Author Archives: Danzig

Getting COVID-19 blessing in disguise, will get countrymen same medicine that cured me: Trump – The New Indian Express

Posted on by

By PTI

WASHINTON:Describing getting coronavirus that took him to a military hospital for treatment 'a blessing in disguise', US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told the countrymen that he will get them same medicine that cured him for free.

"I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president because I feel great.I feel like perfect.So, I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it.This was a blessing in disguise," Trump said in a video message.

Standing at the Rose Garden outside the Oval office, Trump attributed his fast cure to Regeneron drug along with others.

Trump was admitted to Walter Reed National Medical Center last Friday, a day after he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19.

He was discharged from the hospital Monday.

On Wednesday Trump went to the Oval office to have a briefing on Hurricane Delta and on coronavirus stimulus.

Less than four weeks before the crucial presidential elections, Trump said he wants Americans to get the same treatment that he received.

"I want to get you what I got, and I'm going to make it free.We're going to get it in to the hospital as soon as you can as soon as we can with military handling the distribution," Trump said, adding that they have "hundreds of thousands of doses that are just about ready".

According to Trump, in addition to Regeneron, there is a very similar drug from Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company.

"They are coming out.And we're trying to get them emergency basis.I've authorised it," he said.

"I walked in (the hospital).I didn't feel good.A short 24 hours later, I was feeling great.I wanted to get out of the hospital and that's what I want for everybody," he said.

Earlier in the day, his physician said Trump has been fever-free for more than four days now and that physical exam and vital signs remain stable and in normal range.

"The President this morning says 'I feel great!' His physical exam and vital signs, including oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, all remain stable and in normal range," White House Physician Dr Sean Conley said in a memorandum released Wednesday afternoon.

"He's now been fever-free for more than four days, symptom-free for over 24 hours and has not needed nor received any supplemental oxygen since initial hospitalization," he wrote.

Here is the original post:

Getting COVID-19 blessing in disguise, will get countrymen same medicine that cured me: Trump - The New Indian Express

Nature is the best medicine | Events | jhnewsandguide.com – Jackson Hole News&Guide

Posted on by

Whether a multiday backpacking trip, a short hike on your lunch hour or just a little time spent idling outdoors, encounters with the natural world can improve our sense of well-being.

That will be the theme of the 2020 SHIFT Summit, now in its seventh year, which will, for the first time, be broadcast online Oct. 14-16 from Jackson Hole.

The title of this years conference, Healthy by Nature, refers to the mental health benefits reaped from spending time in nature, a pastime that has received increased attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The summit also will emphasize issues of equitable access to the outdoors and its benefits.

The conference is organized by Christian Beckwith, executive director of the nonprofit SHIFT it means Shaping How we Invest For Tomorrow which since 2018 has been exploring how to advance nature as a way to increase health. Though Beckwith is a Republican candidate for the Teton County Board of County Commissioners, SHIFTs message goes across party lines.

Tying the importance of nature to public health benefits creates a nonpartisan argument that all of us are personally invested in for nature, Beckwith said. And we believe that advancing public health as an ecosystem service gives us a powerful argument for the protection of our natural world.

While people have been going outdoors as a safe way to get out of the house during the pandemic, Beckwith said the mental health benefits of nature, such as reduced stress and higher levels of concentration, have not been publicized as much as the physical ones. A 2019 report from Griffith University in Australia estimated that national park visits create mental health benefits valued at around $6 trillion per year worldwide, SHIFT noted in a press release.

This year the intent of SHIFT is to address the benefits of nature that are less often reported. Three days of online presentations will cover research evidence of the mental health benefits, the work of individuals and organizations translating evidence into practice, and the implementation of policy at all government levels.

A few focal points include the benefits specific to children and young adults, the psychological resilience nature provides, and the ways that resource managers can make nature more accessible. Overall the conference seeks to discuss and exemplify nature as a public health delivery system, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

All the crises that were experiencing right now there is opportunity for seismic social change, Beckwith said. Past pandemics have ushered in completely new ways of thinking. The black plague resulted in the Renaissance. The Spanish flu led us to our current health care system. What were trying to do with this years SHIFT is harness the opportunity to not only center nature more robustly in all of our lives to ensure that we all have safe access to nature, but to rebuild the relationship with the natural world.

The opening speaker, Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-trained medical epidemiologist, will discuss the ways we can leverage this historic moment for positive social change, SHIFTs website states.

Atiya Wells the founder of Backyard Basecamp, an organization that connects Baltimore residents with wildlife, and BLISS Meadows, a social justice project that creates equitable access to green space for Black, Indigenous and People of Color also will give a keynote address on ways to create connections with nature in communities where they are lacking.

With the virtual format, keynote talks will be prerecorded to allow speakers to answer questions via chat during the presentation. Panels will take place live virtually followed by panelists and attendees splitting into breakout rooms for smaller discussions. The full schedule can be found on SHIFTs website.

Beckwith hopes that attendees will take away an understanding of the importance of nature to our mental and spiritual well being, and thereby increase the value of nature in our society.

If we dont get back to valuing nature as a centerpiece of everything we do, he said, were not going to be able to sustain the relationship between the built and natural environment.

More:

Nature is the best medicine | Events | jhnewsandguide.com - Jackson Hole News&Guide

Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times – The New York Times

Posted on by

Dr. Peter Viccellio, a professor of emergency medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, has seen many Covid-19 patients during his hours in the emergency room. A touch of playfulness and kindly humor, he said, has helped to ease an enormously painful situation for both his patients and members of the overburdened hospital staff.

Genuine levity can make patients believe that they are not going to meet their doom today Dr. Viccellio said, but he added that it needs to flow naturally. If you are empathetic with the person, your humor tends to fit them, its not forced. If you are not emotionally connected to them and force a joke it can go very wrong.

A case in point: A colleague of mine once said casually to a patient whose medical history he did not know, Dont worry about it, at least its not cancer, Dr. Viccellio recalled. The patient replied, Actually, Doc, it is.

Other kinds of joking that are potentially destructive, he said, are the in-group humor that mocks patients or other members of the hospital staff, and the gallows humor that focuses on the darker sides of medicine. And one needs to be careful not to appear to be making light of somebody elses pain.

Despite these potential pitfalls, some hospitals have initiated formal humor programs, making funny books and videos available and inviting clowns in to interact with their younger patients. Some caregivers are also innovating ways to bring humor into their own practice.

Mary Laskin, a nurse case-manager at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, has been working with her chronic pain patients online, teaching them laughter exercises alongside practices designed to develop other positive mental states like gratitude and forgiveness.

This pandemic is like a tiger creeping toward us, a huge slow-motion stressor that makes the experience of pain worse. Humor helps my patients relax and release their grip on pain, she said.

See the rest here:

Laughter May Be Effective Medicine for These Trying Times - The New York Times

BVI Tourist Board Meets With Major Tourism Industry Partners – Government of the Virgin Islands

Posted on by

The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and Film Commission held a meeting with tourism industry partners from the private-islands, resorts and large hotel sectors last evening.

The meeting which was considered a success was the first in a series with key industry stakeholders in various sectors of the local tourism industry to be held over the next two weeks.

The session was done virtually with the use of the Microsoft Teams Platform and had over 80 participants.

