Nuclear Fusion R&D

To those who have kept tabs on nuclear fusion research the past decades beyond the articles and soundbites in news outlets, it’s probably clear just how much progress has been made, and how many challenges still remain. 

Yet since not that many people are into plasma physics, every measure of progress, such as most recently by the South Korean KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) tokamak, is met generally by dismissive statements about nuclear fusion always being a certain number of decades away. 

Looking beyond this in coverage such as the article by Science Alert about this achievement by KSTAR we can however see quite a few of these remaining challenges being touched upon.

Recently KSTAR managed to generate 100 million degrees C plasma and maintain this for 48 seconds, a significant boost over its previous record from 2021 of 30 seconds, partially due to the new divertors that were installed.  READ MORE...

Drift Away

 

In The NEWS

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dies.
Spurlock, best known for his Oscar-nominated film "Super Size Me," in which he subsisted solely on a McDonald's diet for a month, died yesterday from cancer-related complications. The effort grossed a modest $22M at the box office but sparked a wide-ranging public conversation over healthy eating. Spurlock was 53 years old.



Ozempic may help treat kidney disease.
The new weight-loss drug cut the risk of kidney failure and death in patients with diabetes by 20% to 30% in preliminary trials. The results follow a string of improved health outcomes behind weight loss for semaglutide, the key compound in the drug, including lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and more.



Rivals meet at Wembley Field.
Manchester City will face Manchester United in the finals of England's FA Cup today (10 am ET, ESPN+), the world's oldest national soccer competition. The pair are the first two clubs to meet in consecutive years in the championship since 1884-85.



Neanderthals and ancient humans only briefly comingled.
A new genetic analysis suggests a wave of Homo sapiens arrived in western Eurasia around 47,000 years ago, intermixing with Neanderthals for around 7,000 years—a relatively short window in evolutionary timescales.



Exchange-traded crypto funds move forward.
US financial regulators approved applications from Nasdaq, Chicago Board Options Exchange, and the New York Stock Exchange to list exchange-traded funds that track the price of the cryptocurrency ether. Ether is the second-largest cryptocurrency behind bitcoin, with a circulating supply worth $440B.



"God's influencer" on track for sainthood.
Carlo Acutis, an Italian computer prodigy who died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15, will be considered for canonization by the Catholic Church after Pope Francis formally declared a second miracle linked to his tomb. He would be the first millennial to be granted sainthood.

SOURCE:  1440 News

Owning Homes

I have owned SIX HOMES since 1969 when I first got married.  The homes were located North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.  My first home was owned 23 years but was sold when my first wife and I divorced.

My second wife and I have purchased five homes, and each time we sold our home, we sold it for more than we had purchased it.

The fifth home we owned we had for twenty years and made the largest profit, selling it because we needed to downsize after retirement.

It was during ownership of this fifth house that we became debt free.

Owning homes on the one hand allows individuals and couples to build their wealth while at the same time, it becomes a huge burden and responsibility.  I found that out when I got divorced.

Owning a home cannot take place WITHOUT you taking the time and investing the money to keep the home in good shape.  It is different from car maintenance to ensure high resale value because the asset with which you are dealing is muti-faceted.  That is to say, there are lots of things that one must deal with, like:

• Outside appearance
• Lawn maintenance
• Inside painting
• Electrical/plumbing issues
• Updating appliances
• Roof and gutter replacement/repair
• Worn out furniture

You can try and do a lot of this yourself but if you don't know what you are doing, then it will impact the future value of the home.

It is said that owning a home is the American Dream and while that might be correct, I am not sure if that is appropriate.

There is nothing wrong with renting as long as your landlord fixing things timely, and the rent does not increase too rapidly.  Renting allows for mobility and allows one to invest the money that would have been spent on updating one's owned home.

The tradeoff:  Would you earn more money from your investments that from the constantly increasing value of your home?  Much of this depends on your geographical location and then specific locations within that geographical area.

For instance, my parents purchased a home in the 1950s just outside of Washington, DC for $18,000 and sold it ten years later for $150,000.  

