Lebanon's cash-strapped army sells helicopter rides during economic crisis

HAMAT AIR BASE, Lebanon, July 9 (Reuters) - Hit by the collapse of Lebanon's economy, the army has started selling rides on its helicopters to finance their maintenance, a measure of the depth of the financial troubles facing the country.

"The war we are in is economic and therefore requires unconventional means ... and the idea we had was to do helicopter tours," Colonel Hassan Barakat, an army spokesman, said.

"The cost of these trips secures the essential maintenance of the planes." A 15-minute rides on an army Robinson R44 training helicopter costs $150.

Lebanon is suffering from what the World Bank has described as one of deepest depressions in modern history. The currency has lost more than 90% of its value in less than two years and more than half the population has sunk into poverty.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53_AVMKcZQ

Army commander General Joseph Aoun warned last month that the crisis, caused by decades of corruption and waste in government, would lead to the collapse of all state institutions including the army, noting that the value of a soldier's monthly salary was now $90.

A big recipient of U.S. military support, the army has underpinned Lebanon's stability since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Qatar announced this week it would provide the army with 70 tonnes of food per month.

"It's a nice experience for my children to see Lebanon, and the beautiful Lebanese coast from the air," said Adib Dakkash, 43, visiting from Switzerland.

"I prefer to spend $150 so that army helicopters continue to operate, so that the pilots and officers continue to fly, instead of spending it in a restaurant, on food or meaningless things."

[johngriffen]

IN OTHER NEWS...
CURRENTLY OFFLINE

Hold off posting your news stories
The editors and accountant department are reviewing last weeks reports to insure that all our reporters get their proper paycheck

[johngriffen]

FOR STORIES POSTED THE W/O JULY 19
Our news editors at IN OTHER NEWS have carefully reviewed all the stories submitted by our reporters
Following is last weeks Reporter Log

LEGEND:
X = Acceptable Story
X = PULITZER PRIZE
NA = Not Acceptable Story
DS = Duplicate Story
NOTE: If you feel the editors made a mistake, please feel free to PM me so that we can review your claim

A SPECIAL THANKS TO 9 ACE REPORTERS WHO FILED A NEWS STORY EVERY DAY
BigGlen
Deepintexas
Fatima99
goldie0608
lasos1
ozswede
PennySerenade
prokroustis
Zbignieww



Every week the editors will review all the stories and pick the one story that we feels deserves a
MOBI PULITZER PRIZE
There are many different categories for submissions. The previous week, the category was "FEEL GOOD"
But this week, the category was "SIGN ME UP"

W/O JULY 19 CATEGORY = SIGN ME UP
BigGlen
DAY = MONDAY JULY 19
STORY = "Cleaning Fairy’ Accidentally Breaks into Home and Cleans It Up"
OH PLEASE... BREAK INTO MY HOUSE NEXT
This line sums it all up... Of course, the residents of the home were shocked that someone broke in. But they were also incredibly confused when they realized the place was now impeccably spotless.
And I do like that he launched his cleaning company full time, and went with the Cleaning Fairy name. Capitalism at it's finest.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WEEKS MOBI PULITZER PRIZE WINNER = 100 WRZ

THE NEXT NEWS CYCLE WILL BEGIN SHORTLY

[johngriffen]

I sometimes get REALLY DEPRESSED reviewing the news these days.
It's always about a global pandemic threatening life as we know it,
protests around the world, stupid politicians, natural disasters,
or some other really bad story.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Welcome to The mobi weekly news magazine
IN OTHER NEWS
MONDAY JULY 26
What is it?
Here is your chance to become an "ACE REPORTER" for our weekly news magazine.
It is your job to fine weird, funny or "good feel" stories from around the world and share them with our readers in our weekly magazine

How do you play?
Just post a story that you have come across that made you smile, laugh, feel good...
BUT NOTHING DEPRESSING

EXAMPLE POST

​Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag

A naked sunbather was seen chasing wild boar through a park after it stole his laptop bag.
Amusing photographs from Germany show the man running after the animal to try and claim the plastic bag back.
But the cheeky boar and its two piglets appear to be too quick for the sunbather, who can't keep up with their speedy little trotters.
As the incident unfolds, groups of friends and family sat on the grass watch on and laugh.
Heads are seen turning in surprise and amusement in the hilarious photographs.
The incident happened at Teufelssee Lake - a bathing spot in the Grunwell Forest in Berlin, Germany.