Premier and Minister responsible for Tourism, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, addressed the meeting and stated that it was imperative that the Government meet with tourism stakeholders to finalise the health protocols as it prepares to open the Territory on December 1st and that he was extremely pleased with the participation and contributions made by the stakeholders.

Premier Fahie said, We were able to share our plans with them and welcomed their feedback. We presented a positive and engaging discussion that will be beneficial in enhancing our guest experience during the COVID era while ensuring that safety remains a priority. I look forward to more discussions with our other industry partners because we are in this together.

Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Sharie de Castro said the meeting with the stakeholders within the tourism industry was important so that their collective voices can be heard and their concerns recorded.

Honourable de Castro said, I believe we were able to explain how far we are in the process, their role in ensuring our preparedness for December 1st and how we intend to support their efforts. I left feeling encouraged, as the partners who participated showed that they are eager to do what is necessary for us to successfully reopen.

The Junior Minister thanked the stakeholders who participated and stated that their contribution was very meaningful and appreciated. She added that she also looked forward to hearing from more industry partners during this consultation phase.

Director of Tourism, Mr. Clive McCoy said, We are meeting with our stakeholders to ensure that they have an opportunity to review our opening plans and protocols and provide input, to ensure that we have the safest reopening protocols. Their input and commitment is very important to a successful reopening on December 1st.

Chairperson of the BVI Tourist Board, Mrs. Kenisha Sprauve also stated that following several one-on-one meetings with industry partners, which helped to shape the draft protocols, the board thought it was time to meet with stakeholders collectively, to get their feedback on the said protocols before they are finalised.

I think we had a successful meeting last evening and look forward to meeting with the other stakeholders as we work together to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests when we welcome them with BVILove beginning on December 1st, she said.

The remaining meetings will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m. for the following categories: Wednesday, October 7 Small Hotels, Guesthouses and Villas; Thursday, October 8 Licenced Taxi and Livery Operators; Tuesday, October 13 Tour Operators, Shuttles, Car Rentals; Wednesday, October 14 Marinas, Day Sail, Sport fishing, Crewed and Bareboat Charters; Thursday, October 15 Diving, Watersports and Land-based Activities; Tuesday, October 20 Restaurants; and Wednesday, October 21 Spas and Salons.

NOTES TO EDITORS

See the original post here:

BVI Tourist Board Meets With Major Tourism Industry Partners - Government of the Virgin Islands

Belize Reopens: Heres The Ultimate Secluded Getaway – Forbes

Posted on by

Belize reopens its borders and its main airport October 1, after delaying initial plans to reopen on August 15. For those ready to plan for a trip, a vacation to the Belizean private island of Cayo Espanto sounds like the ideal way to forget about Covid for a while.

Lounge chairs on the beach or on the dock? The choice is yours at Cayo Espanto, Belize

Since COVID started spreading around the world, seclusion is a top criteria for planning a holiday. Cayo Espanto is a private island three miles off the coast of Belize that delivers seclusion and privacy, with just the right touch of laid-back luxury. How private is it? Well, celebrities like Chelsea Clinton, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, and Tiger Woods have all reportedly stayed here.

From the dock toward the villa and plunge pool, Cayo Espanto

There are just seven private villas on Cayo Espantoif you stand at the end of your private dock you might (maybe) get a glimpse of another one. But its easy to forget that you dont have the whole island to yourself. If you truly want to avoid other people, you can book the whole thing. But even at full occupancy, its unlikely youll even see another guest, let alone interact with one. Theres no lobby, no restaurant, no bar, and no shared pools or beaches. Cayo Espanto prides itself on offering the ultimate in privacy, interrupted only when your houseman delivers meals and drinks for you to enjoy on your private veranda or, sure, even in you rprivate plunge pool.

Given the seclusion already existing at Cayo Espanto, the main difference guests will see in the Covid era is that the friendly staff wear masks covering their smiles, your luggage is given a disinfection upon arrival, and youll have supplies of hand sanitizer and wipes in your villa. Behind the scenes theres more, of course, like enhanced extra sanitizing of tour boats, kayaks, and other equipment, changes in the kitchen and housekeeping, plus measures to protect the health and safety of Cayo Espantos staff.

Villa in the palms on Cayo Espanto

Cayo Espanto is a four acre island, with six villas hiding amidst palm trees and mangroves; the seventh is an overwater bungalow. The islands white sand gets combed into designs alongside the main path across the island.You might occasionally hear a boat go by, a bird sing, or a fish jump out of the water, but youll otherwise be surrounded by silence.

Each villa sits right at the water. Except for overwater Casa Ventanas, each has a private plunge pool looking out onto the shallow sea. Two of the villas have two bedrooms, the others spaciously sleep two people. Your houseman will open up the shutters during the daytime, so you can feel the island breeze.

Lunch on the veranda overlooking the water at Cayo Espanto

Your meals will be at your villa and your menus designed to your taste. Before you arrive, youll fill out a form to let staff know about your preferences and theyll take the rest from there, checking in with you as needed to be sure you still wanted lobster for dinner tonight and to confirm the wine pairing. You can dine on your veranda, on your beach, out on your dock, or even in bedthe choice is yours.

Private dock with two sunbeds, perfect for sunbathing or stargazing at Cayo Espanto

Inside one of Cayo Espanto's open-air villas

Spa services are in your villa too, so after your massage youre just two steps away from your bed or lounge chair to continue your relaxation via a nap.

After dinnerperhaps while youre enjoying your nightcapyour houseman will close up all the doors to your villa for you, set up your mosquito net (more for atmosphere than for actual mosquitos), and turn on your fans and AC. Youll likely have the best sleep of your life.

Cayo Espanto was designed for relaxation, but theres plenty to keep you busy on or off the island. But its hard to beat just watching the fish and rays swimming in the clear, shallow water next to your dock and plunge pool. One regular Casa Ventanas guest is known to spend almost all his waking hours sitting on his veranda with his fishing pole.

The island has a small gym, plus kayaks, sailboats, and paddleboards to use. Your houseman can even set up an outdoor movie theater for youwatch a film projected onto a blow-up screen with your feet in the sand. Want a smores-making station on the beach or a stargazing spot on your dock? No problem.

Friendly nurse sharks at Belize's Shark Ray Alley

A boat ride away is snorkeling at famed Shark Ray Alley, plus fishing (bonefish, tarpon and more), birdwatching at nearby protected islands, picnic excursions, and trips to Ambergris Caye and to the mainland to explore Mayan ruins and the jungle (some restrictions are in place as Belize reopens). You can arrange a private charter to go diving at Belizes famous Blue Hole and other nearby sites too.

Belizes main airport, just north of Belize City, is a two-hour flight from Houston, Miami, and Mexico City, and under five hours from L.A. and Toronto. Once youve arrived and cleared Customs and health checks (see below), Cayo Espanto will arrange for someone to greet you, help you with your luggage, and escort you to the domestic side of the airport. From there, youll take the short flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. After that, hop in a boat for the 10-minute ride directly to your villa.Helicopter transfers are possible too.

Details on Belizes Covid protocols are at TravelBelize.org. Check regularly since, as with all countries, rules may change as the pandemic changes.

Entry rules depend on whether youre a Belizean citizen/resident, long-stay foreign national, traveling for business, or traveling for tourism (see this chart). There are currently no bans based on nationality or country of residence.

