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Elon Musk is not America’s new king. But he might be its new Thomas Cromwell | John Naughton Elon Musk is not America’s new king. But he might be its new Thomas Cromwell | John Naughton Picture, if you will, the scene in Mar-a-Lago on election night at the moment when it’s become clear that Trump has won. The atmosphere is hysterical. Trump is in expansive form. He stands surrounded by his ghastly tribe of dependants, plus AN Other. In his victory speech, the president-elect praises his campaign staff, his prospective vice-president, and his family. Each gets a few seconds of adulation. But AN Other gets a whole four minutes. He is Elon Musk, the richest manchild in history. Trump calls him a “super genius”, a “special guy” and a “star”. He has flown straight from Texas in his Gulfstream to bask in the adulation of his new lord and master. He has also paid several hundred million dollars, plus a month of his time, to be here. But now his time has come. Hold that thought. We will return to it later. Now imagine what Musk’s peers in Silicon Valley were thinking, as they sat chewing their pencils composing slavish messages of congratulation to The Donald. And believe me, they were toe-curlingly obsequious. All around the valley, though, the prevailing sound was of teeth being gnashed. After all, most of these tech titans had spent months wondering how to curry favour with Trump in case he actually won. And there was Musk, who had done an end-run around them and inserted himself into the heart of the new administration. It must have been maddening. Spool forward a few days and we find that it gets worse: Trump has chosen Musk and a wannabe titan, Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a “department of government efficiency” (or “Doge”, after Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin), thereby putting the two dudes in charge of a concerted effort to slash rules, bureaucracy and spending throughout the federal government. “Together, these two wonderful Americans,” declared their new boss, “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” Presumably he was impressed by Musk’s claim that he could cut at least $2 trillion from the government’s $6.8tn budget, and by Ramaswamy’s promise, made during his ******* campaign for the *********** nomination, to eliminate the FBI, the Department of Education and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Although this new outfit is called a “department”, it won’t actually be a government agency. If it were, Musk would have innumerable conflicts of interest that would cause legal difficulties if he started slashing the regulators with which he is currently in conflict. These include the Federal Aviation Authority, the National Labor Relations Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Also, last year his various companies had $3bn worth of government contracts from 17 federal agencies. But if he’s “outside” the system, he’ll be freer to slash and ***** as he likes. skip past newsletter promotion Analysis and opinion on the week’s news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion If Musk’s past behaviour is anything to go by, concern with safety will cut little ice In 2018, the writer Michael Lewis published The Fifth Risk, a remarkable book examining the implications of Trump’s political appointments in his first term, especially with respect to three government agencies: the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce. The book, Lewis explained, was a product of his own ******* to find out what branches of the government that never make the headlines actually do. And he found that what they do largely involves keeping people and society safe. If Musk’s past behaviour is anything to go by, such concern with safety will cut little ice. After he had been forced by a Delaware court to proceed with his purchase of Twitter, the first thing he did was to ***** 6,500 people – about 80% of the staff, by his own reckoning. And those dismissed included people whose job was to moderate content on the platform and keep it relatively “safe”. After they’d gone, the platform was opened to all-comers, which is why it has degenerated into a toxic sewer of anti-woke fanatics, white supremacists, misogynists, *********** theorists and other inhabitants of alternative universes. He also tweaked the platform’s algorithms to prioritise his own posts to its 200 million users, thus in effect giving him a broadcast medium for his political views and preferences. Musk’s strategy, once he decided to back Trump, was to go all-in, much as he did years ago when the production of the Tesla Model 3 was running into trouble and he claimed to have slept in the factory for weeks. He moved to Pennsylvania for the last month of the campaign and was active on the ground every day, energising campaigners and generally raising the campaign’s profile, especially in rural areas. In other words, he made himself indispensable to Trump, and therein ***** what may come to be his problem. Narcissists do not like to be under an obligation to anyone, no matter how useful they have been. Thomas Cromwell made himself indispensable to Henry VIII in the 1530s and – as viewers of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light are soon to discover – ultimately that was not a great career move. History may not repeat itself, but this time, as Mark Twain is supposed to have said, it might just rhyme. What I’ve been reading The narrow path from despair Diane Coyle’s beautifully succinct review on Enlightenment Economics of Sam Freedman’s book ******* State: Why Nothing Works and How We Fix It. Congratulations, boss The Verge’s compilation of all the nauseatingly obsequious messages sent by tech titans to the president-elect. Reason to carry on A really good argument from 404 Media – Why the work still matters under Trump – for why honest journalism is needed now more than ever. Source link #Elon #Musk #Americas #king #Thomas #Cromwell #John #Naughton Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gielnek scores hat-trick, Sky Blues win local derby Gielnek scores hat-trick, Sky Blues win local derby ROUND THREE OF THE A-LEAGUE WOMEN COMPETITION AT A GLANCE: THEY SAID IT: “Well, everybody has their way of relieving frustration.” – Instead of letting his temper bubble over, Western Sydney coach Robbie ******* opted to do three one-armed push-ups as his side struggled to break the deadlock against local rivals Sydney FC. They lost 1-0. WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Melbourne Victory’s Emily Gielnik showed exactly why she deserved a Matildas recall after she stunned Western ******* with a goal in the opening 12 seconds. The striker did not stop there, going on to complete a first-half half-trick to set up a 4-1 win. TALKING POINT: Newcastle have been forced to move grounds for the second time in three rounds due to poor field conditions at their No.2 Sportsground home. Made to play their opening round match at Cessnock Sportsground, the Jets again hit the road to play in Maitland – a half hour drive from their inner-city venue. STAT *******: Sydney FC avoided their worst start in the women’s competition and held onto local bragging rights with a 1-0 derby win over Western Sydney – their first victory of the season. Grabbing the three points courtesy of a late goal by 18-year-old forward Caley Tallon-Henniker, the Sky Blues have remained undefeated in their past 10 derbies. Meanwhile, the Wanderers have come away with a win in only two of 23 meetings. Their last victory came in 2019. BEAT THAT: Noting Perth Glory goalkeeper Miranda Templeman had roamed out of the goalmouth, 20-year-old Brisbane midfielder Tamar Levin launched a stunning 35m strike that soared into the back of the net to give her side a 2-0 lead at the break. It was Levin’s first in the ALM and one to savour, as the Roar won 3-0. UNDER PRESSURE: When will Wellington Phoenix get their first win? Paul Temple’s side are ***** last after three-straight losses to open the season. Adding to their woes is a potential injury to captain Annalie Longo. The midfielder was forced out late in their defeat to Newcastle after suffering what appeared to be a facial injury. UP NEXT: Adelaide ******* and Wellington Phoenix kick off Unite Round on Friday before Western Sydney play Brisbane Roar at Leichhardt Oval. On Saturday, Central Coast will look for their second win when they take on Melbourne Victory before Newcastle face-off against Western *******. Canberra ******* hosts Perth Glory on Sunday, with Sydney FC and Melbourne City closing out the weekend. Source link #Gielnek #scores #hattrick #Sky #Blues #win #local #derby Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Have your **** speak to my ****’: can AI productivity apps turbocharge my life? | Artificial intelligence (AI) ‘Have your **** speak to my ****’: can AI productivity apps turbocharge my life? | Artificial intelligence (AI) Steven Johnson has a reputation as a research software nerd. The author of 13 nonfiction books, he’s constantly looking for digital tools to streamline his creative process. So when large language models – which power text-generating AI tools such as ChatGPT – started getting attention, he was most interested in what they could mean for organising information. In 2022, an article Johnson wrote about LLMs for the New York Times caught the eye of researchers at Google Labs, the tech company’s experimental AI arm, who came to him with a proposition: would he help them develop the kind of digital research assistant he’d been dreaming of? The result is NotebookLM, a note-taking tool that uses AI to help organise, summarise and answer questions about any information you give it. “The way we think about it is it’s a tool for understanding things,” Johnson says. Generative AI has been eagerly adopted in the productivity tech space, with new and existing tools promising features that can help streamline your schedule, simplify emails and take notes more effectively. I’ve generally been sceptical of such products, assuming that by the time I’ve fiddled around to get them set up, I’ve probably negated most of their productivity benefits. But with a new generation on the scene, I wondered if my workflow couldn’t benefit from an AI boost. Could these tools actually deliver some of the