Thomas Schütte - Artist

Thomas Schütte (born 16 November 1954) is a German contemporary artist. He sculpts, creates architectural designs, and draws. He lives and works in Düsseldorf.


From 1973 to 1981 Schütte studied art at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alongside Katharina Fritsch under Gerhard Richter, Fritz Schwegler, Daniel Buren and Benjamin Buchloh.


Schütte had his first US solo show in New York at Marian Goodman Gallery in 1989.

In 2007 he made Model for a Hotel, an architectural model of a 21-storey building made from horizontal panes of yellow, blue and red glass and weighing more than eight tonnes, for the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square.

¿Qué pasa?

 

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In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Nearly 50 arrested in Philadelphia in wake of celebration following Eagles' Super Bowl win Sunday night (More) | Halftime show dancer banned from NFL events for life but won't face criminal charges after waving Sudanese and Palestinian flags during Kendrick Lamar's performance (More)

> Tom Robbins, prolific bestselling comedy novelist, dies at age 92 (More)

> Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel (R) tapped for Ohio lieutenant governor role (More) | Fox Corp. purchases podcast company Red Seat Ventures, producer of podcasts by Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Piers Morgan (More)


Science & Technology
> Twenty-two states sue to block Trump administration's plan to cap indirect grant costs—funding that goes to overhead expenses—from the National Institutes of Health at 15% (More)

> Ride-sharing platform Lyft to launch driverless robotaxis in Dallas as early as next year (More) | The history of self-driving cars and how they work (1440 Topics)

> Astronomers discover the largest known structure in the universe to date, a cosmic filament—a strand connecting dark matter, galaxies, and more—roughly 1.3 billion light-years in length (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.7%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq +1.0%), led by tech stocks as well as steel and aluminum stocks; President Donald Trump imposes global 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports (More) | Gold prices climb above $2,900 to new record amid escalating tariff threats (More)

> Elon Musk-led group of investors submits $97.4B unsolicited offer to buy nonprofit that controls Sam Altman's OpenAI (More) | Hyatt Hotels expands in the Caribbean and Mexico with $2.6B acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts (More)

> McDonald's reports lower-than-expected Q4 revenue as US sales saw the biggest drop since the pandemic, partly due to last fall's E. coli outbreak (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Hamas accuses Israel of violating ceasefire deal, including shelling areas of Gaza, and says it will indefinitely suspend the release of hostages (More) | President Donald Trump says displaced Palestinians won't be allowed to return to Gaza under his proposal to rebuild the territory (More)

> Justice Department official orders federal prosecutors to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) (More) | Judge directs Trump administration to unfreeze federal spending after finding the administration hasn’t fully followed a previous court order (More) | ... and another judge extends pause on resignation buyout offer to federal workers until a ruling on the legality of the plan (More)

> At least 51 people dead after bus plunges off a bridge, falling into a sewer-polluted stream on the outskirts of Guatemala's capital (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Virtual Reality (VR)

 

What do you know about(VR)  virtual reality?

VR is a computer-generated environment that simulates reality using a headset. VR can be used for gaming, real estate, medical imaging, and more.

What is a VR headset?

A (VR) headset is a head-mounted device that creates a simulated environment that feels real. VR headsets are used for video games, simulators, and training.

Virtual Reality has interesting applications especially in the area of education and training.  Theoretically, it is possible for anyone, to purchase a series of VR programs that will substitute for them being in a classroom teaching a course in management or supervision.

This VR class would assign you with an avatar and you avatar would then interact with the avatars of the other students and instructor.  

The program could be static in the sense that all the avatars are pre-programmed, or you could be connected to what is called the METAVERSE and you are interacting in real time with other avatars.

The implications are unbelievable...

The military could use the METAVERSE to actually simulate a fire fight in VR real time environment.

Medical schools could simulate open heart surgery or brain surgery in a VR simulated METAVERSE environment.

You avatar could experience what it might be like to go through an LSD journey where it is so real that you physically feel like you have dropped acid yourself.

Somewhat Political

 

Cannabis Weakens Memory

Researchers found that heavy cannabis use reduces brain activity during working memory tasks, leading to cognitive struggles. Brain scans showed changes in regions responsible for memory and decision-making. While abstaining may help, more research is needed to understand long-term effects. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

A massive new study sheds light on how cannabis affects the brain, particularly during cognitive tasks.


Researchers analyzed over 1,000 young adults and found that both heavy lifetime use and recent cannabis consumption significantly reduced brain activity during working memory tasks. This impairment was linked to worse performance on tasks requiring focus, problem-solving, and instruction-following. Brain imaging revealed that key regions responsible for decision-making and attention were affected.

Cannabis Use and Brain Function: A Groundbreaking Study

A new study published in JAMA Network Open examines how both recent and long-term cannabis use affects brain function during cognitive tasks.

As the largest study of its kind, researchers analyzed over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 using brain imaging technology. They found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users showed reduced brain activity during a working memory task, with a similar impact seen in 68% of recent users.    READ MORE...

Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire (Official HD Video)

How to make French Baguettes at home

Nature Photography

 

Independent Institute

 

COMMENTARY
5th Circuit Nixes Ban on Gun Sales to 18 to 20 Age Group
The original understanding in 1791, not that in 1868, governs.

