This review contains full spoilers for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Season 1, Episode 8.It may be weird to think of an episode that involves a pirate invasion, the assassination of a local government leader (who happens to be a droid), and the citizens of a suburban town being rounded up and forced to work as a celebratory victory lap, but thats exactly what the finale of Skeleton Crews debut season ends up being. Everyones season-long arcs are paid off (or at least acknowledged), the mysteries are solved, and the bad guys are thoroughly trounced. If all of that feels a little disappointing, its just because well, there wasnt much else that needed to get done.The Skeleton Crew formula, as much as there has been one (it only pulled the kids follow a clue to a planet, have an adventure there, and move on thing three times or so), is well-established at this point, and with the approachable, family-friendly stakes that the show has been going for, it wouldve been weird for this finale to go totally off the wall with subverted expectations. PlayNo, all we needed was that final victory lap, ticking off the boxes of everything this show has done well so far. The kids each get a little moment, paying off their coming-of-age journeys (Neel gets to use the big turret on top of the school that was foreshadowed in episode four, KB gets to fly the ship, Wim gets to use Jods lightsaber, and Fern gets to have a bad attitude and push her mom into doing something reckless), and we even get answers to the last two lingering mysteries: Who is the At Attin supervisor and why does Jod have Force powers?The resolution to the first question is predictable, though the yeah, duh manner in which it is waved away with is refreshing and feels consistent with the shows faith in its audience (the adults all knew the supervisor was a droid.) The reveal of Jods backstory, however, shows a clever amount of restraint. Theres not some grand mystery to why he has Force powers, no half-assed explanation that hes somehow related to Emperor Palpatine. Jod was just some kid, living in the gutter somewhere, who was found by a Jedi and learned some Force tricks from her before she was executed. Rather than make Jod evil, though, this event just taught him that the galaxy sucks and that he has to do anything he can to find the few bright spots out there even if it means killing or stealing. In fact, this episode, The Real Good Guys, is subtly a showcase for Jod in the same way that previous episodes have centered on specific kids. All we needed was that final victory lap, ticking off the boxes of everything this show has done well so far. Its probably giving the character too much credit to say hes not as bad as he seems, given the deranged glee that Jude Law exudes while repeatedly threatening Fern and her mom (he makes a face at one point that single-handedly explains why the era of Law as a romantic leading man is over), but there is palpable anguish in Laws performance when his plan starts to go off the rails. At a certain point, it becomes clear that the only way hes going to win is if he starts making good on his threats to kill these kids or their family members, and he really doesnt want to.Jods story is left somewhat unresolved, probably as a tease for a second season, but it is a smart choice that we dont waste any time watching him get arrested or apprehended. The kids dont even really care what happens to him, they just care about keeping each other safe. And so Jods left in the supervisors tower, watching his pirate friends all get killed with a sinister sneaky smirk on his face. Assuming he (and the show) come back, hell be up to something nasty, and though Law wasnt always the most engaging member of the cast, he nonetheless does feel like a key ingredient in the shows alchemy. The episode does end on kind of a weird note, though, which feels abrupt and might leave you sitting through the credits for a Marvel-style stinger that never comes. With their school destroyed in the pirate attack, Fern jokes that Wim doesnt have to take his big job placement assessment anymore (the thing he was avoiding in episode one). As the other kids leave, Wim looks up the sky in awe now free of At Attins barrier and sees New Republic spaceships flying by. He wants to have space adventures, we get it. Thats what hes wanted for the whole season. And then the episode ends, as if this was some big, concluding moment. Yes, it was nice, we all like Wim, but it was an oddly quick and unceremonious final scene for what has been (against all expectations) a really fun season of TV.

Here are six lessons that flying taught me about being a leader.

