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Beetlejuice sequel drops trailer with Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder returning
Warner Bros. released the first teaser trailer for Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" with Michael Keaton back as the titular bio-exorcist after 36 years......»»
Electric cute
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian raised a valid point when he said last week that the use of purely electric vehicles, or EVs, in this country will never become widespread unless and until an extensive infrastructure for charging their batteries is put in place. Indeed, unlike hybrids — whose owners can always count on the vehicle’s ICE or internal combustion engine to get them back home should the battery go flat — battery-only cars will leave you stuck should your lithium-ion cell’s charge go kaput. This concern has given rise to a new addition to the lexicon: Range anxiety, the worry an EV owner feels when his car’s battery is about to be depleted during a trip. This is ironic, considering how the Philippines is presently being flooded with affordable EVs, and how, almost a decade ago, cities like Manila under then-Mayor Erap Estrada took the lead in adopting EVs for public transport by subsidizing the purchase of e-tricycles and e-jeepneys. Indeed, although the “green-ness” of EVs is still open to question (with critics saying that you still need power generated by fossil fuels to charge them), EV enthusiasts are quick to point out its many advantages over ICE vehicles: Zero emissions, lower maintenance costs, better road performance, among other things. Charging under present circumstances, however, is a bitch. An EV comes equipped upon purchase with a cable that allows you to plug the car into an ordinary wall socket, but this takes eight to nine hours for a full charge. A fast charger is available (although not always) that will charge the unit in an hour or so, but the cost is prohibitive and will negate whatever tax incentives the government is giving on EVs. The solution in other countries is to provide fast charging outlets all over their cities, and to require owners of private parking lots to provide dedicated EV parking with fast chargers. As things are, however, only SM malls have so far provided charging ports for EVs. As for public charging stations, well, not to denigrate our people, but how long will it take for some a-holes to tap into them for free electricity or to vandalize them? With an average range of 350 kilometers (and under ideal conditions at that), EVs can only be used around town. It will take a generation or two before we can build fast charging stations out of town in convenient places, let alone in urban centers, enough to encourage EV owners to use their cars daily and on provincial jaunts. And then, the durability and reliability of EVs over ICE vehicles are yet untested. While EVs have fewer parts to wear out and have lower maintenance costs, the car is run by sophisticated electronics and is practically a rolling computer that requires highly trained technicians to fix. We still don’t know how the microchips will hold up in the Philippines’ tropical weather and bumpy roads. Parts are also expensive; the cost of the battery alone is a third of the price of the car. Heaven help you if that should conk out. Whereas with older ICE vehicles and newer lower end ones, parts are cheap and aplenty, and your friendly neighborhood “taller” around the corner has someone who can repair your regular car in a day or two. Unless these problems and concerns are addressed, EVs will remain relegated to novelty: for rich kids flexing their supposed environmental consciousness; or for the smaller, cheaper EVs, a toy for zipping around the immediate environs of your home. In the final act, EVs will remain as second or third cars, to be used during coding days (since they are exempt), and for showing off to friends. In other words, pampa-cute. The post Electric cute appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned of a "long and difficult" war, as fighting with Hamas left hundreds dead on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. The conflict's bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive Saturday that Israel's army said had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000, while soldiers and civilians were taken hostage. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 256, with nearly 1,788 wounded. As fighting raged Sunday, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions in a contested border areas "in solidarity" with Hamas. Israel's army had earlier said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon in response to a shot from the area without identifying the attackers. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. "The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," he added, pledging no "respite" until victory. Overnight Israel battered the Gaza Strip with air strikes as rockets from the blockaded Palestinians territory rained on Israel. Sunday morning gun still battles raged between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at the Sderot police station across the border from Gaza. Police and Israeli army special forces "neutralized 10 armed terrorists" who were holed up inside the station, a police statement said. The bloody air, sea and land attack launched Saturday by Hamas came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, taking Israel and the world by surprise. As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". - Hostages and 'so many bodies' - The Israeli army said overnight its forces were still engaged in gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that soldiers and civilians had been kidnapped. "I can't give figures about them at the moment," he said late Saturday, adding there was also a "severe hostage situation" in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. According to Ynet Israeli news website "dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip". The fighting prompted Israel to cut off Gaza's electricity, fuel and goods supplies, Netanyahu said. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters -- traveling in ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. "Send help, please!" one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by a hail of bullets. "I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians," one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. "So many bodies, so many bodies." AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee vehicle back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. - 'Gates of hell' - Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had "opened the gates of hell". An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza's interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israel's military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-story buildings used by Hamas. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labeled its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the "verge of a great victory", vowing to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed". - 'Dangerous precipice' - Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem on Saturday, and there were major disruptions at Tel Aviv airport where many carriers canceled flights. Israel said schools would remain closed on Sunday which marks the start of the week. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Countries around the world condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack "terrorism in its most despicable form". But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Iran's supreme leader declaring he was "proud". UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of "a dangerous precipice" and called on all sides to "pull back from the brink". (Rosie Scammell with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza) az-rsc-jd/hkb © Agence France-Presse The post Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Each shrinking his carbon