advantages claimed by AI acolytes, automating more humdrum aspects of work and leaving me free to focus on creative endeavours? ‘I immediately saw the appeal’: a screengrab from NotebookLM. Photograph: NotebookLM I approached NotebookLM with caution, noting the disclaimer at the bottom of the screen: “NotebookLM may still sometimes give inaccurate responses, so you may want to confirm any facts independently.” As a journalist, I’m wary of AI’s tendency to “hallucinate”. But NotebookLM differs from text generators such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini in that it only works with the information you provide. You can start a new “notebook” for a project and upload up to 50 “sources”. These can include pdfs, audio files (which it automatically transcribes), .txt files, web links and Google Docs. I tried uploading notes and interview files for a story I was working on, then asked the “Notebook guide” – an AI assistant – to produce a briefing doc based on their content. You can imagine an AI agent that schedules on your behalf, that even writes and sends fully written emails on your behalf Rahul Vohra I immediately saw the appeal. The brief summarised key points raised from hours of audio and drew links between my sources. It even pulled out key quotes. Using the AI chat function, I interrogated the material further, asking which findings were most surprising and posing specific questions about the content. Rather than trawling through my transcripts to remember which interviewees had made a particular point, I simply asked: “Who spoke about [X topic]?” and got a detailed summary of who said what – along with footnotes directing me to the exact wording in the original material. It’s the restriction at the core of NotebookLM – using only the information you provide – that makes it so useful. I could see it being adopted by students and knowledge workers of all stripes. Johnson says he has a notebook for his next book, where he stores ideas and asks the guide to suggest chapter structures or key characters. “That’s kind of like a targeted brainstorming notebook,” he says. He also has one for the NotebookLM project itself, where he collates announcements and memos. He used the guide to draft a press release for a new feature, and got it to come up with its own tagline: “Think smarter not *******.” There are drawbacks. The guide gives long answers to queries, which results in a lot of text to wade through, and I found a level of subjectivity creeping into the AI-generated summaries (it deemed my interview with Johnson “fascinating”). This was particularly evident in the “Audio Overview” option, a much-hyped feature that creates a 10-minute AI-generated podcast based on your sources. It’s fairly mind-blowing at first: it truly sounds like two podcast hosts knowledgably discussing the subject matter. But I found that it extrapolated from my material, making value judgments that didn’t necessarily reflect the original content. Author and tech enthusiast Steven Johnson. Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer NotebookLM definitely saved me time locating information, but productivity is not just about efficiency. Johnson believes the tool can aid creativity on a deeper level. He has one notebook that he calls his “everything notebook”. It contains thousands of quotations he’s collected from ebooks over the past 25 years, and he’s slowly adding the text of all the books he’s written. He then treats it like an extension of his memory, using the AI chat to resurface topics of interest or draw connections between sources. “It’s incredibly good at just being like: ‘Oh yeah, 15 years ago you read that article about ant colonies,’” he says. This idea of outsourcing or expanding brain power is a common theme in productivity circles. The metaphor of a “second brain” comes up a lot. “The concept of the second brain is effectively a way that enables you to have another product that does a lot of the heavy lifting for you, freeing you up for more high-value work,” says Robbie O’Connor at San Francisco-based productivity platform Notion. O’Connor used to work on Google Maps and compares the second brain idea to how that app supercharged our navigational capabilities. “It gave you a lot more power, a lot more freedom, a lot more reliability,” he says. Notion offers a suite of organisational tools, with diverse templates for note-taking including a to-do list, project planner and budget, as well as AI features. It also has a calendar app and last month announced an upcoming email app. I found it overwhelming when I logged in – I usually just write a to-do list on paper. As I gamely started filling out a weekly to-do list, habit tracker and project planner, I couldn’t help but feel I was procrastinating rather than actually doing the work I was planning. A big part of Notion’s appeal, however, is its collaborative features when adopted across teams; working solo, I missed out on these benefits. skip past newsletter promotion Analysis and opinion on the week’s news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Another note-taking product, Capacities, is more intuitive, if still somewhat intimidating. This launched in 2022 and recently got a boost after being recommended by Casey Newton, a tech journalist and productivity tool power-user. Capacities’s big idea is to do away with the traditional file-and-folder computer storage system. Instead, notes are classified by type as “objects” – for instance, a book, pdf, person, weblink, image or document. You can then organise and link these objects by collating them or adding tags. The idea is that you should be able to rediscover relevant notes more easily; they get more organised over time, rather than having a single defined location from the start. “There’s no point in storing and organising stuff if it doesn’t help you in the end,” says co-founder Steffen Bleher. There’s also an AI assistant. I started collecting objects, noting down story ideas and dropping in interesting links. It was a good way to keep things in one place; usually I would jot ideas in the Apple Notes app and bookmark links in my browser. But after using Capacities for a while, I found I didn’t have that many notes to benefit from its information-networking approach. It was clear it would require long-term commitment to get the most out of it. For Bleher, Capacities is basically a lifestyle choice; he uses it for both professional and personal purposes, adding thoughts about books he’s reading and ideas that come out of discussions with friends. A video tour by co-founder Michael von Hohnhorst shows him jotting down reflections on a podcast he has just listened to and saving favourite quotes and recipes. I can’t imagine documenting my life to this degree. A Capacities blogpost states: “Building a second brain takes discipline.” Perhaps this is what I lack. The big challenge is confusing productivity with busyness. If you’re not clear in the outcomes you want, you’re not going to use the tool effectively Anna Gurun Bleher acknowledges that a small cohort of productivity power-users are dwarfed by a much longer tail of people who just want a solution to a specific workflow problem they are having. Even though he clearly falls in the first camp, he takes a pragmatic view to adopting new tech. “Many people fall in this productivity trap that they need to have crazy setups and they need to do more stuff, and in the end they basically procrastinate and then they don’t get anything done,” he says. Anna Gurun, an associate director at HSM Advisory, a future-of-work advisory group, echoes this sentiment. “The big challenge is confusing productivity with busyness,” she says. You might tick off lots of tasks in a to-do list app but are you actually achieving what you need to? Your AI calendar might organise your schedule but are you still spending too much time in unnecessary meetings? “If you’re not clear in the outcomes you want to reach then you’re not going to be able to use the tool effectively,” she says. Productivity also has a more emotional side, she adds, which tech tools can’t really help with. Maybe you’re less productive because you’re sleeping poorly or you have just been through a bad breakup. The apps can also make ******** seem *******, she says: “You sort of magnify behaviour.” These words came to mind as I looked back at a calendar tool I’d been trying out. There are many smart scheduling tools out there – I opted for Reclaim.ai, owned by Dropbox. It syncs with Google Calendar and, when used by teams, optimises the best meeting times to suit all attenders. It also has several simple but sensible features, including the ability to automatically add a “decompress” buffer after meetings that include a video link and the option to input “habits” – regular tasks you want to reserve time for. I set a daily habit to spend an hour working on that novel I keep meaning to write, which Reclaim.ai dynamically found time for around my other obligations. At first, having the calendar reminder was a good motivator, but I soon realised I’d been far too ambitious. However sophisticated the features, no scheduling tool can create more hours in the day, or force me to actually do the work. As AI gets smarter, though, it may be able to take care of more of those irksome little tasks that distract from what we really want to spend time on. The next trend is for AI “agents” – a step on from a chatbot, with the ability to actually take action. This month, AI company Anthropic demoed an experimental AI model that can automatically fill in a web form by finding data from across someone’s computer. Google is reportedly developing an AI agent that could autonomously book a flight or make an online purchase. Rahul Vohra, founder and chief executive of email app Superhuman, says this approach will come to productivity tools. Superhuman already has AI features to help write, summarise and reply to email, and recently added one that automatically makes calendar events based on emailed details. AI agents could do more. “You can imagine an AI agent that triages on your behalf, that schedules on your behalf, that even writes and one day sends fully written emails on your behalf,” he says. Want to set up a meeting or negotiate a contract? Have your **** speak to my ****. Source link #**** #speak #**** #productivity #apps #turbocharge #life #Artificial #intelligence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Victory beat Western Utd thanks to Gielnik hat-trick Victory beat Western Utd thanks to Gielnik hat-trick Emily Gielnik has once again propelled Melbourne Victory to an A-League Women win, scoring a first-half hat-trick in their 4-1 triumph over Western *******. Gielnik wasted no time settling into their meeting at the Home of the Matildas, stunning ******* by scoring in the opening 12 seconds to help her side climb to second on the table and end the visitors’ undefeated run. Earlier on Sunday, Newcastle earned their first three points of their home-and-away campaign with a 1-0 win against Wellington Phoenix. Recently recalled to the Matildas, Gielnik again struck ***** into her opposition when she plucked the ball off goalkeeper Alyssa Dall’Oste to add to her goal haul in the ninth minute. Catherine Zimmerman hit back for Western ******* with a headed goal in the 20th minute following a corner, but Gielnik was unrelenting. The sharpshooter completed her hat-trick in the 42nd minute courtesy of an Alex Chidiac assist, before teenager Ella O’Grady added another goal after 80 minutes. An injury to Sandra Ibarguen only added to the visitors’ woes, with the Colombian forward helped off the field following an innocuous accident with Victory’s Rachel Lowe in the 83rd minute. Forced to move to Maitland Sports Ground, Newcastle captain Cass Davis secured victory when her shot from the left boundary line found the back of the net in the 70th minute. It is the second time in three rounds the Jets have had to move grounds due to poor field conditions at their home No.2 Sportsground. Their hard-earned win lifts them to eighth (one win, one draw, one loss) on the ladder, while Phoenix remain last after their third loss. The first half was a stalemate as both sides struggled to pull off the finishing touch after creating chances. Cross-coder Sheridan Gallagher led the way in ******* and had the best chance to break the deadlock for the Jets after earning a free kick deep into added time before half-time, but the NRLW player’s attempt was too high. Wellington threatened to steal the three points from the visitors when captain Annalie Longo delivered a cross in the 67th minute just in front of goal, but Olivia Fergusson did not get to the ball in time. The ‘Nix could be without Longo, who left the game following a collision with Lara Gooch in the last minute of regulation time. Gooch appeared to have made contact with Longo’s face, but the extent of the injury is not yet known. Source link #Victory #beat #Western #Utd #Gielnik #hattrick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Harry Kane: England captain says side must be careful not to lose culture they have built Harry Kane: England captain says side must be careful not to lose culture they have built England will be promoted to League A if they beat the Republic of Ireland in Sunday’s Nations League match at Wembley. “If we win, it sets us up really well for the year ahead going into the [2026] World Cup,” said Bayern Munich forward Kane. “These are the camps where you build that culture and togetherness that lead you into the World Cup. It is just a reminder that playing for England is really, really special. “For me personally it is one of the greatest things I do as a professional footballer.” Thomas Tuchel takes over as England boss on 1 January and Kane said it was up to the experienced players to pass on the message about team culture to the younger ones in the national set-up. “I’m sure Thomas will come in and have ideas and ways he wants to build his culture,” added Kane. “Ultimately we have had some really good tournaments and it’s about sharing those experiences with the players who haven’t had as much exposure to that.” Kane was dropped in favour of Ollie Watkins for the win over Greece before replacing the Aston Villa striker on 66 minutes. The former Tottenham forward, who is set to start against the Republic of Ireland, said he was “a little bit” shocked at being dropped by Carsley. “I’ve made it clear that I want to start every game,” said Kane. “I want to try to help the team. I understood his decision. But it was new for me.” Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Kane added: “Ultimately, I’m here because I’m one of the top goalscorers in the world at the moment. “Sometimes I feel like there’s a perception that maybe I’m just here because I’m the captain, but it’s not the case. I’m in the best form I’ve been in in my career.” Source link #Harry #Kane #England #captain #side #careful #lose #culture #built Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tatum three-pointer has Boston buzzing with excitement Tatum three-pointer has Boston buzzing with excitement Jayson Tatum hit a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime as the Celtics rallied to beat the Toronto Raptors 126-123 in their NBA clash in Boston. Tatum finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT). Jaylen Brown added 27 points, and Al Horford and Derrick White scored 18 points apiece. Toronto have lost seven straight and ******* to register their first road win of the season despite getting a career-high 35 points from Jakob Poeltl. RJ Barrett added 25 points and 10 rebounds. With the game tied at 112-112 in regulation, Barrett connected on a runner in the lane and was fouled by Brown with 59 seconds remaining, but missed his ensuing free throw. Boston’s Neemias Queta, who started in place of Jrue Holiday (left knee tendinopathy), scored a driving lay-up on Boston’s next possession. In Charlotte, North Carolina, LaMelo Ball scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half as Charlotte overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first triple-double of the season to beat Milwaukee 115-114. Antetokounmpo had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his foul-line jumper rimmed out. *********** Josh Green had a terrific game for the Hornets, contributing 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. Miles Bridges returned from a three-game absence and scored 19 points, while Moussa Diabate added 12 points and 14 rebounds off the bench for the home side. Taurean Price had 23 points for the Bucks, while Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. In Sacramento, after scoring 60 points in a losing effort the previous night, De’Aaron Fox scored 49 points to lead the Kings to a 121-117 win over the Utah Jazz. Fox went 16-of-30 from the field and made 14-of-19 from the free-throw line, and also added nine assists and two steals. He now has the most points over a two-game span in franchise history, surpassing DeMarcus Cousins. Lauri Markkanen had 25 points, Collin Sexton added 18 points and Keyonte George scored 19 points for the Jazz. In New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 31 points and 14 rebounds as Los Angeles extended their winning streak to five games with a 104-99 victory over the Pelicans. LeBron James highlighted a 21-point performance with a pair of pivotal three-pointers in the final minutes, but his career-long four-game triple-double streak came to an end. Rookie Dalton Knecht hit five threes to finish with a career-high 27 points for the Lakers. One night after posting 40 points and 12 rebounds in a victory at San Antonio, Davis reached the 30-point plateau for the eighth time in 12 games this season. Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, and reserve Jaylen Nowell scored 16 points for the Pelicans, who have lost 10 of their past 12 games. In Dallas, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford scored 22 points apiece as Dallas snapped a four-game losing streak with a 110-93 win over San Antonio, who played without star centre Victor Wembanyama. The 221cm Wembanyama, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, was sidelined with a bruised right knee. Zach Collins, Wembanyama’s replacement in the starting line-up, led the Spurs with a season-high 20 points. Gafford set a season high for points as the Mavericks got a season-best 54 from their bench. Source link #Tatum #threepointer #Boston #buzzing #excitement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Finland’s 100MW sand battery turns 2,000 tons of fireplace waste into power Finland’s 100MW sand battery turns 2,000 tons of fireplace waste into power A hot new contender in the realm of energy storage is emerging. Finnish company Polar Night Energy is rapidly advancing the development of an industrial-scale Sand Battery. This sustainable energy storage solution is being constructed in Pornainen, southern Finland. This sand battery is a thermal energy storage system that utilizes a unique material: crushed soapstone. What makes this project even more special is its commitment to circular economy. The soapstone, a by-product of Tulikivi’s fireplace production, is repurposed to power a community. Once ready, it will serve as a thermal energy source for power station Loviisan Lämpö’s district heating network. “We’re very pleased to use a by-product of Tulikivi’s production instead of ******* materials for the Sand Battery, supporting the principles of circular economy. We have high expectations for soapstone’s performance,” said Tommi Eronen, CEO of Polar Night Energy. Depiction of sand battery storage and supply. Polar Night Energy 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone used The Sand Battery was filled with 2,000 tons of soapstone, which is the approximate weight of one thousand soapstone fireplaces. The site has received 40 truckloads of crushed soapstone for this purpose. The giant Sand Battery will be the main power source for Pornainen’s district heating network. It will be capable of generating 1 megawatt (MW) of power and storing 100 MWh of energy. In terms of size, this unique battery will have a height of about 13 meters and a width of roughly 15 meters. The soapstone filling process is done. As per the press release, the next phase will see the final stages of installation, followed by rigorous winter testing. The Sand Battery is expected to begin operations in 2025. The project has received financial support from Business Finland’s new technology energy aid program. Circular economy Soapstone — a material with a long history in Finland — is primarily mined in the regions of North Karelia and Kainuu. These rocks