Rules:
Each Edition of IN OTHER NEWS will be open for 7 days...
You can post as many stories as you like, but you will only get paid for One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can only earn WRZ$ once a day.
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -5)
2:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)
on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them short, and post a short summary for those that don't like to click on videos
No Duplicate stories - Where a post has been edited resulting in duplicates, then the last one in time gets disallowed.
And please limit this to reasonably family friendly stories

Reward:
Each news story posted that I feel is acceptable (must be a real story, too few words or simply a headline are not considered acceptable) will earn you 50 WRZ$
If you post multiple stories on any given day, you will only earn 50 WRZ$ for the first story of the Day
All payments will be made at THE END of the weekly news cycle.
Special Bonus - Each week I will award "The Pulitzer Prize" for the best story of the week
The weekly winner of the "The Pulitzer Prize" will receive a 100 WRZ$ bonus
It's just my personal opinion, so my judgement is final

So help bring GOOD news to the members of mobi, and join our reporting team...

IN OTHER NEWS

[ozswede]

Wildlife officer helps remove a bucket that was stuck on the head of a Denver bear - for a WEEK

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Service posted a video of the rescue on Thursday, calling it a 'wildlife rescue success story'. The bear spent a whole week running around the foothills west of Boulder with a chicken feeder stuck on its head but when residents reported it, wildlife officers were able to track her down.


Click on the picture to watch the video

The rescue was set in motion by Boulder residents Drew McConaughy and his friend Dave Sherman who spotted the bear while working on a cabin in the foothills, The Denver Channel reported.

'We were just sitting having lunch around noon and we heard a rustle down in the woods, so we went down to investigate, and we saw the bear running through the woods, the one with the bucket on its head,' McConaughy told the Channel.

Once they saw what turned out to be a chicken feeder covering the animal's entire head, they called Colorado Parks and Wildlife.


The bear had spent a whole week running around the foothills west of Boulder with a chicken feeder stuck on its head

'We figured that the bear was probably in distress,' McConaughy said.

They chased the bear and cornered it until it climbed a tree, then they did all they could to keep it there until wildlife officials arrived. It is unclear how old the bear is.

When they arrived, officers used McConaughy's ladder to get to the bear, then tranquilized it so they could safely remove the bucket. Video showed the sedated bear laid out on the ground while a wildlife officer cuts the bucket off its head.


Wildlife officers used ladders to get to the bear and tranquilized it so they could safely remove the bucket

'We rely on the public a great amount to help us, reporting activity and in this case helping us to locate this bear,' Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Jason Clay told the Denver Channel.

Once the chicken feeder was removed, the bear returned to the mountains, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.

'A bear naturally should be afraid of humans. The case in point of how this bear got into that situation in the first place is that it broke into someone's chicken coop and got that feeder stuck on its head,' Clay said.

The wildlife center said it's crucial residents lock up anything that could attract bears to avoid another situation like this.

But although the bear is back in the wild, it made an impression on one of the neighbors who helped get with its rescue.

'This bear has a positive light from here on out,' McConaughy said.

Source

[BigGlen]

10 Amazing Finds on Google Earth

Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program. It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography and geographic information system (GIS) 3D globe. Just like their data-rich Maps and Street View offerings, Google Earth is a treasure trove of oddities.

You’ve no doubt already come across some interesting finds on Google Earth. The post below attempts to compile the most fascinating sites other have stumbled upon browsing Google Earth. From natural formations to human structures, the world is a different place when viewed from above.

If you’re interested in seeing any of the places yourself, I’ve included the coordinates for every image shown below. Just copy and paste into Google Earth/Maps and explore for yourself!

