quotes for fish lover
quotes for fish lover
After Terry McLaurin weaved his way past five defenders for an 86-yard touchdown catch from Jayden Daniels to cut the Cowboys lead to 27-26 with 21 seconds left, Fox's No. 2 broadcast crew captured the chaos before admonishing the audience not to count on anything as a certainty on this helter-skelter afternoon. "Lightning strikes twice in Washington!" Davis shouted in an homage to Daniels' 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown that stunned the Bears last month. "They dropped 11 guys in coverage," Olsen marveled. "If they just tackle him inbounds the game is over. I don't even know what to say. I'm absolutely speechless." Not for long he wasn't. Olsen quickly cautioned the audience that "Automatic" Austin Siebert had already missed an extra point along with a field goal Sunday in his return from a right hip injury. "Before anyone in Washington gets too fired up, remember, we've seen a missed PAT already," Olsen said. "Yeah, you hold your breath with anything special teams-related on this day," Davis agreed. After all, this was the first game in NFL history to feature two kickoff returns for touchdowns, two errant extra points and a blocked punt. In the 41-point fourth quarter that erased the game's snoozer status, Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score. Earlier, the Cowboys missed a field goal and saw another one blocked along with a punt. Sure enough, the snap was low ... the hold was better ... "It is no good!" Davis hollered. "And the worst special teams day in history has a fitting finish!" Actually, no. More ruckus remained. Siebert's onside kick bounced twice in front of safety Juanyeh Thomas, who gathered it in and returned it 43 yards for Dallas' second kickoff return for a touchdown. If Thomas takes a knee short of the goal line, he effectively seals the Cowboys' win. Instead, the score, while pushing Dallas' lead to 34-26, also left enough time for Daniels and the Commanders for a shot at yet another miracle touchdown. Austin Ekeler returned the kickoff to the Washington 36 and after a short gain, Daniels' Hail Mary was intercepted by Israel Mukuamu as time expired. And that's how what Davis called the "worst special teams day in NFL history" came to an end. "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. In keeping with the not-so-special-teams theme, there were several foibles in the kicking game across the NFL in Week 12, where the Broncos gave up a 34-yard pass completion on a fake punt that Denver coach Sean Payton swore the team saw coming — and not as it was unfolding, either, but five days earlier. "We met Tuesday as a staff. It wasn't a matter of if, it was when they were going to run a fake punt," Payton said. "You're struggling as a team like this, we had it on the keys to victory, so credit them, they executed it." Thanks to AJ Cole's 34-yard pass to linebacker Divine Deablo that set up a second-quarter field goal, the reeling Raiders took a 13-9 advantage into the locker room, just their second halftime lead of the season. In the second half, the Raiders succumbed to surging rookie QB Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton in their 29-19 loss. That's seven straight losses for the Raiders, their longest skid in a decade. The Broncos (7-5), who blew a chance to beat the Chiefs in Week 10 when their 35-yard field goal try was blocked as time ran out, also allowed a 59-yard kickoff return that led to Las Vegas' only touchdown Sunday. The Texans (7-5) lost for the third time in four games after Ka'imi Fairbairn shanked a 28-yard field goal try that would have tied the Titans just after the two-minute warning. Like the Broncos, the Vikings (9-2) overcame a special teams blunder and escaped Soldier Field with a 30-27 overtime win against the Bears after allowing Chicago (4-7) to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left. Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal as the fourth-quarter clock hit zeros.From Maui to the Caribbean, Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of college basketball
The claim: Harris’ campaign paid celebrities for endorsements A Nov. 12 Facebook post ( direct link , archive link ) claims Vice President Kamala Harris spent millions of dollars to convince celebrities to endorse and campaign for her. "This is how much Kamala Harris paid artists to publicly support her!" reads the post's caption. "Beyoncé $10 million, Megan Thee Stallion $5 million, Lizzo $3 million, Eminem $1.8 million." Similar claims were found elsewhere on Facebook with differing amounts of money listed. Some of the posts added Oprah Winfrey to the list of paid endorsers. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False The four celebrities cited in the post − or people speaking on their behalf − have all said they weren't paid by Harris' campaign for their endorsements. There are no payments for celebrity endorsements listed in campaign finance reports from the campaign. Cash for celebrity endorsements broadly denied Harris’ star-studded list of celebrity endorsements failed to win her the White House. But there is no evidence those endorsements were bought by the campaign. Harris' communications team could not be reached by USA TODAY, but Adrienne Elrod, who served as a senior adviser and spokesperson for the Harris campaign, previously told Deadline , “We do not pay. We have never paid any artist and performer.” Paying for endorsements is not explicitly barred in campaign finance laws, but all expenditures must be disclosed , according to the Federal Election Commission. Harris’ campaign finance report covering spending through Oct. 16 showed one endorsement-related payment : $75 to the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund. Some of Harris' celebrity endorsements came after that date, and a report covering campaign spending through Nov. 25 is due on Dec. 5 . Still, there is no evidence of any payments to celebrities – and there are public denials from people connected with each celebrity endorsement listed in the post. Fact check : No donations from Sephora to Trump campaign Eminem’s publicist, Dennis Dennehy , told USA TODAY the rapper was not paid for his endorsement of Harris . “Eminem has never received, and has never been offered, any money for his involvement in any political campaign or his endorsement,” Dennehy wrote in an email. Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mom, said on Instagram that claims her daughter was paid $10 million for speaking at a Harris rally are false. ”Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrris's Rally in Houston,” the post reads in part. “In fact she actually paid for her own flights for her and her team, and total Glam .” A source close to the situation similarly told USA TODAY that Megan Thee Stallion was not paid for her endorsement. Representatives for Lizzo did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY, but PolitiFact reported that the Harris campaign said the singer was not paid for her endorsement. Winfrey took to social media herself to deny receiving a personal payment while acknowledging that her company, Harpo Productions, was paid to produce a sit-down event in Michigan with Harris. Winfrey said the payments covered production expenses, such as paying workers, and that she did not personally profit from the sit-down. Providing the services for free could have been considered an in-kind campaign contribution , subject to the same spending limits as cash contributions. USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comments but did not immediately receive responses. Our fact-check sources Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here . USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .
School district defends decision to punish parents for wearing pink 'XX' wristbandsNone
Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg Leads Suit Against South Coast Air Quality Management District's Effective Ban on Certain Gas Appliances
By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) What to know about the stroke device The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. How it worked on the first Jackson patient Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. More about the device Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Western Province Entrepreneur Awards 2024 was held in grandeur on 11 December 2024, at Lotus Hall, BMICH for the seventh consecutive year. The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) and the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) have jointly organised this annual award scheme to categorise, reward and motivate Sri Lanka’s domestic entrepreneurs. Driven with the objective to recognise the accomplishments to encourage the business community, in the Western Province, to improve their standards of business practices, and achieve a high level of entrepreneurship focusing on the micro, small, and medium to large sectors. This prestigious event was graced by the esteemed presence of Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, as the Guest of Honour. National Enterprise Development Authority Chairperson/Director General W.T.R. Chandima as a special guest, NEDA Director Dhanuka Liyanagamage, NCCSL President Mr. Deepal Nelson, and many senior officials of NEDA, NCCSL, Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. Our esteemed panel of judges were also present at the ceremony as distinguished invitees. Awarding criteria have been set to recognise and honour the outstanding entrepreneurs in various sectors, including Industry/Manufacturing, Agriculture/Livestock/Fisheries, and Hospitality/Tourism and Other Services. There were 12 awards distributed throughout these 12 thematic areas, acknowledging the best practices. The following awards were presented: Best Environmentally Friendly Enterprise, Best Exporter, Best Productive Enterprise, Best Innovative Enterprise, Best Value-Added Enterprise, Best Energy Efficiency Enterprise, Best Entrepreneur Providing the Most Jobs for Females, Best Woman Entrepreneur, Best Youth Entrepreneur, Best Entrepreneur with Special Abilities, Best Enterprise – Sustainable Business Practices, Best Entrepreneur – Financial Performance. The top awards of the evening, ‘Entrepreneur Awards 2024 – Western Province,’ were presented as follows: 2nd Runner-up (Bronze Award) winner: British Institute of Management and Technology Ltd., Joint Runners-up (Silver Awards) winners: Infinity Green International Ltd. and Everbolt Engineering Ltd., and Overall Winner (Gold Award) – The Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2024: Union Chemicals Lanka PLC. Additional notable awardees included: L.N.C. Creations, recognised as the Best Entrepreneur with Special Abilities, Wickramarachchi Brothers Ltd. awarded as the Best Woman Entrepreneur, Dedunu Fibre Mills was recognised as the Best Environmentally Friendly Enterprise. The ‘Western Province Entrepreneurship Awards 2024’ ceremony celebrated the innovative spirit and dedication of entrepreneurs who have played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and development in the Western Province. The event highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and recognised outstanding achievements in various business sectors. Gold Sponsor: Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC; Bronze Sponsor: MAC Holdings Ltd.; Print Media Partner: Lake house; Awards Sponsors: DSI Tyre, LOLC General Insurance PLC, Lady J; Printing Partner: Softwave, and Other Sponsors: Abhi Top Toe Well-Being, British Institute of Management and Technology Campus, Country Style Foods Ltd., Illukkumbura Industrial Automation Ltd., Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd., Ninehearts Ltd., SALOTA International Ltd., Sri Lanka Association of Non State Higher Education Institutes (SLANSHEI), Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association and Synex International Ltd.