Energy Forecast

 

Weather

 

FBI Caught

 

BIG BALLS

 

Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Natural

 

Swaps

 

Salmon

How to Grill Salmon
Everything you need to know, 

including how long to grill salmon.

Cost of Going Green

The cost of going green is significant and includes the cost of transitioning to a more sustainable economy and lifestyle.


Transitioning to a sustainable economy
Investment Estimates range from $109 trillion to $275 trillion by 2050 to address climate change.

Annual investment
The Energy Transitions Commission estimates that $3.5 trillion in annual investment will be needed between 2021 and 2050.

Spending
McKinsey estimates that governments, businesses, and individuals will need to spend $3.5 trillion more per year on energy and land-use systems.

Impact
The transition will be uneven across countries and sectors, and will lead to job losses in some areas.

Living a more sustainable lifestyle

One-time switching costs: The cost of purchasing eco-friendly products for the first time.

Repeated purchase costs: The cost of purchasing eco-friendly products on a regular basis.

Savings: Living a more sustainable lifestyle can save money if you're prepared for expenses and spending smartly.

ROBOTS ARE HERE

 

Watch Humanoid Robots Master 

Moves of Legendary Athletes—

The Future of Robotics Is Here

Dan Bongino on Rumble

 

Government Spending

 

This chart tells you everything you want to know about

HOW TO SIMPLIFY HEALTHY EATING| Start with 3 simple steps!

Olafur Eliasson

Olafur Eliasson (Icelandic: Ólafur Elíasson; born 5 February 1967)[is an Icelandic–Danish artist known for sculptured and large-scaled installation art employing elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer's experience.

In 1995, Olafur established Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin, a laboratory for spatial research. In 2014, Olafur and his long-time collaborator – German architect Sebastian Behmann – founded Studio Other Spaces, an office for architecture and art.

Olafur represented Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003 and later that year installed The Weather Project, which has been described as "a milestone in contemporary art", in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London.

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In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Sean Baker's "Anora" wins top prize at both Producers and Directors Guild of America awards (More) | See complete list of PGA award winners (More) | ... and DGA award winners (More)

> Tony Roberts, stage and film actor best known for starring in "Annie Hall," dies at age 85 (More) | Irish boxer John Cooney dies at age 28 one week after suffering brain injury during boxing title fight (More) | Dick Jauron, former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears, dies at age 74 (More)

> A Stradivarius violin from 1714 hauls in $11.25M at auction, becoming the third most expensive musical instrument sold at auction (More)


Science & Technology
> National Institutes of Health to cap indirect costs—funding that goes to administrative costs and other overhead—on new grants at 15%; current average is close to 30% and varies by university, $9B of $35B in funding last year went to overhead (More)

> Mantis shrimp possess a "phononic shield" that dissipates shock waves and allows them to survive their own ability to deliver the world's fastest punch; discovery may lead to new protective materials (More)

> Scientists use curcumin, the key molecule in turmeric, to create a light-activated method to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria (More) | What are superbugs, one of the biggest global health challenges? (1440 Topics)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close down Friday (S&P 500 -1.0%, Dow -1.0%, Nasdaq -1.4%) on renewed inflation and tariff fears (More) | The history of US stock markets and how they work (1440 Topics)

> Trump administration delays tariffs on small package Chinese imports valued under $800, suggesting Commerce Department lacked system to collect fees (More)

> Meta expected to begin planned layoffs today, targeting low performing employees; CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in January the company would target a 5% reduction in force (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> US courts temporarily limit Elon Musk-led DOGE's access to Treasury data with sensitive information, pause USAID furlough (More) | President Donald Trump revokes former President Joe Biden's security clearance, citing similar move by Biden against him in 2021 (More) | ... and says he'll name himself chair of Kennedy performing arts center (More) | ... and will announce 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum today (More)

> Former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) pleads guilty to conspiracy charges; Adams himself faces corruption charges, trial scheduled to begin April 21 (More)

> Sudanese army close to recapturing the capital of Khartoum, its biggest advance since fighting broke out between rival factions in April 2023; an estimated 100,000 people in the city currently in famine conditions (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Americans Have Been Wronged

We live by our beliefs and convictions, even when they are wrong...  unless we have the emotional fortitude to review, analyze, and change them.

Changing what we believe is not easy nor is it often done because we never want to admit that we were or might be wrong.

For instance, in the 1960s, I was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party.  In 1981, I earned an MBA and realized that the conservatives, not the democrats had the proper handle on how our tax dollars should be spent.

In 2000, I realized that NEITHER PARTY gave a damn about our tax dollars, nor did they give a damn about doing what was right for Americans...  all they cared about was re-election.

We had the same problems in the 1960s that we had in the 2000s and it was both our political parties that allowed this to happen.

Congress (both parties) have allowed:

• Tax shelters for the wealthy to continue robbing us of tax dollars
• term limits to exist which supports re-election rather than doing what is best for the country
• healthcare costs to increase
• education to decrease
• wealth gap to increase
• racism & hate to increase
• illegal drugs/drug addiction to increase
• violence in cities to increase

BOTH OUR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS CRISIS...