1. Airplane Boneyard
32 08’59.96″ N, 110 50’09.03″W
Tucson, Arizona



2. Mysterious Desert Pattern
27°22’50.10″N, 33°37’54.62″E
Red Sea Governorate, Egypt



3. Swastika-Shaped Building Complex
32°40’34.19″N 117° 9’27.58″W
Coronado, California, USA



4. Shipwrecked SS Ayrfield with Trees
-33.836379, 151.080506
Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia



5. The Badlands Guardian
50° 0’38.20″N 110° 6’48.32″W
Walsh, Alberta, Canada



6. Firefox Logo
45° 7’25.87″N 123° 6’48.97″W
Dayton, Oregon, USA



7. Guitar-Shaped Forest
-33.867886, -63.987
Córdoba, Argentina



8. Heart-Shaped Lake
41.303921, -81.901693
Columbia Station, Ohio, USA



9. Jesus Loves You
43.645074, -115.993081
Boise National Forest, Boise, Idaho, USA



10. A Most Phallic Bulding
41.84201, -89.485937
Dixon, Illinois, USA

[prokroustis]

Kea Island: The Unsung Jewel of the Cyclades



A beach on the island of Kea.

Kea, called Tzia by most Greeks, is the closest Cycladic island to the Greek capital city of Athens.

Even though it doesn’t share the fame and glamor of Mykonos or Santorini, Kea has many of the best qualities many travelers to the Greek islands are looking for.

And one doesn’t have to travel far from the capital to reach Kea. It is only 60 km (37 miles) from Athens and one can be there in one hour by ferry from Lavrio, the site of the famous silver mines of ancient Greece.

The Long History of Kea

Speaking of ancient ruins, Kea’s history starts in the Bronze Age, with a settlement at a site now called Ayia Irini. The island reached its height in the Late Minoan and Early Mycenaean eras, from 1600-1400 BC.

During the classical period, Kea was the home of Simonides and of his nephew Bacchylides, who were both ancient Greek lyric poets.

The inhabitants were known for offering sacrifices to the Dog Star, Sirius, and to Zeus to bring cooling breezes. Coins retrieved from the island from the 3rd century BC feature dogs or stars with rays emanating from them, highlighting Sirius’ importance.

The island is known for an ancient stone-carved lion, known as the Lion of Ioulis (or Liontas), which was carved sometime prior to 600 BC.

Legend has it that once the island was home to water nymphs whose beauty made the gods jealous, so much that they sent a lion to lay waste to the island.

During the Byzantine period, many churches were built on Kea and the prosperity of the island increased.

It was under Byzantine rule until, in 1204, it was captured by the Venetians after the Fourth Crusade. The Venetians built a castle on the ancient acropolis of Ioulis.

Kea Today

Today Kea is popular with those who like the Cyclades but want to stay away from its noisy and over-crowded siblings like Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros.

Accommodations and overall expenses for your stay are less expensive on Kea too. It is ideal for families and more adventurous travelers who like to discover new places.

The first thing one seeks on a Greek island is crystal clear waters and sandy beaches, to bask in the sun and cool off with a dip in the sea.

Kea has plenty of those: Otzias, Koundouros, Pisses, Gialiskari, Frea, Korissia, Kampi are only some of the beaches that beckon to winter-weary travelers.

Kea is an island for water sports lovers as well. It has a long tradition of classic sailing, but the visitor can also engage in water skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, wake surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, SUP, scuba diving and all other kinds of water activities.

There are several water sports facilities on the island where one can find equipment and the appropriate trainers. Quite often, water sports races are held there as well.

One who likes walking and rambling around to discover new vistas can use the cobblestone paths to explore the island and admire its green ravine, the remote, hidden coves, the ancient ruins, and the Byzantine chapels on Kea.

[Fatima99]

Couple Finds ‘Momma’ Snake And 17 Little Snakes Under Bed

Eastern garter snake

A Georgia couple had a bit of a sssscare on Sunday when they came face to face with a large snake family under the bed.