A supercomputer has predicted the final Premier League table after Liverpool extended their lead The Reds defeated Southampton to go eight points clear at the top after Manchester City's 4-0 loss to Tottenham Liverpool are seeking their second Premier League title while Man City are aiming for a fifth straight crown CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! The Premier League made a remarkable return after the final international break of 2024. Liverpool and Arsenal registered wins, Manchester City suffered their fifth straight defeat, while Ruben Amorim's era got underway at Manchester United. A supercomputer has predicted the final Premier League table after an incredible matchday 12. How matchday 12 unfolded The biggest story of the weekend was Manchester City suffering a humiliating defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur. PAY ATTENTION : Standing out in social media world? Easy! "Mastering Storytelling for Social Media" workshop by Legit.ng. Join Us Live! Pep Guardiola's side lost 4-0, their fifth straight defeat. This leaves them eight points behind leader's Liverpool , who fended off a determined Southampton to win 3-2. Read also Players of EPL team party in Denmark before their coach sacking, send message to Chelsea boss Arne Slot's Reds sit on top with 31 points, while Man City, who last won a Premier League game on October 26, is second with 23 points. Title contenders Arsenal , who lost the title by two points last campaign, comfortably beat Nottingham Forest 3-0, while Chelsea won away at Leicester City. The two London rivals are tied on 22 points. Ruben Amorim's first game as Man United boss ended in a draw with Ipswich Town. Supercomputer predicts Premier League table Opta's supercomputer released its final league table after matchday 12, giving Liverpool a 76% chance of winning the league, per 90min . The 2020 champions started as the third favourites behind Man City and Arsenal. Man City, who have won the last four titles, have been given a 15.4% chance of lifting a fifth straight crown. The Gunners have been given a 7.7% to win their first league title in 20 years. Read also Crystal Palace Fans Miss Jordan Ayew, Sing His Name After Scoring for Leicester: Video Liverpool will have to maintain their form throughout the season to secure the title. They will start with a showdown against Man City this weekend. Salah's issue with Liverpool Legit.ng earlier reported that Salah expressed his frustrations with the club's hesitance to offer him a new contract. Speaking after the match against Southampton, Salah said he is "more out than in." PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: TUKO.co.ke
Hayles says PM’s announced NWC amnesty is desperate measure for failing Government
NEW YORK (AP) — A shoplifting ring that stole nearly $2 million in clothes and beauty products from Macy’s and other well-known stores in the U.S. and then resold them in New York City and the Dominican Republic has been busted, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday. Five New Yorkers have been charged with felony possession of stolen property, conspiracy and other related crimes, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. The bust served as a reminder to shoppers as the holiday shopping season kicks off in earnest with Black Friday this week to make sure they are supporting legitimate establishments, she said. “When a deal seems too good to be true, I guarantee you, it’s too good to be true,” Katz said. Nationally, businesses lose roughly $100 billion and the average family pays $500 more a year because of the impact of organized retail theft, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined the district attorney and other law enforcement officials in Queens. The Democrat said the arrests also marked the first time anyone has been charged under a new criminal statute of fostering the sale of stolen goods that she recently signed into law to help crack down on retail theft. “This is real simple. We’ve had enough with criminals preying on our citizens,” Hochul said. “We are sick and tired of our citizens feeling they’re vulnerable to random crimes on the streets or these sophisticated organized crime rings. And we are coming after you.” Katz, the district attorney, said the group stole high-end makeup, perfume, beauty products, designer clothing and accessories from stores ranging from Macy’s to Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Sephora and Ulta Beauty over a roughly two-year period. The group’s leaders, married couple Cristopher Guzman and Yvelisse Guzman Batista, directed shoplifting crews to steal specific merchandise as they hit multiple stores in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and elsewhere along the East Coast, she said. They also paid truck drivers to divert products bound for retailers from manufacturer warehouses directly to locations under their control. The group, operating out of a home in Queens, then resold the merchandise online as well as at a brick-and-mortar boutique called Yvelisse Fashion in Santiago, a city in the Dominican Republic. Vince Scala, a lawyer for the couple and two of the other defendants, said his clients pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Saturday. They were released pending their next court date in January. “The charges are only a couple of days old, and I have not seen a single piece of evidence, discovery or police reports,” he said. “I look forward to reviewing the case at the appropriate time.” Tuesday’s announcement is part of a broader push from Hochul to counter Republican criticisms that Democrats in New York are soft on public safety issues, an