Belize is gradually reopening and has designated a Safe Corridor to limit interactions and virus transmission between international travelers and local communities (see Belizes FAQ). A Tourism Gold Standard Program was created to provide a range of hotels (Cayo Espanto is one of them), restaurants,transportation, and tour operators/guides that have implemented new Covid procedures.

Belize has a Covid Health App which youre required to download before arrival. Youll need to fill in some information in advance, receive a Unique ID, and, each day of your stay, the app will check in with you and ask you about your symptoms (Cayo Espantos wifi makes it easy to comply).

Belize encourages tourists to bring certification of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours (and some passengers will be randomly selected for a second test). For those who are unable to get an advance test, theres a test on arrival available at a cost of $50 US. A positive COVID test means quarantine at the travelers expense and two negative test results are required to exit quarantine.

Make sure you bring your mask with youtheyre required by law in the airport and in all public spaces in Belize. Ideally youll put one on to protect your houseman when he comes to your villa, but otherwise you can forget about the pandemic during your Cayo Espanto stay.

Read more:

Belize Reopens: Heres The Ultimate Secluded Getaway - Forbes

Privately funded search team claims to have found possible signs of life on islands near where Gulf Livestock 1 sank – 9News

Posted on by

A private search team claiming to have found possible signs of life on uninhabited islands near where the Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship sank is urgently seeking government help as cash for its air scouts runs dry.

The ship disappeared below rough waves, forcing the ship's 43 crew into life rafts.

In the hours and days following the sinking, Japan's Coast Guard (JCG) rescued three survivors; one would tragically die.

However, a privately funded search operation, led by family and friends of Mr Mainprize, claims to have found signs of life on the Tokara Islands - a chain of 12 small islands off Japan's coast.

Of the 12 islands, only seven are inhabited with an estimated population ranging from 40 to a total of 600 people across the entire archipelago.

"We have been privately funding a search and rescue for two and a half weeks and we have narrowed it down into an area," Harry Morrison, a search spokesman and close friend of Mr Mainprize, told nine.com.au.

"We're finding a lot of debris form the boat, we've found two dead cattle on an island.

"We've found parts of a life raft, we've found life rings, we've found life jackets."

Photos taken from the air search show debris from the cargo ship, life rafts and life jackets on the shorelines.

The search group has spent $50,000 of donated money on the fixed-wing flights and $75,000 on the helicopter flyover.

The expenses have dwindled their more than $116,000 in funds raised to just $4000.

With another typhoon forecast, the group has been given tomorrow and Saturday as crucial search days to revisit the islands.

Yet, tragically they don't have the cash to undertake the new searches.

Mr Morrison said the next proposed search had hoped to take in the Amami Islands.

"There's one island basically we have found the roof of a life raft on an island and it looks to be that plastic covering of the life raft was taken off," he said.

"When we found this life raft, we contacted JCG and told them and got no response for them.

"Communication with the Japanese Coast Guard has been very limited."

Mr Morrison said the JCG "didn't say yes but they didn't say no" when the group asked if they could search parts of the islands.

By September 10, the dedicated search had been called off with the JCG continuing to search for survivors, but only as part of its regular patrols.

The strength of Typhoon Maysak and a second typhoon had hampered the search effort.

The Australian and New Zealand governments have both offered assistance to Japan in the search, however Japan is yet to accept the offer.

Another large scale search for survivors is being conducted from California and on the shorelines of Japan.

"I was contacted to assist with the hope of SAR on behalf of a (Australian) family member and we decided to work as a collaborative effort on behalf of all the families," Shawn Alladio, President of International Rescue Instructors Association, told nine.com.au.

Ms Alladio said the main aim of the search is to support the families remotely and provide search and rescue expertise through her company's bases in Japan and Taiwan.

"We are using EOS satellite imagery. Nobody has travelled to Japan because of COVID quarantines. So, this is all done through public assistance and our companies or others friends in the respective countries," she said.

"Our company in Taiwan has been conducted searches for debris along their shores in the field."

Contact reporter Kate Kachor at kkachor@nine.com.au.

The rest is here:

Privately funded search team claims to have found possible signs of life on islands near where Gulf Livestock 1 sank - 9News

Government To Discuss Reopening Protocols With Service Industry – Government of the Virgin Islands

Posted on by

Officials from the BVI Tourist Board will discuss the draft reopening protocols with stakeholders specific to their respective tourism sectors starting this week.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said that it is critical that Government meets with stakeholders in the service industry at this juncture as it actions its reopening plans for the Territory.

Premier Fahie said, As I have said on many occasions, we are in this together, Government officials, Government agencies and private sector in ensuring that our guest are welcomed in the safest manner possible and that our communities remain safe as well.

The Premier, who is also the Minister for Tourism, said that the discussions are expected to be productive as the industry experts get an opportunity to review the plans and give input which will ultimately aid in the finalisation of the COVID-19 protocols for that industry.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the BVI Tourist Board, Mrs. Kenisha Sprauve said the board is eager to lead the discussions with its industry partners as they finalise the COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the various sectors of the Tourism Industry.

She said, The frank and impartial discussions will be the perfect opportunity for experts in the various industries to lend their voices to the COVID-19 strategies proposed for the reopening.

Mrs. Sprauve added that the meetings will be held virtually and stakeholders who have not received an invitation can contact the BVI Tourist Board for the meeting details.

The industry meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, October 6 with resorts, private islands and large hotels

Wednesday October 7with small hotels, guesthouses and villas

Thursday, October 8 with licenced taxi operatives

Tuesday, October 13 with tour operators, shuttles, car rentals

Wednesday, October 14 with marinas and crewed yacht charters, bareboat yacht charters

Thursday, October 15 with diving and water sports

Tuesday, October 20, restaurants and bars

Wednesday, October 21 with spas and salons

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to contact the BVI Tourist Board at (284) 852-6020 or via email at bvilove@bvitourism.com

The industry consultations come on the heels of the announcement of the reopening of the Territorys borders on December 1.

Here is the original post:

Government To Discuss Reopening Protocols With Service Industry - Government of the Virgin Islands

The perfect fix for your travel itch comes in the form of private jets – Lifestyle Asia

Posted on by

With CoViD-19 seemingly here for the foreseeable future, conventional air travel might seem out of the question.

But thats if you have a little more than some extra money to spare. As commercial carriers continue to struggle to survive during the CoViD-19 pandemic, another industry has been quietly reaping the benefits of personalised, small group charters.

After all, who wouldnt want to fly to a private beach right now without being subjected to germ-ridden tourists and a five-hour screening there and back?

Private jet companies and the increase in private air travel are yet another byproduct of the virus, seeing a surge of at least 75 percent in interest this summer. Interestingly, the bulk of these lucky, soon-to-be travellers arent recurring passengers, but first-time fliers in the personal sector, marking a potential shift in the industry.

Smaller travelling groups mean that your exposure to people and hence, the virus is significantly lower, but thats not the only benefit of private jet travel it seems. From check-in and security to bathrooms and restaurants, there are as many as 700 touchpoints when you make your way through a regular airport. This rather astounding number reduces to only 20 interactions when flying private, so statistically, youre in much better hands.

Of course, high-flying companies like VistaJet and TCS World Travel have wasted no time in getting these eager, cooped-up folks out of the house and into the wild again, offering vacation packages that maximise safety through exclusivity. The benefits of these tours extend beyond skipping queues and crowded check-ins at the airport to also ensure that every single step you take on your holiday has been accounted for to be as safe as possible.