have exceptional thermal conductivity. Besides its efficient heat conduction, soapstone is also remarkable for its ability to retain heat, surpassing the performance of many other rocks. This stored energy can then be released to provide reliable and sustainable heat for homes and businesses. ****** research by the two companies has confirmed the suitability of crushed soapstone for use in Loviisan Lämpö’s Sand Battery. Moreover, this plant will operate entirely on electricity, eliminating the need for fuel transportation and contributing to a cleaner energy future. “The Sand Battery will significantly reduce the combustion-based energy used in our district heating network, and the collaboration with Tulikivi has added a valuable circular economy aspect to this project,” said Mikko Paajanen, Loviisan Lämpö CEO, in the press release. Loviisan Lämpö company is a district heating provider for Loviisa, Pukkila, Pornainen, Pyhtää Siltakylä, Pyhtää village center, and Lappohja. This innovative approach reduces waste and promotes a circular economy. Instead of being discarded as waste, soapstone is being given a new life as a valuable component in the Sand Battery. This reduces the need for extracting and processing new materials. “The principles of the circular economy challenge the mining industry to seek new solutions. For instance, we’ve started using recycled ceramics in some of our new fireplaces. This innovative Sand Battery cooperation is one example of the fresh thinking we need more of,” said Heikki Vauhkonen, CEO of Tulikivi. Source link #Finlands #100MW #sand #battery #turns #tons #fireplace #waste #power Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Daniel Staltari: ******, stoned, speeding driver who ******* grandfather in head-on ****** gets more jail time Daniel Staltari: ******, stoned, speeding driver who ******* grandfather in head-on ****** gets more jail time A 27-year-old man who filmed himself speeding moments before he ******* a grandfather in a high speed, head-on ****** on South Western Highway has copped more jail time after the State appealed his sentence. Source link #Daniel #Staltari #****** #stoned #speeding #driver #******* #grandfather #headon #****** #jail #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Head found on Key Biscayne belonged to missing swimmer, police say Head found on Key Biscayne belonged to missing swimmer, police say MIAMI – Miami Beach Police have confirmed that a human head discovered on Key Biscayne earlier this week belonged to Victor Castaneda Jr., a 19-year-old swimmer who disappeared while saving his younger sister. The grim discovery was made Tuesday morning by a worker on the beach behind the Key Colony II Ocean Sound condominium at 251 Crandon Blvd. Authorities identified the ******** as Castaneda, who went missing Saturday after being caught in a rip current at South Pointe Beach. According to police, Castaneda and his younger sister were swimming when they were pulled out by the current. Castaneda managed to help his sister to safety, but he was unable to escape the powerful waters himself. Attempts by nearby Good Samaritans to reach him were unsuccessful. The family announced on social media that a memorial service for Castaneda will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at South Pointe Beach. Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Castaneda’s ********. Advertisement Advertisement Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth was probed for alleged ******* ******** in 2017 House Ethics Committee cancels meeting on Gaetz investigation Mike Tyson returns to boxing ring to take on Jake Paul Source link #Key #Biscayne #belonged #missing #swimmer #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shearer, Aguero, Welbeck – best Premier League debut goals Shearer, Aguero, Welbeck – best Premier League debut goals BBC Sport looks back at some of the best goals scored by players on their first Premier League appearances, Source link #Shearer #Aguero #Welbeck #Premier #League #debut #goals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Children pulled from Port Phillip Bay after mass sailing mishap during Melbourne regatta Children pulled from Port Phillip Bay after mass sailing mishap during Melbourne regatta Dozens of children have been pulled from the water after a sailing incident saw boats capsize due to strong winds. Source link #Children #pulled #Port #Phillip #Bay #mass #sailing #mishap #Melbourne #regatta Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hawaii woman spotted twice on camera before disappearing in L.A. Hawaii woman spotted twice on camera before disappearing in L.A. HONOLULU (KHON2) — It has almost been one week since 31-year-old Hannah Kobayashi disappeared in California. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON’s morning podcast, every morning at 8 Los Angeles Police Department Missing Persons confirmed on Friday, Nov. 15 that Hannah is listed as a missing person. Some family members are on the ground in hopes of finding her. Hannah’s aunt drove six hours from Big Sur to Los Angeles to try and help find her niece. Airport authorities released a photo that was taken before Hannah was supposed to get on her connecting flight to New York on Friday, Nov. 8. Hawaii woman apparently goes missing in California: ‘We can’t locate her’ “The LAPDX have been helpful. They have been trying to find CCTV footage. We got that picture of her de-boarding the plane,” said Larie Pidgeon. Hannah’s family said her texts seemed to change tone before they stopped completely and a strange post on her Instagram on Sunday, Nov. 10 with LeBron James and Nike logos was discovered to be from an event at The Grove. They searched the internet for any video taken by attendees and found a short clip that showed Hannah walking with headphones on. “We are 100% positive. And as of today, we spoke with that videographer who made that video and got a timestamp that she was here at the Grove at 3:40 p.m. on Sunday,” Pidgeon said. “This is going on six days that we have not seen her and her phone has been off for six days!” “Hannah is sweet and loving and kind, and she wouldn’t make any of us worry.” Larie Pidgeon, Hannah Kobayashi’s aunt Hannah’s dad and another aunt are also in California to find her while Hannah’s older sister will fly out on Saturday, Nov. 16 to help as well. Hannah’s mom will remain in Hawaii with Hannah’s baby sister, Hope. “We have like an unwritten rule that we always check in no matter if it’s me, Syd, Hope, Hannah, we, it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m here and I’m safe,” said Hannah’s mom, Brandi Kobayashi. “It’s not a normal behavior of hers to just disappear or to have something so planned out, because when she has her mind set on something as far as traveling,” said Hannah’s older sister, Sydni Kobayashi. “Become ***** or high water, she’s there,” Brandi said. “And that is why we are so grateful for the news outlets, for the media, for everyone covering this and trying to help us find our missing niece, daughter, sister,” Pidgeon said. Check out more news from around Hawaii Hannah’s phone was last located at the Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, Nov. 11. Anyone who has seen her or has any information about her whereabouts is asked to call LAPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Source link #Hawaii #woman #spotted #camera #disappearing #L.A Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Expectation building for Great Britain before Canada quarter-final Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Expectation building for Great Britain before Canada quarter-final You could hear it being whispered in the breakfast hall of the Malaga hotel where travelling British fans were tucking into their Spanish tortilla. “We could go on and win this, you know,” one man cautiously confided to the table. Great Britain have never won the Billie Jean King Cup. But the feeling is growing that this year’s event could be as good a chance as any. In the women’s team tournament branded as the ‘World Cup of Tennis’, GB face defending champions Canada in the quarter-finals – and expectation is building. “I said it before the competition started, I really believe that we can win this,” said British captain Anne Keothavong, whose team is comprised of Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Heather Watson, Olivia Nicholls and Harriet Dart. “I don’t have a problem saying that out loud.” Keothavong’s team reached the semi-finals on home turf in Glasgow in 2022, but there is a different level of confidence running through the camp now. In Boulter and Raducanu, Britain have pedigree which ranks among the most substantial in the competition – particularly in their half of the draw. British number one Boulter, who has moved into the world’s top 25 after a season where she won two WTA titles, is the third-highest ranked singles player left in the competition. Former Grand Slam champion Raducanu also ranks third among the number two players. Neither will face a higher-ranked player against Canada, nor would they against potential semi-final opponents Australia and Slovakia. “We’ve got quality players who have shown in their own right what they’re capable of, whether it’s this year or in previous years,” said Keothavong. “For me to be able to captain the team of incredible women, for Katie to lead the way she does, and to have Emma back in the team playing great tennis, I feel like I’m in a very fortunate position.” Source link #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Finals #Expectation #building #Great #Britain #Canada #quarterfinal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Danish contestant makes history as 73rd Miss Universe Danish contestant makes history as 73rd Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe. The animal protection advocate who works in the diamond-selling business beat Miss Nigeria in the finale of the 73rd edition of the competition in Mexico City. Miss Mexico placed third. It is the first time a Danish contestant has won Miss Universe. The pageant was held in the Mexico City Arena, an indoor venue with a capacity for 20,000 people. Supporters inside shouted and waved flags from countries around the world. The ceremony began with 131 mariachi musicians and singer ****** of the ****** Eyed Peas playing Mexicana, a song created by Emilio Estefan for the contest. The gala was hosted by Mario Lopez, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo, presenter Zuri Hall and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. Organisers said there were more than 120 contestants. Some countries were represented for the first time including Belarus, Eritrea, Guinea, Macau, Maldives, Moldova and Uzbekistan. This is the third time Mexico has hosted Miss Universe. Source link #Danish #contestant #history #73rd #Universe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I’ve dated tech bros in San Francisco and New York. The men in one city made me never want to move back. I’ve dated tech bros in San Francisco and New York. The men in one city made me never want to move back. Chloe Diaz shared her dating experiences with tech bros in San Francisco and NYC. She found that San Francisco tech bros lacked consideration and were more homogenous to one another. New York City tech bros are more diverse and considerate, she says, yet dating ******** complex. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chloe Diaz, a 27-year-old working in legal tech in New York City. It’s been edited for length and clarity. I lived in San Francisco the summer after my first year of law school for a tech-law internship. Shortly after graduating from Arizona State University law school in 2022, I moved to New York City, where I currently work as a marketing manager in legal tech. I’ve dated tech bros in San Francisco and New York City and have found that each city attracts completely different types of men. Neither type is without faults, but my dating experiences in these cities have ultimately impacted where I decided to live. I found San Francisco tech bros to lack consideration As an introvert, I prefer meeting people on dating apps because it allows me to get a read on someone before meeting them. This worked well in San Francisco because it never felt like the type of place where a guy would strike up a conversation with me in public. I went on at least two dates a week for an estimated 20 to 24 dates during my summer in SF. I wasn’t looking to date tech bros; it just so happened every man I went on a date with in San Francisco was. I honestly found it hard to escape the Silicon Valley tech bubble. The recurring pattern I noticed from the tech bros I dated was a general lack of consideration for me. On several occasions, the man would choose a date based on his interest without taking a moment to learn what I enjoy. The type of men I dated in San Francisco discouraged me from moving back This one guy I matched with on Bumble invited me to an arcade bar. I expressed to him that I didn’t drink but figured the location would be OK because I could still play some games. He showed up about 30 minutes late due to being held up at a work meeting and proceeded to buy us two vodka shots. Then he launched into talking about his machine-learning job at a Big Tech company and monopolized the conversation without stopping to ask me about myself or, at the very least, what I thought about what he was saying. It’s funny because if he had stopped and asked me a question, he would’ve learned my emphasis in law school was science and technology, specifically AI. All of the concepts he was breaking down were things I had a pretty good grasp of. At the end of our very one-sided conversation, in which I felt it was clear I was uninterested, he tried to make a move on me. I told him I wasn’t feeling it and decided to head home. He was so upset that he proceeded to block me on all social-media platforms, including Spotify. This wasn’t even one of the worst dates I went on in San Francisco, but it represents the lack of consideration and awareness I felt during many of my dates. My not-so-great dating experiences contributed to my decision not to move back to San Francisco after law school. Tech bubbles exist in San Francisco and New York Most San Francisco tech bros I met would be dressed in their Patagonia vests and work uniforms like a copy and paste of one another. Even in terms of lived experiences and socioeconomic status, I felt like I was in a bubble of middle-to-upper-class tech workers who weren’t exposed to people who had endured different struggles. When I moved to New York, I realized tech bubbles existed here too, but because it’s such a diverse metropolitan hub, you’re forced to face the reality that people have different backgrounds, experiences, and struggles than you. I think that awareness fosters a sense of empathy and understanding of others, which is a quality I appreciate in others. New York also promotes individuality and self-expression, which I even noticed among tech bros. I’d go on dates with tech bros wearing Maison Margiela or some cool designer and think to myself, dang, this guy’s more dripped-out than me. They’re still fundamentally tech bros, but I feel like the ones drawn to New York City aren’t so homogenous. Dating in New York City is a double-edged sword Given New York City’s bustling and social nature, I feel like it attracts people with strong social drive and awareness. I think this is why I’ve found the men I’ve dated here, several of whom have been tech bros, to be more considerate and thoughtful when planning dates. I honestly haven’t had any truly bad dates in New York because the men have taken the time to find a shared interest and plan a date around that. This one tech guy noticed I ran a food blog and planned some lovely dates surrounding interesting culinary experiences. On our first date, we went to a new restaurant, and on our next date, he cooked me a dish I’d never tried before. He was socially adept and emotionally intelligent, which are great qualities, but ultimately I felt like he used them to manipulate me emotionally and push my physical and emotional boundaries. I ended our relationship. Dating here is a double-edged sword, but I’d choose to date in New York over San Francisco any day. My biggest takeaway is to be up-front about what I want While very different, my dating experiences in San Francisco and New York taught me the importance of being resolute in my expectations and boundaries. Whether that’s straight-up telling my date that meeting at a bar doesn’t align with me or standing strong in my boundaries when feeling emotionally manipulated. I’m continuing to date in New York City, and I don’t think I’ll ever move back to San Francisco. If you’re navigating dating while working in Big Tech or finance and would like to share your story, please email Tess Martinelli at *****@*****.tld Read the original article on Business Insider Source link #Ive #dated #tech #bros #San #Francisco #York #men #city #move Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

UFC 309: Jon Jones stops Stipe Miocic with spinning kick to retain heavyweight title UFC 309: Jon Jones stops Stipe Miocic with spinning kick to retain heavyweight title Jon Jones cemented his status as one of the best mixed martial artists of all time as he stopped Stipe Miocic with a stunning kick to retain his heavyweight title at UFC 309. Jones dropped fellow ********* Miocic with a thudding spinning back kick in the third round at New York’s Madison Square Garden to make the first defence of his belt. Jones, 37, said he will continue his UFC career, but did not confirm if his next ****** will be against Britain’s interim champion Tom Aspinall. Former two-time heavyweight champion Miocic, 42, confirmed his retirement after defeat. Source link #UFC #Jon #Jones #stops #Stipe #Miocic #spinning #kick #retain #heavyweight #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenage heat quick breaks WBBL records in crucial win Teenage heat quick breaks WBBL records in crucial win Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton has become the youngest player in WBBL history to take a five-wicket haul, skipping schoolies’ week to bowl her side to a crucial six-wicket win over the Melbourne Stars. Hamilton claimed the equal-second best figures in the competition’s 10-year history on Sunday, with her 5-8 helping the Heat bowl the Stars out for 138. Brisbane’s batters made light work of the chase, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Charlie Knott leading the way and the Heat reaching the target with 15 ****** to spare. Rodrigues hit 45 from 31, smashing two big sixes down the ground and five fours before being deceived by an Annabel Sutherland slower ball. The Heat’s third straight win moved them back up into third on the ladder, while the Stars’ season is now almost over with one win from seven matches. Hamilton was crucial, after the 18-year-old entered Sunday’s match without a wicket in her eight-game WBBL career. Weeks after finishing her QCE exams in Bundaberg and with her friends partying on the Gold Coast, she had the biggest day of her career. After Sutherland got out of the blocks fast with 21, the left-armer bowled both her and Yastika Bhatia in her first over. She also had superstar Meg Lanning caught behind for 13 edging a wide half volley, before having danger woman Tess Flintoff caught driving on the up to mid-off. The Bundaberg junior then trapped Deepti Sharma lbw, becoming the first Heat bowler in history to take a five-wicket haul in the WBBL. Hamilton’s figures sit second only to Megan Schutt’s 6-19 in the competition’s history, and level with Amanda-***** Wellington’s two returns of 5-8. “All my mates are at schoolies at the moment, on the Goldy living it up,” said Hamilton, adding she couldn’t believe what had just happened. “Going out there today I was just trying to back myself. “Getting my first wicket and getting 5-fa, all the ****** were getting around me. It was really exciting. “I’ve had to be patient, played a few games, and it finally came and was really thrilling.” Part of Australia’s under-19s side, Hamilton will finally move to Brisbane in the coming months after routinely making the five-hour commute down from Bundaberg. “I was talking to my bowling coach the other day, and it’s now about working on standing the seam up and just backing myself to swing the ball back in,” Hamilton said. “Progressive training will help that, but it’s having the confidence to be able to do that.” Only late hitting from Kim Garth (31no from 20 ******) and Maisy Gibson (15 from 11) gave the Stars a faint hope, but the Heat still chased the target