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Movie star Brad Pitt and his girlfriend Inés de Ramón made a glamorous red carpet debut at the 81st annual Venice International Film Festival last week, looking absolutely smitten with each other at the premiere of Brad’s new film Wolfs. The 60-year-old actor looked dashing in a black tailored suit by Louis Vuitton, and was all smiles as he held hands with Inés, 31, who was stunning in a white floor-length gown by Entire Studios. The couple, who met through mutual friends and went public with their romance in 2022, were spotted arriving together at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport the previous day. It was a double date for Brad, whose close friend and Wolfs co-star George Clooney, 63, also walked the Venice red carpet with his glamorous wife, international human rights lawyer…

The U.K.’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the way more than one million tickets were sold for next year’s reunion concerts from iconic 1990s Britpop band Oasis. In a statement Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its investigation into Live Nation Entertainment’s unit Ticketmaster will look specifically at “dynamic pricing,” whereby prices can vary rapidly in light of changing market conditions. It is a pricing strategy used in flight sales and home food deliveries, where demand levels can fluctuate and lead to surging prices while also sometimes leading to lower prices. It is a more common practice in the U.S. than in the U.K. Many Oasis fans who queued online at the Ticketmaster site for hours Saturday complained that they ended up paying more than double the face value…

Athletes in both the elite and age-group categories are proving that 40 can be the start of some of their best performances rather than a decline. There are realities of aging that must be respected, but that doesn’t mean your fastest splits have to be behind you. Here are effective ways I’ve modified training and psychology in athletes I coach to help them be faster after 40. Mindset Every athlete can point to their best race and still find areas for improvement. Mastery of triathlon is challenging and, while some improvements are quicker and simpler to gain than others, some dangle just out of reach. Maintaining focus on chasing these improvements is key to maintaining motivation year after year. Focusing on the experience of doing triathlon without expectation of a specific result…

After an extensive search for a team who could help them bring their newly acquired historic Tuscan estate back to life, an American couple landed upon British interior designer Nicola Harding, who is known for the atmospheric abodes she crafts mostly in England. The couple was drawn not only to the warmth and energy of Harding’s style, but also to her attitude about the process of making a house a home. “Core to what we do is to understand the people who will inhabit a home, to discover what kind of moments they want to have there, the deeply held values they subscribe to, how they imagine an ideal Sunday breakfast,” says Harding. “Weaving elements of their stories into the spaces so they feel connected is key to creating a…

Stormers coach John Dobson is a regular visitor to Barrydale. He gives easily of his time to support his mate Rick Melvill and the Karoo Art Hotel, but more significantly both Dobson and Melvill invest energy into the local rugby community. Melvill has a Pied Piper presence in Barrydale. Where he walks others follow because of his generosity to improve someone's day, be it in an interaction or an opportunity. Dobson is from similar ilk. He loves to give back to the sport that gave him so much and he loves to do so through community projects. The Flying Eagles were once the singular club rugby entity in Barrydale. The club was established in 1950 but in 2018 there was a breakaway and the Barrydale Stryders were born. No community…

TRUMP FRAMES IMMIGRATION as an existential threat to the United States. He has said immigrants are “taking our jobs,” are “not people,” and are “poisoning the blood of our country.” In fact, the nation’s undocumented immigrants grow and harvest the food we eat, construct our homes, and care for our young and elderly. They pay billions in taxes, start businesses that employ Americans, and help rebuild in the wake of climate disasters. Not only would Trump’s plan rip families and communities apart, but it also would have devastating effects on the economy for years to come. According to a 2016 report by the Center for American Progress, deporting 7 million workers would “reduce national employment by an amount similar to that experienced during the Great Recession.” GDP would immediately contract by…

IN A VIDEO TAKEN BY THE MARINE scientist Renaud de Stephanis, three orcas, or killer whales, can be seen swimming around the stern of a boat. One orca is vocalising in high-pitched tones before it gently nudges one of the twin rudders and swims off like a dog that’s just snatched some food from a kitchen top. “Whoa!” it seems to say, “that was fun.” This is just one of about 1,000 recorded interactions that orcas have had with boats in the Strait of Gibraltar and around the coasts of Spain and Portugal since the summer of 2020. Roughly 200 of those incidents have resulted in damage to the boats, with a total of seven sinking. It is behaviour that raises questions about our relationship with this species of dolphin.…

The 1963 Sting Ray is considered by many to be the most desired model and year Corvette ever. With its sleek, modern design, a range of powerful engine choices, and newly introduced independent rear suspension, its popularity makes total sense. With mostly positive reviews from automotive journalists when it debuted in the fall of 1962, those favorable assessments translated to strong sales. The 1963 model marked the first year of the C2 and featured a one-year-only distinctive rear split window. While this iconic feature contributed to the car’s futuristic and aggressive demeanor, it also created a blind spot posing visibility issues, which many owners considered to be an inconvenience. Some actually had dealers replace the split window for a single-piece rear window. Blasphemy! Today, the ’63 Corvette commands insane prices,…

