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The Disney parks are some of the most attended theme parks in the world, and one of the reasons that they remain that way is because the company constantly updates them with changes and new additions. With the parks being open 365 days a year, there is a constant change going on every time you enter a park.

Whether it is a brand new theme park ride, a restaurant, or a new show and parade, Disney is always making tweaks to the parks to make sure they're the best in the world. Fans expect an incredibly high standard, and thankfully, Disney manages to deliver.

RELATED:10 Of The Most Rare (Or Retired) Disney Parks Characters

Right now, the company is working hard on a variety of different projects to update the parks across all of them, and within this list, we will look at 10 things coming in 2020.

EPCOT's World Showcase will be getting a brand new addition in 2020 as Remy's Ratatouille Adventure joins the ride line up. The highly anticipated trackless ride based on the Pixar movie, Ratatouille, will be debuting in summer 2020 and will see guests shrink to the size of a rat.

Guests will scurry around the floor of Chef Gusteau's kitchen, taking in all manner of sights and smells along the way. The ride does already exist at Disneyland Paris and has proven to be incredibly popular, and it is going to be a stellar addition to EPCOT.

Speaking of EPCOT's World Showcase, a new ride isn't the only thing that the France pavilion will be getting. A Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long has already debuted in the area, and an authenticcrperie will also be added to the pavilion as well.

RELATED:Disney Parks: 10 Weird Things Hollywood Studios Hides In Plain Sight

This restaurant will be both table and quick service and is set to feature the cuisine of celebrity chef,Jrme Bocuse. EPCOT is known for fully immersing its guests into the environment, and adding more authentic food based around the country that the pavilion is based around is a good idea.

EPCOT is a major focus of Disney's in 2020, with this being the park that is getting a lot of attention. It isn't just acrperie that is being added to the dining options in the theme park. Over at the other side of the park, near Mission Space, the Space 220 is set to open up in 2020.

This restaurant will be open from breakfast right through to dinner and will totally immerse guests to make them feel like they're in space themselves. The food will also be themed, with this dining location being unlike anything else in Walt Disney World.

EPCOT is getting boosted by brand new locations for dining though, but Disney's Hollywood Studios will also be gaining a new table-service restaurant in 2020. Not far from the giant Woody at the entrance to Toy Story Land will be the newToy Story Land Round-Up Rodeo BBQ.

RELATED:Disney Parks: 10 Weird Things The Magic Kingdom Hides In Plain Sight

The new area of Disney's Hollywood Studios has been very well received, with two new rides, meet and greet areas, and a quick-service dining location. However, adding a brand new sitdown dining location is a fantastic idea to take Toy Story Land to the next level.

It isn't just the Disney parks themselves getting new additions, as Disney Springs will be getting a few updates as well. One of the biggest will be the brand new Cirque du Soleil show that will officially begin on April 17, bringing a unique experience to Disney Springs.

This all new-show will see a partnership between Cirque du Soleil and Disney Animation, which should provide a very interesting show. Because you can attend Disney Springs without a ticket, this is a popular destination, and adding a fantastic show for people to attend it a brilliant idea.

The movie area on the second floor of The Land building is one that has always been fairly empty and not overly popular. The Circle of Life educational movie has been changed as part of EPCOT's big changes, and instead, a brand new film is taking its place.

The new movie is called Awesome Planet, and of course, takes a focus at the plant we inhabit. It's the perfect sort of film to be played in EPCOT as it is educational, and entertaining which will hopefully make it more popular.

There will also be another new movie attraction being added to Walt Disney World. There will also be a new addition to Hollywood Studios that will showcase a variety of Mickey shorts. It's a smart addition that will be coming in March, allowing guests to stop in to relax.

RELATED:10 Things They Cut From The Haunted Mansion Before Opening At Disney Parks

Having indoor areas like this is a perfect way for guests to relax after walking around for a full day, and it is also a good way to escape either the heat or the rain in Florida's often unpredictable climate.

The American pavilion in EPCOT will also be getting a new dining option that will bring a little bit of BBQ to the area. It's something that a lot of people are likely excited about and is something that the American pavilion is in a desperate need for.

There will be the likes of Kansas City chicken and Texas beef brisket sandwiches alongside a variety of desserts and craft beers for people. These are some of the things that people enjoy most about EPCOT, so this is a wise addition to the park.

Walt Disney World isn't holding back when it comes to making EPCOT as impressive as it can possibly be. With new attractions and dining locations coming this year, the park is also set to gain a brand new nighttime spectacular, which will be arriving this year.

RELATED:10 Overseas Disney Parks Attraction You Can't Ride In America

It promises to be the biggest and greatest Disney nighttime spectacular in history and will be named Harmonious. It is set to honor music from around the globe and will also utilize Disney movies as well, which should end a fantastic day at the park in style.

One of the most exciting new additions that is coming to the Disney parks in 2020 is Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. It will open on March 4 and will replace the former Great Movie Ride in the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It will be the first-ever attraction to be based around Mickey Mouse.

The ride will be based around the Mickey and Minnie cartoons, where guests will board a train and become part of the action! The ride promises to bring new technology and "2 and 12D" to a ride for the first time ever, which has left people very excited to see just what it will be.

NEXT:10 Disney Rides That Would Make Great Movies/TV Shows

Next10 '90s Sci-Fi Movies That Are Still Mind-Blowing Today

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Disney Parks: 10 Things That Are Coming In 2020 | ScreenRant - Screen Rant

The long winter months are beginning to show signs of thaw, as football season recedes into the background and pitchers and catchers report to their respective camps in Arizona and Florida. In spite of an MLB offseason highlighted more for scandal than hot stove action, the vast majority of marquee free agents are off the board as we head into spring training. We have a pretty good idea of the likely contenders in both leagues, and which clubs have a good chance of hanging out in the cellar come August.