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10), GMT (UTC +0), CET (UTC +1), EET (UTC +2), AST (UTC -4), FKST (UTC -3), NST (UTC -3:30)Only start reading if you have copywriting skills! :)Who are we?Skyline Management is an influencer management agency based in Switzerland. We help influencers grow and monetize their reach. We are a team of around 35 people and a rapidly growing company.What would be your position in the company?As the Copywriter/Content Manager, you will be responsible for the entire creative side of the backend, which primarily includes writing scripts or text templates for various areas. You will manage everything related to content, from writing instructions, reviewing quality, creating text scripts and captions, to scheduling and posting content.Your role will be integral in guiding creators through the content creation process, ensuring that the scripts and content are engaging, persuasive, and aligned with our business goals.Your Key Responsibilities?Script Writing: Your primary focus will be on writing persuasive, engaging scripts that enhance customer interactions and drive sales. Develop content scripts that help influencers maximize their impact on their audience.Content Management & Quality Control: Oversee the quality of all chat and content scripts, ensuring they meet our standards and are continuously improved. Collaborate with team members to ensure that fresh content ideas are implemented and tracked effectively.Content Posting & Scheduling: Manage the scheduling of content, ensuring everything is uploaded and posted on time to maintain a consistent presence across platforms. Write captions and organize posts to keep the audience engaged and increase platform performance.Process Improvement: Continuously refine and update content-related processes to improve the quality and effectiveness of communication. Implement strategies from management to enhance content performance, adjusting based on results and feedback.Requirements:Motivation & Warrior Mindset:We want someone who is motivated and proactive in solving problems, with a strong desire to produce high-quality work that helps the company grow.Creativeness & Copywriting Skills:You must be creative and possess excellent copywriting skills to craft persuasive content that drives sales and engagement. You should aim to write content better than this job description ;)Communication Proficiency:Strong written and verbal communication skills are a must, as you will need to collaborate with various teams and creators effectively.Sales-Driven Mindset:Your content should not only engage but also convert. Understanding what drives customer behavior and sales is key to success in this role.Why Join Skyline Management? 100% Flexible, Remote Work: Enjoy the freedom to work from anywhere, balancing your professional and personal life. Comprehensive Training: Access continuous training to stay ahead of social media trends and sales techniques. Make a Real Impact: You will play a pivotal role in the success of our clients and the overall growth of the company, with opportunities for advancement.Application Process:If youre interested, please send your cover letter and CV to [emailprotected]. Please include IM INTERESTED in your application to show youve read everything carefully. Related Jobs See more Sales and Marketing jobs

Duncan Wilson to step down in October after ten years at helmThe chief executive of Historic England has announced he is retiring after ten years at the helm of the organisation.Duncan Wilson will step down in October after what he said was a hugely rewarding tenure leading the governments heritage advisor.He became the bodys first chief executive following the split of English Heritage into Historic England and the English Heritage Trust in 2015, a move which Wilson played a key role in.Historic England chief executive Duncan WilsonAn archeologist by training, Wilson has served for more than 25 years as a chief executive in the heritage sector, previously holding the role at Alexandra Palace, Old Royal Naval College and Somerset House.Historic England chairman Neil Mendoza thanked Wilson for a remarkable decade leading the organisation.From his pivotal role in delivering the New Model that created Historic England and the English Heritage Trust as separate organisations, to guiding Historic England and the sector through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Duncans impact has been profound, he added.> Also read:Historic England rounds up most remarkable 2024 heritage listingsWilson thanked Historic England staff and said he was proud to hand over an organisation in good health and with progressively more to offer the nation.Reflecting on the organisations work over the past decade, he said one of his proudest achievements was Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios restoration of the Flaxmill Maltings building in Shrewsbury which was named RIBAs West Midlands Building of the Year in 2024.He said he was particularly proud Historic Englands High Streets Heritage Action Zones programme, which has promoted the protection of heritage at 67 high streets in towns and cities across England.As a former archeologist, he said a personal highlight had been the bodys support for an excavation at a Bronze Age site in Cambridgeshire which uncovered the remains of a village built on stilts above what had been a river.It is hard to overstate my delight and excitement seeing a complete Bronze Age settlement which had been buried in the Fens for 3,000 years unearthed along with all its contents, he said.Historic England has now engaged recruitment firm Berwick Partners in the search for WIlsons successor.The job description asks for an inspiring leader with a drive for vision and strategy with a commitment to improving lives by promoting and protecting the historic environment.The role comes with a salary of 135,000 to 145,000, with a bonus of up to 7.5%, 28 days of holiday rising to 33 after five years, and the ability to work at any of Historic Englands nine office across England.