Advance tickets are now on sale for the UK’s premier high-end audio event – The UK Hi-Fi Show Live, hosted at the Ascot Racecourse Grandstand, High Street, Ascot on Saturday and Sunday 21st -22nd September 2024. Friday 20th is reserved for accredited press/trade only. Tickets will cost just £20 (£30 for a weekend pass) via www.eventbrite.co.uk or using the links on the www.hifishowlive.com site. Concessionary £15 day passes will be offered for subscribers of Hi-Fi News and Hi-Fi Choice (print and digital subscribers will be contacted by e-mail). See our website for further information. Tickets On Sale Now! www.hifishowlive.com…

07/2024 7:29AM FASTCOMPANY.COM HAVE A NICE DAY! WD-40 COLOGNE. A NIKE AIR MAX SNEAKER FILLED WITH BLOOD. A FRUIT LOOP AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD. EVERYWHERE I TURN IN THIS GARAGE that's been half converted into an office, I see objects that look like they belong in a Hot Topic managed by a MoMA curator on acid. I'm perched on one of three couches, which appear to have been rescued from the curb to form a conversation pit. Around me are piles of stickers, gallons of chemicals, a power sander, and a shop vac. To my left, a few glass conference rooms hint at more grown-up endeavors. A hand-drawn sign is taped to one of them: RAT LOOSE INSIDE! KEEP THIS DOOR CLOSED! The door stands casually ajar. At Mschf, it's hard to tell…

Featuring textiles from Indigenous traditions across the American Southwest, Mexico, India, and Pakistan as well as the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra, two-thirds of the exhibit’s pieces have never been shown before. Woven pieces include, among others, an American linen and wool overshot coverlet, a Balinese hip cloth in cotton and hemp weft-faced plain weave with supplementary weft patterning in metallic thread, multiple blankets by Navajo artists, and a Balinese overskirt in silk with an elaborate ikat-dyed weft. Other techniques on display include silk and mirror embroidery on a shawl from Pakistan; leather and beaded moccasins by a Cheyenne artist; a coat from Romania with silk embroidery, leather appliqué, silk tassels, and embossed patterns on sheepskin; cotton with batik patterns on a sarong from Java; and painted bark…

The movement toward the medicalization of cannabis has been hailed by some and decried by others—but unquestionably, its path has been unique in the history of American drug and medical policy. The federal government first regulated marijuana in 1937, when Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act. As with the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914, Congress deemed an act taxing and regulating drugs, rather than prohibiting them, less susceptible to legal challenge. As a result, the 1937 legislation was ostensibly a revenue measure. Just as the Harrison Act used taxation and regulation to, in effect, prohibit morphine, heroin, and other drugs, the Marijuana Tax Act essentially outlawed the possession or sale of marijuana. More stringent measures followed. The Boggs Act of 1951 provided stiff mandatory sentences for offenses involving a variety…

Family archives can arrive without warning. One day you’re creating a research plan, perusing online databases, analyzing information, and recording results and conclusions. Then suddenly, you’re the keeper of the family “stuff.” A relative passes away or downsizes, and boxes of photos, documents, and memorabilia arrive on your doorstep. As a genealogist, you know those old photos, loose papers, and fragile letters likely hold a wealth of information about your family. And somewhere in those boxes could be the key to an elusive ancestor you’ve been seeking for years. With a good plan and the right supplies, you can conquer the chaos to create an organized and accessible family archive. Fine-tune your archival skills with this guide to confidently work with your family collection and preserve your inheritance for the…

What happened Ukraine redoubled its attacks in Russia’s Kursk region this week in an effort to cement its hold on captured territory, destroying three bridges to prevent Russian reinforcements from arriving. Ukraine said it now holds some 500 square miles of Russian land, and it confirmed that it used U.S.-made weapons in its offensive—including to take out the bridges. The two sides traded barrages this week, with Ukraine sending nearly a dozen drones as far as Moscow; Russia said all of those were shot down. Farther south, in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Russian troops advanced toward the town of Pokrovsk, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The town is a logistical hub, and its capture by Russia would compromise Ukrainian supply routes and bring Russia closer to control of…

TOYOTA Australia is rapidly moving towards applying some form of electrification to all of its popular models. It recently announced that it is dropping petrol-only variants of popular cars – like Corolla and Camry, as well as popular SUVs like RAV4 and Kluger – and replacing them with hybrid motivated versions. This is not surprising when you consider that Toyota has been at the forefront of hybrid technology with vehicles such as Prius and other models for more than 20 years now, and these have paved the way for current and future model hybrids with more evolved petrol/electric systems. Things are a little different on the diesel-fuelled 4x4 front, which represent a major part of Toyota’s Australian sales volume. Most of those 4x4 vehicles are powered by the 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel…

