Friday, December 3
New Fusion Energy Website Launched
Credit: U.S. Fusion Energy
The new community-wide outreach, education, and workforce development website provides centralized resources for all audiences.
The U.S. Fusion Outreach Team, a grassroots organization in the fusion community focused on reducing barriers to outreach efforts, has launched a new centralized website to engage an expanding workforce, media, educators, and the public in the journey toward a world powered by fusion energy.
The U.S. fusion community has just completed a two year strategic planning process to focus on a bold new direction: the construction of a prototype fusion power plant by 2035 (NAS report). Following a recommendation from the consensus reports created by researchers (Community Planning Process and Powering the Future reports), a diverse committee of stakeholders from the U.S. fusion energy community has collaborated to build usfusionenergy.org. The website will feature the latest fusion news and informative articles, events, and resources that will help anyone, anywhere, understand the promise of fusion energy.
The timing of this website launch could not be more relevant. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is underway in Glasgow as world leaders decide how to tackle climate change. Additionally, the U.S. Congress is currently debating policy on transitioning the country to clean energy. The development of fusion energy as a new power source will be revolutionary to both initiatives.
Furthermore, fusion energy is building momentum in the United States and around the world. The National Ignition Facility in California announced a significant step forward for laser-driven fusion this August. Additionally, Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Massachusetts recently leaped forward in magnet-driven fusion technology. Worldwide, the international ITER project in France reports steady progress with the first plasma scheduled for 2025.
With such advancements, there has never been a better time to get involved in fusion energy! The United States is teeming with private companies seeking to commercialize fusion, and the industry will need talent of all backgrounds. To meet the moment, the new website, usfusionenergy.org, prioritizes featuring jobs and opportunities across the United States to expand the definition of “Fusioneer,” one who is involved in the fusion energy community. READ MORE...
Realistic Humanoid
Ai-Da, the world’s first humanoid robot artist, and one of the most famous robots ever, continues to push the boundaries of “normality,” and make headlines with its daring achievements. After becoming the first humanoid robot to create artistic paintings, Ai-Da is now also the first one to write and perform poetry, just like humans.
Ai-Da made waves as soon as it made its debut on the artistic scene, in 2019, but it became infamous after the Egypt incident that took place earlier this year. Traveling there in order to open an art exhibition at the Pyramids of Giza, it was detained at the border, under the suspicion that the hidden cameras in its eyes would be used for espionage. No longer a “simple” robotic artist, Ai-Da was seen as a security threat and became even more famous overnight.
The humanoid robot would eventually be cleared, after diplomatic efforts, but the following photos of it next to the Pyramids will forever mark this very interesting event that says a lot about technology advancement in general, and all the fears connected to that. Ai-Da went even further and dedicated a work of art, called Eyes Wide Shut, to this incident, since the Egypt border patrol officers wanted to remove the cameras that basically act as Ai-Da’s eyes. READ MORE...
The humanoid robot would eventually be cleared, after diplomatic efforts, but the following photos of it next to the Pyramids will forever mark this very interesting event that says a lot about technology advancement in general, and all the fears connected to that. Ai-Da went even further and dedicated a work of art, called Eyes Wide Shut, to this incident, since the Egypt border patrol officers wanted to remove the cameras that basically act as Ai-Da’s eyes. READ MORE...
Hard to be Happy
The self-help industry is booming, fueled by research on positive psychology – the scientific study of what makes people flourish.At the same time, the rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm continue to soar worldwide. So are we doomed to be unhappy, despite these advances in psychology?
According to an influential article published in Review of General Psychology in 2005, 50 percent of people's happiness is determined by their genes, 10 percent depends on their circumstances and 40 percent on "intentional activity" (mainly, whether you're positive or not).
This so-called happiness pie put positive-psychology acolytes in the driving seat, allowing them to decide on their happiness trajectory. (Although, the unspoken message is that if you are unhappy, it's your own fault.)
The happiness pie was widely critiqued because it was based on assumptions about genetics that have become discredited. For decades, behavioral genetics researchers carried out studies with twins and established that between 40 percent and 50 percent of the variance in their happiness was explained by genetics, which is why the percentage appeared in the happiness pie.
Behavioral geneticists use a statistical technique to estimate the genetic and environmental components based on people's familial relatedness, hence the use of twins in their studies.
But these figures assumed that both identical and fraternal twins experience the same environment when growing up together – an assumption that doesn't really hold water.
In response to the criticism about the 2005 paper, the same authors wrote a paper in 2019 that introduced a more nuanced approach on the effect of genes on happiness, which recognized the interactions between our genetics and our environment. READ MORE...
According to an influential article published in Review of General Psychology in 2005, 50 percent of people's happiness is determined by their genes, 10 percent depends on their circumstances and 40 percent on "intentional activity" (mainly, whether you're positive or not).
This so-called happiness pie put positive-psychology acolytes in the driving seat, allowing them to decide on their happiness trajectory. (Although, the unspoken message is that if you are unhappy, it's your own fault.)
The happiness pie was widely critiqued because it was based on assumptions about genetics that have become discredited. For decades, behavioral genetics researchers carried out studies with twins and established that between 40 percent and 50 percent of the variance in their happiness was explained by genetics, which is why the percentage appeared in the happiness pie.