The practices Temple Island scheme has been seven years in the making. Site owner Legal & General (L&G) first unveiled initial concepts for site a former rail depot near Bristols Temple Meads Station in summer 2018 . A deal was struck between the local authority and L&G to develop the plot three years later.The practice's recently submitted proposals for the Temple Island Bristol regeneration scheme includes 520 homes 40 per cent of which are earmarked as social or affordable across four residential buildings.The scheme also features two office buildings, retail space, flexible workspace and a new hotel. LDA Design is leading on landscaping, including a riverside walk.AdvertisementThe hybrid application was lodged in November and validated by Bristol City Council at the beginning of this month. It seeks approval for an outline masterplan and detailed planning for the first phase: one office block plus ground floor commercial uses, landscaping and associated infrastructure works.ZHA says in planning documents that the appearance of its Temple Islands scheme takes its cues from Bristols industrial heritage, with a very specific materiality and colour palette reflecting mud, pennant sandstone and galvanised corrugated steel.Bristol City Council, which has carried out enabling works on the site, confirmed in May 2023 it finally had agreed a way forward for the Temple Island development with L&G.Temple Island is part of the wider Temple Quarter regeneration masterplan which includes 10,000 new homes and is led by Prior + Partners with a team including AHMM .Weston Williamson + Partners (WW+P) previously won a contest to create the areas development framework, focusing on required infrastructure, potential land uses and a set of guiding principles.AdvertisementTemple Meads railway station is due to be refurbished under the wider masterplan, while work is underway on a new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS).Current site view

If you struggle to keep New Year's resolutions, especially regarding food and dieting, you're not alone. A 2020 study reported that less than half of people who set avoidance-related goals (eliminate sugar, cut carbs, etc.) are successful. It doesn't help that there are so many diet myths swirling on social media, which can cause misinformation, undesired results and disordered eating.Instead of trying a viral dieting trend that is almost certainly doomed to fail, why not listen to the people who know their stuff? To find out which diet mistakes nutritional experts are tired of seeing, we spoke with them to learn more about what you should be doing instead.1. Fearing carbs Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Registered dietitian Amy Davis says carbs are often made to be the enemy. She points to the keto and carnivore diets as just some of the plans that focus on cutting carbs. Davis says fearing carbs is a mistake, however, explaining, "We need carbs! They're our bodies' main source of fuel, and they don't inherently make you gain weight like so many believe."Instead of cutting out carbs as a diet plan, Davis says people can "opt for high-fiber, whole-food carbs."Francesca Alfano, a certified dietitian-nutritionist, agrees. She adds, "Complex carbs like sweet potatoes, quinoa and whole grains provide the energy and nutrients your body needs especially fiber and B vitamins. These are essential when you're focusing on your health, especially for women."If you need more reason to stop fearing carbs, consider what the Mayo Clinic has to say. The healthcare giant notes that low-carb diets may result in more short-term weight loss but that after about 12-24 months, the results may not stick. The medical center also notes that while refined carbs like table sugar may spike your blood sugar, more complex carbs found in vegetables and beans aren't likely to do this.2. Eliminating all sweets Andrey Popov/Getty ImagesYou don't have to skip every sweet treat to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle. Davis says, "It's well-documented that too much added sugar has negative health effects, but all-or-nothing mindsets typically backfire." Not only are avoidant-based goals harder to keep, but going through sugar withdrawal could initially lead to binge-eating behaviors.The American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than 36 grams of sugar daily, while women should consume no more than 25 grams per day. For reference, one piece of famed Junior's cheesecake in New York is estimated to have 22g of sugar per serving. While you'd be wise to avoid having a