Air Charter Service, the worlds largest global aircraft charter broker, has also reported a 75 percent increase in inquiries this May and June as compared to last year, citing that those who usually travel first class commercially have now made the leap to private jet travel for a peace of mind, especially its older clients.

This extreme privacy doesnt end in the air. VistaJet has partnered with a network of world-leading travel experts and properties to facilitate point-to-point journeys for its members. The Malta-basedbusiness aviation company has worked with Abercrombie & Kent, for example, to offer a 14-day exclusive trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, where guests will be based in the new Cotopaxi Sanctuary Lodge amidst spectacular volcanoes and abundant wildlife. From there, a privately chartered private yacht cruise will take them through the islands, a tour of which includes a private audience with a leading scientist from the Galapagos Science Centre on San Cristobal Island.

Over in the Maldives, private island buyouts are available for those who want absolute seclusion. The same goes forAfrica, where youll be the only neighbours to creatures of the safari on a 100,000-hectare remote private property. Ever dreamt of being part of the Tour de France? Theres a vineyard tour for that too, where youll cycle through beautiful France with Dean Stott former special forces operator and holder of two world cycling records who will (thankfully) also stop for wine tasting along the way.

As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless even during times like these. Understandably, many are still not keen to venture beyond home turf, so planners like US-based TCS World Travel have itineraries focused on regional excursions with private experiences, so youll avoid crowds as much as possible. Similarly, OneFineStay has also announced that its top destination is now Los Angeles, compared to last years Paris and Milan. The private rental service gives the affluent an opportunity to book entire premises to avoid potential CoViD-19 contact, with services like private chefs and nannies who have been trained for safety protocols.

Air Charter Service hasnt put together actual packages, but offers a series of destinations that can only be accessed by private jet think Necker Island, Richard Bransons private island retreat in the British Virgin Islands, and Calivigny, an 80-acre private island in Grenada. Wed gladly be marooned on any one of those, to be honest.

When Four Seasons Private Jet takes flight next year, the luxury air travel industry will see another worthy contender. The adults-centric program intends to whisk guests to fascinating destinations around the world in its new, custom-outfitted Airbus A321Neo.

Business travellers might lead the recovery of post-coronavirus travel, but we all know that traffic wont be back to 2019 levels until at least 2023. As airlines around the world continue to reel from the impact of the outbreak, private jet travel continues to thrive for its exclusivity, a luxury only a handful will be able to afford. Still, its a sign of the times. Humans were programmed to explore, only now they have a responsibility to do so safely. At least we wont have to turn to months-long expeditions on board ships for that.

This article was first published onLifestyle Asia Singapore.

The rest is here:

The perfect fix for your travel itch comes in the form of private jets - Lifestyle Asia

Cayman Islands Removed from the EU Blacklist | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP – JD Supra

Posted on by

The EU has yesterday removed the Cayman Islands from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the EU blacklist).

Cayman was put on the EU blacklist in February this year (please see here and here) and its removal from the list yesterday will be a relief to many who have entities, arrangements and/or investments involving the Cayman Islands and who have been waiting for the outcome of todays review meeting.

Other changes to the EUs blacklist announced yesterday include Anguilla and Barbados having been added to the blacklist.

The EU blacklist is next due for review and possible change in February 2021.

The removal of the Cayman Islands from the EU blacklist will be welcomed by private fund sponsors who often structure their investment funds using Cayman Islands entities, passive investors who invest in such funds or who otherwise make investments through Cayman Island vehicles and by active businesses for whom the Cayman Islands features in their corporate structures.

Since February a minority of taxpayers, for example those under contractual obligations to avoid EU blacklist jurisdictions, have undertaken restructurings or redomiciliations for existing Cayman structures, or have opted for alternative holding jurisdictions over the Cayman Islands for new structures. Most private fund sponsors, investors and businesses with existing structures involving the Cayman Islands have however opted to take more of a wait and see, optimistic approach particularly given hopes that the Cayman Islands would take the necessary steps to be de-listed following the October 6, 2020 scheduled review meeting.

Key considerations in relation to yesterdays announcement include the following:

Yesterdays development will be a relief for the Cayman Islands and for those who invest in or through Cayman entities or structures. However it remains to be seen whether there are any residual effects, for example whether private fund sponsors and investors now take a more searching look at structuring new investments through Cayman going forward given its historic EU blacklist association. Alternatively, the successful steps taken by the Cayman Islands to improve its tax policy framework resulting in its being removed from the EU blacklist may be perceived by many as reinforcing the choice of the Cayman Islands for their structures and arrangements. In all cases this should be carefully weighed up taking into account all relevant factors and with input from tax and other advisors.

The text of yesterdays EU announcement is at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/06/eu-list-of-non-cooperative-jurisdictions-for-tax-purposes-anguilla-and-barbados-added-cayman-islands-and-oman-removed/

Continue reading here:

Cayman Islands Removed from the EU Blacklist | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP - JD Supra

voluntaryist.com – Fundamentals of Voluntaryism

Posted on by

Introduction

Voluntaryism is the doctrine that relations among people should be by mutual consent, or not at all. It represents a means, an end, and an insight. Voluntaryism does not argue for the specific form that voluntary arrangements will take; only that force be abandoned so that individuals in society may flourish. As it is the means which determine the end, the goal of an all voluntary society must be sought voluntarily. People cannot be coerced into freedom. Hence, the use of the free market, education, persuasion, and non-violent resistance as the primary ways to change people's ideas about the State. The voluntaryist insight, that all tyranny and government are grounded upon popular acceptance, explains why voluntary means are sufficient to attain that end.

Violence is never a means to knowledge. As Isabel Paterson, explained in her book, The God of the Machine, "No edict of law can impart to an individual a faculty denied him by nature. A government order cannot mend a broken leg, but it can command the mutilation of a sound body. It cannot bestow intelligence, but it can forbid the use of intelligence." Or, as Baldy Harper used to put it, "You cannot shoot a truth!" The advocate of any form of invasive violence is in a logically precarious situation. Coercion does not convince, nor is it any kind of argument. William Godwin pointed out that force "is contrary to the nature of the intellect, which cannot but be improved by conviction and persuasion," and "if he who employs coercion against me could mold me to his purposes by argument, no doubt, he would.. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong; but he really punishes me because he is weak." Violence contains none of the energies that enhance a civilized human society. At best, it is only capable of expanding the material existence of a few individuals, while narrowing the opportunities of most others.

People engage in voluntary exchanges because they anticipate improving their lot; the only individuals capable of judging the merits of an exchange are the parties to it. Voluntaryism follows naturally if no one does anything to stop it. The interplay of natural property and exchanges results in a free market price system, which conveys the necessary information needed to make intelligent economic decisions. Interventionism and collectivism make economic calculation impossible because they disrupt the free market price system. Even the smallest government intervention leads to problems which justify the call for more and more intervention. Also, "controlled" economies leave no room for new inventions, new ways of doing things, or for the "unforeseeable and unpredictable." Free market competition is a learning process which brings about results which no one can know in advance. There is no way to tell how much harm has been done and will continue to be done by political restrictions.