While the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Dodgers, Nats, and Braves of the world have a good chance of being right back in the thick of the postseason chase, several clubs that have been lying low, saving on payroll and stock piling young talent are poised to make their move in 2020.

Here are my top three clubs primed to make major leaps from the doldrums to the pennant race this season:

1. Cincinnati Reds (2019 Record: 75-87, 4th in NL Central)

Following four consecutive 90+ loss, last-place finishes, the Reds began to show a little bit of life in 2019, albeit still ending 16 games out of first place. Eugenio Suarez was obviously the big story, finishing second in the majors with 49 home runs and establishing himself as a true superstar by posting his third consecutive 25+ homer season and second of 30 or more. Along with Suarez, the Reds offense saw the emergence of former first round outfielders Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel, both entering their prime years and under team control for several years to come.

Toss in the big time free agent additions of Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos, along with a collection of pitching additions that has gradually turned the Cincinnati pitching staff from an atrocity to a respectable group and you have the makings of a club that could be within striking distance in the highly competitive NL Central. While the Cardinals may be the early favorites in the division, the Cubs and Brewers may take steps back in 2020, leaving the door open for the Red Legs to make their move back to contention.

2. Chicago White Sox (2019 Record: 72-89, 3rd in AL Central)

The very same factors that allowed the South Siders to somehow finish in third place in 2019 in spite of a near 90-loss season will be the same factors that allow them to make their move in 2020. The AL Central will still be Minnesota's to lose, but the Indians' window appears to have closed, and the Royals and Tigers will likely still be dumpster fires this season as they follow the tanking protocol.

The same protocol, coincidentally, that the White Sox have been following for quite some time, coming off their seventh straight losing campaign. It appears the club is now ready to win games again, setting themselves apart as one of the busiest teams this offseason. They already had a major stock pile of former high draft pick starting pitchers in Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Carson Fulmer, and Michael Kopech.

Toss in the additions of veteran left-handers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, along with the offensive acquisitions of Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, and Nomar Mazara to go along with proven stars like Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada, and the White Sox certainly look to have some star power in the upcoming season.

3. San Diego Padres (2019 Record: 70-92, 5th in NL West)

Of the three teams listed here, the Padres will certainly have the toughest time within their division. It's been 13 seasons since the Friars have captured an NL West crown, and their prospects look dim once again this season with the likelihood of yet another 100-win campaign from the Dodgers as an all but foregone conclusion. That said, the Giants are unlikely to make any push for the playoffs, the Rockies are the Rockies and the Padres look to have a puncher's chance at beating out the Diamondbacks for second place and a potential wild card bid.

The Pads are another team that's lost 90 or more games in four straight years, but they've been building one of baseball's most elite farm systems all along and appear ready to strike in 2020. They've added Drew Pomerantz and Emilio Pagan to an elite bullpen that already boasts Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen, and Eric Hosmer, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and Manny Machado give them a formidable infield. Long time stalwart Will Myers will be joined by spark plug Tommy Pham in the outfield, giving San Diego multiple big name position players across the diamond.

Starting pitching is the one potential area of weakness for this club, with the starting rotation currently led by returning youngsters Joey Lucchesi and Chris Paddock, along with former Milwaukee Brewer Zach Davies, a proven starter who is still just 27-years-old. If they're in contention at the break, look for San Diego to swap one of their blue chip pieces for a front line arm midseason.

Could each of these punchy underdog up and comers fall flat on their faces in 2020, as their respective histories suggest? They sure could. But I for one am always a fan of seeing some fresh pennant contenders, and reinvigorated fan bases come September.

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Three MLB Clubs Poised to Break Out in 2020 - Sports Central

Ed Woodward has hinted there may be several new additions at Manchester United this summer.

While the Europa League and FA Cup still provide a shot at silverware, this is shaping up to be another disappointing season for the 20-time league champions and the clubs executive vice-chairman acknowledges the next transfer window is an important opportunity for the club.

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United languish eighth in the Premier League, with fewer than half the points of table-topping Liverpool, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side face a battle to seal Champions League qualification.

The January acquisition of Bruno Fernandes has been a welcome injection of quality at Old Trafford, but Woodward accepts there is plenty of work to do.

The signing of Bruno Fernandes and return of key players from injury will be a boost to Ole and the squad as we head into the second half of the season, Woodward said in introductory remarks made at a recent fans forum.

We remain in contention in the Europa League and the FA Cup, as well as for Champions League qualification, so there is still lots to play for.

However, as a club and a board, we do recognise that we are not yet where we want to be.

It is the overwhelming priority of everyone at the club to get us back to regularly challenging for Premier League and Champions League titles.

Although progress may not always be smooth, everyone across the club is focused and committed on playing their part in helping achieve those aims.

Woodward highlighted the significant work and investment made in the academy, while the United chief said he was pleased with progress being made in ensuring they have the right players, infrastructure and culture to sustain long-term success.

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Similarly, there has been extensive work on our recruitment process, with considerable investment in scouting, data and analytics, Woodward, whose house was attacked by some fans just days before the comments, continued.

The recruitment department is working to a clear plan and philosophy, along with Ole and his coaching staff.

Our focus is on bringing in a combination of experience and the best young players with potential to develop further, fusing graduates from our academy with high-quality acquisitions.

Our recruitment process focuses on analysis and selection of players over the course of a season, with a view to the following summer transfer window.As part of the rebuild we see this coming summer as an important opportunity.

We had consistently taken the view that because January is not an optimal time in terms of availability of players we would only buy in January if players we had already targeted for the summer became available and we were pleased that this strategy played out with the signing of Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes and the players we brought (in) last summer are evidence that our process is the right one.

There has been no shortage of investment in players over the past few years, with over 200million spent since Ole became manager.

Our aim is to ensure that we continue to achieve consistency in quality of recruitment.