Recently, residents in Metro Manila woke up to an overcast, foggy morning sky. Conjectures attributed it to another impending eruption of Taal Volcano, like it did in 2020. Phivolcs clarified that the smog that covered Metro Manila was not caused by the volcano; it was rather pollution trapped in the lower levels of the atmosphere. It was a surprise to many because, while traffic congestion has been worsening after the pandemic and Manila was identified as one of the most congested cities in Asia, it rarely brought to the public’s attention that the air pollution it causes is so serious. During the pandemic, people noticed that, due to the lockdown implemented in most countries, air quality improved and we were seeing clearer skies, but the situation changed rapidly as almost everything was “back to normal”. Countries are doing their bit to mitigate air pollution and slow global warming. The European Union set a goal to cut carbon emissions by at least 55 percent and source 45 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Starting today, EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, a carbon tariff on carbon-intensive products, will enter its trial phase. The transition phase of CBAM, from October 2023 to December 2025, will require exporters to submit emissions reports to importing partners. From January 2026, CBAM will be implemented and initially apply to imports in the emissions-intensive sectors deemed at greater risk of carbon leakage: cement, electricity, fertilizers, iron and steel, aluminum and hydrogen. From 2026, EU importers will start paying a financial adjustment by surrendering the amount of CBAM certificates that correspond to the emissions embedded in their imports. The EU Emissions Trading System’s free emission allowances are to be replaced by the CBAM gradually from 2026 to 2034. Thus, CBAM, the CO2 border tax, will be fully phased in at the start of 2034, when free carbon certificates are eliminated. In the Philippines, electric vehicle adoption was given a boost by Executive Order No. 12 issued in January, which reduced the tariffs on certain EVs to zero for five years, effectively lowering vehicle prices and encouraging people to purchase EVs. The EO covers EV segments such as cars, buses, vans, trucks, kick scooters, self-balancing cycles, bicycles and pocket motorcycles with auxiliary motors not exceeding 250 watts and with a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour. Nonetheless, electric motorcycles were excluded from the EO, and are still subject to a 30-percent tariff. In Taiwan, to encourage people to stop buying fuel vehicles by 2040 and achieve the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, people who buy new electric motorcycles enjoy a subsidy from the government varies from NT$5,100 to 7,000, equals to 8,990 to P12,340, depending on the model purchased until the end of 2026. If the battery cores, negative electrode materials, electrolyte and copper foil used in the electric motorcycles are all domestically produced, each vehicle will receive an additional subsidy of NT$3,000. Until the end of 2024, people who replace their more than 10-year-old car with an electric car will get a NT$15,000 to 18,000 subsidy in Taiwan. While Singapore and Taiwan launched their first carbon exchange platform Climate Impact X and Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange in 2021 and August 2023, respectively, Indonesia also started its carbon trading market on 26 September. President Joko Widodo attended the launch, saying the exchange could create a new sustainable economy, estimating it has the potential to be worth at least Rp3,000 trillion ($194 billion). “This will be a new sustainable economic opportunity as the world is heading toward the green economy,” he said. The post Each shrinking his carbon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US auto talks at ‘critical phase’ as political pressure grows
High-wire talks between striking US workers and automotive giants are in a "critical phase," Jeep-maker Stellantis said Saturday, as politicians staked out positions on a labor issue that could have national impact. Stellantis, together with fellow "Big Three" automakers General Motors and Ford, was hit Friday by a limited strike -- but one the United Auto Workers (UAW) warns could spread. Both sides issued cautious statements Saturday. "Our bargaining team continues to work days, nights and weekends" in pursuit of a "reasonable" solution, said the statement from Stellantis, which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group. But the automaker warned that if talks took a bad turn, the outcome "will take us backward and endanger the long-term competitiveness of our Company, negatively impacting our workers and our communities." There was no immediate formal response from the union, but a UAW source told AFP, "we had reasonably productive conversations with Ford today." Only about 12,700 of the UAW's 150,000 members are currently on strike. But with workers at all of the Big Three coordinating strike action for the first time -- including a demand for pay increases of 40 percent over a four-year contract -- the automakers could face a far more disruptive stoppage. Underscoring the political stakes of the moment, President Joe Biden quickly lent his support to the strikers Friday, saying he understood their "frustration." Political lines And on Saturday, former president Barack Obama lent his backing, with a reference to the 2008-09 financial crisis. "When the big three automakers were struggling to stay afloat, my administration and the American people stepped in to support them," he said on social media. "So did the auto workers in the UAW who sacrificed pay and benefits to help get the companies back on their feet. "Now that our carmakers are enjoying robust profits, it’s time to do right by those same workers." But former president Donald Trump, who hopes to face Biden in next year's US presidential election, lashed out at the UAW as over-reaching. "The auto workers will not have any jobs... because all of these cars are going to be made in China -- the electric cars, automatically, are going to be made in China," he said in an interview to be aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." In its statement, Stellantis said the UAW was misrepresenting its proposals. It said its current offer would give employees a 21 percent pay raise over the term of the contract, with 10 percent coming upon ratification. General Motors upped its offer Thursday, lifting a proposed wage increase from 18 to 20 percent, according to the UAW. But hourly workers say the auto giants must produce significantly better packages to make up for what they call meager wages and benefit cuts after the 2008 financial crisis, when both GM and Chrysler, now part of Stellantis, underwent bankruptcy reorganizations. They also want pay boosts for lower-paid temporary workers. The post US auto talks at ‘critical phase’ as political pressure grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands stuck in mud at Burning Man festival, one dead