The voluntary principle assures us that while we may have the possibility of choosing the worst, we also have the possibility of choosing the best. It provides us the opportunity to make things better, though it doesn't guarantee results. While it dictates that we do not force our idea of "better" on someone else, it protects us from having someone else's idea of "better" imposed on us by force. The use of coercion to compel virtue eliminates its possibility, for to be moral, an act must be uncoerced. If a person is compelled to act in a certain way (or threatened with government sanctions), there is nothing virtuous about his or her behavior. Freedom of choice is a necessary ingredient for the achievement of virtue. Whenever there is a chance for the good life, the risk of a bad one must also be accepted.

Common sense and reason tell us that nothing can be right by legislative enactment if it is not already right by nature. Epictetus, the Stoic, urged men to defy tyrants in such a way as to cast doubt on the necessity of government itself. "If the government directed them to do something that their reason opposed, they were to defy the government. If it told them to do what their reason would have told them to do anyway, they did not need a government." Just as we do not require a State to dictate what is right or wrong in growing food, manufacturing textiles, or in steel-making, we do not need a government to dictate standards and procedures in any field of endeavor. "In spite of the legislature, the snow will fall when the sun is in Capricorn, and the flowers will bloom when it is in Cancer."

Although certain services and goods are necessary to our survival, it is not essential that they be provided by the government. Voluntaryists oppose the State because it uses coercive means. The means are the seeds which bud into flower and come into fruition. It is impossible to plant the seed of coercion and then reap the flower of voluntaryism. The coercionist always proposes to compel people to do some-thing, usually by passing laws or electing politicians to office. These laws and officials depend upon physical violence to enforce their wills. Voluntary means, such as non-violent resistance, for example, violate no one's rights. They only serve to nullify laws and politicians by ignoring them. Voluntaryism does not require of people that they violently overthrow their government, or use the electoral process to change it; merely that they shall cease to support their government, whereupon it will fall of its own dead weight. If one takes care of the means, the end will take care of itself.

It is a commonplace observation that the means one uses must be consistent with the goal one seeks. It is impossible to "wage a war for peace" or "fight politics by becoming political." Freedom and private property are total, indivisible concepts that are compromised wherever and whenever the State exists. Since all things are related to one another in our complicated social world, if one man's freedom or private property may be violated (regardless of the justification), then every man's freedom and property are insecure. The superior man can only be sure of his freedom if the inferior man is secure in his rights. We often forget that we can secure our liberty only by preserving it for the most despicable and obnoxious among us, lest we set precedents that can reach us.

It is a fact of human nature that the only person who can think with your brain is you. Neither can a person be compelled to do anything against his or her will, for each person is ultimately responsible for his or her own actions. Governments try to terrorize individuals into submitting to tyranny by grabbing their bodies as hostages and trying to destroy their spirits. This strategy is not successful against the person who harbors the Stoic attitude toward life, and who refuses to allow pain to disturb the equanimity of his or her mind, and the exercise of reason. A government might destroy one's body or property, but it cannot injure one's philosophy of life. - Furthermore, the voluntaryist rejects the use of political power because it can only be exercised by implicitly endorsing or using violence to accomplish one's ends. The power to do good to others is also the power to do them harm. Power to compel people, to control other people's lives, is what political power is all about. It violates all the basic principles of voluntaryism: might does not make right; the end never justifies the means; nor may one person coercively interfere in the life of another. Even the smallest amount of political power is dangerous. First, it reduces the capacity of at least some people to lead their own lives in their own way. Second, and more important from the voluntaryist point of view, is what it does to the person wielding the power: it corrupts that person's character.

See original here:

voluntaryist.com - Fundamentals of Voluntaryism

Voluntaryism | Polcompball Wiki | Fandom

Posted on by

VoluntaryismVoluntaryism is a variation of Anarcho-Capitalism inhabiting the bottom right of the compass, with no specific cultural implications. It believes in voluntary funding of the state, which end up giving the state no real monopoly over violence, making it basically like any other organisation, and without having the monopoly of violence it can be considered that it seeks for an non-statal society but with a national government.

It puts a direct focus on the philosophy of immorality of starting force in peaceful individuals in an agressive and not-deffensive way.

It is the biggest intelectual influence for Rothbardian Anarchism. It was created in 1897 and is probably one the first full theoretical seen way of achieving a society completely based on liberty and property rights (Probably just preceded by "The production of security" by Gustave de Molinari, in 1849), which fully influenced Anarcho-Capitalism.

Probably the main difference is that Voluntaryism is based in Classical economics while Anarcho-Capitalism is greatly influenced by Austrian economics.

In Benjamin Tucker's words after Auberon Herbet's death: "Auberon Herbert is dead. He was a true anarchist in everything but name. How much better (and how much rarer) to be an anarchist in everything but name than to be an anarchist in name only!"

The term Voluntaryism was created by Auberon Herbert. The term was created first exposed in the book "The principles of Voluntaryism" in 1897.

It believes that the only legitimate government, by the meaning that it has for most Lib-Rights, that isn't the same as the meaning of "State" (State being the monopoly of considered legitimate coaction over the individual), is a government based on voluntary human interactions without any un-voluntary intervention over the individual.

It believes that it is never legitimate to start force against individuals whenever it is not done for defense purposes, and thus see taxes as a form of theft and believe although there can be a government to give these services it must be voluntary to pay those taxes and thus doesn't have a state, which leaves this ideology in the exact (Or almost) the same place than Ancap.

This can be usually used for the same as Anarcho-Capitalism in most cases. Since some Voluntaryists think the term capitalism was first used and created by leftist philosophers in a pejorative way, and prefer to call it Voluntaryism since it represents better the philosophy of a society based on free association without coaction from un-voluntary organisms as a state in this case, and also was created for the precise same meaning that it has right now and with no derogatory connotations.

Drawing Voluntaryism is very simple:

Original post:

Voluntaryism | Polcompball Wiki | Fandom

What is the Liveable Income Guarantee, and how could it affect you? – Yahoo Finance Australia

Posted on by

The economic crises that have punctuated the 21st century, most notably the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 crisis, have led to a growing realisation that alternatives to our present system arepossible and perhaps inevitable.

In particular, there has been an erosion of the belief that the economy is able to provide a decent income to everyone who wants to work.

A number of proposals have been put forward in the wake of this realisation, among them

universal basic income, which would unconditionally provide every resident (children and adults) with a regular subsistence wage

ajob guaranteein which the government would provide real jobs, at the minimum wage, to all unemployed Australians

Many seem utopian, which isnt necessarily a bad thing its good to look beyond the day-to-day to consider how things could be done differently.

In a new Australian National University Policy Brief we propose something practical, which we are calling aLiveable Income Guarantee(LIG).

It starts with one of the most successful institutions weve got: the age pension.

Before the age pension was introduced in 1908, retired Australians were highly likely to be poor. But now, on some measures, retired Australians are less likely to be in poverty than Australians of less than pension age.

Our proposal is to replicate this success for the entire population.

We are proposing a payment equal to the pension, and subject to the same asset and income tests, that would be provided to everyone who is willing to make a contribution to society consistent with their ability to do so.

Contribution would be defined broadly to maximise contributions. Examples would include full-time study, volunteering, caring for children, ecological care, and starting a small business.

The biggest shift relates to the treatment of unemployed workers and single parents.