Trish Wilcher thought she saw a “piece of fuzz” on the floor under the bed in her home in Augusta, but when she reached for it, it suspiciously moved.

“And then a second later another piece moved, and I went to my husband, ‘We have snakes!’” she told local news station WJBF.

In fact, they had 18 snakes.

“Ok we have turned the bedroom upside down… found 17 babies and the momma,” she posted on Facebook amid the slithery ordeal.

Her husband, Max Wilcher, was able to use a grabbing tool to contain the snakes in a linen bag. He released them outside near a creek, she told WJBF. A wildlife catcher later told the couple that the reptiles in their home were non-venomous garter snakes.

Georgia has both venomous and non-venomous snakes, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The agency notes that snakes are an important part of the ecosystem “because of their major role as both a predator and prey.”

Snakes coming into people’s homes is relatively common, Georgia DNR biologist Daniel Sollenberger told the Augusta Chronicle, noting that they can come in through “small cracks” or open spaces such as holes around pipes under sinks. It’s common for snakes to come inside if a home has a mouse problem, in which case he noted that the snakes might actually be helpful.

Non-venomous snakes are safe to shoo outside using a broom and bucket, Sollenberger said. But if you’re unsure whether the snake is venomous, he recommended calling someone licensed to remove wildlife.

ROBOT basketball player throws perfect three-pointers - including a half-court shot - during incredible display at Tokyo Olympics

Giant robot featured during USA v France basketball match at Tokyo Olympics
6ft 10ins machine hit a free throw and a three-pointer while entertaining viewers
The robot, called Cue and designed by Toyota, also sank basket from half court
Cue uses 3D mapping technology and algorithms to hit almost every shot it takes
Find out the latest Tokyo Olympic news including schedule, medal table and results right here

By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

Published: 03:11 EDT, 26 July 2021 | Updated: 04:49 EDT, 26 July 2021

Team USA were beaten by France at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday - but, as this video proves, their loss to the underdogs was far from the only talking point.

France's thunder was partly stolen by a hoop-shooting robot who wowed viewers during the halftime show with its skills.

The 6ft 10ins machine - designed by Toyota and called Cue - sank a basket from the free-throw line, hit a three-pointer and even managed to sink one from half-court.
Cue - a basketball-playing robot - wowed crowds at halftime during USA v France on Sunday by shooting baskets using inbuilt sensors
+4

The robot was designed by Toyota and has been around since at least 2018, though previously had to stand on a platform that had been removed by Sunday's game

Predictably, the Team USA jokes followed.

'The basketball robot needs a roster spot on team USA with how we are playing, Daniel Harrod wrote.

'Team USA basketball could use this robot on the roster right now,' Chris Graham added.

While the Tokyo Olympics provided the biggest stage for Cue to show off its skills, it is far from the first time Toyota has shown off its mechanical athlete.

One of its first appearances came in 2018 when it was 7ins shorter than it is now and competed with Arvalq Tokyo - a team in Japan's top basketball league - at making free-throws.

It then reappeared the following year to set a Guinness World Record by throwing 2,020 consecutive free-throws without any misses - a nod to the 2020 Games.

The version of Cue which appeared at halftime on Sunday is much-improved over early versions, which were attached to platforms and other rigs which supported the robot and contained part of its mechanics.

On Sunday, the version of Cue that Toyota wheeled out was free-standing and able to move itself around the court using wheels mounted in its shoes - a feat it showed off by moving around the court for each of its shots.

Cue even managed to sink a shot from half court, using sensors in its chest and 3D mapping technology to locate the basket and make the throw

Cue waves to crowds after making all three of its shots during half time of Sunday's game between Team USA and France
+4

The robot pulls off its feat by using a range of sensors, 3D mapping technology and algorithms to figure out where the basket is located and line up its shot.

It then adjusts motors in its arms and legs to create the perfect angle and apply just the right amount of force to make the shot.