Off the pitch, it is important to note that the commercial elements of the club are geared to ensuring we have a self-sustaining model which supports investment in the playing side.

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Bruno Fernandes transfer just the start as Manchester United chief Ed Woodward hints at several summer - talkSPORT.com

Paul Mainieri takes the field as The LSU Tigers take on Southern Miss in the 2019 NCAA Regional Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. Sunday, June 2, 2019.(Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)

BATON ROUGE Maybe, it accidentally slipped out. Or maybe, he meant it.

During LSU's baseball media day last month, coach Paul Mainieri was discussing how open his lineup could be from day one, which is Friday at 7 p.m. when the No. 12 Tigers beginthe 2020 season against Indiana at Alex Box Stadium, throughout the season.

The opening weekend series continues at 3 p.m.Saturdayand noon Sunday.

"Even after the season begins, there is going to be some fluidity to our lineup," he said. "I don't think the lineup we start with on opening day is going to be the same for 56 games and the national championship."

So, make your plans now. LSU will not only reach the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, that begins on June 13, but it will advance to the best-of-three championship series beginning on June 22, according to Mainieri.

The Tigers have not been to Omaha since 2017 when they reached that championship series before losing back-to-back games to Florida. The two-season stretch out of Nebraska is LSU'slongest since not going in three straight seasons from 2010 through 2012.

"'Omaha or bust' is our motto around here," sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso said.

LSU trips to Omaha the last two years were busted in the NCAA Regional in Corvallis, Oregon, in 2018, and at home at the Super Regional against Florida State last year, largely due to a lack of healthy pitching. Mainieri hopes to have that issue solved this season, as 11pitchers who threw last season return along with three additionswho are left-handed a precious commodity LSU did not have in 2019.

"Our pitching staff is going to be at a level that allows us to win games even while we are learning about our team (offensively)," Mainieri said. "Our pitching staff is a veteran pitching staff."

The weekend starting rotation at the moment features all sophomores in Cole Henry (4-2, 3.39 ERA, 58.1 innings last season), who will start Friday, Landon Marceaux(5-2, 4.66 ERA, 58 innings last season) and A.J. Labas (6-2, 3.48 ERA, 54.1 innings in 2018). Henry's 2019 season was plagued by elbow soreness, and Marceaux missed time with arm soreness. Labas missed all of 2019 with a shoulder injury.

That leaves out junior Eric Walker (5-4, 5.47 ERA, 72 innings), who was a weekend starter last season and an All-American in 2017 (8-2, 3.48 ERA, 95.2 innings) before an elbow injury and surgery scratched his entire 2018 campaign. Walker could be one of LSU's best mid-week starters in years if the sophomore trio pans out. Junior Ma'Khail Hilliard (0-4, 5.32 ERA, 44 innings) could also be a formidable mid-week starter if he is healthier this season. He was plagued by shoulder issues in 2019 after going 9-5 with a 3.79 ERA through 76 innings as a weekend rotation member in 2018.

Also back are junior reliever Devin Fontenot (5-4, 3.71 ERA, 7 saves, 51 innings), senior reliever Matthew Beck (3-0, 2.05 ERA, 44 innings), and sophomore Jaden Hill (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 10 innings), who is yet another pitcher who struggled with arm issues last season.

"One of the keys for us, as last year proved, is our ability to keep the guys healthy," Mainieri said.

And he has a plan for that. New sleeve devices will track LSU pitchers' arm stress this season to better avoid injuries through rest, which is not a new thought process by any means.

"We're learning more and more about the importance of recovery for kids," Mainieri said. "Just pure rest. We're giving them more days off than we ever have before. All I can tell you is this fall, the velocities were up, and there were no injuries."

The new left-handers expected to assist the bullpen are junior college transfer Brandon Kaminer,freshman Jacob Hasty of Liberty Christian High in Keller, Texas, and sophomore walk-on Michael Lagarrigue of Fontainebleau High in Mandeville.

"We are excited about adding some left-handed pitching to the staff," Mainieri said.

LSU's offense returns five position starters in junior outfielder Daniel Cabrera (.284, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso (.279, 10 home runs, 52 RBIs), sophomore catcher Saul Garza (.303, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs), junior shortstop Hal Hughes (.174), and sophomore outfielder Giovanni DiGiacoma (.275, 15 RBIs).

Incoming junior college transfer Zack Mathis could start at third base, and fourother newcomers could play a lot and possibly start as the season goes onin freshman outfielder MauriceHampton, who is a safety on the football team, freshman infielder Zach Arnold,freshman infielder/designated hitter Cade Doughty and freshman catcher/designated hitter Hayden Travinski of Airline High in Bossier City who hit .429 with 12 home runs last season.

"I am waiting to see which players are going to rise above others and make a statement that they should be starting players," Mainieri said.

Meanwhile, LSU fans have been waiting since 2009 for Mainieri's second national championship and the program's seventh. No longer is the baseball team the last LSU program to win the national championship with the football team winning that with a perfect 15-0 season in 2019-20.

"I was getting just as much enjoyment out of that as everyone else was," Mainieri said. "Now, it's time for the baseball program to uphold its end of it as well."

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LSU has not been to Omaha since 2017, and, well, that's too long - Daily Advertiser

Its the house that inspired hundreds of love stories. So it's fitting thatthe Mayfair mansion once home to Dame Barbara Cartland, the most prolific romance novelist of all time, has been put up for sale on Valentines Day.

The 8,000 sq ft, five-storey townhouse on South Street is available for a cool 40million a price tag reflective of modern-day Mayfair that might have made even the racy writer blush.

Dame Barbara was the rom-trash worlds Queen of Hearts so often pictured dressed head-to-toe in her signature pink and trailing chiffon. In her Telegraph obituary in 2000 she was described as a formidable fairy queen, with extravagant, almost clown-like, make-up her cheeks pulled back with sadly visible bits of sticking plaster.