down with ease. Source link #Teenage #heat #quick #breaks #WBBL #records #crucial #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nebraska beauty queen accused of bilking more than $3 million in bogus ‘passive income’ scheme Nebraska beauty queen accused of bilking more than $3 million in bogus ‘passive income’ scheme The sitting Mrs Nebraska 2024 is accused of helping to fleece unwitting consumers out of more than $3m in a bogus get-rich-quick scheme. Liz Friesen is on the wrong end of a state lawsuit filed by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who says in court filings that the 34-year-old defrauded other Nebraskans by “flaunting a high-end and wealthy persona online to mislead consumers into believing [she] would give consumers access to similar levels of wealth and success.” Friesen, whose Facebook profile quotes the ****** and describes her as a “mompreneur,” pushed a so-called passive-income strategy that made her rich, but no one else, according to the suit. She and her co-conspirators then spent their victims’ investments on “luxury vacations in exotic locales, Lamborghinis, Cadillac Escalades, and other high-end vehicles, multimillion-dollar mansions, jewelry, designer clothing, private airplanes, a lakehouse, and countless other extravagances,” according to the lawsuit. Friesen lured in dozens of targets by posting photos on social media of herself “enjoying the fruits of [her] misdeeds and deceptions” via a shady operation called WiFi Money, the lawsuit states. It alleges that she and nearly a dozen co-conspirators never mentioned that their enviable lifestyles had in fact been underwritten by a raft of unwitting investors who thought they, too, could share in comparable riches. “These highly deceptive ‘passive income’ schemes will not be tolerated in Nebraska under my watch,” Hilgers said in a statement. “Our Office will ****** hard to get Nebraskans’ hard-earned money back and hold bad actors to account.” The alleged scam began during the Covid-19 pandemic, and capitalized on the “sudden ********** in online shopping” that occurred at the time, according to the suit. Each “investor” paid between $15,000 and $100,000 in total to set up e-commerce stores on Amazon and Walmart.com, after being led to believe they would earn as much as $100,000 a month, with minimal effort, via “dropshipping,” according to the suit. Liz Friesen (pictured) is accused of promising investors vast riches, based on alleged ***** (Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers) Dropshipping involves opening an online storefront and listing items for ***** by third-party retailers, offering them to customers at a markup, and having them shipped directly by the original seller, the lawsuit explains. “Dropshipping has many flaws, not the least of which is the fact that customers can simply pay the lower price from the third-party retailer instead of purchasing it from the dropshipper,” the lawsuit states. “The industry is also highly competitive, which makes profit margins negligible or nonexistent. When returns, shipping, and marketing costs are factored in, turning a profit through dropshipping becomes extremely difficult.” In reality, Friesen’s promises fell completely flat, earning investors either no profit at all, or a substantial loss, according to the suit. In one example ***** out in the suit, after Friesen and her partners had brought their victims nothing more than 2.5 years of “abject failures,” she continued to push her “#paidtolive” claims. “[W]ork alongside me and my WiFi Money team and make $5,000 extra a month, $10,000 extra a month, $100,000 extra a month,” Friesen posted on Instagram, the lawsuit states. “Whatever it is that your heart desires, let’s make it happen.” However, as one ****** investor told authorities, things immediately went south, according to the suit. It states that the store was insufficiently stocked, fraudulent charges began to appear, and the venture threw off zero profit. Friesen and her partners made various excuses for their “ineptitude,” but never “meaningfully responded” to the investor’s demands for a refund, the suit claims. Now, through his lawsuit, Hilgers says he is seeking to stop Friesen from promoting any further passive income schemes, to force her to refund her victims, and to “penalize those who enriched themselves off deceiving Nebraska consumers and preying on consumers during vulnerable periods of financial uncertainty.” The lawsuit was filed in Lancaster County, Nebraska district court and alleges violations of, among other things, the Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Source link #Nebraska #beauty #queen #accused #bilking #million #bogus #passive #income #scheme Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Twins with heart ******** call for end to healthcare ‘lottery’ Twins with heart ******** call for end to healthcare ‘lottery’ BBC Farrah (L) and Nicole have the same heart condition but are getting different treatments because they live in different trusts Twin sisters living with heart ******** are calling for an end to what they say is a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing services to help with their condition. Nicole and Farrah live 32 miles away from each other, but are in different health trusts. While Nicole has benefited from “life-changing” cardiac rehabilitation, Farrah says she was discharged eight months after diagnosis without any rehab being offered. She has told BBC News NI she feels “jealous, ******, upset and scared” that she cannot access the same treatment as her twin sister. Health trusts in Northern Ireland each set their own criteria for when they will offer cardiac rehab sessions. ‘I just thought I was dying’ Being identical twins, there are many similarities in Nicole and Farrah’s lives. The same expressions cross their faces and they have similar sparkling, bright eyes. They also both have acute heart ********, a condition where the heart cannot pump blood around the body properly. But where their stories differ is that they cannot both access the same treatment, because they are being treated under different health trusts. Nicole, who lives in a Southern Trust area, was diagnosed in January last year, after months of trips back and forth to doctors to find out why she was so breathless. The news left her “petrified”. “I just thought I was dying,” she says. A few months later, in March 2023, her twin sister Farrah was diagnosed too – in a Northern Trust area. She is on medications with the help of her GP and a consultant but says she has been discharged from speciality cardiac nursing. ‘I still live in *****’ Both the twins were active beforehand, going hiking and kayaking, but Nicole now says that even getting her shopping in from the car can leave her breathless. At cardiac rehab sessions, she learns gentle exercise, advice on pacing and how to deal with the emotional side of the diagnosis. “It has given me my life back,” she says. “It has given me my confidence back.” Farrah, on the other hand, says: “Cardiac rehab was not offered to me in the Northern Trust – I’ve fought for everything and not got the same help as Nicole did.” Asked how she feels that her sister can access services that she can’t, Farrah says “very ******, scared and upset because I still live in *****”. “I’m scared to go to sleep in case I don’t wake up again.” She says she doesn’t know what exercise she can do, as she does not know her limits as she has not had that specialist help of someone saying, “you can push yourself a bit *******” or “oh no, that’s too much”. She says having cardiac rehab like her sister would allow for supervision and oversight in a safe environment. The sisters would also like to see better awareness around heart ******** symptoms and investment to allow those affected to get continuity of care. How the trusts differ Some trusts offer cardiac rehabilitation to all heart ******** patients while others have criteria to access it. The Northern Trust say they currently offer it to heart ******** patients who have had an ischaemic event, which is disruption of blood flow to the heart caused by ******** of the coronary arteries. They say they are unable to comment on individual cases but are aware of “significant demands” on the heart ******** nurse clinic, and have put strategies in place which have already lowered waiting lists. The BBC asked each trust on what basis cardiac rehabilitation is offered for heart ******** patients: Southern – All heart ******** patients are eligible for cardiac rehabilitationSouth Eastern – All heart ******** patients are eligible for cardiac rehabilitationNorthern – Currently offers cardiac rehabilitation to heart ******** patients who have had an ischaemic eventWestern – All patients who have heart ******** as a result of a recent heart ******* will be offered cardiac rehabilitation services. For heart ******** patients who have not suffered a heart *******, cardiac rehab will be offered on a case by case basisBelfast – Cardiac rehabilitation is offered to heart ******** patients if that heart ******** is a direct result of a heart ******* The Department of Health says it recognises the importance of delivering high standard, equitable and timely access to cardiac rehabilitation across the Trusts. It said it is consulting widely with key stakeholders across all Trusts to “gain a clear understanding of the unmet needs of these services and form recommendations, which lead to long-term sustainable solutions”. Dr Patricia Campbell recommends cardiac rehab to her patients in the Southern Trust Regional approach ‘works better’ Dr Patricia Campbell, a consultant cardiologist at the Southern Trust and the Northern Ireland lead for heart ********, says cardiac rehab is “as effective as any medicines” when helping patients with the condition. More women in Northern Ireland **** from cardiovascular ********* than from *******, with heart ******** the least well known of those *********. Dr Campbell says there are around 22,000 people living in Northern Ireland with heart ******** and there are likely to be many people out there living with the condition without knowing it. She urges anyone experiencing breathlessness, fatigue or fluid retention to visit their GP for a simple blood test (BNP). Acknowledging the different approaches in each trust she says: “Everything works better