rich dessert with every dinner, you don't have to feel guilty for the occasional indulgence.Davis also points out that you can find "unrefined, natural sweeteners to satisfy your sweet tooth." She recommends Medjool dates because "they offer both a sweet, caramel flavor and nutrients such as fiber, magnesium and potassium." If you're baking at home, you can also try swapping out traditional refined sugar with alternatives like turbinado or muscovado sugar.3. Becoming obsessed with intermittent fastingIntermittent fasting is a style of eating that involves cycling through periods of eating and fasting. The Cleveland Clinic says that this way of eating may have several benefits. It could decrease inflammation, improve blood sugar and improve sleep quality. That being said, there are reasons to be cautious before you begin this type of regimen.The Cleveland Clinic says that some of the potential side effects of intermittent fasting include irritability, low energy and temperature sensitivity.Alfano also warns, "Intermittent fasting is everywhere right now, but it's not always the best option especially for women trying to conceive or balance their hormones." She says that skipping meals for long stretches of time can "raise stress hormones like cortisol, mess with ovulation and disrupt your menstrual cycles."If you are using intermittent fasting as a weight loss tool, Alfano recommends that you focus on getting balanced meals and prioritizing both sleep and stress management. Don't fast for longer than your healthcare provider recommends. If you start to feel tired or stressed, this type of eating may not be for you. In this case, Alfano recommends that you "try eating regular, balanced meals to keep your blood sugar steady and help your hormones stay on track."4. Relying on protein shakes and supplements Djavan Rodriguez/Getty ImagesA lot of protein shakes are advertised as a meal replacement. While a recovery shake can help you get a much-needed energy boost after a workout, they're not so helpful when it comes to getting your vitamins and minerals.Alfano notes, "Protein shakes can be helpful in a pinch, but overusing them can mean you're missing out on real, nutrient-packed foods." Unless you do a close reading of every label, there are probably ingredients lurking in your protein shakes that you're not aware of. According to Alfano, "Many store-bought shakes are full of artificial sweeteners and fillers that might upset your gut or disrupt your hormones."It's also worth noting that the FDA doesn't analyze or test the contents of supplements before they go to market. As a result, determining the actual efficacy of everything from supplemental vitamin tablets to protein powders and shakes can be challenging.A better approach? Alfano says she recommends that people "focus on whole food protein sources like eggs, lentils, nuts, seeds and high-quality meat or fish to get what your body really needs. Eating foods in their whole forms allows your body to maximize nutrient absorption."5. Adhering to a super strict eating planAccording to Davis, any inflexible eating regimen will not likely yield long-term results. She explains, "Even though a strict diet may give you short-term results, they typically aren't sustainable in the long run and lead to regaining weight and negatively impacting your relationship with food."If your eating plan is too strict, it could even be classified as disordered. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) describes disordered eating as a "spectrum of problematic eating behaviors and distorted attitudes towards food, weight, shape and appearance." NEDA says behaviors that indicate disordered eating may include dieting, skipping meals, fasting, restricting food intake or eliminating specific foods or food groups.Rather than adhering to a strict idea about what you can and can't eat, Davis advises, "Focus on creating healthy, sustainable habits such as eating 4-5 servings of fruits and veggies daily, regular movement you enjoy and getting enough protein at meals."The bottom lineOver and over, the experts we spoke to said the best way to eat better is by focusing on simple habits like eating more whole foods. Be wary of any over-the-counter product that promises miracle results. And don't become so worried about what qualifies as a "good" or "bad" food that you lose sight of maintaining a balanced diet. Any all-or-nothing diet is unlikely to be sustainable or help you achieve long-term results. When in doubt, always consult with your healthcare provider about the right changes to your diet.