Tens of thousands of festival-goers were stranded Sunday in deep mud in the Nevada desert after rain turned the annual Burning Man gathering into a quagmire, with police investigating one death. Video footage showed costume-wearing "burners" struggling across the wet gray-brown site, some using trash bags as makeshift boots, while many vehicles were stuck in the sludge. All events at the counterculture festival, which drew some 70,000 people, were canceled after rain tore down structures for dance parties, art installations and other entertainment. Police said they were probing one death, without giving further details. Road gates in and out of the Black Rock City venue were closed, but some desperate attendees trudged on foot for hours to reach the nearest road and hitch a lift out. "It was an incredibly harrowing 6 mile (10 kilometer) hike at midnight through heavy and slippery mud, but I got safely out," lawyer Neal Katyal said on social media. "It is very slippery and the mud is like cement and sticks to your boots. "No one should try this unless in good shape and part of a group. These are dangerous conditions to hike and will likely get worse." Festival crowds were asked to shelter in place and conserve food and water after the heavy rains started Friday night, with more downpours forecast on Sunday. "You can't really walk or drive," a young woman with dreadlocks named Christine Lee, a circus performer, said on TikTok. Internet service was not available or patchy, she said. "My boots are five inches, and the mud became five inches so I was kind of on stilts," Lee said, adding people were being told they may be stuck until Tuesday. "We have enough tuna for a week so we're OK." A video posted on social media showed comedian Chris Rock hitching a ride in the back of a pickup truck after managing to leave. Pershing County Sheriff’s Sargent Nathan Carmichael told CNN the conditions are difficult. The muck "seems to stick to people, stick to tires (and) makes it very, very difficult to move vehicles around," he said, adding that most RV motorhomes were stranded. Organizers urged festivalgoers to "conserve food, water and fuel, and shelter in a warm, safe space," saying the "playa" -- the huge open-air esplanade where the event unfolds -- was impassable. "Look out for your neighbors, introduce yourself," they added. The festival was scheduled to conclude on Monday. 'Survival guide' The organizers warned only some four-wheel drive vehicles with all-terrain tires were able to move. "Anything less than that will get stuck. It will hamper exodus if we have cars stuck on roads in our camping areas, or on the Gate Road out of the city," they said on a "2023 Wet Playa Survival Guide" special webpage. If necessary, they said it was possible to walk to the nearest road, where buses would be provided to take people to Reno. Mobile cellphone trailers were being deployed and the site's wireless internet was opened for public access. "We have done table-top drills for events like this. We are engaged full-time on all aspects of safety," organizers said. Last year, the festival contended with an intense heat wave and strong winds. Launched in 1986 in San Francisco, Burning Man aims to be an undefinable event, somewhere between a celebration of counterculture and a spiritual retreat. The festival -- for which tickets cost hundreds of dollars -- culminates each year with the ceremonial burning of a 40-foot (12-meter) effigy. It has been held since the 1990s in the Black Rock Desert, a protected area in northwest Nevada, which the organizers are committed to preserving. The post Thousands stuck in mud at Burning Man festival, one dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Back to life
Geppetto climbed a few steps in front of an eager crowd, in comic exaggeration of the difficulties of old age. Bent over and moving pendulously, he made his small audience giggle as he took each “labored” step. “Pinocchio, did you lie again?” one imagines him thinking. More likely: “Goodness, how many times shall I pose with this crowd today?” The fairy tale woodcarver brought to life at Tokyo DisneySea was hilarious, but to some of those who had come to that magical world, it looked too much like reality, creaking bones and all. Too much “life” had us scrambling for some “fiction.” Relentless optimism was no match for some harsh realities, the top ones being pain, anxiety, and recurring issues. It went so that I would stare for far too long at a blank page, my mind cloudy. Or I would start to think of a social media post, then change my mind. When I couldn’t even bring myself to share what should have been a mindless IG story (just too tired, or too sick and tired), I knew I had closed off again. A quick escape to the “happiest place on Earth” was just what the doctor ordered. Tokyo’s top two theme parks offer distractions that not only lift the spirits, but give a new lease to a deadened imagination. Rediscovering one’s inner child, remembering simpler times — it was much more than the usual break. It’s not entirely bad to want to escape reality if only to gain some equilibrium. An article by Orin Gray in lifehacker.com goes: “As the world somehow continues to spin despite everything, it can be vital to your sanity to take a step back, when you can, and distance yourself from the stress of work, the deluge of news, and the pressure of your responsibilities.” He then gives his top 10 ways to escape reality. Of course, escaping reality is only a good temporary measure for mental health. If anything, we need to learn to face our challenges head-on so that we can find the best solutions. Perennial problems in the country alone, however, seem too overwhelming — corruption, poverty, hunger, inequality, injustice. Various forms of these supposed aberrations pop into our consciousness too often these days, from child beggars carrying babies on the streets to expensive rice, disgruntled farmers and untended agricultural lands, luxury cars lording it over ill-maintained highways and motorcycles wending their way in and out of traffic that had returned in full force. Is there an end to corruption that robs our people of decent basic services, a cleaner environment, and a better life? Some countries show that this is possible to achieve. Travel opens our eyes and takes us out of realities we come to take for granted just because they have always been there. We had become numb enough to not ask for something better. We are stuck in cocoons we created just to shield our eyes from the truth. Disrupting our routines, doing something completely different, taking ourselves out of the usual — these can give a fresh infusion of imagination into our labored brains. We all need it sometimes. The post Back to life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Skating out of stress, to feel free
Since the first patent for a roller skate was awarded in 1819 to a certain M. Petibled of Paris, roller skating has gone through a lot of development before evolving into what we know it now as a recreational and competitive sport. While sports such as speed skating, hockey and figure skating have been institutionalized, recreational roller skating has had its time in the spotlight over the years. Then Covid-19 happened in early 2020, and roller skating became popular again as a solo activity. Its resurgence continues post-pandemic for fitness and just for fun. [caption id="attachment_175690" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Skating is good for fitness. | Photographs Courtesy of Chai Timbungco[/caption] Skating to destress Sesilya Rosario Timbungco, nicknamed Chai, started skating using inline skates (meaning the wheels are in a straight line) with her older cousins when she was around seven years old. Then she studied figure skating for two years, starting at age nine, before moving on to other things. In 2020, she picked up inlines again because “ironically, it was safer to be out on the streets because there were almost zero cars” at the height of community lockdowns and social restrictions. “What I like about skating is that it makes me feel good about myself,” she tells DAILY TRIBUNE in an online interview. “It’s also an outlet for me because it allows me to physically destress. From a technical standpoint, I like skating because of the diverse disciplines under its umbrella -- ice skating, dance skating, derby, quad hockey, speed, park, vert, etc.” The 31-year-old skater, who works as an insights community manager at a software company adds, “Skating is good for fitness because it involves the coordination of your entire body, even if it doesn’t seem like it. It’s all about balance, especially when learning your edges! Once you nail the basics, you pretty much won’t forget how to do it — just like riding a bike.” “It’s a good fitness option, but like with all other sports, make sure it is safe for you,” she points out. “Generally, skating is for everyone. But if you have balance issues, are pregnant or have bad hip mobility, it’s best