A dedicated socialite, she was known to frequent glamorous venues such asThe Cavendish Hotel owned by RosaLewis, the original celebrity chef who was romantically linked to EdwardVII. Tina Brown recalls how posses of small, yapping poodles in rhinestone collars followed her everywhere she went.

But behind this eccentric vision of fuchsia and tulle was a razor sharp mind. She published 723 novels and is thought to have sold more than a billion copies in her illustrious 77-year long career. She wrote about feigning damsels and dashing heroes in the post-Victorian era with many a yarn set in her milieu, central London.

She wrote 17 novels in the Forties, most likely in the mansion in South Street; in her later years in the Seventies and Eighties, the speed of her output increased dramatically.

Dame Barbaras former five-bedroom arts and crafts townhouse sits between Park Lane and Grosvenor Square, in the heart of her old stamping ground. The family moved in before the Second World War started, her son Ian McCorquodale told The Telegraph although he was vague on dates. Dame Barbara bought the house with her second husband Hugh McCorquodale. He was the cousin of herfirst spouse Captain Alexander Sachie McCorquodale, who she divorced in 1933.

The couple lived there with her daughter from her first marriage, Raine (1929-2016), and their two sons Ian (born 1937) and Glenn (1939).

It was a lovely home to grow up in and we were very happy there as a family. It was right in the middle of Mayfair and we took long walks in Hyde Park, says McCorquodale. We were there for the duration of the war, and it was a long war.

An 18-year-old Raine was introduced to London high society as a debutante from the South Street house in 1947 and was named deb of the year. She was quickly engaged to the Hon Gerald Humphrey Legge, who became the 9th Earl of Dartmoor.

In the Seventies she married John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, becoming a countess and stepmother to Diana, Princess of Wales. According to Tina Browns book on the Princess, Dame Barbara once remarked: The only books Diana ever read were mine, and they werent awfully good for her.

In a case of life imitating art, Countess Spencers coming out into society from the grand townhouse nods to her mothers novel A Virgin in Mayfair, published in 1932. In the story Maxine, the young heroine, is raised in a convent before her sophisticated aunt takes her under her wing to introduce her as a London debutante. Maxine takes up residence in Grosvenor Square before falling for an aristocrat.

In 1950, the McCorquodale family sold up and moved to a country estate called Camfield Place in Hertfordshire. Once the home of Beatrix Potter, the 10-bedroom mansion is nestled in 400 acres of farmland and woods near Hatfield. Dame Barbara died in her sleep at Camfield in 2000 and it remains the family home to this day. Unlike South Street, and despite the upkeep its not for sale, says McCorquodale.

His was not the first family of standing and fame to live in the prestigious Mayfair mansion. The house was built in 1902 from the shell of a crumbling mid-18th century property. It was designed by Detmar Blow, a starchitect of his day whose clients were chiefly aristocracy. He went on to become estates manager to the Duke of Westminster. It was his first project in Mayfair, commissioned by the stockbroker, art collector and politician Sir Cuthbert Quilter, who lived on South Audley Street.

As soon as it was completed, Sir Cuthbert let it to the Douglas-Home family. Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a future prime minister, moved into the new South Street mansion in 1903 as a baby. His premiership was the second-shortest in the 20th century (from 1963 to 1964). However, the highlight of his political career was as foreign secretary (1960 to 1963), when he supported the US in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

This property spans many distinct eras. The original red-brick, stone-dressed facade from 1902 is intact, with quoins and modillion cornices, a nod to the style of the late 17th century. The heavy front door is set in a striking stone architrave, behind elaborate French-inspired iron railings.

After Dame Barbara moved out, the property was converted into offices before becoming a home once again decades later. Although the interiors have changed, Blows main timber staircase has been preserved, as have the ceilings in the ground floor dining room and first floor drawing room.

There is a Robert Adam marble fireplace in the drawing room that was added to the property in a renovation in the mid-Nineties. The courtyard in the centre of the L-shaped building was glassed over, allowing light to flood all the way down into the lower ground floor.

The current vendors, who wish to remain anonymous, have added the usual luxury mod cons, carving out a wellness suite in the basement. Theres a swimming pool, sauna, a bar and even a double bed suspended over the end of the pool. French doors in the second-floor master bedroom open on to a curved terrace. Theres a larger planted terrace on the first floor and a roof terrace (which McCorquodale recalls fondly) with skyline views.

The original property and newer additions work well together. From the outside its a piece of London heritage, while the interiors and layout offer a fantastic 21st-century lifestyle, says Becky Fatemi of Rokstone, the agent marketing the property.

This mansion on South Street is one of a collection of illustrious properties put up for sale recently. This is a sign, Fatemi says, of growing confidence in the prime central London property market after half a decade of price falls. She launched Sir Michael Heseltines six-storey mansion in Belgravia in the autumn for 28million.

Peter Wetherell, an estate agent in Mayfair, predicts a sales spike of 50 per cent this year as a result of the Boris bounce, boosted by young international buyers.

Renewed optimism after an extended period of uncertainty has also resulted in a significant number of premium properties being placed on the open market, adds Mark Pollack of agent Aston Chase. Some [are being put on the market] for the first time in many years as vendors who were waiting to downsize now make their move.

Wetherell is selling a 3,541 sq ft four-bedroom apartment in 18 Grosvenor Square for 18.75million. It was once the Mayfair pied--terre of aviation tycoon Sir Frederick Handley Page whose factory made the Halifax bomber used in the Second World War. The Blue Plaque-adorned block was built to the designs of the Grosvenor estates manager, none other than South Streets Detmar Blow.

It seems new chapters are about to begin for both prime central London and South Street.

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Inside Dame Barbara Cartland's 40m Mayfair mansion the house that inspired hundreds of love stories - Telegraph.co.uk

Its time to take at whats coming to Netflix in the United States throughout February 2020. Weve got the big and only ongoing list on the internet of whats coming to Netflix throughout the month.

