Latest news with #Chums
Irish Examiner
16-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Life Hack: The signs of some common scams you should know about
Unfortunately, online scams have become a persistant problem of modern life. While you may think yourself savvy, others in your life may fall for 'obvious' scams, and other more sophisticated techniques may catch you unawares. If you or someone you know have been the victim of a scam, you should report it to your local Garda station, and use the online reporting service of the website or forum on which you were scammed, if applicable. Bring copies of all emails, account details, and any other relevant information you may have to the gardaí. Retailer Chums has shared some of the biggest scams that impact Irish people and the signs to know that show someone has fallen victim to a scam. Unexpected messages Fake bank alerts, unfamiliar login notifications, or missed delivery notifications about parcels you didn't order can often try to lead you into giving personal details or making a small payment. These phishing scams can use your data to create false accounts or make larger payment withdrawals using your bank details. Always contact the bank or business directly to confirm if the message is legitimate. Contest wins Have you received a 'you're a winner' message for a competition you don't remember entering? This is most likely a scam designed to steal your personal information or social media login details. If you receive a notification like this, check your previous emails and/or messages to confirm if you actually entered a competition — and if you can't find a record of entering, it is best to ignore these messages. Browser pop-ups Most internet users are familiar with pop-ups warning of computer infections and slow performances, or, again, competition wins. It is best to ignore browser pop-ups. Clearing your cache, history, and cookies will help remove them and you can take your device to a trusted device repair shop if the issue persists. Unusual online adverts Spotted an advert with a deal that's too good to be true? It probably is. Online ads that offer products at unusually low price could be promoting fake websites designed to steal your payment information. Instead, look for products on trusted and familiar sites, and always ensure you are ordering from the official site – not a dupe or scam site. 'Mammy' texting from an unknown number Some scammers will play on emotions, particularly the urge to help friends and family in trouble. Often, scammers will send feigned messages of distress asking for financial help, including some sophisticated scams that involve cloning voices and deepfake videos. Before replying, check that the messages are legitimate by contacting that person on their usual number, on social media, or through another loved one. Unusual links If you see a friend or family member sharing a strange link on social media, either in a post or direct message, their account may have been hacked. Never click on the link and instead contact them directly through a different channel, such. Send a text message or make a phone call, to confirm if they sent the link. Flag these messages or posts to the social media platform too. Putting on the pressure Scammers often use urgency to pressure their targets into making immediate decisions, hoping to prevent them from thinking clearly. Legitimate businesses and organisations will never rush you. If a business or caller is trying to pressure you, tell them you will call them back and end the call. Contact a trusted person or organisation to confirm if the caller is legitimate. Generic greetings in emails Any email that does not attempt to use your name is something to be suspicious of, especially if they are trying to make claims about your banking or services. Scammers will often use titles and address you as 'Sir' or 'Madam' instead of using your name. Legitimate organisations, especially your bank or service providers, will typically know your name. Never give away your personal information to these individuals, and if they cannot confirm your identity contact the organisation they are claiming to be directly, and check if the call is genuine. Attempts to isolate you If you're contacted by a scammer, and when you try to speak to someone else, such as a friend or family member, scammers will typically try to keep you on the phone or prevent you from discussing the situation with others. This is a major red flag. Never hesitate to consult with a trusted friend or family member before making any decisions, and feel confident in ending calls and contacting the organisation they claim to be directly, using a number or email from their official website. Read More Life Hack: How to avoid injuring yourself while doing DIY jobs at home
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
This was the day the Brexit dream died. Voters will repay Starmer by sweeping his hapless Government into the dustbin of history: DAILY MAIL COMMENT
Like the deluded emperor in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, Sir Keir Starmer was keen to show off his elegant new European clothes yesterday. Posing proudly with his cosmopolitan chums, he extolled the virtues of his Brexit 'reset' deal, hailing it as a landmark victory.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Animated Indigenous series filled with friends of all kinds
Before they became chums, they were strangers with little professional acting experience. Elise Armitage, 17, and James Siegers, 11, are two of the young local voice actors featured in Chums, an animated children's series with an all-Indigenous cast and creative team from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The show — the second season of which premières on APTN today in Anishinaabemowin, Cree and English — follows a girl named Flies with Eagles and her ragtag group of animal friends as they learn about life on Turtle Island pre-contact. 'Romper is a fast-moving, energetic, but really empathetic bunny. So, pretty much me,' says Armitage, who is of Cree heritage and lives in Miniota, a small municipality 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg. 'Pterry the ptarmigan, he's pretty energetic, probably not as energetic as Romper, but he's a really fun character to voice. Every now and then he'll crack a joke, which is similar to me,' says Siegers, who lives in Oakbank and is a member of the Waskaganish Cree Nation in northern Quebec. Voice acting has been a learning experience for both up-and-comers. Prior to auditioning for Chums, Siegers had worked as a photo double on Crave drama Little Bird and has since appeared on several episodes of sitcom Acting Good — both Manitoba-based productions. Armitage is a former member of the Westman Youth Choir with performance credits in community musical theatre productions. 'It took me a while to really get comfortable in the studio. I was so nervous because I didn't want to screw up or get fired,' she says. SUPPLIED From left: Pterry the ptarmigan, Romper the rabbit, Ira the eaglet, Flies with Eagles and Emiree the baby beaver Siegers also describes his first few days in the recording booth as nerve-racking. 'But after that I was like, 'Oh, this is actually pretty good and fun,'' he says. Their initial reactions to hearing themselves on screen as a ptarmigan and a rabbit ranged, respectively, from 'funny' to 'weird, like in a good way.' Other local youth voice actors include Olivia Sinclair as Flies with Eagles and Zacchary Fontaine as Emiree the baby beaver. The 11-minute episodes are geared towards preschoolers and rooted in Indigenous teachings, with walk-on appearances from a wide cast of wildlife, from squirrels to coyotes to a young goose named Ryan the gosling, who has blue eyes and a swoop of blond hair. Chums is written, directed and produced by Dennis and Eric Jackson, a father-and-son team from Saskatchewan, and executive produced by Winnipeg's Zoot Pictures. Eleven-year-old James Siegers voices Pterry the ptarmigan The show, which made its television debut in spring 2024, has been greenlit for three seasons and picked up by global distributor Serial Maven Studios. The simple 3D design of Chums is also homegrown. Unable to find space at a Canadian animation studio during the height of the pandemic, Zoot decided to build its own. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'We have animators in Saskatchewan and here in Manitoba,' Zoot principal Leslea Mair says, adding the goal is to expand the studio while helping train local animators. 'It's a bit of an incubator for animation personnel and we've had great success with people taking on bigger pieces.' The success of Chums is thanks in large part to the strength of its Indigenous-led storytelling and creative, Mair says. Elise Armitage, 17, is the voice of Romper the rabbit. 'As someone from a settler background, I may have a hand in the story editing or I may have comments, but I don't make the final creative decisions, the Indigenous team does. That's something we have to do in order to have it really ring true.' Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