JobSeeker is set to return to theunliveablerates of the former Newstart afterthe end of December.

We are suggesting that instead it be lifted to the rate of the age pension, which is about where it used to be before unemployment benefits were frozen in real terms in the 1990s.

Newstart versus the age pension

Dollars per fortnight, single. Source: Ben Phillips ANU, DSS

Parenting Payments have also been notoriously low, especially for single parents, whose support has been cut consecutively by five prime ministers fromHoward to Turnbull.

Unlike some proposals for a universal payment to all citizens, the increased expenditure required for the liveable income guarantee would be relatively modest, as little as A$20 billion a year.

This is roughly comparable to the budget cost of the income tax cuts, primarily directed to high earners, legislated to take effect in2022 and 2024.

The real barriers to the adoption of the proposal are ideological. The central assumption underlying economic policy in Australia has been that in a market economy everyone who wants a decent job is capable getting one.

It has followed that the unemployed are seen as either unwilling to work or suffering from particular deficits that need to be remedied by training and job readiness programscase by case.

Over the first two decades of this century, it has become evident this assumption is incorrect. The global financial crisis and the subsequent swing to austerity produced sustained high unemployment in much of the developed world.

While Australia avoided the worst consequences thanks to well-timed stimulus (here and in China) the unemployment rate has failed to fall below 5 per cent as underemployment has climbed for more than a decade.

Any prospect of a rapid return to full employment have been dashed by the pandemic.

Longer term it is clear that many existing jobs will disappear as a result of technological change, and it isnt clear that our current institutions will be able to manage the process.

While governments should commit to a return to full employment, they are unlikely to be completely successful.

The implementation of a liveable income guarantee would allow us to be better prepared in case they are not and to be better prepared for future disruptions, be they pandemics or anything else.

Story continues

On the brighter side, technological progress has increased our productive capacity to the point where we can afford to support a much wider range of non-market contributions to a market economy. The crisis has shown us how importantmany of those contributions are.

Looking beyond the crisis, it is possible (relatively simple) to create a society in which everyone has a decent standard of living, and no one is excluded.

Providing dignity to everyone who makes a contribution would benefit us all.

Authors:

John Quiggin: Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland

Elise Klein: Senior Lecturer, Australian National University

Troy Henderson: Lecturer in Political Economy, University of Sydney, University of Sydney

This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign uphereand stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news.Follow Yahoo Finance Australia onFacebook,Twitter,InstagramandLinkedIn.

Read the rest here:

What is the Liveable Income Guarantee, and how could it affect you? - Yahoo Finance Australia

THE FUTURIST: Think of COVID-19 as a bike with training wheels for the 2020s – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Posted on by

By David Houle| Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Learning to ride a bike is a clear image for most, either a memory from your childhood or from parenthood. The first lesson is to learn how to peddle, break, hand signal, turn and generally adapt to the concept of a bike. Then the training wheels come off and the concept of balance is the next big lesson to learn. (My father was hardcore. He said no training wheels, learn balance first on a scooter.) Once learned, it's a skill that isalways remembered and has become a metaphor whenever someone says they havent done something natural or routine in a long time Hey, its just like riding a bike!

The 2020s is the most disruptive decade in history. (Hey, great title for a book!). COVID-19 is one big global disruption. Hard to think of anything or anyone that hasntbeen disrupted in the last 7 months. We all had to make major fundamental changes in how we live. We all are still having to live differently than we did this time a year ago. Healthcare workers and just about everyone in the field of education are in full-on adjustment, and largely on their own. Actually, these groups of workers seem to have to fight politicians who are making decisions based upon politics instead of science, certainly in this state, while they struggle forward with no new support or funding. (Yes, this angers me. Shouldn't children and education get what is needed in a global crisisfirst?)

Business owners, large and small, have either closed their businesses for good or are working like crazy to keep from doing so. We all know the issues and the challenges. What we dont know is how to consider that we will never return to normal.

What is the new normal? When will everything go back to how it was?

There is no normal. The only normal is abnormality. Expect, be open to and even embrace abnormality. Nothing will go back to how it was.

The single largest psychological symptom of the pandemic is the belief that sometime this will be over. It will not.

The movie theater business, the restaurant business, the office leasing business, the theater business, the concert business, the in-person conference business and all the other businesses that are based upon lots of people coming together in a space will never be the same. Sorry. Many of these businesses will remain, but many fewer than before COVID-19. Those that remain will be different in how they operate and how they serve customers.

False hope can be deadly. Please dont hang on to it.

Why is almost everything going to be different even if COVID-19 goes away?

Political tampering withscientists at the CDC, the FDA, and HHS has shown in recent polls that a majority of citizensdont trust the government. I've heard people say: Let all our political leaders take the first vaccine and if nothing bad happens to them it will be good for the country. If something bad does happen to them, it will be good for the country.

The creation, production and distribution of a successful vaccine will need to betaken by at least 75% of the population for there to be a post-COVID-19 economy, at a time when many are reticent to trust a vaccine.

Second, over time people change, particularly when they have had to absorb massive amounts of change in several months time. Past research has shown that new habits can be fully formed in several weeks. We have had months now to recalibrate our lives. Streaming services have exploded during COVID-19, all for the price of a single movie theater ticket, or less. We may all go back to the theaters, but nowhere near the frequency we had in the past.

We have learned to cook more, save more, spend less on food and generally become healthier eaters. We have become cooks, dieters and bread makers. Yes, we will go out to restaurants, but not with the frequency of the past.

The largest disruption, of course, is working from home. Millions who never did, do now. Many like it so much that they dont want to go back to the officeever again. Companies see the cost savings they have realized and will support their employees' desire to continue working at home. Look for vacancies and darkness in downtown office buildings across the country.

What COVID-19 has done is to give us a chance to learn how to ride a bike with training wheels. We had never ridden one and how we have. However, we havent had to learn the concept of balancing during on-going disruption. To lose the training wheels will mean that the next disruption of any magnitude will be easier to adapt to.

Very few of us, and as a futurist I am one of the few, have achieved anystate of balance with the pandemic. Things are off-kilter until we get back to the way it was or until we have a vaccine or "until we return to normal. All delusions.

In the 2020s there will most likely be another global pandemic. There will be deflation in parts of the world and inflation in others. There will be a massive reckoning about debt and finance. If 100% of Americas GDP went to retire the federal governments debt, we still would not have retired all of it. There will be unprecedented numbers of unemployed and under-employed.

There will be major geo-political upheavals and continued wealth inequality. Oh, and something called the climate crisis. In a recent book I forecast a range of 50-100 million climate crisis refugees globally in the next ten years, and probably at least five million of those in our country.

COVID-19 has been our opportunity to learn the experience of riding a bike. We now have to get ready to ride through disruption after disruption, and keep our balance while doing it.

Sarasota resident David Houle is a globally recognized futurist. He has given speeches on six continents, written seven books and is futurist in residence at the Ringling College of Art + Design. His website is davidhoule.com. Email him at david@davidhoule.com.

Read more from the original source:

THE FUTURIST: Think of COVID-19 as a bike with training wheels for the 2020s - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The Moon Might Be Littered With Ancient Shrapnel From Venus – Futurism

Posted on by

Blast Zone

The surface of the Moon may be covered in rocks that came from Venus potentially making it easy to study our hellish planetary neighbor.

