lovers who spotted puppy scams
Madison Nak from California connected with a website selling exactly what she wanted: a cream-colored French Bulldog.
“They’re like, ‘I’m gonna send you videos,’” Madison says. “It wasn’t FaceTime or Skype, but they did say something like, ‘Here are videos of the dogs in our yard this morning.’”
Madison was suspicious and asked them to write her name on a piece of paper, put it next to the puppy and send her the photo. That’s when she spotted it was a scheme. “They photoshopped the picture,” she says. “I never sent the money. Luckily, I didn’t get scammed.”
But Marsha M. from Kansas wasn’t as lucky.
She tried to buy a French Bulldog for her mother, who is battling cancer. “Her dog had just died,” Marsha says.
Marsha found a website offering darling puppies for a reasonable price. (Puppies priced below the usual going rate are a sign of a scam.) When she inquired, they asked a barrage of questions.
“What kind of house do you have? What kind of yard? They said they wanted to make sure their babies were going to the right home,” Marsha says.
Marsha sent an $850 deposit through a payment app. Then she discovered the same “dog breeder” had a dozen similar websites, each selling a different type of dog.
She emailed Petscams.com and it confirmed the site Marsha paid was on its scam list. Despite trying, she did not get her money back.
“I cannot believe people are so evil,” she says. “My mother ordered toys. She got food. I’m so upset.”
How do puppy scammers get away with it?
How do these scammers keep swindling dog lovers?
“Many scammers operate out of Africa with little fear of being caught or extradited to the United States to face criminal charges. The scammers know that,” Paul says.
Paul says the only way to stop the scams is to educate dog lovers to stop falling for them. “If you receive an email saying, ‘My son is a Nigerian prince, and we have 50 million dollars.’ You know it’s a scam,” Paul says.
Marsha says she was hesitant to talk about what happened to her, but she wants to warn others about the pain scammers cause.
“I was so embarrassed,” Marsha says. “But word needs to get out, even if I can help just one person.”
Spot a puppy scam quickly: look for a fake logo
Beware fake and stolen logos on puppy and dog scam websites
Swindlers swipe the names and logos of legit organizations for credibility. If you have a lost dog, a scammer may email you claiming they’re with a real lost pet recovery service — but they’re not.
“They say, ‘I can find your pet, but I will need the fee upfront.’ That’s a red flag right there,” Leslie says.
Some scammers post the American Kennel Club (AKC) logo on their “puppies for sale” website. The AKC is a well-known registry of purebred and pedigree dogs.
“It’s a regular occurrence,” says Brandi Munden, vice president of public relations and communications for the AKC. “Our logo is easily found online. It’s not hard to download and slap it on a website, unfortunately.”
The AKC doesn’t license or certify breeders or dogs. The group registers dogs with the required lineage paperwork. If you have questions about AKC references on a website, email info@akc.org and the AKC will help you separate fact from fiction.
“Dig and do your research,” Brandi says. “The scammers are messing with somebody’s emotional heartstrings, and that’s unfair.”
Reminder that you’ve still got one last chance to get your questions in for Friday’s mailbag. (No personal finance questions, please. You shouldn’t be taking that kind of advice from me anyway.) I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can.
Reporting from the first annual Venture Debt Conference in New York, which First Citizens seemed to be absent from, Darius details how attendees and panelists questioned the family-run regional bank’s ability to take over the complex and nuanced business that is venture debt.
Darius’ story has lots of colorful quotes and anecdotes, but one of my favorites is a bank executive recalling how a First Citizens’ employee asked for help understanding how to value a venture loan book after the deal was announced. (Not great, Bob!)
I’m all for learning on the job, but that type of knowledge seems like a prerequisite for buying a business with more than $70 billion in venture debt.
The loss of SVB was always going to create a gap in the industry that would prove tough to fill. But, if First Citizens is as ill-equipped to take over SVB’s venture-debt business as some believe, that only further complicates the matter.
And it’s a problem that will likely only impact the most in need, as is usually the case.
For the biggest players, or those with the biggest backers, there will always be people keen to lend. But for those on the outskirts, it’ll make an already challenging environment even more so.
3. ‘I didn’t bring my gun, don’t worry.’ That about sums up the thoughts from a wild final shareholder meeting for Credit Suisse. Angry investors had choice words for the Swiss bank’s board. Read the most-colorful quotes from from the meeting here.
4. The luxurious toys of the ultra rich are also helping them save on taxes. The wealthy have figured out how to get tax write-offs on their private planes and massive yachts by using them for a bit of “business,” ProPublica reports. Here’s how it works.
5. Don’t touch that 401(k)! That might seem obvious to some, but a growing number of people are cashing out their retirement savings when they switch jobs despite not even being strapped for cash. More on why that’s a terrible idea.
6. Blame it on the boomers. While that is an answer to many questions, this time I’m talking about the difficulty millennials (this one included) are having trying to buy a home. This is why boomers are blowing it for the rest of us.
8. A guy who bet big on tech thinks now it’s a good time to bet big on tech. Chase Coleman, the founder of Tiger Global Management, now thinks tech stocks are a good bet, per Bloomberg. Yes, that’s the same Tiger Global that had a horrible 2022 betting on tech stocks. But I am sure that’s just a coincidence. Here’s why Coleman is feeling so bullish.
9. Literal brain food. A new study claims a magnesium-rich diet will make your brain bigger and healthier. Time to break out the leafy green veggies and nuts. More on what you should eat for “brain care.”
10. Catch some Zs on the road with these pillows. Check out our guide to the best travel pillows. I can’t promise you won’t look like a dork wearing these, but that’s a sacrifice you must be willing to make. Check out our reviews.