While the hoop-shooting robot has proved a crowd-pleaser, its designers say it has helped them understand how to build robots that can accurately mimic human movement which has multiple practical uses.

Such robots could ultimately end up doing hard labour jobs which are arduous for people to do - such as picking crops, making deliveries, and working in factories.

Designers say Cue's name is nod to these practical implications - reflecting the idea the technology can serve as a cue, or signal of great things to come.

It is far from the only robot that Toyota has been working on, having previously showed off one that can play the violin.

Toyota's rival Honda has Asimo, a culmination of research into creating a walking robot that started in the 1980s.

It not only can run, but also recognise faces, avoid obstacles, shake hands, pour a drink and carry a tray.

[PennySerenade]

Canada’s first Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal won by women’s relay swimmers



Just as in 2016, the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team gave Canada its first medal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

This time, however, the medal was a more precious colour.

With star swimmer Penny Oleksiak once again powering the anchor leg, the Canadians swam to a silver medal in Sunday’s race, finishing in a time of three minutes 32.78 seconds.



A few hours later, divers Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu added another silver on a successful day in the pool. Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu recovered from a slow start and put together three strong dives to reach the podium of the women’s three-metre synchronized platform.

In the relay, Kayla Sanchez of Toronto, Margaret Mac Neil of London, Ont., and Rebecca Smith of Red Deer, Alta., also swam strong legs to give Toronto’s Oleksiak the chance to close out the race.

With the Australians far ahead of the pack en route to laying down a world-record time of 3:29.69, the battle for silver came down to Oleksiak and American anchor swimmer Simone Manuel.

Oleksiak surged ahead and touched the wall just before the American. The 21-year-old picked up her fifth Olympic medal, joining rower Lesley Thompson-Willie and runner Phil Edwards as Canada’s most decorated Summer Olympians.

“I think it’s kind of crazy,” Oleksiak said. “I think we were all hopeful that we would get a medal.

“We didn’t know what medal it would really be. I think we all just wanted one. For it to be a silver, it’s pretty crazy I think.”

The Canadian women are looking to pick up where they left off at the 2016 Rio Games, where they won six medals, including bronze in the 4×100 freestyle relay. Oleksiak swam the anchor leg in that race, too.

Earlier on Sunday, Mac Neil also advanced to Monday morning’s 100-metre butterfly final. The 21-year-old world champion in the event posted the sixth-fastest time in the semifinals.

In diving, Abel from Laval, Que., and Citrini-Beaulieu, from Saint-Constant, Que., overcame a slow start on their first two dives to finish with a total score of 300.78.

The Chinese pair of Shi Tingmao and Wang Han finished first with 326.4 points. Germany’s Lena Hentschel and Tina Punzel were third with 284.97 points.

Abel picked up her second Olympic medal. She won bronze in the same event with Emilie Heymans at the 2012 London Games.

Citrini-Beaulieu is making her Olympic debut.

In boxing, Mandy Bujold’s eventful road to the Tokyo Olympics ended with a first-round loss to Nina Radovanovic of Serbia in her opening bout.

The 11-time national flyweight champion arrived in Tokyo after what she called the toughest fight of her career. She won a human-rights appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, last month for an Olympic berth after she’d initially been left out of the mix.

“Yeah, absolutely this was the win for me on this journey,” Bujold said after the loss. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen in the ring, but it happened outside of the ring.”

After Bujold’s Olympic qualifier in Buenos Aires was cancelled because of rising COVID-19 cases in Argentina, the International Olympic Committee’s Boxing Task Force opted to use world rankings to determine Tokyo berths.

The Task Force selected three international events for world rankings that Bujold, a 34-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., hadn’t competed in because of her pregnancy and post-partum recovery.

The CAS ruled June 30 that the Task Force must include an accommodation for women who were pregnant or postpartum during the qualifying period. Bujold had lost her original appeal to the IOC in May, leaving the CAS as her last chance to box in Tokyo.