January 14, 2025Mishandled Response to the Bird Flu Leaves U.S. Vulnerable to OutbreakThe U.S. government lost control of the bird flu because of a sluggish response and deference to industry. Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanSUBSCRIBE TO Science QuicklyApple | Spotify | RSSRachel Feltman: For Scientific Americans Science Quickly, Im Rachel Feltman. On January 6, the Louisiana Department of Health reported the first human death from H5N1 in the United States. While the general risk to human health is still considered low, according to the CDC, bird flu now looms large in headlines that identify it as a potential future pandemic. Here to tell us more about where we standand what we can do to prevent the worst-case scenariois Amy Maxmen, a public health reporter at KFF Health News.Amy, thanks so much for coming on to talk with us today.Amy Maxmen: Thanks, its my pleasure.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Feltman: So lets start with a quick overview of the current bird flu outbreak. When and how did it start?Maxmen: So, around February of last year, farmers in the Texas Panhandle started to notice that their cows were acting abnormally. Like, they werent producing as much milk, they had runny noses, things like that. And in about a couple of months researchers realized that the bird flu had actually spilled over into cattle for the first time ever and was actually spreading between cattle. Thats completely unprecedented.So thats how it began. And since then its now in, you know, nearly 1,000 herds in 16 states, and its infected around 66 people.Feltman: Yeah, and how are things looking currently?Maxmen: Currently its not good, I mean, in terms of this outbreak just sort of being across the U.S. And a bit of disconcerting news is we had the first person die of the bird flu on January 6. That person was in Louisiana, and they got the bird flu from a bird. This wasnt, like, the exact variant thats been circulating in cattle, but it still is the H5N1 bird flu virus.Feltman: And you recently wrote an article outlining how the U.S. lost control of bird flu. Could you walk us through some of the major ways that this has been mishandled so far?Maxmen: Yeah, you know, I think kind of one outstanding problem was the pace. Theres just been a really slow pace of response. And with an outbreak thats a big problem; just kind of like a fire, its much easier to put it out when its small than when its big.And so, you know, early on, in March, when researchers realized, Oh, this is the bird flu in cattle, a lot of veterinarians who work really closely with farmers, they told me that they really had been pushing to study this to see how is it spreading between cows and to answer other questions about the virus. So they asked the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] and, and other government agencies for both funds for studies, but also farmers really wanted and needed assurances and policies that would protect them and protect their businesses. For example, they, you know, they wanted real assurances that their data would be kept private. They wanted, you know, kind of policies that nobody was gonna cut off their milk sales. Somebody from the dairy industry told me when the bird flu is infecting a herd, it might cut milk production by 20 percent, but thats still better than losing 100 percent of sales.So there was a real push for, like, What can we do to make sure that we can get these studies done? But that didnt really happen for quite a while. The USDA was sort of saying they wanted to take charge of studies, same with state ag departments. And so at least what veterinarians told me is that they had wanted this to move quicker and move through them, partly because, you know, they already have a relationship with dairies. So it was slow on sort of the study side, which would have helped us answer questions like, How is this spreading?And there was also a lot of deference to industry. So farmers didnt wanna test; they were already afraid of losing their milk market. And the USDA took about a month to say that lactating cattle should be tested before they are moved across state lines. But that was really it in terms of testing orders up until just this past December. That was the first time when there was a national rule about testing bulk-milk samplesso not the farms, but the, you know, big bulk-milk processors. But that just took a long time to get up and running.And then there was also a lot of deference to farmers in terms of monitoring. If they decided to test their herds and they reported them, then it was really up to them to decide: Do they want to tell health departments if any workers on the farms are sick? And theres a lot of disincentives to that happening. Ive heard its really hard to have a bird flu outbreak on your farm. This is not great. When a lot of cows are sick they need urgent hydration around the clock, requires a ton of labor. Same