issue that hurt her party in the 2022 midterm elections and has remained a consistent talking point for the GOP. Earlier this year, Hochul signed off on a handful of policies aimed at cracking down on retail theft, including increased criminal penalties for assaulting retail workers, new funding for law enforcement teams dedicated to retail theft and tax credits for businesses to install security cameras. She also approved policies that allow prosecutors to combine the value of stolen goods when filing larceny charges and made it easier to criminally charge third-party sellers of stolen goods. Retail theft has also been a concern elsewhere. Videos of brazen shoplifting crews rampaging through stores have been widely shared on social media, fueling widespread frustration that retail crime is rampant and unpunished. Earlier this month, California voters overwhelmingly passed a tough-on-crime ballot measure that makes shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders again. The measure partly rolled back a progressive law passed by voters a decade ago downgrading several nonviolent crimes to misdemeanors, including theft under $950 in value. Associated Press reporter Anthony Izaguirre in Albany contributed to this story. Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo .
Himachal CM announces new sub-tehsil in LoharghatAfter weeks of fear and bewilderment about over parts of New York and , U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office. Schumer’s calls come amid growing public concern that the federal government hasn’t offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference. “There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.” President-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.” Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how. The drones don’t appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter,” Mayorkas said. Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their identities. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is operating the drones swarming locations in New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability. Schumer is calling for recently declassified radar technology to be used to help determine whether an object is a drone or a bird, identify its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state. “This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details including where they system will be deployed. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility and over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Bianca Vázquez Toness, The Associated Press
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In a well-ordered laboratory in Owings Mills, a suburb of Baltimore, an engineer has been perfecting a device that might be called the missing link in renewable energy. Now, it is ready to begin its transformative role in electric generation, bringing electricity to the remotest places in America and adding it to the grid. It is an invention that could cut the cost of new wind turbines, make solar more desirable, and turn tens of thousands — yes, thousands — of U.S. streams and non-powered dams into power generators without huge civil engineering outlays. The company is DDMotion, and its creative force is Key Han, president and chief scientist. Han has spent more than a decade perfecting his patented invention, which converts variable inputs into a constant output. In a stream, this consists of taking the variables in the water flow and turning them into a constant, reliable shaft output that can generate constant frequency ready to be fed to the grid. Likewise with wind and solar. Han told me the environmental effect on a stream or river would be negligible, essentially undetected, but a reliable amount of grid-grade electricity could be obtained at all times in all kinds of weather. He has dreams of a world where every bit of flowing water could be a resource for many power plants, and the same technologies would be essential in harnessing the energy of ocean currents. A further advantage to Han’s constant-speed device is that it has a rotating shaft, which is a source of what in the more arcane reaches of the electrical world is known as rotational inertia. Arcane, but essential. This is the slowing down of something that was once moving briskly, like stopping a car. In power generation, this can be a few seconds, but it is necessary to enable an electrical system to keep its output constant — 60 cycles per second in America, 50 cycles per second in Europe and parts of Asia. If that varies, the whole system fails. Blackout. Then, the system must be recalibrated, and that can take days or several weeks for the entire grid. Electricity needs rotational inertia. This isn’t a problem with fossil-fueled plants: There is always rotational inertia in their rotating parts. Wind power loses its inertia, which is there initially as the wind turns a shaft, but is lost as the power generated is groomed for the grid. It passes through a gearbox, then to an inverter, which converts the power from direct current to grid-compatible alternating current. Han says using his technology, the gearbox and the inverter can be eliminated and inertia provided. Also, most of the remaining hardware could be on the ground rather than up in the air on the tower, making for less installation cost and easier maintenance. Loss of inertia is becoming a problem for grids in Europe, where wind and solar are approaching half of the generating load. Germany, particularly, must create ancillary services. Han told me, “DDmotion-developed speed converters can harness all renewable energy with benefits. For example, wind