February is usually a much quieter month for new Netflix releases than others which usually comes down to just the general time of year and the fact it traditionally has fewer days of the month.

In terms of what you can expect from Netflix, as its approaching valentines day youll be able to see a few new romantic movies the service is making headlined by the likes of To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. You can see an extended list of the Netflix Originals coming in February 2020 here.

Note: weve now received a bigger list of whats coming to Netflix in February as always more will be announced. (full list for January). Well keep this post updated throughout January and February reflecting any newly announced titles for the two months.

Update: 48 titles were added in total to Netflix on February 1st. Full list here.

What are you looking forward to watching in February? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Whats Coming to Netflix in February 2020 - What's on Netflix

If you go back through the past five trade deadlines and peruse the moves made by Stanley Cup-winning sides, one thing stands out: the big budget, headline-making, splashy moves are the exception, not the rule.

Last season, for instance, the St. Louis Blues made one acquisition at the deadline, landing rearguard Michael Del Zotto from the Anaheim Ducks for a sixth-round selection. He played in seven games for the Blues, all in the regular season, and didnt see a second of playoff action. The year prior, the Washington Capitals big deadline transaction was picking up Michal Kempny from the Chicago Blackhawks. As it turned out, that was a stroke of genius. And the deadline acquisitions by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the two campaigns prior and the Blackhawks before them included the likes Mark Streit, Frank Corrado, Ron Hainsey, Andrew Desjardins and Kimmo Timonen. Not exactly the biggest names.

In fact, the only major waves any of those Stanley Cup winners made in the past five seasons by Stanley Cup-winning teams were the Penguins three-way swap with the Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights that sent Derick Brassard to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2018 deadline. That came three seasons after Chicagos Antoine Vermette trade with the Arizona Coyotes. But in both instances, those were secondary pieces that supplemented the already-established top stars.

So, ahead of this deadline, its worth remembering that the best additions might not be the big guns, but rather the role-players and pluggers who can cement themselves as key pieces of the bottom six. And given more than half the leagues teams have projected cap space below $1.5 million according to CapFriendly, the contending clubs looking to add those types of players will likely have to do so with the spending limit in mind. That could make these 10 skaters prime trade candidates and sneaky-good additions come deadline day:

Derek Grant, C, Anaheim Ducks $700,000 AAVGrant, 29, has skated with six clubs across his seven seasons in the NHL, which speaks to two things: a number of teams see him as a useful piece and he has enough versatility to fit into just about any lineup. Like a number of players on this list, Grant isnt going to make or break any organizations post-season run, but what he will do is provide reliability in depth minutes and solidify a fourth-line with a legitimate big-league skater. Some teams want to entrust those minutes to veteran skaters and veteran skaters only. Grant can be that guy.

Brian Boyle, C, Florida Panthers $940,000 AAVAny selling the Panthers do ahead of the trade freeze, especially of role players such as Boyle, will be contingent on their spot in the standings come deadline day. If GM Dale Tallon does decide to move out some veteran pieces, however, Boyle, 35, should be at the top of the list for any club that wants to add some size and scoring to its fourth line. Its not as though Boyle is going to be a bank-breaker in either the cap or cost-of-acquisition sense, and his penalty killing acumen, strength in the faceoff circle and mild offensive ability are attributes contending teams will covet at the deadline.

Joakim Ryan, D, Los Angeles Kings $725,000 AAVIts a bit telling about the situation in Los Angeles that Ryan, who was pegged as a third-pairing blueliner, is averaging upwards of 19 minutes per game with the Kings. Any team that acquires the 26-year-old wont be looking to utilize him in the same way, though. Much more likely is that he reverts to his prior playing time with the San Jose Sharks, which is to say around the 14-minute mark at most. What might entice teams about Ryan is that hes got experience being part of a deep post-season run. He skated in 20 playoff games with the Sharks last season as a bottom-pairing rearguard. Never hurts to have another player whos been there and seen the late rounds of the playoffs.

Brad Hunt, D, Minnesota Wild $700,000 AAVHunt is the only player on this list with a contract that does not expire at seasons end, but the cap hit is so minimal as to almost be negligible moving forward. He has a league-minimum salary and hes producing enough offensively that he should be on the short list of any club who needs a boost their power play. Hunt, 31, is a late-bloomer, but he can quarterback the second special teams unit and blast away when he tees one up. Of 51 defensemen with at least 100 minutes on the power play, Hunt ranks 21st with 4.96 points per 60 minutes. Thats better than the rates possessed by Zach Werenski, Erik Karlsson, Jacob Trouba, Kris Letang and Morgan Rielly.

Nate Thompson, C, Montreal Canadiens $1,000,000 AAVThompson is cut from the same cloth as Boyle, the difference being that the potential for the former to be available is much higher than it is for the latter. At roughly the same price in terms of assets needed to pry the players from their clubs and cap hit, any team that misses out on Boyle will probably then look to swing around to Thompson and vice-versa. Any team acquiring Thompson, 35, is going to want to stash him on the fourth line and use him in own-zone, must-win faceoff type situations. His 55.2 faceoff-winning percentage is tied for 12th-best in the NHL among players whove taken at least 600 draws.

Rocco Grimaldi, RW, Nashville Predators $1,000,000 AAVGrimaldi was an inspiring success story last season, an experienced AHL hand who finally managed to crack an NHL roster and convince the higher-ups he belonged. The 27-year-old has proven the Predators faith in him right, too, with a nine-goal, 26-point output in 52 games that is double what he posted in 53 outings last season. That has only set up for Nashville to potentially move Grimaldi along should the Predators stumble out of the race in the next week-plus, though. Teams will be intrigued by his skill and ability to chip in with limited ice time. Hes worth kicking the tires on.