Having been to some of the very best all inclusive resorts and non-all inclusive resorts around the globe, I must say that I tend to be extremely discerning. Visiting S Hotel this year came just at the right time. Needing a little R&R before delving back into the fray of a hectic travel month, I thought that slipping S Hotel in would be the perfect respite that I was seeking. The last time I visited, the hotel was in its pre-opening days. I remembered the vision of Chrsitopher Issa, the owner, being conveyed to me as we walked (briskly) through the matte white walls that rose above the famed “Hip Strip” of Montego Bay. It was a bright idea to create the hotel’s foundation as a blank canvas. Once you…

Attention all preppers! Today’s column is right up your alley—or, more precisely—your tunnel to your underground bunker. Put down your MRE. Lay aside your auto-loading shotgun. This is important. We are discussing your favorite topic: Armageddon. Of course, everyone is familiar with Air Force One, the Boeing 747 designed to transport the President, well—presidentially. In case of imminent global annihilation, the aircraft also serves as a kind of safe room, keeping the commander-in-chief secure and flying high even while, regrettably, the flyover country below burns. But do you know about the fleet of Doomsday airplanes? Currently, there are four E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, highly modified Boeing 747s, that would board all the Beltway muckety-mucks (first class, naturally) and thus ensure the continuity of government decision-making during and after a nuclear war. And no,…

01 WELCOMING WARMTH The all-white kitchen has faded into the background and wood cabinetry (oak is a favourite) has taken over as part of a return to warm tones and nature-based shades. Even dark wood cabinetry is showing up in more dramatic spaces. This look seamlessly integrates the kitchen in open-plan layouts. If a reno isn’t on the horizon, introduce accents (lighting, barstools, accessories) in natural materials. 02 ACCENT LIGHTS We’re seeing more and more small table lamps on countertops and shelves. If a plug-in style isn’t an option, use one of the new crop of stylish rechargeable lamps. Wall sconces continue to brighten up the kitchen, too! 03 FRAMED ART This trend is simply everywhere and there’s no easier way to refresh a kitchen (no reno required!). Framed art is a must-have in today’s…

I walked into the kitchen one day to find my teenage son cooking at the stove with multiple skillets and pans going. “I’m making a full English breakfast,” he said, stirring a pot of beans. “I saw it on YouTube.” I was shocked. He doesn’t naturally gravitate to the kitchen (except to get a snack). When I ask him to cook with me, he usually grumbles. That morning was a reminder that my kid is more motivated when he’s creating something that’s his own idea—and that all those times he reluctantly helps me cook, he’s picking up the skills to do so. Getting kids interested in cooking builds confidence and a key life skill. If yours are less-than-willing participants in the kitchen, here’s my advice: • HELP THEM COOK WHAT THEY LOVE Even…

USE Coffee Grounds TO Deodorize the Fridge If you’re anything like your parents (or grandparents, or great-grandparents), you likely have a box of baking soda perched inside your refrigerator to absorb funky smells. We have another idea: Swap that box with a bowl of used, dried-out coffee grounds. The pantry staple works as a natural air freshener thanks to its odor-eliminating nitrogen. And you were just gonna throw those grounds out anyway, right? USE Eucalyptus TO Scent Your Shower Transform your ho-hum shower into an indulgent, spalike experience: Pick up some fresh eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s or your local florist, secure the stems with a rubber band, and use twine to hang the bundle from your showerhead. When you take a hot shower, the steam will carry the plant’s soothing scent. The stems should last two to three weeks,…

AFTER JULIE SIMONSON SURVIVED A SEXUAL assault, she turned to the 7-Eleven across the street for comfort food. Her weight skyrocketed, along with her shame. “I would cope by basically overeating,” the psychotherapist from Philadelphia says, recalling how her health declined in the aftermath of the attack. Eventually she turned to gastric bypass surgery and lost 160 pounds. Simonson, 50, endured skin removal surgery, a tummy tuck and an arm lift, but the pounds slowly came back, despite her best efforts to restrict calories and work with a trainer. Finally, in 2023, Simonson’s doctor put her on Mounjaro, one of the new class of highly touted diabetes and weight-loss drugs, and the pounds finally came off and stayed off. She says she feels amazing. But beneath Simonson’s joy, she’s found a darker side to…

It encompassed a wide range of genres including wall painting, sculpture, both free standing and relief, decorative arts, jewellery, hieroglyphics and unique architecture. Egyptian pharaohs believed that life was so good on earth they wanted to carry images of life in the Nile Valley with them into the next life creating the blueprint for the happy eternity they expected. The Egyptian pharaoh aimed to continue life, in all its richness, after death, which explains why so much care was taken to preserve the body of the dead pharaohs through mummification. To contain their coffins, pharaohs of the Old Kingdom (2575-2152BC) built massive stone pyramids covering all surfaces of the burial chamber with magic spells and information to aid the pharaoh’s entry to the afterlife. Over time change occurred to burial practices…

