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The Grim Reality of President-Elect Donald Trump’s Social Security Plan The Grim Reality of President-Elect Donald Trump’s Social Security Plan For most retirees, Social Security provides more than just a check each month. America’s top retirement program represents a financial lifeline that many beneficiaries would struggle to live without. For the last 23 years, national pollster Gallup has been surveying retirees to gauge what role their Social Security income plays. In all 23 years, between 80% and 90% of respondents noted their Social Security check accounted for a “major” or “minor” source of income, including 88% in 2024. In other words, Social Security benefits are necessary for an overwhelming majority of retirees to make ends meet. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » The financial well-being of Social Security is paramount to the success of our nation’s aging workforce. Unfortunately, this financial foundation has been deteriorating for decades. Current and future beneficiaries will be looking to their elected officials to tackle what ails Social Security — and this includes President-elect Donald Trump. However, not all Social Security proposals are necessarily winners, as you’re about to see. Former President and President-elect Donald Trump giving remarks. Image source: Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks. Every year since the first retired-worker benefit check was mailed out in January 1940, the Social Security Board of Trustees has released a report detailing the financial health of this leading social program. Since 1985, the Trustees Report has warned of a long-term funding obligation shortfall. In simpler terms, the Trustees don’t see enough revenue being collected by Social Security in the 75 years following the release of a report to satisfy expected outlays, including cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). The 2024 Social Security Board of Trustees Report pegged the program’s unfunded obligations at a staggering $23.2 trillion (and growing) through 2098. To make matters worse, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI), which is responsible for doling out monthly payments to retired workers and survivor beneficiaries, is forecast to exhaust its asset reserves by 2033. While this, thankfully, doesn’t mean Social Security will be insolvent or go bankrupt — Social Security can’t go bankrupt based on how it currently generates income — it does point to sweeping benefit cuts of up to 21% nine years from now if nothing is done. Although some people on social media message boards are often quick to (incorrectly) blame “congressional theft” or “undocumented workers” for what ails Social Security, ongoing demographic shifts are what truly ails this vital program. Story Continues In no particular order, Social Security’s struggles can be traced to some combination of: Baby boomers leaving the labor force in greater numbers, which is weighing down the worker-to-beneficiary ratio. Increased life span (Social Security was never designed to dole out payments to retirees for decades). A historically low birth rate, which will eventually be a drag on the worker-to-beneficiary ratio. A more-than-halving in net legal immigration into the U.S. since 1998 (Social Security relies on a steady inflow of legal immigrants to boost payroll tax collection). Rising income inequality, with a higher percentage of earned income escaping payroll taxation as time has passed. Most lawmakers have avoided tackling Social Security’s visible problems because there’s no way to fix the program without making at least some beneficiaries worse off than they were before. But presidential candidates aren’t so lucky, and are typically expected to have a plan of action for America’s most important retirement program. During President-elect Trump’s campaign, he made two proposals regarding Social Security. The grim reality is that neither would help the program nor its beneficiaries over the long run. The first proposal offered by the incoming president is to effectively leave Social Security alone. Kicking the can down the road has been the status quo of multiple administrations, and Trump backed this idea up earlier this year by proclaiming that “you don’t have to touch Social Security.” However, Trustees Reports have made it abundantly clear that doing nothing is a terrible plan. While kicking the can might save politicians from some finger-pointing from the public, it’s not going to stop the program’s funding obligation shortfall from growing, or do anything to positively impact the OASI’s asset reserves, which are on track to be exhausted in less than a decade. Image source: Getty Images. The other, more front-and-center proposal from President-elect Donald Trump is to eliminate the taxation of Social Security benefits. He proclaimed this position loudly on social media platform Truth Social in July by stating, “Seniors should not pay tax on Social Security.” This is a proposal that has a ton of support from retirees, mainly because it’s possibly the most-hated tax in America. But getting rid of this tax with Social Security’s financial situation precarious at best would be a big mistake. With Social Security’s asset reserves running dangerously low in 1983, Congress passed and then-President Ronald Reagan signed the Social Security Amendments of 1983 into law. This last bipartisan overhaul of America’s top retirement program gradually raised the full retirement age and payroll taxation on workers, as well as established the federal taxation of Social Security benefits. Beginning in 1984, up to 50% of benefits could be taxed at the federal rate if provisional income (adjusted ****** income + tax-free interest + one-half of benefits) topped $25,000 for a single filer or $32,000 for a couple filing jointly. In 1993, the Clinton administration added a second tier, allowing up to 85% of Social Security benefits to be exposed to federal taxation if the provisional income for a single filer or couple filing jointly topped $34,000 and $44,000, respectively. The gripe with taxing Social Security benefits — aside from the misplaced belief that it’s a form of double taxation — is that these provisional income thresholds haven’t been adjusted since they were respectively introduced four and three decades ago. But with Social Security outlaying more in benefits than it’s generating in income each year, eliminating one of its three sources of income would be a grave mistake. The taxation of benefits is expected to generate $943.9 billion in cumulative income for Social Security from 2024 through 2033. Eliminating this tax would put Social Security on considerably worse financial footing and potential expedite the timeline to sweeping benefit cuts. If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the “Social Security secrets” » The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Grim Reality of President-Elect Donald Trump’s Social Security Plan was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Grim #Reality #PresidentElect #Donald #Trumps #Social #Security #Plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pythagoras: One of the Greatest Minds of His Time Pythagoras: One of the Greatest Minds of His Time Pythagoras was one of the greatest minds and philosophers of his time and his unquestionable influence can be felt even today in mathematics. It is believed that he was the first man who referred to himself as a “philosopher.” He was the founder of Pythagoreanism, a religious and political movement that appeared mainly in the big cities of Magna Grecia (today southern Italy). The city of Croton was his base, and the great philosopher dedicated his life to the spiritual and moral awakening and reformation of people from all social classes and sexes. This means Pythagoras was one of the most open-minded thinkers of his era. The Young Pythagoras Many historians say that Pythagoras was born on the Greek island of Samos in 585 BC – even though the exact date ******** uncertain. His parents named him Pythagoras after Pythia, the oracle of Delphi. Like Socrates, Pythagoras didn’t leave behind any texts and this is the main reason we don’t know many details about his life. Some information about Pythagoras’s philosophy and teachings were told by other historical figures from antiquity, such as Plato, Aristotle, Heraclitus, Herodotus, and Isocrates. However, the main sources for his biographical information are Diogenes Laërtius, Iamblichus, and Porphyry. Pythagoras advocating vegetarianism. (Public Domain) A great deal of information about Pythagoras’ youth comes from Diogenes Laërtius and his book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers: “And as he was a young man, and devoted to learning, he quitted his country and got initiated into all the Grecian and barbarian sacred mysteries. Accordingly, he went to Egypt, on which occasion Polycrates gave him a letter of introduction to Amasis; and he learnt the Egyptian language, as Antipho tells us, in his treatise on those men who have been conspicuous for virtue, and he associated with the Chaldaeans and with the Magi. Afterwards he went to Crete, and in company with Epimenides, he descended into the Idaean *****, (and in Egypt too, he entered into the holiest parts of their temples), and learned all the most secret mysteries that relate to their Gods. Then he returned back again to Samos, and finding his country reduced under the absolute dominion of Polycrates, he set sail and fled to Crotona in Italy. And there, having given laws to the Italians, he gained a very high reputation, together with his scholars, who were about three hundred in number, and governed the republic in a most excellent manner; so that the constitution was very nearly an aristocracy.” Illustration said to depict a younger Pythagoras teaching women. (Public Domain) Mathematical Teachings Despite his adventurous life as a young man, it’s his teachings, theories, and contributions to science and mathematics that are most important for us today. Pythagoras had very specific goals to achieve through his