to consult your doctor.” Chai makes it clear that skating is a sport, even if you do it recreationally or as a hobby. “So there will be maintenance expenses,” she says. “If you don’t get any upgrades and sticks with a decent pair, maintenance won’t be that expensive. A good entry-level pair costs around P5,000 to P8,000. There are many other factors to consider, but that’s the base price for entry-level skates.” These days, she usually skates at the basketball court at their home, though she really misses skating outdoors. She considers Bonifacio Global City as one of the friendlier spaces for skating. If she has to go to the rink, she says she only goes to Rolyo Sk8house at the Circuit Makati. Chai is also a co-founder of the Everywhere We Skate PH community on Facebook, whose goal is to “help raise awareness about local roller skating and make skating accessible in all ways, little ways, that we can,” while “bringing in roller skating brands into the local scene.” Chai’s tips in buying your first pair of skates: Measure your feet. Measure in inches and in centimeters. Never ever correlate shoe size with skate size. Skates have to be snug, but not tight. If you’re in between sizes, always choose the bigger size. There will be workarounds to a slightly loose boot, but it’s impossible for you to use skates that are too small Buy good brands, even if it means buying them second hand. That doesn’t mean branded is always good, nope. Make sure you research before buying anything! There are reputable brands that make nice skates that are good enough as second-hands. If that isn’t an option, make sure you buy skates that are within your current skill level. For example, buying an advanced boot is not the best for a beginner who doesn’t have proper foundation yet. Try them out at the rink first (if you can) before deciding on a big purchase like our own skates. Make sure you learn how to read wheel hardness (it’s not hard), as well as the other components of your skates. Other than looking up what to buy, also learn about maintenance and how to make normal adjustments to your skate. When skating for the first time, Chai recommends doing these steps: Bend your knees. “I can’t stress this enough, but bend your knees,” she says emphatically. “It’ll save you from potential nasty falls!” Wear gear. Avoid slopes. “It’s a common misconception that slopes are good for beginners because they’ll help you roll faster. That’s true, but that’s why it’s dangerous for someone who doesn’t know how to stop yet.” Feeling of freedom Roller skating was likewise a childhood hobby for Raqs Regalado, a 39-year-old event manager and costume designer. “But it was during the pandemic that I fell back into it,” she says in another online interview, “Because I found my old pair of skates (that I got at a Japanese thrift shop back in college) while we were trying to Marie Kondo our place during the first few weeks of the lockdown.” Post-pandemic, Raqs can usually be found skating at the Bike Playground or at other indoor rinks around the Metro, and for outdoor skating, at BGC. “What I like about it most is the feeling of freedom it gives me and the friends I’ve made in this hobby,” she points out. “It’s good for fitness because it activates muscles you never even knew existed. Like it’s a whole different muscle group working when you skate.” “There are cheap, generic ones but cheap skates also mean cheaper materials were used,” she adds. “Skates manufactured by bigger, skate-focused brands will always be more expensive than the generic ones, but I think of it as investing on the quality of skates you’re getting. Your safety depends on it.” Raqs truly believes that everybody can skate. “But I wouldn’t force it on someone who does not want to. You have to at least be interested to try it and eventually find happiness in it. Once you find joy in skating, that’s when you start wanting to learn more.” She has found her kindred spirits on Everywhere We Skate PH when it was founded in 2020: “Chai reached out to me and told me about the online skating community they’ve build. Of course, I instantly joined. There were only about 50 members that time. A few months in, and they asked me to be one of the group admins. Now, we have over 10,000 members. We welcome skaters of all levels and skate enthusiasts. Our main goal is to have a safe space for healthy exchanges of skate-related information.” Raqs’ tips in buying your first pair of skates: Assuming that you’ve already tried rental skates at the public rink, and you really liked it and want to get into skating, then start doing your research on the particular skates that have aesthetically caught your attention. Check for materials used, reviews and after-sales services. If you can also determine what type of skating you want to immerse yourself in (such as outdoor cruising, aggressive skating, artistic skating, etc.), that would also be very helpful in choosing your first pair of skates. If you’re skating for the first time, Raqs has these suggestions for you to do: Get safety gear. Watch video tutorials on how to fall safely because knowing how to do so can save you from serious injuries. Remember: You may fall a lot specially as a beginner, but don’t worry, it happens to all of us. The post Skating out of stress, to feel free appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Children trapped in cable car dangling over Pakistan ravine
Six children are among the eight people who have been trapped all day Tuesday in a cable car dangling over a deep valley in Pakistan, with military helicopters hovering nearby ahead of a possible rescue attempt. The children were using the chairlift to get to school when a cable broke at a height of around 1,200 feet (about 365 meters) midway through its journey in a remote, mountainous part of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. "The evening is coming nearer. Tell us why the helicopters are going back?" Gul Faraz, one of the adults stuck in the cable car, said to AFP by phone. "For God's sake help us," he earlier told local media. Several military helicopters flew reconnaissance sorties and an airman was lowered by harness to deliver food, water and medicine, Tanveer Ur Rehman, a local government official, told AFP. "This is a delicate operation that demands meticulous accuracy. The helicopter can not approach the chairlift closely, as its downwash (air pressure) might snap the sole chain supporting it," he said. Anxious crowds gathered on both sides of the ravine, which is several hours from any sizeable town. "Every time the helicopter lowered the rescuer closer to the chairlift, the wind from the helicopter would shake and disbalance the chairlift making the children scream in fear," Ghulamullah, chairman of the Allai valley area, told Geo News. 'What can they do?' The gondola broke down at around 7:00 am local time, with residents using mosque loudspeakers to alert neighborhood officials across the Allai valley. Headmaster Ali Asghar Khan told AFP by phone that the children were teenage boys and students at his government high school Battangi Pashto. "The school is located in a mountainous area and there are no safe crossings, so it's common to use the chairlift," Khan said. "The parents are gathered at the site of the chairlift. What can they do? They are waiting for the rescue officials to get their children out. We are all worried." Abid Ur Rehman, a teacher from another school in the area, said around 500 people had gathered to watch the rescue mission. "Parents and women are crying for the safety of their children," he told AFP. Syed Hammad Haider, a senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial official, said the gondola was hanging about 1,000 to 1,200 feet above the ground. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued a directive for all chairlifts in mountainous areas to be inspected and for those that are not "safety compliant" to be immediately closed. Cable cars that carry passengers and sometimes cars are common across the northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gilgit-Baltistan, and are vital in connecting villages and towns in areas where roads cannot be built. In 2017, 10 people were killed when a chairlift cable broke, sending passengers plunging into a ravine in a mountain hamlet near capital Islamabad. The post Children trapped in cable car dangling over Pakistan ravine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada’s far north speeds up evacuations as fire approaches main city