Billions of years ago, Yale astronomers theorize, asteroids and comets impacting Venus could have dislodged chunks of the planets surface and send them careening through the stars. If they did, CNET reports, then some of these Venusian meteorites may have made their way to Earth or the Moon, giving easier access to samples from a planet where recent findings suggest extraterrestrial life could possibly be hiding.

Its fairly speculative work, which the authors concede in their research, which was accepted for publication into the Planetary Science Journal. But the two astronomers behind the work suggest its worth keeping an eye out, given the possibility of obtaining material from Venus without having to actually go there.

The Moon offers safe keeping for these ancient rocks, study coauthor Samuel Cabot said in a press release. Anything from Venus that landed on Earth is probably buried very deep, due to geological activity. These rocks would be much better preserved on the Moon.

The researchers are counting on more than random luck. They argue that the Earth and Moons gravitational pulls would be more than enough to draw in the Venusian meteorites.

An ancient fragment of Venus would contain a wealth of information, coauthor Gregory Laughlin said in the release. Venus history is closely tied to important topics in planetary science, including the past influx of asteroids and comets, atmospheric histories of the inner planets, and the abundance of liquid water.

READ MORE: Bits of Venus may be lurking on the moon, scientists suggest [CNET]

More on Venus: Scientists Speculate About How Life on Venus Could Have Begun

See the rest here:

The Moon Might Be Littered With Ancient Shrapnel From Venus - Futurism

Physicist: There Were Other Universes Before the Big Bang – Futurism

Posted on by

Universe 2.0

Before the Big Bang, when our universe began to rapidly expand, there may have been a previous universe whose place we took.

Sir Roger Penrose, a University of Oxfordmathematician and physicist who just won the Nobel Prize for work in the field of black holes, suggested that our universe was not the first to exist, The Telegraph reports. And, he added, it wont be the last either.

The Big Bang was not the beginning, Penrose said, according to the paper. There was something before the Big Bang and that something is what we will have in our future.

In Penroses view, a universe will continue to expand until all of its matter eventually decays. And then, in its place, a new one will begin.

We have a universe that expands and expands, and all mass decays away, and in this crazy theory of mine, that remote future becomes the Big Bang of another aeon, he said, according to The Telegraph.

The proof of his idea are what Penrose calls Hawking Points: the corpses of black holes from before the Big Bang that outlived their own universes but are now at the end of their lifespans, leaking radiation as they fade into nothing.

So our Big Bang began with something which was the remote future of a previous aeon and there would have been similar black holes evaporating away, via Hawking evaporation, Penrose added, and they would produce these points in the sky, that I call Hawking Points.

READ MORE: An earlier universe existed before the Big Bang, and can still be observed today, says Nobel winner [The Telegraph]

More on Penrose: You Could Generate Power By Dangling Crap Into a Black Hole

Link:

Physicist: There Were Other Universes Before the Big Bang - Futurism

Elon Musk: Fusion Will Probably Be More Expensive Than Wind, Solar – Futurism

Posted on by

On Tuesday, a team of MIT researchers made a big splash when they announced that their SPARC compact fusion reactor is very likely to work.

The announcement, detailed in seven papers penned by dozens of scientists from a laundry list of research institutions, claimed that the researchers were on a straight path to achieving fusion power generating power from fusing atomic nuclei together like the Sun, rather than splitting them,like a nuclear power plant. The promise is a never-ending source of clean power without running the risk of a nuclear disaster.

Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk says hes impressed by the research with one major catch: the cost.

Its cool and for sure can and should be done, he tweeted about the fusion research,but I suspect its best case will be more costly than windand solar (aka big fusion reactor in sky).

Fusion energy has been the holy grail for energy generation for over half a century. While the science and technology surrounding reactor designs have come a long way, Musk is right that it remains an elusive dream.

Cost isnt the only issue facing it. As of right now, its simply not viable yet.

Despite all that, the people working on the next generation of fusion reactors are undeterred. The SPARC team at MIT is hoping to get to the point where their reactor puts out ten times the amount of energy it consumes.

But as weve heard many times before, the technology is still well over a decade away their goal is to start generating electricity starting in 2035.

And then, like Musk said, fusion energy could be a costly endeavor. The price of wind and solar energy have plummeted over the years, giving them a more-than-healthy head start over fusion.

Developing a functioning and efficient fusion reactor is also proving to be an extremely costly process. The ITER fusion power plant, soon to be the largest of its kind in the world, is an international collaboration with a sky-high price tag: a whopping $22 billion a conservative estimate,critics say.

The US Department of Energy has long been skeptical of ITERs plans. Congress confirmed it had approved a $115 million investment in 2016, but support for the project dwindled throughout president Donald Trumps first term. Only $50 million were set aside by the Department of Energy this year including for both national and international fusion energy research and development.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm for ITER, US lawmakers havent given up on solar [fusion?]. Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives approved a fusion energy commercialization program to support a burgeoning industry of private fusion startups.

The hopeis to make fusion a reality through public-private partnerships very much in the same vain as NASAs collaboration with SpaceX and other contractors.

By scaling down operations who needs a multi-billion dollar, football field-sized reactor? some startups are hoping to come up with their own solutions in achieving fusion energy.

Fusion is poised for a SpaceX moment,' CEO of startup General Fusion Christofer Mowry told NBC last year.

A 2018 paper explored what the economy of fusion energy could look like in the coming decades. While the costs strongly depend on what the exact designs of the fusion reactors look like, the electricity price could become comparable to that of solar and wind, the papers authors argue.

But it may not be a question of either or fusion is perhaps more likely to be just part of the solution. According to a study commissioned by a British fusion power startup, fusion may be a way to make up for electricity shortfalls in the renewable energy sector.

In other words, wind and solar alone wont be enough to meet demands and keep climate change in check. Fusion could help by replacing current power generation from coal and natural gas.

More on fusion: MIT Researchers Say Their Fusion Reactor Is Very Likely to Work

Read the original here:

Elon Musk: Fusion Will Probably Be More Expensive Than Wind, Solar - Futurism

The International Space Station Finally Got Its New Space Toilet – Futurism

Posted on by

Precious Cargo

On Monday morning, the spacecraft carrying a brand-new toilet finally arrived at the International Space Station.

The long-awaited delivery showed up alongside cargo and scientific experiments on the S.S. Kalpana Chawla, a Northrup Grumman spacecraft named after one of the astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Space.com reports. Once its installed, ISS crewmembers will test it out for several months to see if its cut out for future missions to the Moon.

Once its installed, ISS crewmembers will test it out for several months to see if its cut out for future missions to the Moon.

The toilet, which is the first one that NASAs sent to the ISS since 1990, is designed to be more accessible and user-friendly than the existing one, which has also become a notorious hazard for crewmembers.

The original toilet will stay where it is, but it was designed to be best suited for men, leaving women on the ISS with an unfair struggle.

That will be crucial if the toilet passes the test and tags along on the upcoming Artemis missions, during which NASA hopes to send the first woman to the surface of the Moon.