teachings and he passionately tried to impart his knowledge to his students so they could better understand the laws of nature. His supporters and students, known as Pythagoreans, believed that the essence of everything in life could be found in numbers and mathematics. Aristotle verifies this in Metaphysics, books 1 through 5, where he mentions among other things: “The so-called Pythagoreans, who were the first to take up mathematics, not only advanced this subject, but saturated with it, they fancied that the principles of mathematics were the principles of all things.” Pythagoreans celebrate sunrise. (1869) By Fyodor Bronnikov. (Public Domain) Pythagoras was also a great inventor and is credited with a series of innovations such as the Pythagorean Theorem, which cemented his legacy. His theory is described mathematically as α2 = β2 + γ2 and says that: “In a right- angled triangle the square of the long side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.” The theorem which now bears his name may have been invented in India by Baudhayana around 800 BC – but only as an empirical observation. All official historical sources concur that Pythagoras is the one who proved and analyzed the theorem on a scientific basis by using theoretical geometry, logical evidence, a ruler, and a compass as his tools. Illustration of the Pythagorean theorem. (Wapcaplet/CC BY-SA 3.0) Pythagoras’s name is also connected with the Tetractys, which is considered by many historians to be the essence of his teaching and the sacred symbol of his followers. It consists of the numbers 1 through 10 arranged in four rows: one in the first row, two in the second, three in the third, and four in the fourth. The Tetractys is a triangular figure consisting of ten points arranged in four rows: one, two, three, and four points in each row. It was very important to the Pythagoreans. (Public Domain) The Greedy Cup Another of Pythagoras’s inventions, one that unfortunately ******** widely unknown, is the Pythagorean Cup, also known as the Greedy Cup. Local traditions in Samos say that he made the cup for drinking wine in moderation. Inside, there was a line that defined the maximum level of wine the cup could be filled with. A trickle above that line and the cup automatically emptied its contents from a hidden ***** in its base. Cross section of a Pythagorean cup being filled: at B, the cup may be ****** from, but at C, the siphon effect causes the cup to drain. (Nevit Dilmen/CC BY SA 3.0) Some also called it the “Justice Cup” since they believed that Pythagoras, who wasn’t much of a drinker, wanted to show his students and followers the negative effects of greediness in one’s life. When the limit is exceeded (hubris), you won’t only lose what passes that limit, but also what you had previously acquired (nemesis). Simply by applying a hydraulic principle, Pythagoras teaches you to accept moderation and to enjoy the things you already have in life without asking for more – things you don’t really need but seek out for selfish reasons. Cut-through illustration of a Pythagorean cup. (M Todorovic/CC BY-SA 4.0) An Uncertain ****** Like the date of his birth, sources vary on the cause of his ****** as well. Diogenes Laërtius wrote that Pythagoras and his students were victims of a ******* massacre by the local Croton authorities who feared the immense influence of Pythagoras’s teachings on the local society. Dicaearchus however, claims Pythagoras ***** from starvation after not eating for over forty days. Pythagoras emerging from the underworld. (1662) By Salvator Rosa. (Public Domain) Despite not knowing for sure how this great philosopher, mathematician, and inventor *****, his name and theories have lived on to this day. His magnificent teachings have been studied throughout the centuries and will be remembered for centuries to come. Top Image: Raphael, School of Athens, fresco, 1509-1511, depicting Pythagoras. Source: Steven Zucker/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 By Theodoros Karasavvas This article was first published in 2016, and has been updated by an Ancient Origins editor. Source link #Pythagoras #Greatest #Minds #Time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hang ten: women surfers still trying to catch a break Hang ten: women surfers still trying to catch a break In a culture where surfing a wave well often means being told they “surf like a man”, women are striving for more acceptance and celebration of their sport. Source link #Hang #ten #women #surfers #catch #break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Smile 2 soon to reach global box office breakthrough Smile 2 soon to reach global box office breakthrough The first Smile movie was a not only a critical success, but a financial one to boot. Thankfully, its sequel seems to be in the same direction. Collider reported that Smile 2 will reach the coveted $125 million mark globally at the box office and is only less than $25,000 away from claiming that milestone. The sequel to the surprisingly well-received horror film has a mere $28 million budget. Amazingly enough, the film has garnered a total of $23 million during its opening weekend, just $5 million less than its overall budget. This surely is news that’s sure to put a smile on someone’s face. In terms of its domestic and international ******, it’s evenly split as Smile 2 accumulated $61.9 million from the U.S. and $63 million internationally. Not only that, but with Venom: The Last Dance and The Wild ****** still dominating in the charts, alongside recently released films like the Heretic and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever pushing Smile 2 off the top 3 during the sequel’s fourth domestic weekend, the movie has already reached its goal of being one of the few most successful films of 2024. Putting both domestic and international ****** together, Smile 2 will soon reach a $100 million profit for Paramount Pictures. Even just splitting the U.S. and overseas ****** apart, the movie is already double its budget. Moreover, Smile 2 will soon overtake The Beekeeper and claim its place in the top 25 highest grossing films of 2024. Smile 2 is currently screening in theaters and will be available for video-on-demand purchase beginning on November 19, 2024. Source link #Smile #reach #global #box #office #breakthrough Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientist Says NASA Lander May Have Accidentally ******* Life on Mars Scientist Says NASA Lander May Have Accidentally ******* Life on Mars Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, from the Technische Universität Berlin in Germany, believes that humans may have unintentionally ******* life on Mars in the 1970s. NASA’s Viking 1 mission in 1976 saw two spacecraft land on the Red Planet’s surface and conduct an experiment involving mixing water and nutrients with collected soil samples. The assumption at the time was that life on Mars would behave the same way as it does on Earth, relying on liquid water to survive. As Space.com reports, early results gave researchers a tantalizing hint at the possibility of life on the Red Planet — but despite decades of debate, they’ve since largely concluded that their readings were a false positive. Schulze-Makuch, however, takes this thorny debate one step further, suggesting that the Viking landers may have indeed found life on Mars — but accidentally ******* it with its water-based life-hunting experiments. That’s because he argues life on Mars may be relying on salt deposits, much like the organisms that live in the driest places on Earth, such as the microbes habitating the Atacama Desert in Chile. “In hyperarid environments, life can obtain water through salts that draw moisture from the atmosphere,” Schulze-Makuch wrote in a commentary for the journal Nature. “These salts, then, should be a focus of searches for life on Mars.” “The experiments performed by NASA’s Viking landers may have accidentally ******* Martian life by applying too much water,” he added. The astrobiologist’s hypothesis rebuffs the assumption that NASA scientists made in the 1970s that life needs liquid water to survive. “If these inferences about organisms surviving in hyperarid Martian conditions are correct, then rather than ‘follow the water,’ which has long been NASA’s strategy in searching for life on the Red Planet, we should in addition follow hydrated and hygroscopic compounds — salts — as a way to locate microbial life,” Schulze-Makuch wrote. In an interview with Space.com, the researcher suggested that the idea of using table salt to create a brine, in which “certain bacteria thrive,” could be roughly applied to life on Mars as well. “The main salt on Mars appears to be sodium chloride,” he told the publication, “which means this idea could work.” Schulze-Makuch recalled a study that found that torrential rain ******* 70 to 80 percent of indigenous bacteria in a region of the Atacama Desert because they “couldn’t handle that much water so suddenly.” In a similar vein, the Viking landers may have inadvertently ******* any sign of life during their experiments. “Nearly 50 years after the Viking biology experiments, it is time for another life detection mission — now that we have a much better understanding of the Martian environment,” Schulze-Makuch wrote in his commentary. But for now, this all ******** theory. “To make a long story short, we would want to have several different kinds of life-detection methods that are independent of each other, and from there, we could come up with more convincing data,” Schulze-Makuch told Space.com. More on life on Mars: Life on Mars May be Trapped Under Ice, NASA Researchers Suggest Source link #Scientist #NASA #Lander #Accidentally #******* #Life #Mars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NRL draw: 2025 season to start with grudge matches NRL draw: 2025 season to start with grudge matches The NRL have pitted Kyle Flanagan against Stephen Crichton on the St George Illawarra playmaker’s full return from his biting ban as part of a blockbuster start to 2025. Head office revealed the opening-round fixtures for next season on Sunday morning, with several