Residents of Yellowknife in Canada's far north on Friday raced to evacuate ahead of a midday deadline as wildfires bear down on the remote city and other parts of the vast country. Since authorities in the Northwest Territories issued the city-wide evacuation order late Wednesday, long lines of cars have snaked along the lone highway connecting the area to Alberta province to the south ahead of the 12:00 pm (1800 GMT) cutoff. About 1,500 people have so far left Yellowknife, the regional capital, by plane, with an increased number of flights scheduled Friday to evacuate more of the city's 20,000 residents. The nearest evacuation center is 1,150 kilometers (700 miles) away, in Alberta, where several sites have been set up. Crews have scrambled to erect fire barriers as the flames approached Yellowknife, while water bombers have been seen flying low over the city and swooping in to fill up at a nearby lake. Northwest winds over the next two days will send the fire, already close to the city's perimeter, "in directions we don't want," Northwest Territories' fire information officer Mike Westwick said Thursday. Several military aircraft have already been dispatched, along with more than 120 soldiers to help beat back the flames. In what had already been declared the Northwest Territories' largest-ever evacuation, the emptying of Yellowknife now means half the population of the near-Arctic territory will soon be displaced. Several towns and Indigenous communities were also already under evacuation orders. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau interrupted his summer vacation Thursday to convene an incident response group. In British Columbia in western Canada, evacuation orders were also put in place for areas near Kelowna, as a different fire threatened the city of around 150,000. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more frequent and more deadly. The evacuation of Yellowknife is the second time a sizeable Canadian city has been cleared due to wildfires since 100,000 residents of Fort McMurray in Alberta's oil and gas-producing heartland were forced out in 2016. Earlier this year, suburbs of Halifax on the Atlantic coast were also evacuated. Canada is experiencing a record-setting wildfire season, with official estimates of over 13.7 million hectares (33.9 million acres) already scorched. Four people have died so far. Waves of smoke have also intermittently descended on the United States, prompting several air alert warnings in large swaths of the country's center and east. The Yellowknife evacuation comes amid heightened awareness about the deadly speed of wildfires after a town on the Hawaiian island of Maui was razed by a fast-moving inferno, killing more than 100 people. The post Canada’s far north speeds up evacuations as fire approaches main city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asialink profit up on strong demand for used cars
The earnings of Asialink Finance Corp. jumped by 43 percent to P2.65 billion last year on the back of a post-COVID recovery and robust demand for second-hand cars......»»
Used cars loans rising – Asialink
Asialink Finance Corp., one of the country’s fastest-growing finance companies, has tallied record numbers for 2022 on the back of a post-Covid recovery and robust demand for used cars. Asialink said it has established a niche in terms of financing on the used car sector which was its main driver of growth for last year. Independent Ken Research observed that auto finance is an emergent market in the Philippines at a growing stage even during the pandemic. The rising demand for automobiles, positive outlook for electronic vehicles, and growing digital advancements like artificial intelligence and machine learning, are expected to contribute to the market growth over the forecast period. The auto finance market is expected to see a high growth rate with a compound annual gain of 6.8 percent over the forecasted period 2021 to 2026. Positive prognosis With the positive outlook, Asialink opened additional branches, hired more sales personnel, and partnered with more car dealers, she said. In a special shareholders’ meeting, the company said its net income grew 43 percent to P2.654 billion in 2022 from a year earlier. Revenues were at P3.096 billion from P2.152 billion year-on-year. Its asset value, meanwhile, went up 39 percent to P11.369 billion. Asialink has been seeing exponential growth as the Covid-19 pandemic recedes into the background, allowing many industries to get back on track and seek financing to reinforce or expand their operations, the company’s general manager Eileen Mangubat said in her report. The post Used cars loans rising – Asialink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lithuania-Belarus crossings to close
Several dozen cars lined up in Sumskas at Lithuania’s border with Belarus Saturday ahead of the crossing’s closure next week. Lithuania will shut two of its six border checkpoints with Belarus, including the crossing in Sumskas in response to escalating tensions between the neighbors. Vilnius has warned of a provocations threat by Minsk as Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group are now based in Belarus following their short-lived rebellion in Russia. “By granting shelter to the Wagner military group, Belarus has become a state that harbors a terrorist organization,” Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Mantas Adomenas told reporters. “New security challenges have emerged and we must take them into account,” he added. For casual travelers, the reduction of the border crossings will mean extended waiting times at the remaining checkpoints, which will now also be shared with buses and trucks. Some Lithuanians say they would need to abandon their excursions to Belarus completely. ‘Stay away’ Lithuanian authorities say around 230,000 Lithuanian citizens went to Belarus in the first half of 2023 despite political tensions and multiple warnings from the government to stay away from the authoritarian state. This week, the government installed banners at all border checkpoints with Belarus bearing the inscription “Do not risk your safety — do not travel to Belarus. You may fail to come back.” The officials in Vilnius say Minsk may be trying to recruit some travelers to Belarus for espionage, exert psychological pressure, or even blackmail the Lithuanian citizens by performing checks on their phones and social media. “Every citizen of Lithuania who goes to Belarus must assess all the risks, including those to their health and life,” Rustamas Liubajevas, head of the border guard service, said. WITH AFP The post Lithuania-Belarus crossings to close appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hyundai Philippines announces EV car park partnership with SM Supermalls
Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) revealed plans for six (6) Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in partnership with SM Supermalls this 2023. At the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) last July 20, the brand formally set off its newest project with the country’s largest developer, operator and owner of world-class shopping centers. “Our global vision is based on the belief that we, as an automaker, have to be more proactive when responding to climate change compared to companies in other industries. So Hyundai Motor Philippines is very fortunate to be aligned with a company whose approach to sustainability is as holistic as ours. We are glad that we get to contribute to one of the four main pillars of their green movement which is energy,” says Mr. Cecil Capacete, Managing Director. “A key component to supporting society’s adoption of cleaner mobility solutions is through public awareness. And we are one with the SM group on their mission to assure customers, who are looking to transition to an electrified lifestyle, wider access to charging facilities outside of their homes”. [caption id="attachment_169453" align="aligncenter" width="724"] Back-to-back World Car of The Year awardees, the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, charging at the SM Mall of Asia EV Car Park.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_169454" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Steven Tan, Hans Sy Jr. and Dongwook Lee plugs in the IONIQ 6 at the EV charger.[/caption] In the country, HMPH has begun laying the foundation to this journey through the establishment of at least 10 certified Hyundai EV dealers. These not only serve as the official retailers and service providers of the IONIQ 5 and new IONIQ 6 but also equipped with both AC and DC chargers should owners need. Now in addition to these are the following locations: “At SM, we build on our long-term strategy toward net zero emissions by 2040. We commit to address issues that will impact the next generations and welcome Hyundai as our partner in this advocacy. We look forward to this collaboration and working with you in the years to come,” says Mr. Steven T. Tan, President, SCMC. [caption id="attachment_169458" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Cecil Capacete welcomes guests to the inauguration of the SM EV charging station slots in partnership with HMPH.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_169459" align="aligncenter" width="721"] Stevan Tan gives a special message and shares SM’s initiatives and goals for a greener future.[/caption] Each of the abovementioned car park slots have AC chargers with Type 2 connectors which are being offered free of charge to all owners of EVs and plug-in hybrid cars regardless of their badge. Learn more about the brand’s commitment towards sustainability and other news at Hyundai Motor Philippines’ official website, Facebook and Instagram. SM Supermalls is the country's leading mall property developer and operator with 83 SM malls nationwide. Other locations of their EV Charging Stations and how to use them here. The post Hyundai Philippines announces EV car park partnership with SM Supermalls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Missile barrage hits Ukraine, Russia repels attack
Two people were killed in separate overnight airstrikes on Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday. A missile struck port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region on the Black Sea coast killing one person, the regional governor said Thursday. Oleg Kiper said Russian forces “fired Kalibr missiles from a submarine in the Black Sea.” “A civilian guard born in 1979 died as a result of the hit. Equipment of one of the cargo terminals was damaged, a small security building and two cars were destroyed,” Kiper said on social media. The other fatality was in the town of Kivsharivka in the eastern Kharkiv region, governor Oleg Synegubov said. The attacks followed the downing of 36 cruise missiles by the Ukrainian Air Force. “On 26 July, 36 enemy cruise missiles were destroyed,” Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk said Wednesday on the air force’s official Telegram channel. Three Kalibr missiles were fired in the afternoon while 33 X-101 and X-555 missiles were fired in the early evening by eight Tu-95 bombers from the southeast heading towards western Ukraine, it said. The air force mentioned another strike by Russian MiG-31s which launched four hypersonic Kinjal missiles targeting the Khmelnytsky region in western Ukraine on Wednesday evening. In the Dnipro central region of Ukraine, the governor said Wednesday on Telegram that the debris of a downed Russian missile caused a fire which was brought under control without causing any casualties. Meanwhile, Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday that a cargo ship bound for the Russian port of Rostov-on-Don was turned back “from Russian territorial waters” after “traces of explosives” were found on the ship. The FSB said in a statement that the ship coming from Turkey had previously sailed to the Ukrainian port of Reni. Earlier, the Russian army said it turned back several hundred Ukrainian soldiers near the town of Orikhiv in the south, one of the areas where Kyiv has been carrying out its counteroffensive. Ukraine “conducted a massive attack by the forces of three battalions reinforced by tanks. All attacks of the Armed Force of Ukraine were repelled. Positions were held,” the ministry said. The Russian military also said it progressed in the direction of Lyman, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, after reporting an advance of up to two kilometers on Tuesday. WITH AFP The post Missile barrage hits Ukraine, Russia repels attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Algeria battles raging wildfires that have killed 34
Algerian firefighters were Tuesday battling blazes that have killed 34 people across the tinder-dry north, destroyed homes and coastal resorts and turned vast forest areas into blackened wastelands. Witnesses described fleeing walls of flames that raged "like a blowtorch", and TV footage showed charred cars, burnt-out shops and smoldering fields and scrubland as thousands of residents were evacuated. Severe fires raged through the mountain forests of the Kabylia region on the Mediterranean coast, fanned by hot winds amid blistering summer heat that peaked at 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) Monday. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent his condolences to the families of those killed -- among them 10 soldiers trapped by flames at Beni Ksila, in Bejaia province, according to the defense ministry. Authorities reported progress in fighting back the almost 100 fires reported in recent days, having mobilized more than 8,000 civil defense personnel, over 500 fire trucks and multiple chartered aircraft. "Out of 97 declared fires, only 15 remained" at 8:30 am (0730 GMT) Tuesday, including two in worst-hit Bejaia, civil defense information officer Karim Belhafsi said on national television. The interior ministry expected to soon announce "the total extinction of all fires", he said, as the public prosecutor of Bejaia ordered an investigation into the causes of the fires and possible perpetrators. An unknown number of people suffered injuries from burns to smoke inhalation, and more then 1,500 were evacuated as the fires hit 15 provinces, especially Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel. Climate change and drought Much of the water-scarce northern African region has been hit by serious drought, severe summer heat and regular wildfires, a trend expected to worsen as climate change intensifies. Serious fires have also raged in recent days in neighboring Tunisia, especially the northwestern Tabarka region. An AFP team there witnessed significant damage and saw helicopters and Canadair water bombers in action. More than 300 people were evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula by boat and overland. Northern and eastern Algeria battle forest fires every summer. In August last year, 37 people were killed by fires in the northeastern El Tarf region, a year after 90 died, mostly in Kabylia. To prepare for this year's fire season, Algerian authorities deployed observation drones and created multiple helicopter landing sites. The government in May announced the purchase of a large water bomber aircraft and the rental of six others from South America. Algeria also placed an order with Russia for four water bombers, but reported that their delivery was delayed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The post Algeria battles raging wildfires that have killed 34 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Seaoil Radical Challenge fires off