Dylan DeMelo, D, Ottawa Senators $900,000 AAVIt would not be shocking in the least if the Senators were to cling to DeMelo through the deadline, as the 26-year-old defender has consistently skated top-four minutes and could be one of the key defensive cogs for the next few seasons. That said, hes got the perfect price tag for teams that need to add on a budget and he can be slotted into a top-four and flourish. Thats remarkable value given the price. The only drawback is that DeMelo might be the most expensive acquisition, in terms of assets traded away, on this list.

Tyler Ennis, RW, Ottawa Senators $800,000 AAVAfter spending his early and prime years as a decent middle-six scorer with the Buffalo Sabres, Ennis, 30, has been a journeyman bottom-six hand across the past few campaigns. And though hes found himself a nice spot with the Senators this season, his production he has 13 goals and 30 points in 56 games, which is a 19-goal, 44-point pace paired with his price tag makes him a prime secondary scoring option for the clubs that need to add on a budget. Ennis wont be a game changer, but hes shifty and he can create. If nothing else, hes a bottom-six piece for a contending club who can chip in a point or two.

Patrick Marleau, LW, San Jose Sharks$700,000When he signed his one-year, $700,000 pact with the Sharks, the expectation was Marleau would get one last hurrah in the NHL and the chance to win a Stanley Cup in San Jose. The former held true. The latter? Not so much. With the Sharks so far out of the post-season race, the reality is Marleaus only real use in San Jose right now is as trade bait. Hes not the player he once was, but the 40-year-old has 10 goals and 20 points this season and can still skate the game. Without question, Sharks GM Doug Wilson will leave the decision to stay or go to Marleau, but if he wants to chase a championship before he calls it a career, this deadline is likely his last opportunity to play for a contender.

Radim Simek, D, San Jose Sharks $675,000 AAVUnderstanding full well how ridiculous this sounds, Simek, 27, has been something of a crucial player for the Sharks since he arrived last season, if only because his presence allowed for San Jose to optimize their defensive pairings. It turns out that hes a fairly decent depth defenseman, too. Hes not going to wow anyone, but he can contribute offensively from time to time, move the puck and play the stay-at-home role for a more fluid puck-moving partner. But really, the thing with Simek is that you cant beat the price. Hes earning less than a league-minimum deal this season and can be that final budget addition for a team looking to really round out its defense corps.

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Jared Clinton

Jared Clinton is a writer and web editor with The Hockey News. He's been with the team since 2014. He was born, raised and resides in Winnipeg, where he can be found missing the net on outdoor rinks all over town.

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Bargain Hunting: 10 cost-effective trade options contending teams should target at the deadline - The Hockey News

Zachary Oren Smith, Press Citizen Published 3:39 p.m. CT Feb. 13, 2020

State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, knocked on doors at West Branch Mobile Village to see if there was appetite to organize among mobile homes tenants in his district, on Friday, April 19, 2019.(Photo: Zachary Oren Smith)

In 2019, Havenpark Capital, a Utah-based private equity firm, bought up manufactured housing parks in Johnson County and across the state. Residents of those parks quickly were hit with sharp rent increases, someas high as 58% in North Liberty's GolfviewMobile Home Park.

It became clear to residents and their advocates that protections afforded to apartment renters and other consumerswere not extended to mobile home residents who might own their home but rent the parcel it sits on.

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of 15 Republican and 15 Democratic senators introduced S.F. 2238, a bill that aims to expand those protections for mobile home residents.

More: Taskforce releases recommendations for manufactured homes

State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, knocked on doors at West Branch Mobile Village to see if there was appetite to organize among mobile homes tenants in his district, on Friday, April 19, 2019.(Photo: Zachary Oren Smith)

Sen. Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville, introduced the bill in the Iowa Senate. She could not be reached by press time.

In the waning days of the last session, Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, attempted to pass legislation with similar aims but it was unable to clear both chambers.

"I think the big difference is the amount of education that went on in the interim. For seven months now, we've been engaged in writing legislation with members of both parties and both chambers," Wahls said. Both Iowa Legal Aid, who represents some Golfview residents, and the Attorney General's Office have weighed in on the crafting of the bill. "And we've been keeping the Governor's Office in the loop."

While he said the bill does not do all the actions he set out for, he said it takes two important steps. First, it aims to protect property and due process rights for people who own manufactured homes. Second, it provides legal protections that are at least as strong as people living in apartments."

The bill as introduced would do the following:

Candi Evans, the co-chair of the Golfview Residents Association, said that while the bill doesn't accomplish all she would like to see, she was heartened by the bipartisan support on the bill.

"Not all of it came through that we wanted, but this important. It has real impacton our families who are in need," Evans said.

Next week, she said mobile home park residents will head to the Capitol to share their stories. She said that Republican and Democrat lawmakers alike have been willing to listen before. She said she is hopeful to continue those conversations next week.

Republican Senators signed on:

Democratic Senators signed on:

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe to the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Zachary Oren Smith writes about government, growth and developmentfor the Press-Citizen. Reach himat zsmith@press-citizen.com or 319 -339-7354, and follow himon Twitter via @zacharyos.

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Bipartisan bill introduced to add protections for manufactured home residents - Iowa City Press-Citizen

Make sure youre aware of these expert-approved tips before buying your first home. USA TODAY

After a decade of litigation, more than 1,800Florida homeowners who bought homes made unlivable by drywall manufactured in China will be sharing in a $248 million settlement.

Defective drywall that caused damage to property and health concerns hit people in 44 states, estimated at as many as 20,000 homes. Florida had the most. The drywall materials reacted to produce fumes that corroded fixtures. The gas smelled of sulfur and raised health concerns.

The settlement approved by a federal judge in New Orleans last month resolves two suits and potentially more than 3,000 claims filed against Taishan Gypsum Ltd., the China-owned company that sold much ofthe defective drywall in the United States, beginning in 2009.