grudge matches included in the eight games. Canberra and the Warriors will play the opening game in Las Vegas on March 1, before Penrith and Cronulla also square off at Allegiant Stadium. Head office has then banked on the safety of the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane playing the first game back in Australia the following Thursday. Wests Tigers will face Newcastle on the Friday evening, before Kristian Woolf takes on old mentor Wayne Bennett and South Sydney later that night. The Dragons’ clash with Canterbury will kick off a Saturday double-header, before Manly host North Queensland. Jason Ryles will also start his coaching tenure at Parramatta against Melbourne and his old boss Craig Bellamy, in a Sunday afternoon fixture at AAMI Park. Gold Coast have been handed the round-one bye. After being accused of starting the home leg of this year without a headline clash, the NRL have rolled out the big guns to start 2025. The Roosters-Broncos clash is a guaranteed ratings winner, given it plays to both the Queensland and Sydney television markets. The two teams were involved in a hotel corridor verbal altercation in the hours after last year’s clash in Las Vegas, with Spencer Leniu copping an eight-game ban for an on-field ******* slur. Ben Hunt could also turn out for either side against a club that also courted him, with the uncontracted halfback an option for both teams. And after the master and apprentice face off on the Friday night in Bennett and Woolf, Saturday’s clash between the Dragons and Bulldogs will also have added meaning. Flanagan vehemently denied biting Crichton on the nose late last season, but was still found guilty and handed a four-match ban by the NRL judiciary. In the days following the incident, there was a clear animosity between the two clubs, with Crichton not appearing at the judiciary to be cross-examined. Flanagan was also adamant in the judiciary hearing that Crichton had tried to suffocate him with his face. The Dragons playmaker will be clear to return in the NRL’s pre-season fixtures, but the round-one match will be his first full competitive game back. The full season fixture is expected to be released later this week. 2025 NRL OPENING-ROUND FIXTURES (All times AEDT): Sunday, March 2 (Las Vegas double-header) 11am: Canberra v Warriors 3.30pm: Penrith v Cronulla Thursday, March 6 Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Friday, March 7 6pm: Wests Tigers v Newcastle 8.05pm: Dolphins v South Sydney Saturday, March 8 5.30pm: St George Illawarra v Canterbury 7.35pm: Manly v North Queensland Sunday, March 9 4.05pm: Melbourne v Parramatta Source link #NRL #draw #season #start #grudge #matches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What are the top RFK Jr. *********** theories & claims alarming medical experts most? What are the top RFK Jr. *********** theories & claims alarming medical experts most? What are the top RFK Jr. *********** theories & claims alarming medical experts most? Source link #top #RFK #*********** #theories #amp #claims #alarming #medical #experts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

South ******* police blockade on ******** miners lifted South ******* police blockade on ******** miners lifted A South ******** court ******* has ordered that a police blockade of a disused goldmine, in which hundreds of people are located illegally, be lifted. Emergency services have been at the site, in Stilfontein, around 90 miles south-west of Johannesburg, for several days. Police have blocked food and water entering the mine to, as one government minister put it, “smoke them out”. The miners – who have been underground for a month – have so far refused to exit the mine over fears of being arrested. Among them are undocumented migrants who also ***** deportation. Police welcomed the order but said it would not stop them arresting miners who left the mine. On Saturday, a court in Pretoria ordered that the mine “may not be blocked by any person or institution whether government or private”. It also said that any person in the mine should be allowed to exit, and that “no non-emergency personnel may enter the mine shaft”. The ruling comes after dozens of volunteers entered the abandoned mine to aid the miners, who reports suggest had resorted to eating vinegar and toothpaste to survive. Volunteers said they pulled a body from the mine on Thursday. It also comes as police called in experts to assess the integrity of the mine shafts, to inform a decision as to whether they would conduct a forced evacuation, according to the AFP news agency. Yasmin Omar, an attorney who helped bring the court case, told state broadcaster SABC that the ruling was a temporary order “that will at least allow us to get emergency relief to the people [who] need it”. She said a full hearing on the matter would take place on Tuesday. “These people underground are dying,” Ms Omar said, adding that the ruling means officials “must do all that is reasonable to give medical care to the people who are underground”. In a statement, the South ******** Police Service (SAPS) welcomed the court order, which it stressed did not prevent officers from making arrests. It said: “All those who resurface will continue to be assessed by emergency medical personnel on site, as has been the case. “Those that are in a good health will be processed and detained. Those that require further medical care will be taken to hospital under police guard.” The SAPS added that as of 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Saturday, three of the miners had resurfaced. More than 1,000 miners have already emerged and been arrested. South ******* is a mineral-rich country. According to official estimates, it holds nearly 30% of the world’s gold deposits and 88% of all platinum deposits. But many mines have closed down in recent years and miners have been ***** off, contributing to a ****** market that costs the South ******** government hundreds of millions of dollars each year. In a bid to survive ********, miners and undocumented migrants are increasingly entering closed mines to dig up their remaining deposits. Some spend months underground, and ******** mining has spawned a small economy providing food and cigarettes to the miners. However, the authorities are keen to end the practice. ******** miners are sometimes recruited by ********* gangs and can be armed. Source link #South #******* #police #blockade #******** #miners #lifted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kolbe tries help Boks hand England fifth loss in a row Kolbe tries help Boks hand England fifth loss in a row Brilliant South ******* winger Cheslin Kolbe has hurt England once again by scoring a try in each half to propel the Springboks to a 29-20 win at Twickenham, extending the home side’s run of defeats to five. It was England’s third straight loss to a southern hemisphere power in a fortnight, after succumbing 24-22 to New Zealand and 42-37 to Australia, with some familiar faces administering the late crucial blows in an engrossing match on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) that was still in the balance after an hour. Kolbe, one of the try-scorers in the Boks’ World Cup final win over England in 2019, finished off a crossfield kick for his first try in the 22nd minute and went over for the clinching score in the 63rd following a piercing break by centre Damien de Allende. South ******* pushed two scores ahead thanks to a conversion by replacement fly-half Handre Pollard, whose last-gasp penalty sealed the Boks’ win over England in the World Cup semi-finals last year,. The English couldn’t then respond despite territory and playing against 14 men for the final 10 minutes. Since repeating as world champions a year ago, the Springboks have now won 10 of 12 Tests and lost the other two by only a point each. England, meanwhile, have lost six of their last seven Tests and have developed a concerning penchant for finishing tight games weakly. It is leaving England coach Steve Borthwick under increasing pressure, especially if his team fails to beat Japan next week in their last outing of the year. A frenetic first half featured five tries, two for England — through Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill — and three for the Boks, via scrum-half Grant Williams’ dazzling, darting run, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit’s chargedown and grounding, and Kolbe. The second half was more tight and tense, with each team having a try ruled out and England taking a 20-19 lead through Marcus Smith’s penalty in the 52nd. But England lacked composure with a huge win in their sights and Pollard, on for Mannie Libbok, returned the favour with a trademark penalty from halfway to regain the lead for the Boks. Kolbe took de Allende’s pass and sprinted down the wing to score the try that broke English hearts, and Pollard naturally slotted the extras from the touchline. Replacement prop Gerhard Steenekamp’s 69th-minute sin-binning for repeated team infringements might have cost South *******, but their defence stayed strong and England made errors and poor decisions. The last time England lost three in a row at home was in 2006. Source link #Kolbe #Boks #hand #England #loss #row Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