The second season of the fastest race car series in the Philippines, the 2023 Seaoil Radical Challenge Philippines, is set to unfold this July. For the second year running, Radical Cars Philippines, in collaboration with official fuel partner, Seaoil Philippines, is revving up the engines and preparing to burn some rubber on the asphalt. A total of five pulse-pounding events are on the docket for this year's championship, starting at the Clark International Speedway. As a much-anticipated curtain-raiser, the event is set to pave the way for a heated season. The series will then cruise its way to the Batangas Racing Circuit in September before heading back to CIS for back-to-back rounds in October and November. The climactic finish of the season is planned with a grueling two-hour endurance race on 25 November, promising a spectacle that will test the mettle of even the most hardened racers. It's worth noting that the series, now officially recognized as a National-level championship by the Automobile Association Philippines, boasts a formidable grid of 10 Radical SR1s. The SR1 is a marvel of engineering, featuring a carbon-steel space frame chassis enveloped by a lightweight, high-downforce fiberglass body. With a mid-mounted 182 bhp RPE 1340cc racing-spec engine powering the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. This race car exemplifies simplicity and lightness, offering an unrivaled driving experience while promoting cost-effective racing. The drivers taking part in the series come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from spirited rookies and amateur gentleman drivers to seasoned professionals. This dynamic melting pot of talent and experience is guaranteed to produce a season replete with nail-biting moments and breathtaking finishes. Seaoil Philippines, the country's premier independent fuel provider, reaffirms its commitment to the sport by returning as the championship's title partner and official fuel supplier. The firm's top-tier Extreme 97 Octane fuel is the approved choice, ensuring peak performance on the track. Further demonstrating its unwavering support, Seaoil Philippines has also agreed to a new three-year deal with Radical Cars Philippines, set to supercharge the championship through to 2025. Edward Cruz, Seaoil Philippines Inc.'s Head of B2C Segment Marketing, expressed his excitement about their continued partnership. "Seaoil’s world-class Extreme 97 Octane fuel will once again power the fastest racing series in the country. We will continue providing the same brand of ‘Alagang SEAOIL’ on the track, as we have been giving to every Filipino motorist who fills up in our stations. This exciting partnership with Radical exemplifies Seaoil’s commitment in championing Philippine motorsports and fostering a culture of high-performance excellence." Cruz's sentiments echoed the thrill of the previous season, where records were shattered, fastest laps achieved, and limits breached on the track. With the partnership's renewal, Radical Challenge Philippines is set to break even more records and propel racing to even loftier heights. Marlon Stockinger, Radical Cars Philippines Motorsports Director, praised the partnership, "Our goal is to be here long term, and Seaoil shares that value as we continue to work together for the next three years, solidifying Radical Challenge Philippines as the stepping stone for racing drivers in the Philippines." The format for each round follows a three-day structure of Free Practice on Friday, Qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday, culminating with Race 2 and 3 on Sunday. Each sprint race has an intense start-to-finish span of 30 minutes. A new feature for this season is a 2-hour endurance race, an exciting addition that promises multiple driver changes and pit stops, adding another layer of unpredictability and challenge to the already thrilling The post Seaoil Radical Challenge fires off appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robin’s dangerous liaisons
It turned out that Robin Padilla’s love affair with guns landed him in a bit of a pickle. You see, Padilla thought it would be a great idea to show off his gun collection on social media. Because nothing says “responsible legislator” like flaunting your weapons on the internet, right? Now, Robin will be Robin, even if he’s now a senator (or, more so, maybe, because he’s become a lawmaker). Still, when you refer to your guns as your “wife and girlfriends,” you’re asking for big trouble. Lo and behold, Padilla’s little show-and-tell ignited a fierce debate about the legality of his gun ownership. And why not? Back in 1994, Padilla ended up with a lovely prison sentence of 17 to 21 years for, you guessed it, illegal possession of firearms. Yikes! No worries, though. Like a poorly written movie script, the then powers that be decided to grant him a conditional and then a full pardon, giving him a chance for a happy ending to his reel-and-real life, allowing him to ride into the sunset with enough guns to arm a private army. Now, legal experts are scratching their heads, trying to figure out if those pardons magically restored Padilla’s right to own firearms. We invite them to furiously flip through law books and search for that hidden chapter titled “Celebrity Exceptions: How to Arm Yourself After a Conviction.” Only in the Philippines?! But let’s credit Padilla for his thoughtful act of surrendering four rifles to the Philippine National Police back in 2015. He handed over his “girlfriends” for “safekeeping” while he applied for a new license, an application we assumed was granted because Robin showed off, too, those licenses, registration, and permits to carry firearms outside of residence or PTCFOR cards. It should be obvious, however, that people who have served jail time of at least two years are ineligible to be licensed firearms holders under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, which Robin claimed in 2015 was being applied retroactively to his 1994 conviction. Who knows? I’m no lawyer, but I guess being a law-abiding citizen is a pesky little requirement for owning weapons. Darn it, we seem to always forget those minor details for which the entitled members of society cannot be inconvenienced or bothered with. Robin insists he’s a responsible gun owner, having undergone gun handling and basic combat training. Well, isn’t that comforting? Levity aside, we cannot just brush off this issue with a few chuckles. It’s essential to know whether Padilla had been given special treatment and if the gun law is being applied fairly. So, let the debate, that Robin himself invited, rage on. Will he be able to continue his love affair with his collection of “girlfriends?” Or will he settle for more socially acceptable hobbies like collecting cars? Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s remember that responsible gun ownership is no laughing matter. It’s a serious responsibility that requires strict adherence to the law and a commitment to safety, thus the requirement that all licensed gun owners regularly pass drug and neuro-psychiatric tests. While entertaining, the brouhaha over Senator Padilla’s gun ownership highlights the need for effective gun control measures. It’s a chance for us to reflect on the broader implications of gun ownership and the importance of striking a balance between personal liberties and public safety. Maybe Padilla himself should initiate a review of the present firearms law as an esteemed senator of the land. Or maybe not, lest he be accused of amending that law so he can go on with his, pardon my French, “liaison dangereuse.” Now, that’s a thought worthy of stroking one’s suave “moustache gauloise”, right? The post Robin’s dangerous liaisons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meet the scientist (sort of) spending a year on Mars