Homes are still worth more up north than they are in the south... and in any location, there are areas that are growing - those prove to be the best places to buy for growth.

Somewhat Political

 

Altered States of Consciousness

Summary: A new study finds that altered states of consciousness (ASCs), like those experienced during meditation, are more common than previously thought. 45% of respondents reported experiencing ASCs at least once, often leading to positive outcomes.

However, a significant minority also reported negative or even life-threatening suffering, highlighting the need for better support and understanding of these experiences.

Key Facts:

• 45% of respondents reported experiencing non-pharmacologically induced ASCs.
• ASCs are associated with both positive and negative well-being outcomes.
• Many who experience negative outcomes do not seek help.

Yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breathwork, and other practices are gaining in popularity due to their potential to improve health and well-being. The effects of these practices are mostly positive and occasionally transformational, yet they are known to sometimes be associated with challenging altered states of consciousness.

New research by a team including investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, reveals that altered states of consciousness associated with meditation practice are far more common than expected.    READ MORE...

Ride Captain Ride

 

Female Body Builders

Least Expensive States to Live In

Top 10 States Where It’s Least Expensive to Live Comfortably

States are ranked by the income needed to live comfortably as a single adult according to the 50/30/20 budget.

West Virginia
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $37.88
Salary needed for a single working adult: $78,790
Rank of income needed for a family: 3
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $189,364

Arkansas
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.20
Salary needed for a single working adult: $79,456
Rank of income needed for a family: 2
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $180,794

Oklahoma
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.66
Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,412
Rank of income needed for a family: 8
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $194,106

North Dakota
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.72
Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,538
Rank of income needed for a family: 13
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $202,176

Kentucky
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.80
Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,704
Rank of income needed for a family: 5
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $190,112

Ohio
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $38.80
Salary needed for a single working adult: $80,704
Rank of income needed for a family: 20
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $209,332

South Dakota
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.16
Salary needed for a single working adult: $81,452
Rank of income needed for a family: 6
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $192,608

Louisiana
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.64
Salary needed for a single working adult: $82,452
Rank of income needed for a family: 4
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $189,612

Mississippi
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $39.78
Salary needed for a single working adult: $82,742
Rank of income needed for a family: 1
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $177,798

Iowa
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $40.08
Salary needed for a single working adult: $83,366
Rank of income needed for a family: 23
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $211,412

Most Expensive States to Live In

Top 10 States Where It’s Most Expensive to Live Comfortably

States are ranked by the income needed to live comfortably as a single adult according to the 50/30/20 budget.

Massachusetts
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $55.78
Salary needed for a single working adult: $116,022
Rank of income needed for a family: 1
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $301,184

Hawaii
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.66
Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,692
Rank of income needed for a family: 2
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $294,612

California
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.64
Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,652
Rank of income needed for a family: 5
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $276,724

New York
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $53.72
Salary needed for a single working adult: $111,738
Rank of income needed for a family: 4
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $278,970

Washington
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $51.20
Salary needed for a single working adult: $106,496
Rank of income needed for a family: 7
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,420

Colorado
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.66
Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,292
Rank of income needed for a family: 6
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $264,992

New Jersey
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.52
Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,002
Rank of income needed for a family: 9
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $251,180

Maryland
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.48
Salary needed for a single working adult: $102,918
Rank of income needed for a family: 15
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $239,450

Oregon
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.60
Salary needed for a single working adult: $101,088
Rank of income needed for a family: 8
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,338

Rhode Island
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.48
Salary needed for a single working adult: $100,838
Rank of income needed for a family: 10
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $249,268

Contemporary Black Artists

Amy Sherald⁠
If her name sounds familiar, it’s probably because she painted First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait that now hangs in the National Gallery….no big deal.

Amy Sherald at Hauser & Wirth Gallery
“She is best known for her portrait paintings. Her choices of subjects look to enlarge the genre of American art historical realism by telling African-American stories within their own tradition. She is well known for using grisaille to portray skin tones in her work as a way of challenging the concept of color-as-race. Her style is simplified realism, involving staged photographs of her subjects.” (source)

Sherald is represented by Hauser & Wirth gallery globally.