King Arthur left an ancient trail across Britain. Experts say it offers clues about the truth behind the myth King Arthur left an ancient trail across Britain. Experts say it offers clues about the truth behind the myth Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. He’s the mythical Celtic warlord who held out against the Anglo Saxon invasion of what would come to be called England. His right-hand man was a wizard, he was handed his famous sword by a deity, and he was a romantic — and chivalrous — hero. Oh, and he isn’t *****. He’s merely asleep, and will rise again when the time is right to expel the invaders and turn Britain back into a Celtic land. He is, of course, King Arthur, a figure so imbued with beauty and potential that even across the pond, JFK’s presidency was referred to as Camelot — Arthur’s mythical court. But was there a real man behind the myth? Or is he just our platonic ideal of a hero — a respectful king, in today’s parlance? Today, Arthur’s supposed exploits have left behind a tourist trail across the *** and beyond, with scores of sites claiming connections to his myth. It’s nothing new. For centuries, the legend of Arthur has fascinated much of Europe. He was supposedly the leader of a tribe of Celts — indigenous Britons — when the Saxons invaded Britain in the fifth century. The Saxons — people from modern-day Scandinavia, Germany and France — eventually colonized Britain, but there were fierce pockets of resistance from the Celts, especially in the far west of the country. Wales and Cornwall — England’s southwesternmost county – were the last to fall. The Celtic languages that all Britons originally spoke held out here, while elsewhere people began to speak what would become English. Arthur was, according to tradition, a leader resisting to the end against the Saxon colonizers. Fittingly, both Cornwall and Wales (among other places) claim him. Today, he is best associated with Tintagel Castle, where ******** of a settlement dating back to the fifth century perch strikingly on an islet off the wild coast of Cornwall. Supposedly, Arthur was conceived here. But the myth of Arthur is also bound intrinsically with Glastonbury Tor (a hill in Somerset where Merlin, his magician, is said to be asleep, waiting to return), Caerleon Castle in Wales (this was said to where Arthur had his court, Camelot), and South Cadbury in Somerset, where archaeologists in the 1970s thought they’d located Camelot. In Wales alone, Arthur is meant to have ******* a giant on Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) and a fearsome ****** in Llyn Barfog lake, while Merlin is said to be ******* both on Bardsey Island, off the north coast, and in a cliff at Nevern. Mind you, Arthur is also rumored to be sleeping in that cliffside — as well as ******* at Glastonbury Abbey, Baschurch in Shropshire, and Mynydd y Gaer, a mountain in Wales. Even for a mythical figure, he got around. There’s also Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh — the names of Arthur and Merlin are “right at the top of the list” of historical figures who’ve loaned their names to places, according to Mark Stoyle, professor of early modern history at the ***’s University of Southampton. Even the French claim a link with him, with some arguing that he was from Brittany — another Celtic part of Europe. The study of his story is, apparently, on the national school curriculum in France. So why is everyone so fascinated with this man — and did he even exist? An Arthur for all seasons Arthur was said to have been handed his sword, Excalibur, by the mysterious deity, the Lady of the Lake. – Bettmann Archive/Getty Images For Stoyle, it’s likely that the myth of Arthur has at least its roots in fact. “Nobody knows for sure,” he says. “Historians are so divided on it.” He says that an increasing number of archaeologists and historians believe that Arthur is an amalgamation of various historical characters, rather than an actual figure himself —although plenty still believe that Arthur himself existed. Stoyle himself is in the former camp. “When the Roman empire fell, the Anglo Saxons took over in the east of England and then moved to the west. There was fierce resistance to them which lasted a long time, and it’s easy to believe that there was one or more local chieftains who opposed them, and that those stories are perhaps the germ for the story of Arthur,” he says. “My gut feeling is that there has to be someone extraordinary behind this [these stories] but we have so little hard evidence, and some things [which he is said to have done] he definitely couldn’t do.” That would be things like pulling a sword out of a rock in which it was lodged (this marked him out as the rightful king), or getting his most famous sword, Excalibur, handed to him by “the lady of the lake,” a kind of water deity (Cornish people swear this happened at Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor). Excalibur has, of course, become so rooted in our global consciousness that it was not only the subject of the 1963 Disney film “The Sword in the Stone” but also is the name of a medieval-themed resort in Las Vegas. Whoever inspired these stories is almost a moot point for Stoyle. “In a way, everybody has their own Arthur — perceptions about who we want him to have been,” he says. Perhaps he’s the chivalrous knight who spent more time instilling good behavior at Camelot than ******** his enemies. This is the Arthur that went viral in the medieval *******, when chivalry was all the rage. Perhaps he’s the romantic hero, the king who fought for love when his wife Guinevere ran off with his most trusted confidant, Lancelot. That’s the ******* Arthur beloved by the pre-Raphaelite artists and poets who obsessed over him in the 1800s. This Arthur was played by Clive Owen in the 2004 film, “King Arthur,” alongside Keira Knightley as Guinevere. Perhaps he’s the mystic — the proto-New Age king who was led to victory by his trusted magician Merlin. Modern-day mystics swarm to Glastonbury to soak up his magic there. Or maybe he’s supernatural — a man who never really *****, but ***** sleeping, ready to return when his country needs him. This Arthur will kick the Saxon colonizers out and return Britain to its native Celtic culture. That’s the guy who, says Stoyle, the Welsh and Cornish “absolutely believed” in for centuries. As for Merlin, Stoyle says that most leaders of that age would have been accompanied by a sage. Merlin is the model in popular culture for the likes of Gandalf and Dumbledore, he says. A medieval myth unknown content item – In the medieval *******, Arthur’s story — or, more accurately, his myth — went viral after a writer called Geoffrey of Monmouth described King Arthur in his book, “Historia Regum Britanniae,” or “A history of Britain’s kings,” around 1136 CE. Geoffrey — thought to have been a monk — wrote that Arthur was conceived at Tintagel, and held court at Camelot — AKA Caerleon in southeast Wales, around 150 miles northeast of Tintagel. According to Geoffrey, Arthur ***** fighting the forces of his wayward son Mordred at the battle of Camlann at Cornwall’s “River Camblan” — often interpreted as the River Camel, which coincidentally runs through a place called Slaughterbridge. He was ******* on the island of Avalon — not located by Geoffrey, though the medieval monks of Glastonbury Abbey were quick to equate themselves with Avalon, not least because Arthur pilgrims were cash-rich visitors. Of course, medieval history writers were fast and loose with the facts. But it seems that archaeology can provide some pointers. Tintagel Castle is one of the most romantic sites connected with Arthur: an atmospheric ruined castle clinging to the cliffside of a small island, dangling just off the coast of the north Cornish coast. So spectacular is its location that it’s the second most visited site for English Heritage, the charity that manages it, after Stonehenge. In 2023, 334,195 visitors made their way down from the cliffs at Tintagel village, into a valley, and up along another cliff to a suspension bridge. The bridge — built in 2019 — leads visitors across an abyss, the Atlantic Ocean thrashing below, and onto the islet, where they walk straight into a ruined medieval dining hall on the side of the precipitous cliff. Into the past Tintagel — where Arthur is said to have been conceived — is the second most popular site in England for English Heritage, second only to Stonehenge. – chrisdorney/iStockphoto/Getty Images Arthur, so the legend goes, was conceived here – though of course not in that dining hall. In fact, the atmospheric medieval ruins we see today were built expressly to tap into the Arthurian myth, says Win Scutt, senior properties curator at English Heritage. The castle was built by Earl Richard, the 13th-century duke of Cornwall — a role today held by Prince William. “Earl Richard wanted to associate himself with the Arthurian story — that’s why he bought the land and built the castle,” says Scutt. “This was a feasting place to basically say he was the new Arthur.” Further up on the clifftop, however, are ******** that date back to the (supposed) Arthurian *******. Across the top of the headland spread the ******** of a settlement from the fifth to the seventh century — the height of the “Dark Ages,” the post-Roman ******* in Europe when trading and transport routes broke down, and for which there is little written evidence. Yet the archaeological evidence at Tintagel is compelling. It shows that the site was home to an important settlement during the *******, with evidence of long-distance trading: wine from Greece, serving bowls from Turkey, and Tunisian ceramics. There is more pottery from the eastern Mediterranean at Tintagel than from all other sites from the same era in Britain — put together. “We don’t have a settlement in southern Britain as large as Tintagel — not even London,” says Scutt. There are traces of around 100 buildings scattered over the headland. There’s also evidence of connections with early ********** culture in the eastern Mediterranean. “Seven hundred years before the [medieval] castle there was a place of power there,” says Scutt, adding that there are few signs of military defenses, implying that it was a “high status site — more of a statement.” “It’s not necessarily royal, but probably is,” he adds. “Cornwall was an independent kingdom in the early medieval *******.” Then there’s the “Artognou stone,” discovered onsite in 1998. A sixth-century carved stone, it mentions the name Artognou, which some people have connected to Arthur — though other scholars have dismissed this idea. Scutt says that he and his colleagues have shied away in the past from linking Tintagel with Arthur too explicitly. Yet he is curious why Geoffrey of Monmouth chose it as Arthur’s place of conception. “Where did he pick up this story? ***** history? Writing? Or did the people of Tintagel claim to have origins with Arthur? You can’t extricate the myth from the history,” he says. “Maybe