Behavioral geneticists use a statistical technique to estimate the genetic and environmental components based on people's familial relatedness, hence the use of twins in their studies.
But these figures assumed that both identical and fraternal twins experience the same environment when growing up together – an assumption that doesn't really hold water.
In response to the criticism about the 2005 paper, the same authors wrote a paper in 2019 that introduced a more nuanced approach on the effect of genes on happiness, which recognized the interactions between our genetics and our environment. READ MORE...
Thursday, December 2
Opdivo Day At UT
I see the Oncologist every other month and this appointment was set with the doctor so he could review the results of my CT scan that I had on Monday. My results were good however there were a couple of spots that around a millimeter of growth which is almost insignificant... but, for me, growth is growth.
My Oncologist did not appear to be too worried with the results and said that we were going to proceed as we have in the past.... in other words, there will be no changes in my treatments.
However, when I asked about the discoloring on both of my forearms and if that was caused by the treatment, he first comment was, "they aren't bruises?", to which I replied NO. So, after examining them further, he was concerned about why there was blood just under the skin and wanted me to see a Dermatologist.
After 13 years of treatment and going into my 14th year in 2022, I am grateful that my recent test results are extremely positive and hope that this positive rhythm will follow me forward.
Journalists Surveillance in China
The Chinese province of Henan is building a surveillance system with face-scanning technology that can detect journalists and other "people of concern".
Documents seen by BBC News describe a system that classifies journalists into a "traffic-light" system - green, amber and red.
Journalists in the "red" category would be "dealt with accordingly", they say.The Henan Public Security Bureau has not responded to a request for comment.
The documents, discovered by the surveillance analyst firm IPVM, also outline plans to surveil other "people of concern", including foreign students and migrant women.
Human Rights Watch said: "This is not a government that needs more power to track more people... especially those who might be trying to peacefully hold it accountable."
'Thematic libraries'
The documents, published on 29 July, are part of a tendering process, encouraging Chinese companies to bid for a contract to build the new system, won, on 17 September, by NeuSoft.
NeuSoft has not responded to BBC News request for comment.The system includes facial-recognition technology linked to thousands of cameras in Henan, to alert authorities when a "person of concern" is located. READ MORE...
Mr. Freedom
SOURCE,GETTY IMAGESOutspoken professional basketball player Enes Kanter has legally changed his name to Enes Kanter Freedom to celebrate becoming a US citizen.The Swiss-born, Turkish-raised Mr Kanter, 29, tweeted a video of his citizenship ceremony on Monday. He recited the oath using his new name.
He has repeatedly condemned human rights violations in China and Turkey.The NBA star has said his Turkish passport was revoked by authorities in 2017.In an interview with CNN, Mr Kanter, who plays with the Boston Celtics, said the name change will reflect his "fight" for freedom throughout his life.
"Here [in the US] there is freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press," he said. "I didn't have any of those with Turkey."In his remarks, Mr Kanter said that "freedom is the greatest thing a human being can have"."That's why I wanted to make that word a part of me, and carry it wherever I go," he added.
Mr Kanter's manager told the AP news agency that the name change would take place at the same time as his naturalisation ceremony on Monday.During the ceremony, the judge addressed him by his new name, and he himself used it to swear his oath of allegiance to the United States.
He waved a miniature flag in the air after the oath and said "Freedom - that's it" while signing his naturalisation documentThe name 'Freedom' will be on his jersey when the Celtics face off against the Philadelphia 76ers later this week. Mr Kanter has said his team-mates already call him by that name. READ MORE...
Female Prime Minister Returns
SOURCE,REUTERS...MPs voted again to elect Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson on MondaySweden's first female prime minister has been reappointed to the top job after political turmoil forced her to resign within hours of taking the post last week.
MPs backed Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson by a narrow margin in a new vote on Monday.
She will attempt to lead a one-party government until an election in September next year.
She stood down as PM last Wednesday after her coalition collapsed.
Just hours earlier, Ms Andersson had been elected as Sweden's first female prime minister by a single vote in parliament.
But the 54-year-old economist's plan for forming a new coalition government with the Green Party was thrown into disarray when her budget proposal failed to pass.
Sweden's first female PM resigns hours after appointment
Instead, parliament voted for a budget drawn up by a group of opposition parties, including the far-right Sweden Democrats.
The Green Party said it would not accept a budget drafted by the far-right and walked away from the government, leading to its demise.
By convention, the prime minister in Sweden is expected to resign if a coalition party leaves government. READ MORE...
Wednesday, December 1
Pre-School Test
I already knew I was dumber than the fifth graders...
But now it's thepreschoolers!! A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU.
Which Way is the bus below traveling? To the left or to the right?
Can't make up your mind?
Look carefully at the picture again. Still don't know?
Pre-schoolers all over the United States
were shown this picture and asked the same question.
92% of the preschoolers gave this answer.
"The bus is traveling to the left."
When asked, "Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?"
They answered:
"Because you can't see the door to get on the bus."
How do you feel now???
I know, me too.
Have a nice day!
Personally, I think the reason why us older people answer incorrectly is WE WALKED TO SCHOOL !
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