The Biltz family, Shane, Darlene and their son Vincent, 1, pose for a portrait at their home, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Golden Gate Estates. The couple had to delay starting a family because of health issues caused by exposure to fumes created by drywall made in China that was used to build their home.(Photo: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA)

Victims includeShane and Darlene Biltzof Collier County, who thought they had found the perfect home to raise a family,a 3,300-square-foot residence in Golden Gate Estates.

Darlene Biltz said the discovery was heart-breaking.

"When we bought the house, we bought it as a forever home, we wanted to raise our children in that home, we wanted to have our animals in that home, we wanted to bring our family together in that home," she said."I mean its a beautiful home but its not one that we could have been in forever because of health issues."

More: How to file a claim to be part of the $248 million Chinese drywall settlement

Drywall installation became big business in Florida between 2004 and 2006. Abuilding boomspiked demand for drywall.Then, extensive repair and replacement damage tobuildings in Gulf Coast states inflicted by hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005 added to the pressure on supplies.

With domestic inventory tight, builders and suppliers turned to China. Slowly, tales began to emerge of an odor of sulphur in the homes and unexplainable corrosion to fixtures.

The Biltz family home is pictured, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Golden Gate Estates. The home was built using Chinese dry wall.(Photo: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA)

The gas began to cause damage to the homes and raise fears that the contaminated air was a threatto the health of residents.

Government scientists blamed the drywallfor damaging buildings and causing health problems after its internal parts reacted and produced dangerous gasses.

As the housing boom was replaced by the Great Recession, homes that had lost much of their value were abandoned. Crashing property values made walking away the choice for many.

Previous coverage in The News-Press

More than individual homeowners were affected.

Lennar Corp., a major homebuilder in the state, said in a government filing that it had found the faulty drywall in hundreds of homes that it had builtand put $40 million aside to fix it, while pursuing legal action against subcontractors who used the drywall.

WCI Communities Inc. of Bonita Springs, a prodigious builder of luxury homes in Southwest Florida,filed for bankruptcy in 2008 as claims against it mounted. The company cited the bottom falling out of the housing market in Lee County.WCI eventually discharged billions of dollars in debt, as well as its obligation for at least 100 homes with the drywall problem in a bankruptcy reorganization. Secured creditors took control of the company and sold it toLennar for more than $640 million.

Worker removes China-manufactured drywall from a Southwest Florida home. The drywall is blamed for emitting hazardous fumes that made people sick and buildings uninhabitable. A federal lawsuit over the drywall has been settled.(Photo: News-Press file phoeo)

Edwardo and Carmen Amorin filed suit in U.S. District Court in Miami in July 2009.Stephen and Diane Brookefiled suit inVirginia in 2015. Both cases were against Taishan.

The cases were assigned to the federal court system's multi-district litigation docket, and were all overseen by a single judge in U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

The victims will be notified of their settlement amounts by a court-appointed expert who will use factors such asthe size of the property and which of multiple class action suits the individual property owners joined in determining what they will be paid.

Individuals who are covered in the Amorin suit may receive higher payouts because that suit was filed earlier. The judge's settlement decision said a lot more groundwork for the case was done in the class action led by the Amorins than the suit initiated by the Brookes

As the case churned through the preliminaries toward potential trial, scientific evidence of health and safety issues raised by the drywall mounted.

The Florida Department ofHealth had reported in 2009 that the fumes led to corrosion of evaporator coils in air conditioning units as well as corrosion of electrical connectors, copper wires and chrome-plated fixtures.

A 2014 reportfrom the federal Agency for Toxic Substances found health issues caused by exposure to sulfuric gasses andhydrogen sulfide released by drywall imported from China. The report suggests the emissions were highest in drywall manufactured between 2006-2009.

Exposure made some existing conditions worse, such as eye, ear, nose and throat problems. Some people who came in close contact withthe material sufferedrespiratory discomfort, and general malaise, the reportsaid.

As the drywall plague deepened, theU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission called for replacement of problem drywall, and warned that the fumes couldeven damage smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, electrical switches and circuit breakers, even some types of fire protection sprinkler heads.

Drywall made in China and imported to Southwest Florida during the building boom of the early 2000s was blamed for medical issues. A federal lawsuit over the use of the drywall has been settled.(Photo: New-Press file photo)

Last month, U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon approved the settlement for people who sued in the cases started by theAmorins and the Brookes. Litigants said the settlement avoids the risk of long and costly trials with an uncertain outcome.

Others think the lawyers could have done a lot better.

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Cape Coral resident Russell Moody, in an-email to The News-Press, was critical of the judge for approving thenegotiated settlement.

Moodyargues that in his case, it will pay only a fraction of the estimated $163,000 it would cost to remove the offending drywall and its effects from his home.He is among the people who sued that have not removed the drywall.

"It is a cleverly worded rationale, obfuscated in legalese and based on faulty and mischaracterized information, for approving a settlement that deprives over a hundred SW Florida residents of hundreds of thousands of settlement dollars that they are legally entitled to," Moody said.

Moody filed his objection to the settlement in November and claimed that the handling of the case was procedurally flawed and claimed that some representations by lawyers on the case were false.

Judge Fallonoverruled the objections of Moody and 26 others in finding that the settlement was "fair, reasonable and adequate."He ordered payment of nearly $50 million in attorneys' fees and costs from the settlement proceeds.

Attorney Pete Albanis, of Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan, said the ultimate decision to recommend settlement was based on weighing the risk and expense of further litigation against the chance of getting more money in a case that had been in court for more than a decade.

Even winning a judgment had no guarantee ofsuccess.

The Biltz family, Shane, Darlene and their son Vincent, 1, pose for a portrait at their home, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Golden Gate Estates.(Photo: Jon Austria/Naples Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA)

If we were to continue the case, meaning there would be no settlement and peoples cases would proceed to trial, there would be some serious concerns and potential problems that homeowners would face with respect to collecting in China, Albanis said. This is one of the most difficult class actions that has been ever been pursued.