he was aware there had been an important place. “That [Geoffrey] connects the birth of Arthur with Tintagel can’t be a coincidence – there’s something going on there.” But, Scutt hastens to add, “That doesn’t mean [Arthur] existed. As an archaeologist, I never trust historical records. We always question the documentary record — especially if it’s from 500 years later.” ‘A complete spoof’ Arthur and his entourage were known as the ‘knights of the round table’ — supposedly because sat round one big table together. – Heritage Images/Hulton Archive/Getty Images One person who isn’t convinced by Geoffrey’s account is Nicholas J. Higham, professor emeritus at the University of Manchester, who calls the text “a complete spoof… a faux history which lionizes the Britons and downgrades the English as pagan incomers who aren’t very nice.” Higham likens Geoffrey’s text to the epic “Lord of the Rings” saga by J.R.R. Tolkien — who, incidentally, was an Arthurian scholar. “You see him plucking stuff off [other source materials] and writing it into his own narrative,” he says. Those sources included a ninth-century document called “The History of the Britons” which “rewrote” the history of the Roman occupation of Britain to laud the indigenous Britons, and a 540 CE ****** document in the manner of an “Old Testament prophet” which suggests that the Britons were subdued because “they have gone against ****, and they need to repent and return to the lord.” This document — by a writer called Gildas — “builds up the figures of resistance [to the Romans],” says Higham, One of these figures in the text is Arthur. He is depicted as an almost *******-like figure, the battle leader of the Britons, winning 12 battles — a number significant to Christians. Old Welsh poetry of the eight to 11th century also mention Arthur, though Higham says that the texts we have today are medieval copies that were “radically modernized” and therefore untrustworthy. There’s also a roundabout reference to Arthur in a sixth century poem, damning another figure as, “He was not an Arthur.” “You can make of that what you will,” says Higham, who calls himself an “Arthur skeptic.” “You can’t accept the word of an early ninth-century writer who you know is attempting to rewrite the past for present propagandist purposes.” Henry VIII, an unlikely superfan Henry VIII is seen as the quintessential English king. In fact, he played up his Welsh roots, and his father claimed to be a descendant of the Celt, Arthur. – Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images Whatever the truth, the influence of Arthur has echoed down through the centuries. In 1485, England’s King Henry VII seized power from Richard III by landing in Wales from his exile in Brittany (he had first tried to land in Cornwall), billing himself as “Arthur’s heir,” says Stoyle. “The prophecies that Arthur would come again encouraged the Welsh to join him, and his army snowballed.” Once he’d grabbed the throne, he emphasized his Welshness, even calling his first son – the Prince of Wales — Arthur. Henry’s reign was, says Stoyle, a “glorious Welsh renaissance,” and Arthur — who was sent to the English town of Ludlow to govern as a young man — would have been crowned king of England had he not ***** early. Instead, his younger brother took power — one Henry VIII. And although we think of Henry as the quintessential Englishman, Stoyle says he “emphasized his connection with Wales,” celebrating St. David’s Day in court and having a retinue of Welsh staff. He and his daughter, Elizabeth I, spoke both Welsh and Cornish. “The Tudors were really keen to say we are kings of England but also Wales and Cornwall,” says Stoyle. The later Stuart dynasty also played up links with Arthur, he says. “It really shows Arthur mattered.” Whatever the truth, those who love Arthur — the man, the myth, or the many men whose stories might have created the myth — have plenty of places to visit. And the wonderful thing about the many Arthurs is that he can also tell us about ourselves. “In a way, everybody has their own Arthur,” says Stoyle. “There are all kinds of Arthurs. At Glastonbury it’s very New Age-y. At Tintagel it’s more grim and forbidding, he’s more like a warrior. Most people think of him in a more romantic way. Different people gravitate to different places in search of ‘their’ Arthur.” Scutt says that the legends are important as the truth — whatever that is. “The legend is important — that’s our identity,” he says. “Some stories that we tell about our own families might not be very truthful but we remember them as part of us. “As a child I used to write songs to do with the Arthur story and even called my bicycle Arthur. “Do I want him to exist? I kind of do. But in a way, it doesn’t really matter. “ For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #King #Arthur #left #ancient #trail #Britain #Experts #offers #clues #truth #myth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hot startup fires up AI to prepare for extreme weather Hot startup fires up AI to prepare for extreme weather An artificial intelligence-driven startup is changing how weather is predicted and says its climate risk breakthrough can help communities survive disasters. Source link #Hot #startup #fires #prepare #extreme #weather Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dunham park ********* arrest; mild weekend; Thune Dunham park ********* arrest; mild weekend; Thune SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It’s Saturday, November 16. Take a look at our top stories with KELOLAND On The GO. A man has been arrested Friday in connection to the Dunham Park ********* Investigation. Man arrested in connection to Dunham Park ********* investigation Day care owner Ametrea Christion of Sioux Falls, who faces one count of ****** or cruelty to a minor, appeared in a Minnehaha County courtroom Friday where her lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf. The 44-year-old Christion owns Wildflower Academy, which closed in October. Day care owner accused of ****** appears in court It’s been a whirlwind two days, but John Thune is out of Washington, D.C. and back home. Thune says cabinet confirmation process ‘thorough’ South Dakotans are still buzzing about last week’s election, not so much about the final results, but rather the rising national profile the state is receiving since the votes were cast. South Dakotans react to Thune, Noem impacts Breezy conditions are on the way today as low pressure to our north and west pushes into North Dakota. While we miss out on moisture (For now), we don’t miss out on the wind. Storm Center AM Update: Mild Weekend; Rain by Monday Check out our Boredom Busters! Saturday Boredom Busters: November 16th Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go. 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 KELOLAND.com. Source link #Dunham #park #********* #arrest #mild #weekend #Thune Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fact-checking his views on health policy Fact-checking his views on health policy BBC Robert F Kennedy Jr has been nominated by Donald Trump to be the next US health secretary, a post that oversees everything from medical research to food safety and public ******** programmes. Speaking in an NPR interview this week, Kennedy said Trump had given him three “instructions”: to remove “***********” from health agencies, to return these bodies to “evidence-based science and medicine”, and “to end the chronic ******** epidemic”. Some of Kennedy’s own stated aims for government are bound up with misinformation – and many medical experts have expressed serious concerns about his nomination, citing his views on vaccines and other health matters. On other matters he has more support, for example in scrutinising the processing of food and the use of additives. What does RFK Jr say about vaccine safety? Kennedy said in his NPR interview that vaccines were “not going to be taken away from anybody”. He says he wants to improve the science on vaccine safety which he believes has “huge deficits” and that he wants good information so people “can make informed choices“. But his critique of the vaccine safety regime has been roundly dismissed by experts. While Kennedy has denied on several occasions that he is anti-vaccination and said he and his children are vaccinated, he has repeatedly stated widely debunked claims about vaccine harm. One of his main false claims – repeated in a 2023 interview with Fox News, was that “autism comes from vaccines”. This theory was popularised by discredited *** doctor Andrew Wakefield. But Wakefield’s 1998 study was later retracted by the Lancet medical journal. Multiple studies since, across many countries, have concluded there is no link between vaccines and autism. Dr David Elliman, a consultant in community child health at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, said RFK Jr has perpetuated myths around vaccination with “an utter disregard for the evidence”. “If he is appointed and continues in the same mode, I ***** not just for the vaccination programme in the US, but similar programmes around the world, and for healthcare in general,” says Dr Elliman. “Vaccination has probably saved more lives and is better researched than most, if not all, aspects of healthcare. RFK Jr could set this back and be responsible for the ****** and disability of myriads of people, particularly children.” Misleading claims on fluoride in drinking water Fluoride – a naturally occurring mineral recognised to protect teeth against decay – is added to water supplies in many countries, including the US, where around 63% of the population have fluoridated water. Kennedy has long campaigned against the practice, and claimed in a recent post on X that Trump, as president, would be advising ”all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water”. The president-elect told the NBC network: “Well, I haven’t talked to [Kennedy] about it yet, but it sounds OK to me. You know, it’s possible.” In his post on X, Kennedy said fluoride was “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone *******, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid ********”. But Prof Avijit Banerjee, chair of cariology and operative dentistry at King’s College London, said “the potential harmful effects of fluoride cited have not been associated with the very low levels of fluoride used in water fluoridation programmes”. Kennedy cited a September 2024 ruling by a judge in California recommending further investigation into potential harms following the publication of a report suggesting possible links between exposure to higher levels of fluoride to lower IQ in children. But that report has proved highly controversial. Dr Ray Lowry of the British Fluoridation Society notes that the ruling “was not an outright condemnation of fluoride; rather, it suggested that the EPA could investigate further to ensure an adequate safety margin.” Trump has nominated vaccine sceptic RFK Jr for health secretary What has he said about ultra-processed food? Kennedy has been outspoken about his concerns about additives in foods, and how big a part ultra-processed foods (UPFs) play in many people’s diets. In October he said in a post on X that “ultra-processed food is driving the obesity epidemic.” Kennedy has also linked UPFs with a range of medical conditions including cancers in young adults and mental health conditions. There is a growing body of evidence that these foods aren’t good for us, and although recent research shows many pervasive health problems, including cancers, obesity and depression are associated with diet, there’s no clear evidence as yet that they are caused by UPFs. Dr Nerys Astbury, a diet and obesity expert at the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences at the University of Oxford, says that “while improving the diet and reducing body weight of the population will undoubtedly reduce the number of people who develop conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular ******** and certain cancers, the role of food processing in a healthy diet… is not clear”. Dr David Nunan, from the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) says “multiple factors, including broader lifestyle, socioeconomic determinants, and healthcare access, need to be considered. Studies to date cannot reliably separate out the individual impact of UPFs from these other factors”. Reuters RFK Jr ended his own presidential campaign and endorsed Trump RFK Jr’s Covid claims widely criticised A vocal critic of restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19, Kennedy said at press event last year in a video posted by the New York Post that “Covid-19 is targeted to ******* Caucasians and ****** people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and ********.” Health specialists say these claims are false and that the virus does not target any specific ******* group. “The claims of Robert F Kennedy Jr are very damaging given they do not follow scientific evidence,” says Prof Melinda Mills at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Population Health. “As many credible peer-reviewed Covid-19 studies have shown, differences in Covid infections and deaths between socioeconomic and ******* groups is related to inequalities, deprivation and living in larger or intergenerational households.” Following widespread criticism of his remarks, Kennedy posted on X that he does not “believe and never implied that the ******* effect was deliberately engineered”, and cited a study, claiming it supported his comments about genetic factors influencing immunity. But one of the report authors responded by strongly rejecting this interpretation of the study and that its findings “never supported” Kennedy’s claims. Source link #Factchecking #views #health #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk says Lutnick would ‘enact change’ if US Treasurer Musk says Lutnick would ‘enact change’ if US Treasurer Billionaire Elon Musk, an adviser to US president-elect Donald Trump, says Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick would “actually enact change” if chosen as US Treasury secretary. Trump has not announced his nominee for the role but Lutnick and investor Scott Bessent are serious contenders for the job and sources familiar with his thinking say Trump has been wrestling with picking one of the two or considering another option. Musk said Bessent is “a business-as-usual choice”. “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another,” Musk said on X. “Would be interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for Trump to consider feedback.” Both Lutnick and Bessent have been mentioned as possible picks to lead the Treasury department. Bessent is considered the more conventional business-friendly choice. He is sceptical about cryptocurrency while Lutnick has suggested it could be used for people to pay their taxes. A short time later, Trump’s pick to lead his Health and Human Services Department, Robert F Kennedy Jr, also appeared to endorse Lutnick, posting on his own X account, “Bitcoin is the currency of freedom, a hedge against inflation for middle class Americans.” “Bitcoin will have no stronger advocate than Howard Lutnick,” he wrote. Treasury is arguably the most important slot Trump has left to fill but he is also yet to announce choices for others, including the heads of the Education and Labor Departments. Musk has been increasingly influential in Trump’s inner circle and has been staying at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, as Trump forms his incoming government. At a gala event on Thursday night, Trump teased Musk about his ongoing post-election stay at Mar-a-Lago. “I can’t get him out of here. He just loves this place. And I like having him here,” Trump said. At the end of the event, Musk mounted the stage. “The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear. The people have spoken, the people want change,” he said. Lutnick has been helping Trump with his transition efforts. He has praised the president-elect’s economic policies, including his use of tariffs. with AP Source link #Musk #Lutnick #enact #change #Treasurer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bullet strikes Southwest Airlines plane without injuries at Dallas airport Bullet strikes Southwest Airlines plane without injuries at Dallas airport Bullet strikes Southwest Airlines plane without injuries at Dallas airport Source link #Bullet #strikes #Southwest #Airlines #plane #injuries #Dallas #airport Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anniversary: 20 Years On, Metroid Prime 2 Represents The Franchise At Its Experimental Best Anniversary: 20 Years On, Metroid Prime 2 Represents The Franchise At Its Experimental Best “Following up on Metroid Prime was never going to be easy. Although many (this writer included) were sceptical of Retro Studios abilities to move Metroid into the 3D, first-person realm, the team not only managed to put its own spin on an established Nintendo franchise successfully, but it also created one of the greatest games of all time.” – Ollie Reynolds | NintendoLife Source link #Anniversary #Years #Metroid #Prime #Represents #Franchise #Experimental Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Traders ‘not worried’ about traffic Traders ‘not worried’ about traffic BBC Mary Taylor has been travelling with her business from England to Belfast for the last seven years The director of Belfast Christmas Market is hoping the suspension of roadworks in the run-up to Christmas allays concerns after recent traffic congestion in the city. Some traders have said that congestion in the centre of Belfast, which is being blamed on roadworks and the opening of a new multi-million pound transport hub, is causing a drop in footfall and affecting local businesses. The Bavarian-style market opened its doors to the public at noon on Saturday, hours before the city’s Christmas light switch-on event. Celebrating its 20th year, the market is anticipating about one million visitors over its five-week run. A large ****** of shoppers waited to enter Belfast’s Christmas Market on opening day Allan Hartwell, managing director of Market Place which runs the Christmas event, said he first heard about the traffic issues shortly before arriving in the city for the market’s set up. “I was really concerned, but we arrived on the Saturday and on the Sunday I took a walk around the city and it was booming, it was heaving. “Because of all these roadworks going on, I was really surprised that the weekends have been absolutely buoyant.” He said the suspension of non-essential roadworks on Belfast routes, which is planned for 25 November, should ease concerns. Allan Hartwell has been overseeing the Belfast Christmas Market since it began in 2004 Mary Taylor has been operating her clothing stall in Belfast’s market for seven years – surviving setbacks caused by the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. “I love this city, the people are lovely here, very friendly, and we always have a successful market regardless of the weather or what’s going on,” she said. Ms Taylor said she does not think the recent congestion will have too much of an effect on business. “If the people want to come to the market, they’ll come, however they get here by bus, train or car, they’ll come so no it doesn’t worry me,” she added. More local traders operating Belfast’s Christmas Market first ran as a pilot project in 2004 with 34 traders, with the vast majority of those from France, Germany and the Netherlands. “When we started, we were concerned about the lack of professional market traders within Northern Ireland,” Mr Hartwell said. “There wasn’t a huge amount of markets operating with full-time traders, and not traders that can sustain a five-week market.” A new contract was negotiated, and a partnership with nearby St George’s Market was established, to ensure that local businesses are represented. Now, about 50% of the 100 stalls in operation are owned by local traders, Mr Hartwell added. This year, a chalet has been set aside in a prime location to allow for six young business owners to operate in the market for free. Another initiative by Market Place, called the Jolly Big Business Boost, allows one local business to operate