Website: http://www.amysherald.com/

Instagram: @asherald

Amy Sherald at Hauser & Wirth

‍

Arcmanoro Niles
Acrmanoro Niles at Rachel Uffner Gallery
“A traditionally trained painter, Niles is heavily influenced by art history, specifically history painting and portraiture. The poses of his characters and attention to light call to mind classical compositions yet Niles disrupts these standards by using a highly saturated color palette over orange and blue grounds. Niles has removed neutral colors, blacks, whites, and browns from his palette in order to demonstrate the complex skin tones of his subjects while adding a noble glow.” - Rachel Uffner (source)

Website: http://www.arcmanoro.com/

Instagram: @arcmanoro
Arcmanoro Niles at Rachel Uffner Gallery

Barthélémy Toguo
Barthélémy Toguo at Galerie Lelong
“Working across painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, performance, and installation, Barthélémy Toguo addresses enduring and immediately relevant issues of borders, exile, and displacement. At the core of his practice is the notion of belonging, which stems from his dual French/Cameroonian nationality. Through poetic, hopeful, and often figural gestures connecting nature with the human body, Toguo foregrounds concerns with both ecological and societal implications. Recently, his works have been informed by movements and humanitarian tragedy including #BlackLivesMatter and the refugee crisis.” (source)

Website: http://www.barthelemytoguo.com/

Instagram: @barthelemy_toguo

‍

Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems at the Tate Museum
Considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems has investigated family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power.” (source)
“The Kitchen Table Series (1990), is one of Weems’ most seminal works, and widely considered one of the most important bodies of contemporary photography. The series, for which Weems herself posed as the main subject, is set at a woman’s kitchen table—a domestic stage—revealing intimate moments of her life as the story unfolds.” (source)


Weems is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery.


Website: http://carriemaeweems.net/

Instagram: @carriemaeweems

‍
Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili is a British artist and winner of the Turner Prize in 1998.

Chris Ofili's paintings at David Zwirner Gallery
“His works—vibrant, symbolic, and frequently mysterious—draw upon the lush landscapes and local traditions of the island of Trinidad, where he has lived since 2005. Employing a diverse range of aesthetic and cultural sources, including, among others, Zimbabwean cave paintings, blaxploitation films, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and modernist painting, Ofili’s work investigates the intersection of desire, identity, and representation.” (source)

Ofili is represented by David Zwirner Gallery.

Chris Ofili at David Zwirner Gallery



‍
Cinga Samson
Cinga Samson at Perrotin Gallery
Cinga Samson is a South African painter, whose “oil works on canvas manifest echoes of what he describes as the superstitions and spirituality integral to his upbringing in the town of Ethembeni and its surrounding countryside. Desire, aspiration, and celebration of identity drive much of his work, for which he draws inspiration from fashion, heritage, and the works of Paul Gauguin and Andrew Wyeth, among others.” (source)
"The Cape Town–based artist [Cinga Samson] sets out to create a positive depiction of his generation of youth in South Africa, and the continent at large. It was in reaction to feeling frustrated and preoccupied with the political climate." - Whitewall⁠

Instagram: @cinga_samson

Cinga Samson at Perrotin Gallery

‍
Conrad Egyir
Conrad Egyir at Jessica Silverman Gallery
“Addressing contemporary American culture, biblical parables and Ashanti iconography from his native Ghana, Egyir’s work explores questions of ethics, honesty, identity and the social-psychology of community. Monumental, uncanny and often satirically grandiose, the paintings combine the graphic sensuality of Pop Art with the far-reaching narratives of history painting.” (source)

Website: https://conradegyir.com/

Instagram: @conrad_egyir

‍

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 108th Indianapolis 500 takes place Sunday (12:30 pm ET, NBC) from Indianapolis Motor Speedway (More) | Footage releasedof world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler’s arrest last weekoutside PGA Championship venue (More)

> Charlie Colin, founding member of rock band Train, dies at 58 after slipping and falling in shower (More)

> Toronto awarded WNBA franchise, will be first non-US WNBA team when they begin play in 2026 (More) | NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić headline All-NBA team (More)