thing when a poultry farm is infected by the bird flu: to cull chickens you need a, a ton of workers and they need to work very hard.So if you have people being educated about the bird flu, going to get testing and perhaps being told to stay home from work, they lose their labor. I sent public record requests to a lot of health departments, and something else that was mentioned in one of the emails between health officials: you know, farmers were concerned about workers making workers comp claims.And farmworkers are also in really precarious positions. Theyre looking at a loss of income, and theyre even afraid about losing their jobs. There wasnt a lot of outreach going to farmworkers themselves and the places where they live to teach them about the bird flu, you know, why its a risk, how they could protect themselves, how they can get tested, you know, if theyll be reimbursed. The first grant specifically for outreach didnt really go through until October 1; that was a grant specifically to do outreach on the bird flu. So this iswere talking, you know, a six-month lag time or more in getting some really good outreach out there.Feltman: Hmm. More broadly, you know, I think a lot of folks see this in the news and they worry about it becoming a human pandemic. How worried are experts about that, and how bad does it have the potential to be?Maxmen: Theyre very worried. So the bird flus been on a list of potential pandemic viruses, you know, since it emerged, really, and its because we might have no immunity to such a thing. There might be some crossover with the regular fluwe really dont knowbut it has the potential to be a terrible outbreak.You know, remember that COVID, you know, really only very roughly killed about one in 100 people, but it completely brought the world to its knees. So a bird flu outbreak would be terrible. I think thats undeniable. The question is: How likely is that to happen? And, you know, chances are maybe greater than not that the bird flu will not evolve this critical potential to spread efficiently between people, you know, like the seasonal flu, like COVID. This would require some mutations, some evolution of its genome.You know, even if its less likely for that to happen than for it to not happen, since the result is catastrophic, you wanna defend against it. So its hard to put numbers on these sort of things; I talked to one avian influenza researcher named Tom Peacock. So he said, even if theres only a 5 percent chance of this becoming a pandemic, it could be on the order of COVID or worse.Feltman: Yeah, I saw one public health expert, I think, in an article by Tanya Lewis at SciAm say, compared to walking on a path next to a ravine, like, its reasonably safe to walk on a path thats designed for walking on, but you would be very foolish to ignore the fact that there is a ravine right next to you, and I thought that felt like a, a very powerful image to me for this kind of risk management.Maxmen: Yeah.Feltman: So is there still time for the, the U.S. to make that even less likely, and how?Maxmen: Yeah, I mean, yes, it is possible, but it would take really coordinated, united political will and coordination, a willingness to put funding towards this and to move really quickly. So for example, the USDA in December said that it would put in place an executive order for bulk-milk testing nationwide. So wed have to really make moves to ensure that that happens. What that would do is at least allow us to see when cattle are infected on a farm and try and stop the infections on that farm from spreading to other farms.Similarly, for the first time in December, groups outside of the CDC, diagnostic labs like Quest, can now test for the bird flu. Thats great. Took a long time to get that up and running, but we could have more testing of people being done. I mean, there should be a lot of testing, particularly of people at high risk; Im talking about farmworkers. Really strong outreach to farmworkers to really ensure that theyre protected and that they have access to tests and also assurances that theyre not gonna lose their job.So it would take a lot of work, but its something that could be done.Feltman: And getting back to those farmworkers, you mentioned in your article: President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to enact mass deportations when he returns to office, and that could have real public health implications. Can you explain that a little bit for us?Maxmen: Yeah, so this actually was a problem during COVID that I saw when I was reporting in the Central Valley [of California], where theres a lot of farmworkers and there was a huge COVID outbreak. The problem with threats of mass deportation is, you know, whether or not they happen, it spreads a lot of fear among people ...Feltman: Mm.Maxmen: So for example, it might deter farmworkers from going to the hospital if theyre very sick if theres a fear that they might be reported as not being documented. They