at the market free of charge. The winner, Emma Goodman from Lurgan in County Armagh, said she was shocked when she received the good news. Emma Goodman will operate her business in Belfast’s Christmas Market for free Ms Goodman, who has a dog accessory business, spotted the competition while recovering from surgery earlier this year. “I was thinking I’ll probably not win it, I’ll just enter for experience and I nearly ***** when I got the phone call,” she said. She is hoping the opportunity will allow her to grow her business and build a community network. Markets ‘invaluable’ for smaller businessesGeri Martin Geri Martin has taken part in the Flowerfield Christmas fair for the last five years There are other markets across Northern Ireland in the run up to Christmas, such as Flowerfield Art Centre’s Christmas Craft Market in Portstewart. It operates six days a week and features a number of local traders. It is run by Causeway Coast and Glens Council, allowing for businesses to cut down on staffing costs. Geri Martin, who runs an artisan chocolate shop in Castlerock, said the experience is invaluable during the business’s busiest time of the year. “I can’t afford to send someone to stand at a Christmas market,” she explained. “It’s such a difficult time of the year for us because we’re so busy with all of our corporate work and Christmas gifts so the way it has been set up is fantastic and every year we see our sales grow. “Businesses have to really commit their time… and that’s a huge risk because you don’t know how well the market is going to go.” Stillpoint Photo Fiona Shannon says operating in local markets is more cost beneficial Fiona Shannon, who is from Portstewart, has been selling her ceramic goods at Flowerfield for a number of years. “It’s a fantastic market to be a part of,” she said. “A lot of local people have started to come and support it and it’s worked out really well for me as a business.” Ms Shannon said about 35 local businesses make up Flowerfield’s market. “There’s such a range of stuff now that people can essentially do all of their shopping under one roof,” she added. What are the opening times for Belfast’s Christmas Market? Belfast’s Christmas Market opened at noon on Saturday 16 November and will run daily until 18:00 GMT on Sunday 22 December. The market operates from 10:00 and closes at 20:00 (bars open until 21:00) from Monday to Wednesday and 22:00 (bars open until 23:00) from Thursday to Saturday. On a Sunday, gates open at noon, with the earlier closing time of 18:00. The market’s opening day coincided with the Belfast Christmas lights switch-on, with a number of roads in the city centre closed. What roads will be closed? The following areas will be fully closed from 16:30 GMT until 20:30: Royal Avenue, from Rosemary Street to Castle Place, Donegall Place, High Street, from Castle Junction to Cornmarket, Castle Lane, Callender Street from the bollards to Castle Lane, and Castle Place. There will also be suspension of disabled parking on Castle Place and of parking on Donegall Place. Between 17:30 and 20:30 the following areas will be fully closed: Wellington Place, Donegall Square North, and Donegall Square South. On Sunday Donegall Square North and Donegall Square West will be closed between 02:00 and 05:00. Getty Images The Belfast Christmas Market is open until 18:00 on December 22 Source link #Traders #worried #traffic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s What You Need to Know About The Game Awards 2024 Here’s What You Need to Know About The Game Awards 2024 It feels like 2024 flew by rapidly, with many months seamlessly melding together. And so, here we are again, time for The Game Awards 2024. It’s time for the ultimate popularity contest when your favorite titles clash as developers cross their fingers and pray for a big win on the stage, where Geoff Keighley rubs shoulders with the biggest and brightest while we watch from across the country. Still, seeing your favorite game score a big win is nice! The Game Awards 2024 Date and Time The Game Awards will be live-streamed globally on December 12 across multiple digital, social, and gaming platforms 4:30 PM PST – December 12 7:30 PM EST – December 12 12:30 AM GMT – December 13 9:30 AM JST – December 13 11:30 AM AEST – December 13 Where to Watch The Game Awards 2024 You can tune in live to watch The Game Awards 2024 on any of the following platforms: Furthermore, IGN and GameSpot will also co-stream The Game Awards on their respective platforms. Related: The Biggest Video Game Releases of December 2024 The Game Awards GOTY Nominees The Game Awards won’t officially unveil its nominees until November 18, giving the panel time to vote on the best titles throughout 2024. Oh, by the way, they’re including expansions, DLC, and game seasons this year, which means Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is available to nominate as GOTY. The moment nominees become available, we’ll update this guide. For now, here are a few predictions we suspect will be in the running for Game of the Year: Astro **** Metaphor: ReFantazio Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Shadow of the Erdtree ****** Myth Wukong What game do you think will win the 2024 Game of the Year? Let us know in the comments below, or start a thread on our community forum to discuss The Game Awards and GOTY nominations! Speaking of streaming, did you hear the news that Twitch streamers are experiencing rapidly plummeting ad revenue due to the site’s struggles? Insider Gaming reported on the matter recently, and we’ll keep an eye on how things are progressing on that front! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Heres #Game #Awards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shattered Hawks let it slip against Port in AFLW epic Shattered Hawks let it slip against Port in AFLW epic Port Adelaide have locked in an AFLW preliminary final berth against North Melbourne after pipping Hawthorn by a point, while Adelaide defeated Fremantle. Source link #Shattered #Hawks #slip #Port #AFLW #epic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Surprising Dementia Symptom You May Be Able to Notice in the Shower The Surprising Dementia Symptom You May Be Able to Notice in the Shower Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide. Especially likely in people over the age of 65, dementia is a progressive, neurological ******** that may present as forgetting things, feeling anxious, struggling to make decisions and more. Noticing these symptoms can be scary, and being on constant alert may not be the best way to protect your mental health and emotional well-being. At the same time, knowing what symptoms to spot can be helpful. Those symptoms aren’t always expected, either. Related: Forgetting These 4 Things Could Be an Early Sign of Dementia, According to a Neurologist and Dementia Consultant The Surprising Dementia Symptom You May Be Able to Notice in the Shower One dementia sign can show up while you’re showering: Not being able to smell or recognize the scent of your shampoo or body wash—barring other issues that can impact your olfactory senses, like COVID-19 or a stuffy nose. But wait, how does this relate to dementia? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week How Dementia Impacts Someone’s Ability to Smell First, it’s important to note that a loss of smell at an older age isn’t necessarily a sign of dementia. “As we age, it’s normal for our senses to change,” says Dr. Meredith Bock, MD, a board-certified neurologist and chief medical officer at Remo Health. “For people living with dementia, these changes can be more noticeable.” Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, MD, neurologist and sleep center medical director for Sentara RMH Medical Center, speaks to the link. “An increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s ******** dementia has been identified in subjects with olfactory dysfunction,” she says. “Odor identification has been identified as a useful screening tool that predicts conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s ******** dementia.” Basically, this happens because dementia is a neurodegenerative ********. It affects the brain, which, in turn, affects the senses (and other bodily functions). “The process of neurodegeneration that causes dementia can also affect sensation and sensory processing related to smell, making it ******* for them to recognize familiar scents like their favorite shampoo or body wash,” Dr. Bock says. The loss of smell typically occurs slowly over time, neurologists say, and it can actually happen before a person notices any cognitive impairment. “In the case of Lewy body dementia (LBD), olfactory dysfunction seems to be part of the ******** process, and generally it precedes symptoms by almost a decade, in some cases,” adds Dr. Siddiqui. Also, it’s important to note that the type of dementia matters when considering this symptom. Dr. Bock says that the loss of smell might not be noticeable for someone with Alzheimer’s; however, for people with LBD and Parkinson’s ********, it’s typically common and noticeable. Related: The Surprising Symptom That May Be an Early Sign of Dementia, According to New Study What You Can Do If You Notice a Loss of Sense of Smell Not being able to smell well or at all can be scary since it’s associated with ********* such as COVID and dementia. And let’s be real: It’s also just unpleasant. Smell helps us enjoy the taste of food and can even calm anxiety. So what do you do? “My recommendation to someone who may experience a loss of smell is to consult your physician for a cognitive screen and physical examination,” Dr. Bock says. Dr. Siddiqui agrees talking to your doctor is best. Again, a loss of smell doesn’t always equal dementia. “There are more common causes of loss of smell, such as common cold, influenza, sinus infection, hay fever, allergic rhinitis and COVID-19,” she says. “In most of these causes, anosmia (loss of sense of smell) can be reversed by treatment of underlying condition and other aromatherapies.” Related: Want To Lower Your Dementia Risk? Don’t Skip This Vaccine Can You Get Your Sense of Smell Back? Whether or not a person can smell again depends on what caused the loss. But in the case of dementia, the answer is sadly not promising. “Unfortunately, if the loss of smell and taste is due to a neurodegenerative disorder, such as Alzheimer’s ******** or Parkinson’s ********, it does not come back,” Dr. Bock says. Dr. Siddiqui says some patients try aromatherapy to restore their sense of smell, but the loss can be permanent. Not all joy is lost, however. With eating, Dr. Bock says some people find it helpful to add extra spice, enjoy the textures of food or lean into the social aspects. When it comes to showering and not being able to enjoy the scent of shampoo and body wash, what can you enjoy? Perhaps the sensations that come with a face exfoliator or more simply, that just-out-of-the-shower fresh feeling. Up Next: Related: This Super Common Issue Could Increase Your Dementia Risk, According to Neurologists—Here’s How to Prevent It Sources Dr. Meredith Bock, MD, board-certified neurologist Dr. Fouzia Siddiqui, neurologist Dementia, World Health Organization Source link #Surprising #Dementia #Symptom #Notice #Shower Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