Science & Technology
> Atomic-level images reveal the first few layers of ice begin to melt around minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit, far below the bulk freezing point; helps resolve decades-old debate over why ice is so slippery (More)

> Researchers discover crows can produce deliberate number of calls on demand, demonstrating counting skills only previously seen in humans (More)

> Study finds two distinct cell groups involved in fentanyl addiction, one developing when the drug is taken and one upon withdrawal; findings may lead to new treatments for opioid dependence (More)


Business & Markets
> Markets tumble (Dow -1.5%, S&P 500 -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.4%), with Dow notching its worst day of 2024 and more than 400 of the S&P 500 falling on the day amid Federal Reserve concerns over persistent inflation (More) | Boeing drops more than 7% as company forecasts negative free cash flow (More)

> US business groups file suit to block Biden administration rule requiring mandatory overtime pay for salaried workers making less than $1,128 per week; plaintiffs argue regulation would negatively impact small businesses and nonprofits (More)

> Top venture funds a16z, Sequoia, and Tribe reportedly to join $6B funding round for Elon Musk's artificial intelligence xAI startup; raise values the company at $18B (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> US Supreme Court rejects claim that removal of Black voters from swing district constitutes illegal gerrymandering (More) | Democrats call for investigation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after controversial flag reported flown outside his vacation home (More) | What is the "Appeal to Heaven" flag? (More)

> Louisiana state Senate passes a bill treating abortion medication as controlled substances akin to Ambien, Valium, and Xanax; if signed into law, anyone who is not pregnant or a licensed medical provider could face up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if found carrying mifepristone or misoprostol (More)

> China holds military drills around Taiwan following inauguration of President William Lai; Taiwanese officials say the drills mark first-ever simulation of a full-scale attack as opposed to economic blockade (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Life's Journey

 

It has been stated by people a hell of a lot smarter than me that LIFE IS A JOURNEY...  and I suppose that they are correct in the since that our journey lasts from BIRTH UNTIL DEATH.

• The journey that we take is NEVER CLEAR.
• The journey that we take is NEVER CERTAIN.
• The journey that we take is NEVER WHAT WE THINK IT WILL BE.

Of course, when we are younger, we never picture our life as a journey, nor do we see the journey when we are middle-aged even though we no doubt have heard the term often.  It is oftentimes not until we have retired that we can look back upon the JOURNEY WE HAVE TAKEN.

When I went to college, I avoided taking classes where there was public speaking involved.  Two years after I graduated, I gave my first public speech and that type of activity continued throughout my career.

What I also discovered during my high school, college, and graduate school years is that I HATED EDUCATION.  I made fun of my teachers and professors and complained to other students when they were boring or not prepared for class.

Thirty years after I graduated from college, I accepted my first teaching position at a college that awarded associate degrees and later bachelor's degrees.  The classes that I taught were English and Business classes.

When I retired in 2015 about working for 45 years, I discovered that my life and career had been 180 degrees different from what I had thought it would be.  Not only was it different, but my beliefs and personality changed as well...  although, I never eliminated all the BAD ASPECTS of my behavior and character.

My career was FULFILLING, and I helped change the lives of numerous people...  BUT...  I never got wealthy in the process...  I always managed to earn what I needed to live a simple lifestyle.

I played football, baseball, basketball, and track in high school.  I lifted weights for about twenty years but did so not to build muscles but tone my body.  At 40 years of age, I gave up smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating red meat.  I walked or ran 2-3 miles a day, 7 days a week and ate healthy.

TWENTY YEARS later, I was diagnosed with cancer and experienced a heart attack.  Oddly enough, being healthy all my life saved me during the heart attack but did not stop cancer.  The doctor said I had a one in a million chance of one or both of these happening.

WE SIMPLY NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE PLAN...  and yet PLANNING is the only way to have a comfortable retirement.

Your journey will not doubt involve ups and down and the odds are you too will look back on your life once you retire and admit you never thought your life would turn out like this.

However, someone is bound to have seen our lives unfold before they actually unfolded...