Rowers Jessica Sevick of Strathmore, Alta., and Toronto’s Gabrielle Smith will row for a medal after finishing second in their women’s double sculls semifinal. The pair advanced comfortably, finishing 4.59 seconds ahead of fourth-place France.

“I think we can build on what we just did and carry that relaxation and looseness. And I think we can also take some confidence from that and have a little bit more of a build towards the line and a little more speed in the middle, to sort of get out in front and row relaxed,” Smith said.

There was also disappointment for Canada’s rowers on Tokyo Bay as the men’s four boat finished fifth in its repechage and failed to advance to the ‘A’ final. The boat includes three rookies and veteran Will Crothers, who was part of Canada’s silver-medallist men’s eight team at the 2012 Olympics in London. The ‘B’ final could be the 34-year-old’s last Olympic race.

[goldie0608]

Man Hikes With Support Owl Named Louie — Inspiring Others With PTSD Along His Way



It’s not every day you see a man and his owl hiking up a mountain.

But this isn’t just any regular owl. Louie is an emotional support animal.

Jaylo Miles and his beautiful PTSD barn owl have the most incredible bond.

Together they are on a mission to help raise awareness for mental health and those who are battling PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the stigma attached to it.

A photojournalist based in Swansea, Wales, Joann Randles, recently joined the unlikely duo for a hike to the summit of the highest peak in South Wales, Pen-y-Fan.

“I try to find uplifting stories and came across Jaylo Miles’ inspirational owl story online.”

She reached out to Welshman who lives in Cardiff, to see if he would allow Joann to join him on one of his adventures with Louie.



“People will never know how special Louie is, not just for me but, for guys I let hold him,” says Jaylo. “That special moment of love!”

Jaylo set up a Facebook page called Many Downs, Time To Get Up, as a safe and uplifting community where individuals can learn about his battle to overcome PTSD, and readers can help inspire others.

The father of three wrote, “I have built this page from a desperate battle with my own mental health and suicidal thoughts in the hope to make a difference and leave a legacy to create & inspire.”

Jaylo and Louie—and another support owl named Oscar—are now familiar faces around Cardiff.


They encourage others to join with them on challenges and group meet-ups, so that they, too, can take the positive steps to overcome their fears.

“CPTSD, PTSD, mental health sucks, but the journey I’m on will show the way for those in their time of need. Be strong, be honest, be you!”

[Zbignieww]

Broome's Cable Beach to get life-sized 'farm scrap' camel


Jordan Sprigg with his life-sized camel sculpture made from farm scrap.

Broome is set to have a new tourist attraction created by West Australian sculptor, Jordan Sprigg.
His latest recycled farm scrap project is a life-sized camel destined for Broome's Cable Beach.

The Narembeen-based artist completed the 500-kilogram sculpture this week after spending 300 hours building the female camel in a shed on his family's farm.

It has been bought by a Broome camel tour business to pay tribute to the late Abdul Casley, who died last month.

Mr Casley was the industry's pioneer, starting camel tours in Broome in 1983.

Dedicated to camel tour pioneer


From his Wheatbelt shed Jordan Sprigg has created many different animals from steel scrap.

Red Sun Camel owners John and Janet Geappen have dedicated the sculpture to Mr Casley.

The couple pledged to eventually donate the camel to the Broome community, where it is set to be a featured part of Broome Shire's redevelopment works along Cable Beach.

Sprigg said he was inspired to make the camel after visiting Broome in 2018 and admiring the silhouettes of the animals on Cable Beach.

"It'll be a great opportunity for tourists to take photos because they might not necessarily ride on the camels, but they can get a photo with the camel," he said.

"And hopefully this will be a permanent silhouette you can always get photos with on Cable Beach."

It is his 60th creation in a line of Australian and African creatures, which have been sought after by collectors and local governments across the country, some of the unique creations fetching serious money.

'A big jigsaw puzzle'


Jordan Sprigg created the camel from recycled farm and machinery scraps

Sprigg works alone in a large shed, which has been his workshop for the past eight years since he turned his curiosity with making metal sculptures into a full-time career.