Ultimately, the victims of the Chinese drywall will be paid pennies on the dollar for the damage to their homes and possibly to their health. The emotional strain of a decade lost will not be compensated.

The Biltzesdecision to move out was based on the expense of fixing their home. Instead, they disclosed the issues with the house and found a tenant who would rent it.

The couple'splans to start a family had to beput on hold, on the advice of Darlene's doctor, because of the uncertain effect drywall fumes might have on an unborn child.

"They said no, you may want to give yourself time to have your body detox, they didnt know what kindof effects it might have on a baby," she said. "We finally have a one-year-old son,he is healthy and happy."

A federal judge has issued a final order in the$248 million drywall settlement thatincludes a master list of more than 3,000 drywall victims.

If you're not on the list, thejudge has set Wednesday as thedeadlineto file a claim to be eligible for any money. Visit chinesedrywallsettlement.com for more information.

The idea that youll save money buying a fixer-upper doesnt always hold true. Buzz60s Sean Dowling has more. Buzz60

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Defective drywall lawsuit reaches settlement, a decade after Chinese product forced many from their homes - News-Press

ELK GROVE (CBS13) What toilet do you have? Its a question Nafisa Neabkhail wishes shed known to ask.

When Neabkhail and her family returned home after a vacation, they walked into a nightmare.

I hear water everywhere, said the wife and mother of three.

The house was flooding. Light fixtures rained onto the carpet below, the alarm was squealing, the ceilings peeling.

As if this whole house is a waterfall. My whole rug was floating on the water said Naebkhail.

The result was $190,000 in damage to the familys Elk Grove home.

You would never think something like this would happen. That flood is still running in my mind, said Naebkhail.

READ:Newborn Charged $10,000 For Hospital Room And Board

Her family of five was forced out of their home for more than five months, and their house has been torn down to the studs.

They took out everything because of the water damage, she said.

The flood was caused by a toilet in their second-story master bathroom. A steady stream of water poured through the crack in the tank of their Vortens toilet.

No family deserves this, Naebkhail said.

Weve learned the same model is failing in homes across the country including California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Texas resident Amy Etchberger says her Vortens model cracked in 2016.

It was coming out and just dripping out the bottom. Its a faulty product on their part, and I think they should take responsibility, Etchberger said.

ALSO:Roseville Mom Says Valet Gave Car To Crook Who Almost Burglarized Her Home

Anne Altz says her cracked Vortens toilet caused $20,000 in damage.

They know theyre going to fail. said Altz.

The manufacturer has admitted Some tanks made in 2011 with model numbers 3464 and 3412 may have been affected by technical issues that allegedly caused the fractures.

Sure enough one of those numbers, 3464, is etched in Nafisas toilet tank, but the company never recalled them. Nafisa said no one even warned them of the problem; not the toilet manufacturer nor the builder who installed the toilet in 2012.

Thats what were really, really upset about, she said.

How many of these toilets remain in homes in Naebkhails neighborhood and in homes across America? Vortens would not say. The company tells us, to date, all claims received have been addressed or are in the process of being addressed. Vortens full statement is included below.

ALSO:Elk Grove Woman Claims Hospital Mistake Killed Her Mother, But No Attorney Will Take Her Case

After a class-action lawsuit, Vortens has agreed to pay up to $300 to replace the toilet and, if theres flooding, up to $4,000 to help cover insurance deductibles.

I just want it to be over, Naebkhail said.

Nafisas insurance is covering the damage. Now living with relatives during the rebuild, she says this has turned her familys lives upside down.

Im thinking after everything is fixed Im putting the house back on the market, she said. Because I cannot see myself living here anymore.

The Naebkhails think it will be at least another month and a half before their house is done. They plan to sue over the inconvenience. After we reached out to the builder, Taylor Morrison, they sent letters to all homeowners in the Elk Grove, Franklin Crossings community. The letter, below, alerts homeowners to the issues with Vortens toilets and directs them to the class action settlement.

Oct 9, 2019

Dear Homeowners,

It was recently brought to our attention that some homes in the [Franklin Crossings] community may have been built with a particular model of toilet tank manufactured by Vortens between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. The enclosed 10-page Notice was downloaded from the website link https://vortenssettlement.com/Content/Documents/Notice.pdf. The Notice provides a good explanation of the issue and what steps can be taken by affected homeowners. While Taylor Morrison has no involvement in the class action settlement, you may wish to inspect your toilet tank to see if it is one of the affected tanks, and if so, take the appropriate steps to address it.

We asked Taylor Morrison how many of these toilets they installed across the county. They havent answered. Vortens statement, the models affected and a link to the settlement website are below.

Vortens complete statement:

In the past, Vortens acknowledged that some of our tank models #3464 and #3412 manufactured in 2011 may have been affected by certain manufacturing issues.

To date, all claims received have been addressed or are in the process of being addressed to the satisfaction of our customers.

Pursuant to a class action settlement being administered by a Texas court involving these tank models manufactured in 2011, we have established a program for certain remedies which include product replacement, reimbursement of certain costs, and in some cases, extended warranties. For more details the claims that are covered, the remedies available, and the process for pursuing claims, please reference the claims website at: https://www.vortenssettlement.com

For other Vortens matters regarding issues not related to the settlement program mentioned above, customers may contact us directly at 866-821-2811 or via e-mail to claims@vortens.com.

Vortens is committed to generating value for its consumers and offering the best experience possible, as our customers are at the center of everything we do. Solving any complaints and receiving suggestions is a priority for us. For these purposes, we may be contacted at customerservices@vortens.com

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Cracked Toilet Causes $190K Of Damage, Investigation Reveals Models Have Been Failing For Years - CBS Pittsburgh