Bravo to the central bankers, says The Economist. The likes of the Bank of England and the US Federal Reserve appear to have pulled off mission impossible – bringing down inflation without crashing the economy. In 2022 the average rate of inflation across developed countries peaked at about 10%. Large interest rate hikes followed and inflation in most developed economies has now fallen below 3% (annual UK inflation was 2.2% in July). Previous central banks’ battles with inflation tamed prices only at the cost of “deep” recessions. While the going has been tough this time, severe pain has been avoided. Interestrate theory worked in practice, with hikes causing just enough cooling in labour markets to ease wage pressure, but not so much that they triggered mass unemployment. Self-serving narrative A…

As the name suggests, the Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined is a reboot of the company's original “Trapez” loudspeaker from 45 years ago. Also, as the name suggests, the Danish floorstanding loudspeaker has a trapezoidal cabinet. It has nothing whatsoever to do with circuses. The Trapeze Reimagined is a short three-way design. It uses a 12-inch high-power mid/bass driver with an eight-inch driver in a configuration Audiovector calls “Isobaric Compound Bass” loading. This is met by a five-inch high-speed midrange, and an Air Motion Transformer tweeter specifically designed for this loudspeaker. Unlike “frozen in time” designs such as the evergreen BBC LS3/5a, the Trapeze Reimagined is not a carbon copy of the original. However, the waist-high family resemblance to that loudspeaker, which wowed Scandiwegian audiophiles of the late 1970s, is unmistakable. The Trapez was…

WHERE EAGLES DARE Animal lovers are in for a treat with HX’s 13-night summer cruise from Anchorage to Vancouver. Starting with a night in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, you’ll board your ship in Seward and begin your journey on a cruise that will allow the remarkable diversity of nature and culture offered by Alaska and British Columbia to unfold around you. Expect to see many of Alaska’s wild animals, including bald eagles, moose, bears, sea lions, otters, orcas, humpback whales and many seabirds. You’ll also enjoy the sights of towering forest-clad mountains, glittering glaciers and deep blue fjords. The 13-night Wilderness, Glaciers & Culture cruise, from Anchorage to Vancouver, departing 9 June 2025, is priced from £4,648 per person. travelhx.com LATIN AMERICA EXPLORER AMAWATERWAYS will be the first major cruise line to sail Colombia’s…

THIS MONTH’S WINNER VERONICA WILLIAMS Water gems EDITOR’S COMMENT Captured beautifully by Veronica Williams, this lovely shot was taken in Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens SA, when the weather had “other plans”. “I decided I'd brave the rain and wander, anyway,” says Williams. “Umbrella in one hand and camera in the other, I took only my macro lens thinking visibility would be too low for other photography (I was wrong, of course). I came across some gorgeous decaying leaves, both on the ground and on the trees. The fresh raindrops on this coloured leaf look ready to roll off at any time, and epitomise autumn in the leafy Adelaide hills.” There’s something lovely and peaceful about this image that made it a clear winner in a stacked field this time. We really loved the autumn tones, the…

Whether or not you’re a fan of Nintendo’s products, it’s impossible to deny its influence on the design of home videogames. Time and again, the company has introduced new design concepts that have become commonplace – and just as frequently, it has popularised technologies that had previously been tried to no avail. Thanks to its lengthy tenure in the business, it’s arguable that Nintendo has done more to push the videogame console forward than any other manufacturer. Prior to its transformation into the company we know today, Nintendo was making toys like the Ultra Hand and arcade games such as EVR Race. Key employees including Genyo Takeda, Masayuki Uemura and Gunpei Yokoi were hired in this era, and they carried the inventive nature required for those industries with them as…

Cinque Terre Admittedly, I’m not sure whether our plan falls into Category 1 (excellent idea) or Category 2 (can-do idea). But it doesn’t really matter. It’s too late to think about it because I’m already standing on the platform with what feels like a 100-kilo rucksack waiting for the train. Still, waiting gives you time to think—and that’s sometimes the problem. Let’s put it this way: our plan is definitely an idea worth thinking about. Crossing the Alps by train from Rosenheim in Germany to the south and spending a few days sea kayaking on the Italian Mediterranean Sea. We want to follow the coast from Genoa for about 100 km to La Spezia and then take the train home. Between lies the wild, romantic cliff coast of Cinque Terre…

Block party Thousands of people gathered on the streets of west London over the August holiday weekend draped in flags and decked in jewels to celebrate the Notting Hill carnival, with some describing the festival as a “big statement” on the cultural diversity of Britain. Around a million people attended the carnival on Sunday and Monday, marking the 56th year it has been running. The celebration of Caribbean heritage, arts and culture is one of the biggest carnivals in the world. Ras Sherby, who has been attending the carnival for more than 20 years – and set up a sound system blasting reggae and dub music – described the festival as the “engine that carries people together every year”. “It’s one big ball of happiness, one big day of fun,” Sherby, 47, said. “Every…