when we have a regional approach to things.” “We have amazing heart ******** nurses in Northern Ireland who are recognised internationally for the work they do, but lots of the services are at capacity.” Source link #Twins #heart #******** #call #healthcare #lottery Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Greek Tomb Possibly Holds Alexander the Great’s Tunic, New Study Suggests Greek Tomb Possibly Holds Alexander the Great’s Tunic, New Study Suggests A cloth fragment discovered in a royal tomb in Greece could be the ******** of a tunic once worn by Alexander the Great, according to recent claims by Professor Emeritus Antonis Bartsiokas of Democritus University of Thrace. Found in a tomb near Vergina, a site historically tied to Macedonian royalty, this garment is now believed by Bartsiokas to have belonged not to Alexander’s father, Philip II, as previously thought, but to Alexander’s half-brother Philip III Arrhidaeus. Arrhidaeus assumed the title of king after Alexander’s ******, though his capacity to rule was limited by a mental disability. Debate Surrounding the Tomb’s Occupants and Origins The discovery was published in Journal of Field Archaeology. The discovery of the garment was made in 1977 within a gold chest in a tomb traditionally associated with Philip II. However, Bartsiokas argues that this tomb actually houses the ******** of Arrhidaeus and his wife, Eurydice, basing his conclusion on historical records, wall art in the tomb, and an analysis of the garment itself. The tunic, he asserts, may have originally belonged to Alexander but was passed down to Arrhidaeus upon Alexander’s ******, symbolising continuity within the royal lineage. Testing by other scholars had previously shown that the cloth, dyed purple and containing layers of cotton and huntite, resembled garments worn by Persian kings, adding weight to Bartsiokas’ argument. Scholars’ Mixed Responses to the Findings Experts have responded with varied opinions on Bartsiokas’ claims. Senior researcher Hariclia Brecoulaki of Greece’s National Hellenic Research Foundation disputed Bartsiokas’ identification of the garment as a tunic, suggesting instead that it more closely resembles a scarf used to wrap bones. Additionally, Athanasia Kyriakou, director of the Vergina excavation project at Aristotle University, noted that Bartsiokas had not directly examined the materials and criticised the findings as speculative. Other scholars provided cautious support. Professor Susan Rotroff, a classics scholar at Washington University in St. Louis, found Bartsiokas’ conclusions plausible, noting that the garment’s cotton fibres align with a timeline after Alexander’s Persian conquests. Richard Janko, a classical studies professor at the University of Michigan, described the research as intriguing but emphasised that the cotton may have reached Greece through trade routes accessible to Philip II. The debate over the identity of the tomb’s occupants continues, but Bartsiokas’ hypothesis has spurred renewed discussion on the artefacts and their historical significance in connection with Alexander the Great. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Chimpanzees’ Task Performance Improves With Human Audience, Study Finds Apple’s Automatic ‘Inactivity Reboot’ iPhone Feature Could Impact Thieves, Law Enforcement Source link #Greek #Tomb #Possibly #Holds #Alexander #Greats #Tunic #Study #Suggests Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fremantle star Nat Fyfe under pressure as youngster Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson await more senior opportunity Fremantle star Nat Fyfe under pressure as youngster Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson await more senior opportunity Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe is set for a make or break start to next season as young midfielders Neil Erasmus and Matt Johnson await more senior opportunities. Source link #Fremantle #star #Nat #Fyfe #pressure #youngster #Neil #Erasmus #Matt #Johnson #await #senior #opportunity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Salmon return to lay eggs in historic habitat after largest dam removal project in US history Salmon return to lay eggs in historic habitat after largest dam removal project in US history A giant female Chinook salmon flips on her side in the shallow water and wriggles wildly, using her tail to carve out a nest in the riverbed as her body glistens in the sunlight. In another moment, males ***** into each other as they jockey for a good position to fertilize eggs. These are scenes local tribes have dreamed of seeing for decades as they fought to bring down four hydroelectric dams blocking passage for struggling salmon along more than 400 miles (644 kilometers) of the Klamath River and its tributaries along the Oregon-California border. Now, less than a month after those dams came down in the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, salmon are once more returning to spawn in cool creeks that have been cut off to them for generations. Video shot by the Yurok Tribe show that hundreds of salmon have made it to tributaries between the former Iron Gate and Copco dams, a hopeful sign for the newly freed waterway. “Seeing salmon spawning above the former dams fills my heart,” said Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “Our salmon are coming home. Klamath Basin tribes fought for decades to make this day a reality because our future generations deserve to inherit a healthier river from the headwaters to the sea.” The Klamath River flows from its headwaters in southern Oregon and across the mountainous forests of northern California before it reaches the Pacific Ocean. The completion of the hydroelectric dam removal project on Oct. 2 marked a major victory for local tribes. Through protests, testimony and lawsuits, the tribes showcased the environmental devastation caused by the dams, especially to salmon, which were cut off from their historic habitat and dying in alarming numbers because of poor water-quality. There have been lower concentrations of harmful algae blooms since the dam removal, Toz Soto, fisheries program manager with the Karuk Tribe, said during a press conference after the dams came down. In October, the water temperature during the day was an average of 8 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler compared to the same month over the last nine years, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, the nonprofit entity created to oversee the project. “All in all, the fish that came up this year were really healthy,” Soto said. “I didn’t see fish with bacterial infections and things like that, so water temperature’s already having an impact on the fishes’ health.” The number of salmon that have quickly made it into previously inaccessible tributaries has also been encouraging. Experts have counted 42 redds, or salmon egg nests, and have tallied as many as 115 Chinook salmon in one day in Spencer Creek, which is above the former J.C. Boyle dam, the furthest upstream of the four removed dams, said Mark Hereford with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “They’re showing us where the good habitat is; they’re showing us where there’s a lack of habitat,” said Barry McCovey Jr, director of the Yurok Tribal Fisheries department. “So we can use these fish to inform us as river managers, as scientists, where restoration needs to take place.” Power company PacifiCorp built the dams to generate electricity between 1918 and 1962. But the structures halted the natural flow of the waterway that was once known as the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast. They disrupted the lifecycle of the region’s salmon, which spend most of their life in the Pacific Ocean but return to the chilly mountain streams to lay eggs. At the same time, the dams only produced a fraction of PacifiCorp’s energy at full capacity, enough to power about 70,000 homes. They also didn’t provide irrigation, drinking water or flood control, according to Klamath River Renewal Corporation. McCovey said the return of so many salmon happened faster than he had expected and makes him hopeful for the future of the river. “Out of all the milestones that we’ve had, this one to me is the most significant,” he said. “It feels like catharsis. It feels like the right path.” ___ Associated Press reporter Sophie Austin contributed to this report. Source link #Salmon #return #lay #eggs #historic #habitat #largest #dam #removal #project #history Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

India among elite group after hypersonic missile test India among elite group after hypersonic missile test India has successfully tested a domestically developed long-range hypersonic missile, it says, attaining a key milestone in military development that puts it in a small group of nations possessing the advanced technology. The global push for hypersonic weapons figures in the efforts of some countries, such as India, which is striving to develop advanced long-range missiles, along with China, Russia and the ******* States. The Indian missile, developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and industry partners, is designed to carry payloads for ranges exceeding 1500km for the armed forces, the government said in a statement. “The flight data … confirmed the successful terminal manoeuvres and impact with high degree of accuracy,” it said. The test-******* took place from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the eastern coast of Odisha state on Saturday, it said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the test a “historic achievement” in a post on X, adding that it placed India among a select group of nations possessing such critical and advanced technologies. Source link #India #among #elite #group #hypersonic #missile #test Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Texas A&M to mark 25th anniversary of campus bonfire collapse that ******* 12 Texas A&M to mark 25th anniversary of campus bonfire collapse that ******* 12 The first, ominous sounds came from deep within the massive stack of logs in the darkest hours of the Texas night. Witnesses described hearing the stack of thousands of logs moan and creak before the ****** of the center pole as it snapped, then collapsed. More than a million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of