Poly’s wireless headsets had come here to stay, however sometimes as always happens with technology there can be some hick ups which requires more than turning on and off your headset and yes, we know that it can be frustrating when your wireless headset is acting up. And for the same reason we will explain on how to reset the different kinds of Poly wireless headsets.
Plantronics CS50 family, CS5XX family.
Plantronics top seller and top seller headset in the world. The CS family is a really well known unit thanks to its compatibility, easy to use and reliability. This DECT wireless headset is mainly designed to be used with your desk phone, however if a hick up comes on the way you need to do the following:
1. Unplug the base of your wireless headset from the AC/DC adapter.
2. Take the headset out of the base.
3. Take the battery out of the headset. (Depending on the model you need to open the battery gate and then take the battery out. Some other models like the Unlimited talk time have sealed batteries which makes it easier to remove and will explain later.)
4. We now play the “Waiting Game”, some people will say that 10 seconds, however its better that all the sensors get reset and the best would be singing “Happy Birthday to me” at least 2 times. (This helps to make it less tedious and more fun to pass time.)
5. We reverse the steps we took, so we plug the battery back in, put the battery gate (if needed), and then plug the AC/DC adapter again.
6. Once the lights on the base have lightened up and the “Power on” LED stays on (The one under the Plantronics brand/White), place the headset on the base, then let it rest for 10 seconds and you will see the white LED on your CS headset to start blinking. 10 more seconds after that white LED on the headset starts blinking, you will notice the “Charging LED” that is located on the right side and will start blinking green. Success the headset had been reset and now should be up and working again.
Poly Savi family, Voyager Office family.
The Poly Savi/Voyager Office headsets allows you to use one headset with multiple devices and for the same reason it will have a couple extra steps as it requires to unplug and plug more cables as use in some cases either the computer or cell phone to help with this.
1. Unplug the base of your wireless headset from the AC/DC adapter.
2. Unplug the base of your wireless headset from the computer.
3. Take the headset out of the cradle.
4. We now play the “Waiting Game”, some people will say that 10 seconds, however its better that all the sensors get reset and the best would be singing “Happy Birthday to me” at least 2 times. (This helps to make it less tedious and more fun to pass time.)
5. Now we reverse our steps. First we plug the base to the AC/DC adapter, followed to the micro USB. After this you will see that the base will start lighten up showing the “Power”/”Connection” lights on. Depending on the model there will be green /white/blue.
6. Once the “Power LED” turns green, place the headset again on the cradle. and you will see the blinking on the LED on the headset. The sensors had been reset and now the headset is good to work again.
Special note: If after doing these steps you still have problems on the headset you will need to follow steps 1, 2 and 3 followed by:
Remove the battery of the headset. Depending on the model some headsets have sealed batteries as the Unlimited talk headsets, another will need a special tool in order to remove the battery gate and then take the battery off.
Put the battery back in the headset and follow the steps 4,5 and 6.
Poly Voyager UC family.
The Voyager UC family is a Bluetooth headset designed to be used with your computer thanks to the Bluetooth Dongle and/or your Bluetooth enable cell phone or tablet via the native built in Bluetooth and from time to time you might see that your headset is acting up. If so, follow the next steps in order to reset your headset.
1. Unplug the USB Dongle from the computer.
2. Turn off your Poly Voyager headset. (Focus 2 UC illustrated for reference)
3. If your Poly headset is paired to your cell phone/tablet too, unpair the headset from the device. Depending on the device you go to your Settings, Bluetooth, Devices, Forget Poly Voyager.
4. Turn off your cell phone tablet and then turn it on again. (This will take about 2 minutes).
5. Now we are going to undo what we just did. First, turn on your headset, you will hear “Power On, Battery High”.
6. Plug your Bluetooth Dongle to your computer. You will see it blinking and will hear that the computer recognize it as a new device. Once that happens and the headset is close by you will see that the blinking stops and will turn into a solid blue, when that happens you will hear on the headset “PC connected”.
7. Re pair the headset to your cell phone/tablet by following the manual steps depending on the device in order to get the headset again paired to the native Bluetooth of the cell phone/tablet. You will need to put the headset on “pairing mode” again so the cell phone can find the headset.
Once the headset is paired to the cell phone, you will hear on the headset “Phone 1 connected”. Congratulations, you had just reset the sensors of the headset and now will be good to go.
8. If you have the Poly Lens software installed make sure the headset and the Bluetooth Dongle have the latest firmware and you can see their behavior in real time as connections.
and then navigate to audio, then audio mode and press Enter or the Select Soft key.
Another option now in the market comes from Jabra, The new 
any USB headset (corded or wireless) from Jabra to work with your desk phone and your computer if needed, compatible with Jabra EHS cables, that allows you to remote answer your desk phone makes the Jabra Link 950 one nice option for your Jabra USB corded or wireless headsets.
microphone boom arm , with 2 microphones facing the user and one facing the outdoor, with an amazing battery life of up to 24 hours of talk time or 47 of listening. An improved range of up to 164 feet, thanks to its Bluetooth Class 1 dongle and with a fast charging setup that allows you to have a fully charge in about hour and half. The Voyager 4320 can be used as a corded headset as well, thanks to the included USB-C to USB-A cable, allowing the user to use it when either the dongle is not available or can’t use Bluetooth. You can use your Voyager 4320 with your desk phone as well by using the MDA 220, which will explain on how to setup next.
Remove the battery of the headset. Depending on the
model some headsets have sealed batteries as the Unlimited talk headsets, another will need a special tool in order to remove the battery gate and then take the battery off. 
Dongle from the computer.