Opening the front door, I came face-to-face with a chubby, smiley boy. ‘Hello, is your sister in?’ the boy asked. His name was Gavin Plumb and he was 11 years old. He was a year younger than me and went to school with my sister. He used to call round for her and eventually, I became friends with him too. I thought Gavin was kind and sweet. We grew closer and, when I was 19, we became a couple. After a few months, we moved in together and things were OK at first. But after around eight months, Gavin started to show signs of controlling behaviour. ‘I felt so isolated and alone’ If I wanted to go out to see friends or family, he'd guilt-trip me into spending time with…

Three weeks ago, Abdullah, a Pakistani-born man living in the UK, was watching the news in fear. Far-right riots had spread across the country, with mosques being attacked and hotels housing asylum seekers set alight. After a horrific knife attack on children in Southport, disinformation spread quickly on social media falsely claiming the perpetrator was a Muslim seeking asylum in the UK. “Everyone was concerned, scared. They were scared of going to the mosque. They were not able to do their religious obligations,” said Abdullah, a security guard who lives in London. Little did Abdullah know that just days after the riots had appeared to subside, he would be at the centre of another appalling story involving an attack on a child. But the 29-year-old was not to be a blame figure, rather…

KYAIKTIYO PAGODA, MON STATE, MYANMAR Pagodas painted in gold are an Asian speciality, but the pagoda at Myanmar’s Golden Rock Temple isn’t the main attraction. That honour belongs to the gigantic granite boulder on which the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is perched that sits precariously at the edge of a cliff commanding spectacular views of the Eastern Yoma mountains of Mon State. About 7.5 metres tall and with a circumference of around 15 metres, the Golden Rock, as it’s popularly called, is covered in gold leaf that’s been pasted on by devotees. Legend has it that a strand of the Buddha’s hair keeps the gravity-defying Golden Rock from tumbling down the mountain GOLDEN TEMPLE, AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA For Sikhs, the holiest place of worship, or gurdwara, is the Sri Harmandir Sahib in the northern city…

From the creative and value-based bond that has linked Ducati and the world-famous chef for many years a new motorcycle jewel is born. Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Desert; this is the name of the work resulted from the union between the artistic vision of chef Bottura and Ducati’s attention to detail. The motorcycle belongs to the Ducati Unica customization programme: launched by the Bologna-based company in January 2022, this program allows Ducatisti to create the motorcycle of their dreams, interacting directly with the designers of the Centro Stile Ducati and accessing fine materials, exclusive finishes and special colours. The Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Desert was designed from an aesthetic point of view with meticulous work on the paintwork that gives it an unmistakable look, as if the bike just came…

THIS ISSUE: UMG releases an expansive new Mind Games. After a wild decade in the biggest pop music group ever, John Lennon’s post-Beatles years were spent in protest, in various kinds of therapy, in immigration court, and in search of a new musical identity. He had been a musician since age 16 and a superstar since his early 20s. He was only in his 30s. By summer 1973, when Lennon’s fourth album, Mind Games, was recorded at New York’s Record Plant Studios, the turbulence of Lennon’s life seas was at gale force. He was separating from Yoko Ono and starting a 16-month relationship (consummated at Ono’s suggestion) with their shared administrative assistant, May Pang. The Nixon Administration was targeting Lennon and Ono for deportation because of their left-wing political activities, mostly…

Winter is the time of year when my model railroad gets a facelift. Even though my N scale Missabe Junction Ry. is complete to the eyes of most folks, I’m always looking for ways to generate more interest in the layout. On most model railroads, we concentrate new construction on rail-related structures — depots and industries, among other items. I’ve found that the addition of non-rail structures adds more realism. While looking for the structures to build, I found an interesting building from RSLaser Kits. The structure is based on an abandoned brewery silo in Missouri. Around the same time, I was in a meeting at a business that had a framed print of an aged barn on the wall. A large U.S. flag was painted on the side. Good companion for the…

HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN anxious feeling in your gut? Or felt angry, sad, happy, nervous or any other strong emotion and had a reaction in your tummy? Phrases such as “gut feeling” and “butterflies in my tummy” are often used to describe emotions. This shows how your gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to your emotions and your brain has a direct effect on your gut. For example, when you think about the food you’re about to eat, your body releases saliva and digestive juices before the food physically arrives in our mouth or stomach. This mind-gut connection works both ways, with issues in the gut sending signals to the brain and leading to emotional symptoms, such as poor concentration, depression, irritability, and poor memory. For example, around a third of…

ChatGPT ChatGPT may sound like an obvious recommendation, but it still has many nonobvious uses—like helping to bridge language barriers. That’s what Florida-based jewelry company Artizan Joyeria uses it for:The company’s offshore customer service employees, who aren’t native English speakers, “can now produce higher-quality written content in all forms, such as presentations and emails addressed to customers,” says Sasha Slimak, the company’s COO. Microsoft Copilot Microsoft’s AI tool Copilot has a range of features across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Chad Stark especially loves using Copilot in Teams, Microsoft’s video meetings platform. Stark is the CEO of Stark, a luxury carpet and rug brand, and he has Copilot summarize important meetings and send the summary to all participants. “You could prompt ChatGPT to do the same, but because Copilot is integrated with Teams…