England 20-29 South *******: Hosts lose at Allianz Stadium England 20-29 South *******: Hosts lose at Allianz Stadium England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; M Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Cole, Isiekwe, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Roebuck. South *******: Fassi; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, W Louw, Etzebeth, Snyman, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese. Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, E Louw, Smith, Reinach, Pollard, Am. Source link #England #South #******* #Hosts #lose #Allianz #Stadium Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Aussie school students are being given an AI grade Why Aussie school students are being given an AI grade An artificial intelligence tool developed in Australia is being tested in classrooms and early results suggest it is helping students improve their answers. Source link #Aussie #school #students #grade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Non-Americans Are Absolutely Certain Americans Have NO IDEA What Is Happening In These Pictures Non-Americans Are Absolutely Certain Americans Have NO IDEA What Is Happening In These Pictures Non-Americans Are Absolutely Certain Americans Have NO IDEA What Is Happening In These Pictures Source link #NonAmericans #Absolutely #Americans #IDEA #Happening #Pictures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tyson vs Paul fans ‘disappointed’ at Netflix problems Tyson vs Paul fans ‘disappointed’ at Netflix problems Getty Images Fans hoping to watch Mike Tyson take on Jake Paul have expressed their anger and disappointment after some reported Netflix crashed repeatedly throughout the ******. It was the streaming giant’s first foray into live boxing and was free for subscribers, but a number of viewers took to social media to complain about tech glitches. The ****** was “unwatchable,” wrote one X user. Another said she was “furious”, while a third complained he “did an all-nighter for nothing”. Netflix declined to comment. In the bout, which took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, former world heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, was beaten by YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 27. The ****** attracted a huge amount of media coverage. Tyson is one of the most famous men on the planet, while Paul drew in a younger audience. According to Paul, 120 million viewers watched it live globally on Netflix. The tech firm has said it will reveal further viewing figures on Tuesday. But some viewers reported experiencing buffering issues on the site, and some said they simply couldn’t get onto it. Brendan Ashford Fans were left frustrated after buffering issues on Netflix prevented them watching the ****** Brendan Ashford, who lives in Devon, told BBC News he stayed up late to watch the ******, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning *** time. “I was interested to see how Mike Tyson, at 58, would perform against a much younger guy,” he said. “I’m not in the habit of staying up late, but I thought it was worth it.” He tried signing in on Netflix at around 04:00 GMT, and says initially it loaded 25%, and then it got to 75%, but after that it got stuck. “I knew I had a good connection, so then I looked on social media and saw others were also experiencing issues,” he said. “It was really disappointing. I kept trying for a good hour before I gave up.” Mr Ashford said it made him wonder how Netflix would fare with future live sports events, given the problems people encountered this time. “It can’t be good for their reputation,” he said. Getty Images The ****** attracted huge media attention, but some fans weren’t able to watch Jake Paul’s moment of victory On social media, there was a similar reaction from fans, who vented their frustrations. Many also posted pictures and videos of the ****** failing to load, while some said the service ******* at the key moments during the event. “Had all my friends over to watch the Tyson vs. Paul ******. Not loading,” wrote one X user. “Shame on Netflix for not being able to handle the streaming of the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul ******,” wrote another. “The lagging is so bad the fights are unwatchable to long time subscribers like me and other people I know at home with friends, family, snacks, and drinks but no fights.” Another person simply asked, “did Netflix not have enough time to prepare for the Tyson / Paul ******?” ‘It needs to get this fixed’ This isn’t the first time Netflix has had issues with live streaming. Last year, it apologised after a much-publicised livestream of its hit dating show, the Love is ****** reunion, was delayed due to a glitch. The technical reason for the delay was unclear but the streaming giant said it was “incredibly sorry”. No reason has been given for these latest issues, but Chris Stokel-Walker, a tech reporter, said that the huge demand to watch the ****** was “Netflix’s undoing”. “Netflix has done live broadcasting before,” he said. “What’s different, was that this ****** was so hyped. “There were so many viewers that were wanting to watch this, given the personalities involved – Jake Paul with his huge following, Mike Tyson returning to the ring for the first time in decades. “Even people who aren’t major boxing fans wanted to tune in because of all the coverage. “As a result, there was additional demand well above and beyond your average live event, like a comedy special, or the live golf tournament they previously broadcast.” Mr Stokel-Walker said that with Netflix intending to move towards more live sports in future, including a new deal with WWE from next year, it “needs to get this fixed”. “They have to expect that if they’re going to get into this world, they’re going to have to get used to this volume of people coming,” he said. “The Tyson vs Paul ****** was one of the most high profile examples of an event they’ve done live, so it’s really not ideal. “People will be watching this and wondering can they cope.” Additional reporting by Emma Pengelly. Source link #Tyson #Paul #fans #disappointed #Netflix #problems Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** airstrikes on Lebanon’s Baalbek ***** 6, injure 11 others: ministry – National ******** airstrikes on Lebanon’s Baalbek ***** 6, injure 11 others: ministry – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size ******** airstrikes on the village of Khreibeh in the Baalbek District of eastern Lebanon ******* six people on Saturday, including three children, and injured 11 others, the Lebanese health ministry said. Among the injured were five children, two of whom were in critical condition, the ministry said. Strikes earlier on Saturday ******* two medics in south Lebanon, including one in Borj Rahal and another in Kfartebnit, and injured four other rescue workers, with two still missing, the ministry said. ******** airstrikes also targeted areas of the southern suburbs of Beirut controlled by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah for a fifth consecutive day, with at least 15 strikes on Saturday, according to two security sources. The ******** military said the attacks were directed at Hezbollah infrastructure, including a weapons storage facility and a command center. Story continues below advertisement A soldier was ******* during combat in southern Lebanon, the ******** military said on Saturday. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. There was no word yet from Lebanese authorities on casualties in the strikes on the capital’s southern suburbs. ******* launched its ground and air offensive against Hezbollah in late September after almost a year of cross-border hostilities in parallel with the conflict in Gaza. It says it aims to secure the return home of tens of thousands of Israelis forced to evacuate from northern ******* under Hezbollah *****. *******’s campaign has dealt heavy blows to Hezbollah. It has also forced more than a million Lebanese to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. Trending Now Ford government inks $100M deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink system Billionaire Elon Musk wants ‘high-IQ’ task force workers, but the pay is zero 2:10 ******** airstrikes ***** at least 70 in Gaza, Lebanon as US tries to secure ceasefire deal Lebanon’s health ministry says ******** attacks have ******* at least 3,452 people through Friday since Oct. 7, 2023, most since late September. It does not distinguish between civilian casualties and fighters. Story continues below advertisement ******* says Hezbollah attacks have ******* about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern *******, the ********-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year. More on World More videos Source link #******** #airstrikes #Lebanons #Baalbek #***** #injure #ministry #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]