Close by is an extensive collection of scrap metal in bins in neat rows, mostly from old farm machinery gathered from farmers who willingly donate to the Wheatbelt sculptor who has thousands of followers on social media.

He usually starts with a toy model of his chosen animal, which gives him the shape and proportions that he meticulously measures and scales up onto a drawing.

From that, he builds a subframe that he covers to build the exterior shape, finally adorning the body shape with badges, hubcabs, gears, springs — anything reflecting rural Australia — to build an intriguing creation filled with eye-catching detail.

"It's kind of like a big jigsaw puzzle where you're adding and shifting" Sprigg said.

Recycled metal a creative form
Sprigg said there was nothing particularly permanent when it came to recycled metal.

"If you have a piece that you don't like you can easily just cut it off and weld a new piece on and it's no harm," he said.

"The process does take time. But I don't really notice the time when you're in the shed. I just notice that I've got to do a leg, I've got to do a hip, I've got to do a head and it kind of just melds into one."

He has already got a backlog of orders on the books, which he fits in along with his personal creations.


Jordan Sprigg with his dog Molly and rhino sculpture in Narembeen

His ambition is to move into pre-historic animals.

"I'm getting to the stage now where I'm saying no to a lot of requests just because I've got no time," Sprigg said.

"I get bulls and horses a lot. They are very popular. Kangaroos are very popular.

"I would love to go down the prehistoric niche — the dinosaurs specifically. I think there are just so many big dinosaurs that I want to build, which I think would look amazing out of recycled metal.

"Australia has [had] a lot of megafauna that used to roam around thousands of years ago, so I'd love to give that a shot. So hopefully next year, I can build a giant megafauna kangaroo."

The sculpture is sure to turn heads when it is loaded onto a truck to soon begin its journey to Broome.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-22/ ... /100311256

[mrvictor]

Maine Becomes First US State to Make Corporations Pay for Recycling if They Don’t Use Sustainable Packaging




By putting the recycling costs on the producer rather than the consumer, Maine becomes the first U.S. state to hold companies responsible for the waste they create.

In putting what is essentially an import duty on packaging, Maine is telling companies there is a limit to the amount of reliance they can have on Mainers and municipalities to recycle their material.

If a company is using less-than eco-friendly packaging, they have to pay a Stewardship Organization (SO) per ton of packaging they bring into the state.

The SO then looks at the costs and workload of recycling programs around the state and reimburses them depending on the amount and type of material they are processing.

Prior to the law, the only way to raise money for recycling was more taxes.

“It’s really designed to help tackle our waste crisis, get us to finally reaching our goal of recycling 50% of our waste which we set back in 1989 but never met,” said Sarah Nichols, Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, in an interview with WCSH News.

Nichols hypothesizes that companies will do more either to create eco-friendly packaging or to have clear recycling instructions and labels on their products that will ensure Mainers don’t put the wrong thing in the wrong bin.

Successful companies are often the nimblest ones; able to adapt to changing market and regulatory conditions, while remaining profitable.

Small producers, either those who make less than $2 million gross or who create less than one ton of waste per year, would be exempt from the tax, ensuring Maine’s small business sector isn’t over-burdened with regulatory costs.

Nichols said that while Maine was the first U.S. state to pass a law like this, Oregon has a similar one heading to the governor’s desk, and that she is certain they “won’t be the last.”

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/maine-l ... packaging/

[lush]

“Remote Cohabitation” Trend Increasingly Popular Among Japanese Couples
July 23rd, 2021*

“Remote cohabitation” has become a hot topic in Japan over the past couple of days, after a popular TV show reported that young couples prefer to live separately and keep in touch using free video call apps.

On July 21st, TV Asahi’s ” Hatori Shinichi Morning Show” featured remote cohabitation as a growing trend among young Japanese couple who either prefer or are forced to live separately. It involves the use of free video call apps like Line or Skype to keep in touch for hours on end, even all through the night. A couple used as an example during the show, said that they leave the app open during the night so they can “wake up together”, and only turn it off when they are at work. This way they feel like they are together, even though one lives in Tokyo and the other in Ibaraki Prefecture.