READ MORE: The International Space Station Finally Got its New Space Toilet [Space.com]

More on the space toilet: NASA Says It Needs a New Space Toilet for the Artemis Moon Missions

Continue reading here:

The International Space Station Finally Got Its New Space Toilet - Futurism

A novelists vision of the virtual world has inspired an industry – The Economist

Posted on by

Neal Stephenson is lord of the Metaverse

Oct 1st 2020

IN THE LATE 1980s, a young author named Neal Stephenson was working on a project to create a graphic novel. He typed in some code on his Apple Macintosh II and a pair of spherical mirrors appeared on the screen, hanging in space. To make the images look more realistic, the code he used calculated how light bounced off the objects in the frame, so each mirror featured on it a convincing reflection of the other.

At the time it was unbelievable that you could use code to generate that kind of an image, he recalls. He remembers having two conflicting thoughts: 3D computer graphics presented a tremendous opportunity to create a whole new medium, but they were too expensive and too difficult to make.

And so I got to thinking about what could make it cheap, he says. Television had started out as an expensive curiosity and then became cheap and accessible by becoming a mass-broadcast medium. Mr Stephenson began to imagine what might be necessary to bring about a similar transition for 3D computer graphics. I was trying to imagine what a popular medium would look like, centred on the use of the 3D graphics technology. And the Metaverse was my best guess as to what something like that might look like.

Introduced to the world in 1992 in his novel, Snow Crash, the Metaverse was a persistent virtual worldaccessible to individuals via special gogglesin which people could meet, claim territory, build things, make money and more.

The impact of Mr Stephensons idea on the real, non-fictional world has been profound. Ask anyone working to create interactive 3D virtual environments what has inspired them, and Snow Crash will be somewhere on that list.

That explains why Mr Stephenson is also a sought-after futurist in Silicon Valley. Over the years he has been tapped by firms including Blue Origin, Jeff Bezoss space-launch company, and most recently as chief futurist for Magic Leap, a startup making augmented-reality glasses.

Today it is Mr Stephensons visiona social, persistent, virtual-reality 3D space accessible to anyone and which will one day be a successor to todays internetthat many tech companies are seeking to build. One of the biggest supporters of Mr Stephensons idea of a Metaverse is Tim Sweeney, boss of Epic Games and creator of Unreal, the game engine that powers Fortnite and many other popular games. Mr Sweeneys stated ambition is to turn such games into some version of the persistent virtual world described in Snow Crash.

One thing I got wrongwas assuming a television model for the development of this medium, says Mr Stephenson. What grew instead was games. Still, he reckons that what makes science fiction useful to people in the real tech world is plasticityleaving some room for interpretation, so that people who try to implement it can incorporate their own ideas and point of view.

I think that where Tim and the Epic folks are going with it, is based on an understanding that you do have to start with a game engine if youre going to build a Metaverse, says Mr Stephenson. Because just having a game engine that works, and that is sustainable as a business, is kind of the table stakes. If you cant do that, you cant build a multi-user realistic 3D platform.

This article appeared in the Technology Quarterly section of the print edition under the headline "Lord of the Metaverse"

Continue reading here:

A novelists vision of the virtual world has inspired an industry - The Economist

The Best Antidote to Stress – FEI – FEI Daily

Posted on by

Auris/iStock/Getty Images Plus

This year really has been unlike any other. The 2020 Financial Leadership Summit Virtual Conference kicked off yesterday with Andrej Suskavcevic, FEIs President and CEO, and Frank Cesario, CFO of Radiac Abrasives, Inc. and Conference Chair,welcoming us. Although we were meant to gather in May in Franks hometown of Chicago, this year has taught us that indefinite uncertainty affords us opportunity to gather new insights from our peers, content experts, and industry leaders. Wecan form and deepen relationships that will help us confidently navigate our new normal. And, well be gifted resources that guide us in implementing the change our organizations need to remain competitive in the I want it right now and I want itmy way marketplace.

FEI invited me to offer opening remarks about staying positive in unprecedented times. I shared research showing just how high COVID-19 has elevated Americans stress levels. I offered suggestions for ways society is evolving, a download to helpyou and your team to process loss, and many habits you can deploy to remove stress, manage time, and walk forward with clarity. All business today is personal. So, being near emotionally balanced people, openly expressing your emotions, andintentionally distributing your time into activities, colleagues, and learning that uplifts you will allow you to thrive. The best antidote to stress is resilience.

Our next speaker, Howard Tullman, a futurist, serial entrepreneur, and venture investor, wowed attendees with more than 250 slides and examples of emerging trends, competitive considerations, and how technologies are transforming our lives.Howards key takeaways for me include the idea that todays success is your greatest impediment to change and future economic viability. The businesses of the future will offer access to products, services and experiences, without having assets.And, that we now have to mass customize our offerings as customers are empowered in ways theyve never been. As Howard said, be consistent, persistent, and resistant. To learn more about him, visithowardtullman.comto read his TullmanTruisms and blog about entrepreneurship for Inc. Magazine.

The Hays Companys David Ross gave an incredible presentation about avoiding costly health plan mistakes. Jeff Dawley, President and Co-Founder of Cybersecurity Compliance Corporation, spoke about cybersecurity and building resilience inyour organization. Bruce Willey, CEO of American Tax and Business Planning, offered insights into small business tax planning process improvement. And, it wouldnt be a FEI Summit if we didnt close without a bit of fun - comedian Collin Moulton did just that.

We opened discussing stress and its causes. We talked about the pace of change increasing. We shared ideas about ways to mitigate risk and plan for whats next. And, we closed with humor and a belief that no matter what the next year brings,we will be better together.

The theme of this years Summit is Vision 2020. If day one is a barometer, expect six learning-rich days. There will be opportunities to experience our sponsors virtually, and download the digital conference bag, in the engagement hub. Purposelydesigned networking sessions will allow you to share your obstacles and receive myriad solutions back. Having vision often means we have to surrender how something is done and trust that more beneficial outcomes are available. If you happento miss a session, youll be able to view it on demand through December 31st.

For the last three years, Michael S. Seaver has served as emcee of the Financial Leadership Summit. For more on his work as speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach, visit michaelsseaver.com.

Read more here:

The Best Antidote to Stress - FEI - FEI Daily

Exxon Mobil Planning to Massively Increase Its Annual Emissions – Futurism

Posted on by

Betting on Oil

According to internal documents obtained by Bloomberg, Americas largest oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil has been planning to increase annual carbon-dioxide emissionsby 17 percent by 2025 equivalent to about the output of the country of Greece.

And thats not even the whole picture, as it only reflects Exxons own operations as an oil company not the emissions hit from millions of customers burning fuel.

The real climate change impact would be about five times the companys estimate, as Bloomberg reports, amounting to about 100 million tons of additional carbon dioxide.

Unlike many of its rivals, Exxon Mobil has never made any promises about cutting emissions or plans of ever becoming carbon neutral. For instance, BP set an extremely ambitious goal of becoming net zero by 2050 earlier this year. Shell announces similar plans as well.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the oil industry this year with oil prices hitting negative numbersfor the first time ever.

As demand returns and capital investments resume, Exxon wrote in a statement to Bloomberg that our growth plans will continue to include meaningful emission mitigation efforts. For instance, it published plans to offset methane emissions and reducing carbon intensity during oil production.

READ MORE: Exxons Plan for Surging Carbon Emissions Revealed in Leaked Documents [Bloomberg]

More on Exxon: Tesla Is Now Worth More Than ExxonMobil

Read more here:

Exxon Mobil Planning to Massively Increase Its Annual Emissions - Futurism