timber tumbled. In an instant, 12 people were *******, dozens more were injured and a university campus rooted in traditions carried across generations of students was permanently scarred. Texas A&M University is set to mark 25 years since the log stack collapsed in the early hours of Nov. 18, 1999. It was being built in preparation for the annual bonfire ahead of the Texas A&M-Texas rivalry football game in College Station. The school will hold a Bonfire Remembrance ceremony at the site of the tragedy on Monday at 2:42 a.m., about the time the stack collapsed. “Year after year, Texas A&M students have worked to ensure that we never forget those members of the Aggie Family who were taken from us 25 years ago,” school President Mark Welsh III said. The tradition The “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Bonfire” ranked among the most revered traditions in college football and symbolized the school’s “burning *******” to beat the University of Texas Longhorns in football. The first bonfire in 1907 was a scrap heap that was set ablaze. By 1909, it was a campus event and the bonfire stack kept growing as railroad lines were used to ship in in carloads of scrap lumber, railroad ties and other flammable materials, according to the school. It reached a record height of 105 feet (32 meters) in 1969 before administrators, concerned about a ***** hazard, imposed a 55-foot (17-meter) limit. Over the years, the stack evolved from a teepee-style mound into the vertical timber formation, a shape similar to a tiered wedding cake, that collapsed in 1999. The annual bonfire attracted crowds of up to 70,000 and burned every year through 1998. The only exception was in 1963, after the ************** of President John F. Kennedy. The tragedy The stack of more than 5,000, 18-foot (5.5-meter) logs toppled a week before it was scheduled to *****. The 12 who were ******* included five freshmen, four sophomores, a junior, a senior and a recent graduate. Several were members of the Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M’s student-led, military-style organization that played a large role in its construction. Rescuers, including members of the Texas A&M football team, raced to remove the logs that had trapped and crushed some of the victims. At rival Texas, Longhorns players organized a blood drive to assist the survivors. An investigation ordered by the school determined flawed construction led by unqualified student workers led to the collapse. Campus memorial In 2003, the school dedicated a memorial on the spot where the stack fell. It includes a “Spirit Ring” with 12 portals representing those who were *******. Each portal contains an engraved portrait and signature of a victim and points toward their hometown. By stepping into the open archway, the visitor symbolically fills the void left by the deceased. Efforts to rekindle the bonfire tradition The annual Aggie bonfire was discontinued as an official school event after the deadly collapse. The school considered reviving the tradition this year to coincide with the renewal of the Texas-Texas A&M football rivalry on Nov. 30. The rivalry split in 2012 when Texas A&M left the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference, but has resumed this year as Texas joined the SEC. A special committee recommended resuming the bonfire, but only if the log stack was designed and built by professional engineers and contractors. Some members of the public said it should not come back if it was not organized and built by students, according to tradition. Welsh ultimately decided the bonfire would not return to campus. “Bonfire, both a wonderful and tragic part of Aggie history, should remain in our treasured past,” the president said in June when he announced his decision. Students have continued to organize and build unofficial off-campus bonfires over the years and plan to ***** this year’s edition on Nov. 29, the night before the Texas A&M-Texas football game. Source link #Texas #mark #25th #anniversary #campus #bonfire #collapse #******* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Answering the question that is Canberra Answering the question that is Canberra I have been to Canberra more times than the country capital probably warrants, but it wasn’t until today that I finally did something that I think should be on everyone’s Canberra itinerary — take a seat in the public gallery at question time in Parliament House. I’ve pre-booked my ticket so I’m skipping the ****** to enter the gallery (I still have to line up at the cloak room where you need to leave your phone, keys and anything else that makes a noise). I’ve seen the highlights of question time on the television news for the best part of two decades but as I take my seat I’m realising that this experience is like going to watch the footy at Perth stadium instead of the telly. You see all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans, the body language and side bar discussions, taking in our Parliament’s most theatrical element as a whole, not just the TV highlights. Camera IconThe longer you look, the more you see in prime minister portraits. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied I’m facing the Labor Government MPs so that’s who I have the best view of today. Immediately I’m noticing the gait of the MPs as they start to trickle in just before the 2pm start. I know what procrastination looks like, Tanya Plibersek for example takes one step, stops, looks around, takes another step, stops. To be fair she might’ve been waiting for a colleague to stop speaking. Outgoing ex-leader Bill Shorten looks like he’s every bit in the departure lounge, slumped in the corner on the front bench, a few empty spaces beside him. At 2.20pm Barnaby Joyce wanders across the floor (I can’t recall if he’s only just arriving or he went somewhere and is returning) and falls loudly — full ***** weight — into his chair. I’ve worked in government and governing MPs mostly don’t like question time and today it looks every bit like that. There’s one notable exception to the lethargic entrances, and that’s our Prime Minister who strides in and takes his seat as the spectacle begins. There’s a shout-out to former *** prime minister Liz Truss who is watching on, it takes me a while to spot where she is — she’s on the floor of Parliament not in any of the galleries. She leaves about halfway through, not before ex-Nationals leader Michael McCormack goes over to introduce himself and leaves her a business card, I’m presuming it’s his? The former PM reads it before placing it in her handbag. I reckon I can pick a journo in a crowd, it’s a useless ability of mine. So I’m scanning for the press gallery and bang — spot the wild-haired, suited bloke — no one wears dishevelled like a print journo. I later meet him when the Canberra Press Gallery President and old friend Jane Norman is showing me around, turns out it’s The Saturday Paper’s Jason Koutsoukis, thoroughly lovely bloke, he greets Jane with a curtsy and addresses her as Madam President. I apologise to him for pegging him as a scruffy print journo. Camera IconInteresting items at the Parliament House gift shop on the way out. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied My attention is drawn back to the floor as things are getting rowdy among the pollies. PM Anthony Albanese is getting continually interrupted by the ********’s Angus Taylor. “Have you got Tourette’s or something? You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble,” the PM asks. “Oh dear,” I think. “That’s not going to be good.” I’m wondering how much this will ***** up. I’m immediately recalling when West Coast Eagles coach John Worsfold called the press pack spastics at a training session. He was called on, via the back page of The West, to apologise. Albo is on the same wave length. “I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw and apologise,” he immediately says, realising what he has done. He later returns for a more in-depth apology. He’s stuffed up big time and ashamed of the sledge. It’s a fascinating exchange to be in the press gallery for. There’s both a chorus of laughter and jeers from the fellow MPs on both sides. The TV camera is focused on the PM but I can see the stern faces of his colleagues including WA’s Anne Aly, they know he’s offended not only the Tourette’s community but all those with disabilities. Interestingly before the Tourette’s sledge, Albo also refers to Pauline Hanson as “a certain redhead used to sit in here” and I wonder when will we rule out ridiculing redheads? I mean, I’m meeting up with my good mate Ranga who’s in the capital for work for a ***** tonight, but how come hair colour is still fair game? The Tourette’s comment takes up many newspaper inches, talkback radio and television space over the next few days (no one mentions the red hair) but for now, question time rolls on. The Greens Max Chandler-Mather is howled down by almost everyone after telling the PM “we’re ready to negotiate” over housing policy. Albo’s response to him that “no one here (in Parliament) has the power to freeze rents”, which is a Greens demand, is another behind-the-scenes comment that exposes the theatre of politics — a literally impossible policy that still gets air time. While others are asking questions and giving answers, Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese are chatting to each other across the Despatch Box, I wonder what is being said. At some stages Albo scrunches up his face to whatever Dutton is saying, other times Albo initiates the conversation, there’s even smiles between them. Shortly after the two sides furiously disagree on a motion over the *******-****** war. The mood changes quickly in here. Michael McCormack is restless, he’s out of his chair again showing something on his phone to the Labor Speaker Milton *****, both have a good laugh. Suddenly it’s 3pm and it’s over. The MPs look a lot more agile at this end of question time. I’m leaving thoroughly satisfied that I’ve finally added this to my Canberra schedule, a unique peak behind the curtain into our the Canberra bubble, a must-do for all visitors. Camera IconDemocracy dog Mallee patiently waited in the shade while Christien was in question time. Credit: Christien de Garis/Supplied Source link #Answering #question #Canberra Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]