turbines can produce rotating inertia, therefore ancillary services are not required to keep the grid frequency stable, and river turbines without dams can generate baseload, therefore storage systems, such as batteries and pump storage are not required.” DDMotion has been supported primarily by Alfred Berkeley, chairman of Princeton Capital Management and a legend in the financial community. He served as president of Nasdaq and later as its vice chairman. Han, who holds patents relating to his work on infinitely variable motion controls, began his career at General Electric before founding DDMotion in 1990. A native of South Korea, Han attended college in Montana to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional cowboy. His resume includes roping and branding calves one summer. If DDMotion succeeds as Han and his supporters hope, their missing link will vastly enhance the value of renewable energy and bring down its cost to the system and consumers. — Llewellyn King is the executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. He wrote this for InsideSources.com .School district defends decision to punish parents for wearing pink 'XX' wristbands
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Five Counties Children’s Centre is striving to help families ensure their holidays are happy by offering tips to keep spirits bright and stress under wraps this season. The anxiety and upheaval of extra demands and different routines can make the holidays challenging for parents and children alike, according to a media release from Five Counties, which provides therapy services for children with special needs in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland, However, “celebrating the season can still be merry and bright when it’s managed right.” “The holidays can mean a drastic change in schedules and a lot of disruption to routine — which as any parent will tell you, can impact the rhythm of family life,” Five Counties spokesperson Bill Eekhof told kawarthaNOW. “There’s also added excitement and anticipation that come with the holidays, especially for kids, given what awaits them under the tree and where or whom they will visit. Parents and caregivers may also feel pressured to ensure their family has an enjoyable holiday season.” Eekhof added that, while managing the stress of the holidays can be especially challenging for parents and caregivers of children with special needs, it applies to all families. Nicole Captain, an occupational therapist with Five Counties, has some tips for helping families manage the extra pressure of the holiday season and helping children cope with the excitement, anticipation, and altered routines that come with the holidays. Tips includes creating a visual schedule or calendar so children can see what is being planned for holiday time (including breaks or downtime), using photos or maps to help prepare children before travelling to visit family or friends for the holidays, and discussing holiday plans as a family to help manage change and expectations and to choose activities that everyone would like to do together. “Parents and caregivers often feel guilty and pressured to have the picture-perfect holiday that they see on social media or in the movies, but that isn’t always the reality,” Captain said. “The fact is we can still enjoy happy holidays if we keep things simple, stick to structure, go back to basics, and are flexible.” Captain, who works in school-based rehabilitation services at Five Counties, provides occupational therapy support to students and often discusses self-regulation in her classes. “I always tell parents to put on your oxygen mask first, to meet your own regulation needs and support your nervous system so that you can support your child’s needs.” Captain said it’s important to manage the variables that are within control. This including getting enough rest and sticking to sleep schedules, selecting a quiet space where family members can rejuvenate, and eating well and staying well-hydrated. “It’s really going back to the basics,” Captain noted. “We’re optimizing our bodies on the inside to cope with all the stress and changes that go on outside and around us.” Another tip is to unplug from technology as much as possible and make meaningful connections by spending time together as a family. “While being together doesn’t require a lot of preparation, make it quality time to really forge that connection,” Captain said. According to Captain, too much screen time during the holidays can affect a child’s sleep, behaviour, routine, and anxiety levels. If spending time in front of a screen, do it together as a family, but avoid screen time too close to bedtime as children can get overstimulated and their sleep can be affected. Another tip is to make sure you spend time outdoors having fun as a family. “I know going outdoors in the winter months in Canada isn’t something we all like to do, but the importance of sunlight, fresh air, and activity are important for everyone to feel their best,” Captain said. In choosing outdoor activities to do together, families can be purposeful and organized. “There’s time to run around in the snow, but planning a scavenger hunt, designing a snow fort, building a snowman, or trying to see how many animals you can spot in 10 minutes can maximize that outdoor experience,” she explained. If the weather precludes outdoor fun, indoor games are a good alternative. These could include creating an obstacle course, doing a puzzle, or trying out a fun and interactive activity like Cosmic Kids Yoga. “Pick what works for your family and do what you can,” Captain said, “and happy holidays can be within our reach.”