might also be deterred from complaining about unsafe working conditions. If theyre not given proper protection, if theyre really, you know, forced to work while sick, theyre really gonna be deterred from complaining about their employer, either if theyre undocumented or a lot of people are on these temporary work visas.Feltman: Mm.Maxmen: So in general these sort of threats drive diseases underground, and thats a huge problem.You know, other things: theres been talk about cutting CDC funding, and that would trickle down to local health departments. You know, Im critical of the governments response to the bird flu, but you can really see in these small local health departments that serve multiple rural counties, theyre stretched thinyou know, theres 10 people who are trying to get a handle on the bird flu while also promoting childhood vaccines and making sure that theres not lead in the pipes and doing so many tasks. So if they have less money to do their job, thats gonna be a big problem.Feltman: Absolutely. So even if were able to avoid the worst-case scenario, what other kinds of fallout might we see from the bird flu? You know, how much worse could things get for the cattle and the poultry industry?Maxmen: So without a doubt this is going to be extremely expensive for the agriculture industry. And to the extent that the government reimburses dairy and poultry farmers for lost milk, lost chickens when they need to be culled, its also expensive for the government, i.e., taxpayers. So at this point already the U.S. has already put more than $1.7 billion into tamping down the bird flu virus on poultry farms since 2022. And its already put more than $430 million into combating the bird flu on dairy farms. So its expensive no matter how you slice it.The bird flu has also cost a lot of lives of other animals off of farms. And theres been infections among black bears and otters and coyotes. A lot of big cats have died of this from zoos and from animal sanctuaries. Weve seen deaths from tigers, other big cats, and a lot of domestic cats have died as well. So its, its not good.And then its also, of course, bad for farmworkers. Theres been studies showing that more farmworkers have been infected than what we know about. Thats not a surprise once you start realizing how were monitoring. Like I said, when I see these emails, itll be something like: Twenty-five farms arent reporting about their farmworkers. So we know were missing cases. Theres been studies that found antibodies against the bird flu in farmworkers where they had not been tested. So were missing cases.And the word mild, definitely, you know, it indicates that farmworkers havent been hospitalized yet, but that doesnt mean this has been a breeze. I mean, people have fevers. Theyve had respiratory symptoms. The conjunctivitis can actually be quite bad; thats, like, these red, swollen eyes. It can be pretty severe. And so thats a burden on farmworkers, just adding to the burdens they already face.Feltman: Yeah, so what efforts are being made to protect farmworkers and their families right now?Maxmen: So since I started reporting, things are getting better than they were. So I can start seeing that there was a $4 million grant to a national farmworker group that was doled out in October, and so now theyre working with farmworker outreach groups in the states with outbreaks where therell be educating farmworkers about this, helping to hand out protective gear, trying to see if people will like the seasonal flu vaccine cause that will just help prevent the possibility of the seasonal flu and the bird flu mixing up together within a person and creating something more dangerous. So thats being stepped up.Feltman: And what advice do you have for folks who are really concerned about this fatality and, and wondering how bird flu might impact them?Maxmen: Yeah, so I think the short answer is: if you are not working directly with poultry or dairy and if you dont drink raw milk, chances are youre okay. And so theres not much you can really do.As far as the death in Louisiana what that really shows is that this virus does have the potential to be deadly. So the person in Louisiana, the virus that they had had some mutations that are linked with disease severity, and those mutations are not widespread. So most of the viruses circulating dont have those. But this can happen, so its just a reminder to take this seriously.Feltman: That was Amy Maxmen, a public health reporter at KFF Health News, in partnership with Healthbeat. You can sign up for the Healthbeat newsletters at Healthbeat.org/Newsletters. Youll find a link in our show notes.Thats all for todays episode, but well be back on Friday to talk about the universal language of getting a boo-boo. Why do so many cultures say ow almost exactly the same way, and what can that reveal about humankind? Tune in Friday to find out.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. See you next time!