Every morning when Libbey Castle wakes up, she strips her bed and chucks her sheets into the washing machine. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekday or the weekend, if she has a light or a busy day ahead, if she slept well or tossed and turned all night. The sheets will be washed. “I let them do their thing, and I go make coffee feeling happy,” says Castle, 30, who lives in Washington, D.C. “Then I throw them into the dryer before I go work out. I come back, I grab a shower, and the sheets are done. I throw them on the bed, and then I start my day.” Knowing fresh sheets await her boosts her spirits straight through to bedtime. Health experts agree that Castle is onto something: most…

Whether you’re aiming to complete your first half marathon, tackle a marathon distance or push your limits in an ultramarathon, the journey to running further is one which can be physically demanding, but also incredibly rewarding. As we enter autumn marathon training season, you might be starting to run further in one go than you ever have. This guide will equip you with the essential tips and strategies to help you go the extra mile – or 26. Before you start to think about increasing your mileage, make sure you have a solid running base. This means having consistently run three to four times a week for at least a few months. When you start running for a longer period of time, or covering a longer distance, it’s common for…

WHAT DO YOU NEED? • Yarn (leftovers) in colors of your choice• Crochet hook suitable for the selected yarn• Scissors THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE IT Make a MR or crochet 4 ch and join into a ring with 1 sl st in the 1st ch. Work 6 sc into the MR or ring. Rnd 1: in each sc: 1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc, 1 ch. Finish with 1 sl st in 1st dc 1. Rnd 2: switch color, rep all around (in the ch-space, 1 sc, 4 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 sc, skip 1 dc). Join with 1 sl st in the 1st sc. 2. Rnd 3: (in the 4 ch-space: 1 hdc, 6 dc, 1 hdc), rep another 5 x. Finish with 1 sl st in…

For the first time since King Charles’ Coronation, the Royal Princes – William and Harry – were seen in the same place at the same time... As a memorial service was held in the coastal village of Snettisham in Norfolk on 28 August for Lord Robert Fellowes, 82, their uncle by marriage, both brothers joined the congregation. Harry had discreetly flown in from his California home, keeping the visit very much away from the spotlight. However, although there were united – geographically – in wanting to pay their respects to Diana’s brother-in-law, and comfort their newly widowed aunt Lady Jane Spencer, it seems that when it comes to relations between the two – there appears to be no thawing. According to an eyewitness who was at the service the brothers ‘kept their distance’…

“Not bad,” Madam Vice President, said William Kristol in The Bulwark. “Pretty damn impressive, in fact.” Kamala Harris wrapped up last week’s Democratic National Convention with a stirring address that established her as a vigorous, centrist, and unabashedly patriotic leader—everything that Donald Trump is not. As flag-waving delegates in the Chicago arena chanted “USA! USA!” the Democratic presidential nominee reintroduced herself as a child of immigrants whose story, she explained, “could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth.” She spoke of “the privilege and pride of being an American,” vowed to bolster border security, and called for “optimism and faith” in the fight for American ideals. “Yes, this was a Democrat talking,” said Peter Hamby in Puck. There were, of course, “paeans to diversity and pluralism.” But Harris’…

MAKING its public debut at CarFest 2024, the latest Range Rover Sport is now available as the SV Edition Two. Offering a performance-honed exterior, the range-topper blends unique paint colours with new carbonfibre detailing. Inside, SV Performance seats are available in a range of colours, upholstered in knit textiles or Windsor leather. The SV Edition Two also features exclusive branding on the front splitter, centre console, treadplates and puddle lamps. Powered exclusively by a 626bhp, 553lb-ft 4.4-litre twin-turbo MHEV V8 petrol engine, the Range Rover Sport SV is capable of dashing from 0-60mph in 3.6sec and on to a top speed of 180mph, thanks to both a weight saving of up to 76kg if you tick the box for the Carbon Ceramic Brakes option, and standard-fit aerodynamic enhancements. Clients can…

This month, we made our way to Kintsugi Omakase to have an epic meal that we will talk about for quite a bit! We knew that there would be a number of courses that would be created in front of us by Chef Victor Chen who was in last month’s issue in our THE 9LIST 9M3NU feature. Our meal didn’t disappoint! We were able to enjoy a 16 course meal that is part of their Kintsugi Experience. It’s a fantastic experience where upon entering the restaurant, you are sitting with 9 other guests who nave a front row seat at a meal that is next level. We wanted to know more about when the restaurant launched, why they provide omakase, and what you can expect when it comes to heading…