Living on Mars wasn't exactly a childhood dream for Canadian biologist Kelly Haston, though she'll soon spend a year preparing for just that. "We are just going to pretend that we're there," the 52-year-old told AFP, summing up her participation in an exercise simulating a long stay on the Red Planet. At the end of June, she will be one of the four volunteers stepping into a Martian habitat in Houston, Texas that will be their home for the next 12 months. "It still sometimes seems a bit unreal to me," she laughs. For NASA, which has carefully selected the participants, these long-term experiments make it possible to evaluate the behavior of a crew in an isolated and confined environment, ahead of a real mission in the future. Participants will face equipment failures and water limitations, the space agency has warned -- as well as some "surprises," according to Haston. Their communications with the outside world will suffer from the delays that exist between Earth and Mars -- up to 20 minutes one-way, depending on the planets' positions -- and 40 minutes two ways. "I'm very excited about this, but I'm also realistic about what the challenge is," says the research scientist, whose status as a permanent resident of the United States made her eligible for the program. The habitat, dubbed Mars Dune Alpha, is a 3D printed 1,700 square-foot (160 square-meter) facility, complete with bedrooms, a gym, common areas, and a vertical farm to grow food. "It's actually surprisingly spacious feeling when you go inside it," said Haston, who visited last year before her participation was confirmed. "And we do have an outdoor area as well where we will mimic spacewalks or Mars walks." This area, which is separated by an airlock, is filled with red sand, though it is still covered rather than being open air. The crew will have to don their suits to do "spacewalks" -- "probably one of the things that I'm looking forward to the most," says Haston, a registered member of the Mohawk Nation. Haston wasted no time in filling out her application when her partner told her about the opportunity. "It's aligned with many of my goals in life to explore different avenues of research and science, and then also to be a test subject, and to give to a study that will hopefully further space exploration." The four members of the mission -- herself, an engineer, an emergency doctor, and a nurse -- did not know each other before the selection process but have since met. "We really are close-knit already," says Haston, who has been named commander of the group, adding she looks forward to seeing these relationships grow even stronger. They might be simulating an important exploratory mission for humanity, but how the housemates get along as they share mundane chores including cleaning and meal preparation will be crucial. A month of training is planned in Houston before entering the habitat. A teammate could leave in case of injury or medical emergency. But a whole series of procedures have been drawn up for situations that can be handled by the crew themselves -- including how to tell them about a family problem that has arisen outside. What worries the Canadian most is how she will manage to be away from family. She'll only be able to keep in regular touch through email, and only rarely via videos, but never live. She'll miss being outside and getting to see mountains and the sea, she says. To cope, she plans to draw on her past experiences, such as a research expedition in Africa where she studied the genetic characteristics of frogs around Lake Victoria. She spent several months sleeping in cars and tents, with four people, without reliable cell phone coverage. Feelings of isolation "are things that I think feel very familiar to me." A specialist in the field of developing stem cell treatments for certain diseases, she has worked in recent years for start-ups in California, where she also studied. This mission is the first of a series of three planned by NASA, grouped under the title CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog). A year-long mission simulating life on Mars took place in 2015-2016 in a habitat in Hawaii, but although NASA participated in it, it was not at the helm. Under its Artemis program, America plans to send humans back to the Moon in order to learn how to live there long-term to help prepare for a trip to Mars, sometime towards the end of the 2030s. The post Meet the scientist (sort of) spending a year on Mars appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chatbot, am not
Two little mounds of flesh, So soft, so round, so fair, Upon a chest of snow, Two little buds of air. Two little peaks of joy, So sensitive, so sweet, That when touched, They stand erect, entice. Two little points of love, So full of life, so warm, That when they’re kissed They give thrills of joy. Two little cups of milk, So sweet, so pure, so white, That filled they give A nourishment so bright. Two little symbols of The love that God has given, To womankind to show Motherhood’s joys — Bard, waxing poetic on women’s bosoms ChatGPT, while still in continuous development since its release in November 2022, has taken the world by storm because its use of artificial intelligence, or AI, has allowed it to hold open-ended conversations with humans in written form. But rave about ChatGPT we’d rather not because OpenAI’s creation is just a more advanced and sophisticated variant of what personal assistants like Alexa, Siri, or Hey Google have been doing for many years now through smart devices, albeit only verbally or graphically. ChatGPT, I’d dare say, is more evolutionary than revolutionary. Suffice it to say, though, that we can see sooner than later chatbots and personal assistants crossing over into each other’s digital realms to cover all platforms whether written verbal, photos, videos, or robotics. Their very human creators (greed is exclusive to man, right?) would all do that because convergence holds the key to making money from disruptive or game-changing concepts like AI. Mind you, AI can be made to do a lot more things other than Google’s Bard being told to generate (did I say write?) that paean of a poem above on women’s nurturing nature. AI, as you read this, is already powering self-driving cars, smart cities, customer service, and revolutionizing education through customized tutorials. But AI, as a branch of computer science, deserves a series of columns. So enough of this digression and let’s go back to the specifics of those AI-powered chatbots, with me wearing my Daily Tribune technology editor’s hat. Am no expert here, but who can claim to be one when even Google’s top executives admitted in an interview with 60 Minutes that they could not put a finger on how Bard, their answer to ChatGPT, works? You know, just like opening Pandora’s or Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates: Either you get all of the evils of the world pouring out because of AI, or life’s gooey, mouth-watering goodness, or both. Who knows what the future holds? Going back to ChatGPT, which has gotten a headstart over Bard but may eventually cave in from the power of Google’s superlative search engine and wealth, there’s a certain depth of response that people get from it. Alexa or Siri could not hold a candle to ChatGPT in making some lazy people think they can use the AI chatbot instead of doing actual research or in passing themselves off as writers even at the risk of being exposed as plagiarists. One daughter told me that, in college, they have unmasked ChatGPT users among their peers, having analyzed the plagiarized works vis-a-vis what the chatbot does and its formula for responding to prompts. In most cases, ChatGPT throws in a structured response broken down into three parts: Introduction, body (where it does its data dumping, information overload), and conclusion, she told me. Likewise, perfection is a giveaway when somebody who could not even write a single grammatically passable sentence suddenly becomes Mark Twain-ish. As AI chatbots can get overly formulaic, it would not take rocket science to decipher a chatbot-generated piece of writing, notwithstanding Google’s attempt at selling Bard as one infused with black magic, a pathetic attempt at marketing hype. The post Chatbot, am not appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»