Nintendo attorney explains why it's strengthening measures against illegal emulation"This is a point often debated."Image credit: Nintendo News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 15, 2025 An attorney for Nintendo has discussed the company's stance on emulation and what it considers to be illegal, according to Japanese law.Koji Nishiura, patent attorney and deputy general manager of Nintendo's intellectual property department, spoke on behalf of the company at a joint lecture on "The Importance of Intellectual Property Rights in the Game Industry", which was hosted by Japan's Association of Copyright for Computer Software at the Tokyo eSports Festa 2025 (Denfaminicogamer, via Automaton)."To begin with, are emulators illegal or not?" posed Nishiura. "This is a point often debated. While you can't immediately claim that an emulator is illegal in itself, it can become illegal depending on how it's used."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Everything we learned this week about Switch 2Watch on YouTubeOne example of illegal use is if an emulator copies a programme belonging to the game device it's imitating, which would be copyright infringement.Another is if an emulator can disable security mechanisms like encryption (or "technical protection measures", as they're legally known), which would violate Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act. Nishiura added that outside of Japan this would be stipulated in copyright law.Nishiura specified this point is why Nintendo has filed lawsuits and issued warnings over several Switch emulators, due to disabling Nintendo's "technical protection measures".A further violation would be if an emulator contains links to sources to download pirated games, what's known as a "reach app" in Japanese law and is considered a copyright infringement.Nishiura also emphasised the use of emulators is a problem for all developers making software for Nintendo devices, which is why the company is strengthening measures against such illegal tools.Just last year, Nintendo sued the creators of Switch emulator Yuzu as it claimed over a million copies of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were pirated ahead of release. Yuzu was then shut down by its developers Tropical Haze and agreed to pay Nintendo $2.4m.Also last year, the Game Boy emulator Pizza Emulators was pulled from the Google Play store, though there was no mention of a Nintendo settlement. A month later, another Nintendo emulator - the Delta app - was the top free download on the iPhone App Store and it remains available today.In further Nintendo news, the company has also requested players not use "unauthorised services" to access online services. Posted the Japanese Nintendo account: "We have confirmed the existence of unauthorised services that replace functions such as online play for the Wii U, which ended service on April 9, 2024. Please refrain from using such services as they may pose unexpected security risks."After Nintendo shut down Wii U and 3DS online servers last April, players brought the functionality back online just a day later thanks to fan collective Pretendo.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereWe are reaching the midpoint of The Finals Season 5. So far, the chapter has largely been decent, but updates have been inconsistent thanks to the season releasing just before the holidays. With the holidays now firmly in the past, normal services should resume. Embark has just shared The Finals update 5.5.0 patch notes, and they list additional fixes.The Finals update 5.5.0 patch notesBelow are the update 5.5.0 patch notes:Store UpdateBe the life of the party with this weeks store update!Content and Bug FixesContractsWe have implemented additional fixes for the following contracts as they have not been working correctly:Hit opponents [x] times with arena carriables, cash boxes or the decryption keyEarn 20,000 cash in one round, 4 times in Cashout ModesPlay 3 matches of World Tour or Bank ItFor more The Finals, check out our guide to thebest weapons in the game ranked, and we also have a guide to thebest gadgets. In addition, we have a guide to thebest FPS settingsto help you win matchesalong witharanking of the best classesin the game.The FinalsPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, First-Person Shooter, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Blender Conference 2025: Sept 17-19 By Bart on January 15, 2025 Conferences BCON will fall a little earlier this year - in September instead of October. Ticket sales start in March!From the announcement page:Save the date! BCON25 will happen 17-19 Sep. 2025 at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam. Moving the event a bit earlier than usual aligns with IBC, helps with the overall scheduling and hopefully provides us with late summer weather in Amsterdam :) Tickets sale starts in March. Meanwhile, enjoy the proceedings of the past edition!