‘AGE IS MEANINGLESS WHEN YOU’RE HAPPY’ Suzanne Scott Nagasaka, 77, from Skerne, Yorkshire, has been with her husband Michael, 54, for 30 years. A few years ago, I was out shopping with my husband Michael when a shop assistant made a comment about him getting a ‘nice present from his mum’. Instantly, I was mortified. The age gap between us is 23 years. To us, it’s irrelevant but the same can’t always be said for others. Jazz night I was 47, a single mum of two grown-up boys and living in Hong Kong when I met Michael. I was out with friends at a jazz club when the barman asked me to talk to this young man who’d just flown in from Washington, USA, and didn’t know anyone. I invited…

addiction As we went to press, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu was nearly 100 points ahead of his nearest rival in the 2024 WSBK title race, after seven out of 12 rounds. The superstar from Türkiye is making the rest of the paddock look just a wee bit ‘steady,’ and the best bit is he's doing it for a marque that's never won the WSBK crown before – BMW. The Bavarian firm has been looking for a world production-based title since the original S1000RR appeared back in 2010, but success has been patchy; Marco Melandri's third and fourth spots in 2012 and 2013 are still the best placings for the firm in the WSBK riders’ championship. There's been race success elsewhere, of course; notably at the Isle of Man TT. But WSBK has…

We’ve included a vast Python code repository for you to freely use in your own programs. There’s plenty in here to help you create a superb piece of programming, or extend your project ideas. We’ve got code for making backups of your files and folders, number guessing games, random number generators, Google search code, game code, animation code, graphics code, text adventure code and even code that plays music stored on your computer. We’ve broken down some of the newer, and extended, concepts of the code to help you better understand what’s going on. This way you can easily adapt it to your own uses. This is an excellent resource that you won’t find in any other Python book. So use it, take it apart, adapt it to your own…

Walking across campus with friends, it was my first week at Holy Cross college, Massachusetts, in September 2017. And with food trucks parked all around, we wouldn’t be going hungry. Only I had to be careful. Since I was two years old, I have had severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, kiwi, mustard and seafood, cats and dogs, mould and pollen. Apart from a severe reaction aged two, my life had been normal. It had never held me back. My mum Julie, 60, even made sure I had pretty bags and purses to carry my EpiPens as a child. And aged 18, I was so excited to experience college. Holy Cross’ food hall was entirely nut free and it even had an allergy kitchen. And with my family home…

EXTERIOR Two crepe myrtle trees stand proudly on either side of the steps leading to the front door of this 120-year-old grand Federation house. In 2015, over a 24-hour period, while her then husband was on a flight from Sydney to London, Kelly Pearce received an offer on the house they were selling and put in an offer on this Federation home in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. “By the time he landed, I had accepted the first offer and bought the second house. When he touched down, there was just absolute silence,” she says, laughing at the memory of calling him to share the news. “I just knew it was the right property. I had seen it advertised and when I went to look at it, I just thought, ‘Oh…

This September, the Alexandrina Council will be hosting ‘Lost in Palm Springs’ at the Signal Point Experience Centre in Goolwa. This touring exhibition, curated by Australian writer and conceptual artist Dr Greer Honeywill, features the work of fourteen international artists and photographers from America and Australia. Mid-century modern architecture and design explores how Palm Springs’ climate of sunshine and clean lines have influenced Australian architects. The Gold Coast is a city that reflects this. In post-war Australia and America both nations were chasing the same dream: affordable homes for the growing middle class to boost the economy. In Palm Springs, California the influence of the architects is huge. Palm Springs, with its dramatic mountain backdrop and vast desert floor is a wonderland, a magnet for creatives seeking inspiration and solitude.…

Beginner models On beginner models, use the main command dial to alter the shutter speed and then hold the plus and minus button while turning the dial to alter the aperture. Alternatively, press the Q button and move the box over the setting you wish to alter, then turn the command dial. Enthusiast and advanced models If you own an advanced or an enthusiast model, you alter the exposure settings slightly differently, because you don’t have the beginner plus/minus button. Instead, use the front command dial to change the shutter speed and the back-panel multi-controller to change the aperture. The exposure meter Once you know how to change the settings, what should you change them to? The aim is to balance the exposure meter (by adjusting the shutter speed, aperture…

There are lots of places to shoot Turn 1 at Spa-Francorchamps, which is good because the start is usually dramatic. I like this position and angle where you’re on the outside of the corner shooting across and down. With a telephoto lens and a fairly big aperture it blurs a lot of the messier background elements so you can draw the eye towards the action. The risk you take is that some of the drama kicks off earlier in the corner. A couple of years ago the organisers widened the run-off here but replaced a lot of the asphalt with gravel to deter track-limit gambling. Lando Norris just got it a bit wrong at the start here and slipped from fourth to fifth. Where Spa, Belgium When 3:04pm, Sunday 28 July 2024 Details Canon…