Somewhat Political

 

Beyond Hydrogen

Recent discoveries in quantum physics have revealed simpler atomic structures than hydrogen, involving pure electromagnetic interactions between particles like electrons and their antiparticles. 

This advancement has significant implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics and fundamental physics, highlighted by new methods for detecting tauonium, which could revolutionize measurements of particle physics.

The hydrogen atom was once considered the simplest atom in nature, composed of a structureless electron and a structured proton. However, as research progressed, scientists discovered a simpler type of atom, consisting of structureless electrons (e-), muons (μ-), or tauons (τ-) and their equally structureless antiparticles. 

These atoms are bound together solely by electromagnetic interactions, with simpler structures than hydrogen atoms, providing a new perspective on scientific problems such as quantum mechanics, fundamental symmetry, and gravity.  READ MORE...

Chicago

 

Expresso

 

Animals

 

Mark Twain

 

Types of Cannabis Plants

Sativa in-depth

Images Origin: Cannabis sativa is found primarily in hot, dry climates with long sunny days. These include Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and portions of Western Asia.

Plant description: Sativa plants are tall and thin with finger-like leaves. They can grow to about 6 feet (ft) or 2 meters (m). They take longer to mature than some other types of cannabis.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Sativa often has lower doses of CBD and higher doses of THC, whereas indica tends to have less THC than CBD.
Commonly associated effects of use: Sativa often produces a “mind high” or an energizing, anxiety-reducing effect.
Daytime or nighttime use: Because of its stimulating effects, sativa is often used in the daytime.
Popular strains: Various sativa strains may be used for different purposes.



Indica in-depth
ImagesOrigin: Cannabis indica is native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. The plants have adapted to the often harsh, dry, and turbulent climate of the Hindu Kush mountains.
Plant description: Indica plants are short and stocky with bushy greenery and chunky leaves that grow wide and broad. They grow faster than sativa, and each plant produces more buds.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Indica strains often have higher levels of CBD, but the THC content isn’t necessarily less.
Commonly associated effects of use: Indica is sought after for its intensely relaxing effects. It may also help reduce nausea and pain and increase appetite.
Daytime or nighttime use: Because of its deep relaxation effects, indica is typically consumed at night.
Popular strains: Like sativa, there are also various indica strains.


Hybrid in-depth


Each year, cannabis growers produce new and unique strains from different combinations of parent plants. These cannabis hybrids are often grown to target specific effects.Origin: Hybrids are typically grown on farms or in greenhouses from a combination of sativa and indica plants.
Plant description: The appearance of hybrid strains depends on the combination of the parent plants.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Many hybrid cannabis plants are grown to increase the THC percentage, but each type has a unique ratio of the two cannabinoids.
Commonly associated effects of use: Farmers and producers select hybrids for their unique effects. They can range from reducing anxiety and stress to easing symptoms of chemotherapy or radiation.
Daytime or nighttime use: This depends on the predominant effects of the hybrid.
Popular strains: Hybrids are typically classified as indica-dominant (indica-dom), sativa-dominant (sativa-dom), or balanced.





Ruderalis in-depth


A third type of cannabis, Cannabis ruderalis, also exists. However, it’s not widely used because it usually produces no potent effects.Origin: Ruderalis plants adapt to extreme environments, such as Eastern Europe, the Himalayan regions of India, Siberia, and Russia. These plants grow quickly, which is ideal for the cold, low sunlight environments of these places.
Plant description: These small, bushy plants rarely grow taller than 12 inches (in), but they grow rapidly. One can go from seed to harvest in little more than a month.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: This strain typically has little THC and higher amounts of CBD, but it may not be enoughTrusted Source to produce any effects.
Commonly associated effects of use: Because of its low potency, ruderalis isn’t routinely used for medicinal or recreational purposes.
Daytime or nighttime use: This cannabis plant produces few effects, so that it can be used anytime.
Popular strains: On its own, ruderalis isn’t a popular cannabis option. However, cannabis farmers may breed ruderalis with other cannabis types, including sativa and indica. The plant’s rapid growth cycle is a positive attribute for producers, so they may want to combine more potent strains with ruderalis strains to create a more desirable product.