Photo: mohammed_hassan/Pixabay
Remote cohabitation doesn’t require constant conversation; the two partners don’t even have to interact, they can just go on with their respective schedules, but leaving the call app turned on during that time makes them feel connected. Simply hearing the sounds of the other person’s activity, such as a hair dryer, doing the dishes or watching TV reportedly makes couples feel better.

One of the advantages of remote cohabitation is independence. The couple doesn’t feel pressured to do what the other person wants to do, they can each follow their own routines and still feel close to each other. Some even watch movies together, or have dinner together this way. Having “invisible company” constantly and still be able to enjoy their time freely is said to “kill two birds with one stone”.

本日7/21放送「若者の間で広がる“リモート同棲”」
恋人同士で、長時間、無料電話を繋ぎっぱなしにして生活する“リモート同棲”が、若者の間で広がっています。 pic.twitter.com/6mnp7oIAKH

— 羽鳥慎一モーニングショー (@morningshow_tv) July 21, 2021
Remote cohabitation had been apart of Japanese culture for a while now, but the Covid19 pandemic only made it more popular, as the restrictions put in place by the authorities forced even more people into living separately, and looking for ways to stay connected.

While remote cohabitation sounds like a welcome way to keep long-distance couples connected during the pandemic, it has received negative feedback from both the general public and relationship experts, many of whom consider the trend as a form of surveillance.

これほど長い通話時間で、何をしているのかというと、その日の出来事を話したり、一緒にご飯を食べたり、同じテレビを見るといいますが、多くの時間は無言で自分の好きなことをして過ごしているそうです。 pic.twitter.com/Eaq4iuQrcE

— 羽鳥慎一モーニングショー (@morningshow_tv) July 21, 2021
“I think it’s good when you’re starting out and you’re in love, but as those feelings gradually fade away, I think that the constant connection will lead to a breakup,” TV Asahi commentator Toru Tamagawa said. “I think the relationship will end up in a surveillance-like state.”

NYC surgeon, beauty-queen wife settle divorce amid his claim she’s a hooker


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2gNyWctpg

Dr. Han Jo Kim and former Miss Connecticut Regina Turner put their contentious split to bed



A bitter divorce between a top New York City spine surgeon and his beauty-queen wife was quickly settled Monday — after he made tawdry accusations in court papers that claim she was moonlighting as a high-priced call girl.



Hospital for Special Surgery Dr. Han Jo Kim and former Miss Connecticut USA Regina Turner put their contentious split to bed before a public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. could take place, Lucian Chalfen, spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration, confirmed.

The swift settlement followed a stunning 264-page filing in Manhattan Supreme Court, in which Kim, 41, alleged that his 32-year-old wife had pocketed nearly $700,000 in cash from johns since their Nov. 27, 2015, nuptials.



Kim decided to file for divorce in December 2020 after finding a racy text message from another man on a computer in the couple’s Upper East Side home, according to the complaint, filed earlier this month in Manhattan Supreme Court.

The leading doctor claimed he learned of his wife’s alleged secret double life after they separated in April, becoming aware that she "has been exchanging sexual services for the receipt of money with multiple men" prior to and after their marriage, the filing alleges.

Turner’s alleged financial records showed $675,030 in cash deposits from 2015 to 2021 -— with many checks coming from a New Jersey real estate executive, as well as a lighting designer’s UK-based company, according to the document.

"It remains inconceivable to plaintiff that given his substantial earnings as a spine surgeon, and his enormous generosity to defendant, that defendant continued to sell sex for money during the marriage," the complaint alleges.



Turner, who was crowned Miss Connecticut USA in 2011, allegedly covered up her secret sex work by telling her hubby she had a tech startup and was receiving venture capital funding, the documents say. She also claimed she had to travel for work or that she was going out with girlfriends, according to the papers.

Attorneys for Turner and Kim did not immediately return requests for comment Monday.