I HAVE WITNESSED my fair share of aurora australis here in Antarctica, having worked eight expedition seasons in the past 14 years. But the solar storm on 25 March 2024 led to the most beautiful auroral display I’ve ever seen. I knew the geomagnetic activity was going to be intense, having read online about the solar storm that was making its way down to Earth. There was no guarantee I would witness this event in its entirety; aurora displays can be obscured by cloud, wind, fog and snow. The light from a full Moon might wash out half of the sky, making it nearly impossible to photograph the full impact of the aurora. It was a full Moon that night – but this didn’t affect the vibrant colours of the pink, crimson,…

Despite how close AI and ML are, there are distinct differences between the two technologies. AI refers to the study of how to train a computer to accomplice the things that humans can do significantly better and faster. Whereas, ML is the ability for a computer to learn from its experiences, so that the outcome and performance will eventually become more accurate and accomplished. While different, they are both essentially discussing the same element: training a system to learn and do things independently. Where AI is said to lead to wisdom, ML reportedly leads to knowledge and, thanks to Python, that gap is getting closer every day. APPLICATIONS Both AI and ML are hugely present in today’s technology. Where, just a few years ago, most of us associated AI with…

Once maligned for their perceived architectural monotony and crowded living conditions during the late-19th and early-20th centuries, Berlin’s tenement houses or Mietskasernen – characterised by multiple apartments stacked on top of each other – are now some of the most sought-after properties in the city. In recent years, the need for more living spaces has meant the creation of coveted penthouses on the top floor of these buildings, many of which are readily snapped up by young professionals. Such was the case with this home, bought by a couple (one a scientist, the other an illustrator) who had recently moved to the German capital from Amsterdam. The pair were quick to realise the potential of this rooftop three-bed located in Kreuzberg and bought it as a shell before turning to interior…

I was never the popular kid at school. This isn’t a sob story, merely a statement of fact. In the social hierarchy, I was always firmly middle-tier; lucky enough to have a tight-knit group, but never the person everyone wanted at their house party. I held on to my core crew while other pals came and went over the years, drifting into the mists of time in the way people did before the internet. ‘I wonder what happened to Thingummy from ballet class?’ I would idly wonder. ‘I hope she and her Tamagotchi are well.’ But besides a few half-hearted attempts at retaining holiday pen pals, I let them all go. I was fine, I reasoned. I had enough friends. Now? I think I may have too many. I’ll forgive you the…

Stoics have a well-known aversion to strong emotions, but anger seems to fill them with a particular dread. Seneca, one of the best-remembered Stoics of ancient Rome famously described anger as ‘a form of madness’. Hence Stoics’ best response to anger is always couched in terms of control: they talk of ‘taming’, ‘domesticating’, or ‘modulating’anger. Seneca went further: “We shouldn't control anger, but destroy it entirely – for what ‘control’ is there for a thing that’s fundamentally wicked?” Stoics are not alone in their aversion to anger. Society in general takes a dim view of it, which is why anger management has become such a thriving industry. In some countries, courts send offenders on anger management programmes as part of their rehabilitation. In the UK there is even a British…

1 Improve your sleep hygiene Jet lag is disruptive, so if your sleep pattern is out of sync, ‘Try to stay awake,’ says Dr Unnati Desai, National Lead for GP Services at Nuffield Health. ‘Don’t plan anything strenuous. Keep active and hydrated and sleep in line with your current time zone,’ she adds. Even if you haven’t changed time zones, holidaying can leave you out of sorts. ‘Natural light and physical activity fill our body with endorphins, to help with that sleepy feeling,’ says Nathan Penman at Nuffield Health. 2 Rehydrate A combination of heat and alcohol consumption can leave us dehydrated, which makes us lethargic and dizzy. ‘Focusing on hydration is essential during holidays,’ says Matt. What about when you’re back? The same rule applies, but don’t overdo it. ‘The usual six…

Lemonade thyme (Thymus Cascata Lemonade) This is a creeping variety of thyme with lax stems and narrow light green leaves. It really does smell of lemonade rather than just lemons, which is the case with ‘normal’ lemon thyme. You can add it to lemonade or experiment with it in desserts like lemon souffle. Cuban mint (Mentha × villosa Cubanito) This is the mint to grow if you are a fan of mojitos. Generally, spearmint is used, but this is the real McCoy. It has a milder flavour than spearmint and the merest suggestion of citrus. Not that Mrs T tends to chew her mint when she has a mojito, but I like to think she knows I have her best interests at heart. Vietnamese coriander (Persicaria odorata) Nothing like the…

I thought there was only one way off this mountain: via its famous 21 hairpins. But rather than turning left out of our hotel to descend past the ski lifts and building sites of Alpe d’Huez, we head upwards. Within moments the road has narrowed to a single lane and all around us are green pastures, colourful Alpine flowers and distant mountaintops. We’re here to celebrate perhaps the most famous climb ever to feature in the Tour de France – Alpe d’Huez – but our first port of call is the Col de Sarenne, the Alpe’s lesser-known B-side. The col itself, which we reach just 15 minutes later, is a broad green saddle a shade under 2,000m in height, overlooked by peaks that still bear traces of last winter’s snow. We…