BirSaNN

I think it's a bad idea about that. and what do you think gys ? @-Sethu @-Artisan @Like a BOSS @NO_MERCY @[Ty]M@g0k1l3r @Palestine. @Error 404 ?

• Name: @BirSaNN • Time & Date: 00:30 / 26/12/2022 • Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/LTV0UNw

Rishi Sunak has surprised public servants working across the world over Christmas with a personal phone call to thank them for their efforts. Instead of a traditional message to the nation, the PM called diplomats, Royal Navy crew and a childcare provider in Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine and the UK. Mr Sunak said he was grateful for their "sacrifice" over the festive period. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used his message to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people and those working at Christmas. Sunak urges allies to boost Ukraine support £20 daily bonus for troops on Christmas strike duty In the UK, Mr Sunak spoke to Chris Mitchell, who runs Smart Play, a government-funded holiday activities and food programme in Barnet, north London. The prime minister also called Svita Yavorska, who works for the UK's embassy in Ukraine. She told Mr Sunak how she had fled to Poland, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, helping to set up a temporary base there, before returning to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. Speaking to diplomat Nic Guffog, who is based in Mogadishu, Mr Sunak heard how staff at the UK's diplomatic compound were living in containers under the threat of terror attacks, as they supported the Somalian government to counter the militant Al-Shabaab group and deal with the hunger crisis facing the country. He also spoke to some of the crew of HMS Protector, which is currently deployed off the coast of the South Sandwich islands in Antarctica. It comes as the UK is facing a wave of industrial action, including by NHS and Border Force staff, with members of the armed forces stepping in to cover striking workers. Although Mr Sunak did not follow the tradition of recording a Christmas message that is broadcast to the UK, he did issue a statement. Mr Sunak said: "Whether you are working in Mogadishu or Milton Keynes this Christmas, I want you to know that I am personally grateful for your sacrifice. "This year has been an extraordinary year for so many reasons, but most of all, it's been a year in which the true spirit and resilience of the United Kingdom has been on show, from the support given to our Ukrainian friends, to the work being done to ensure essential aid reaches the most vulnerable overseas. "And closer to home, those who have checked on friends and neighbours, volunteers, public servants and essential service staff all working over Christmas - I am truly humbled by your dedication and I know your selflessness this festive season will spread cheer across the country." Mr Sunak also tweeted a short video to the people of Ukraine, writing: "This Christmas, we're with you..." And in a Christmas message on Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the prime minister and British public, saying he was "grateful" for their support and "warmth of your hearts". In his annual Christmas message, Labour's leader acknowledged that for many people in Britain "life is tough at the moment". "But Christmas is a reminder that we will endure, that things will get better," Sir Keir Starmer added. "I hope this Christmas is a joyous and relaxing time for you, however you are spending it. I'm looking forward to sharing my time with my family, away from the day to day of work," he said. "But as I do I will be keeping in my heart all those who are working to keep us safe. Those looking after the less fortunate, and our friends in Ukraine, facing the horror of Putin's appalling attacks. Their struggle for freedom inspires us all." SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon used her festive message to offer a "heartfelt thanks" to public sector workers and noted "tough times" for Scotland. She said: "Especially after the past two Christmases, I know most of us will be really looking forward to this festive period. "Of course, the cost-of-living crisis is making this a very hard winter for many. So this Christmas, it's important for all of us to also think about how we can help others." In his message, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "For me, the message of Christmas is for us to treat others as we would wish to be treated and the symbol of Christmas is light - the light of hope, in the darkest week of the year. "Hope that we all desperately need for these most challenging of times." link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64079793

The average life expectancy of a dog is more than 10 years, but life span varies greatly among different breeds. Dogs grow up much faster than humans, meaning these furry companions often do not live as long as their owners. But how long do dogs usually live? A dog's life span may depend strongly on its breed, according to an April 2022 study in the journal Scientific Reports(opens in new tab). By analyzing the ages of more than 30,000 dogs that died between 2016 and 2020, scientists calculated the average life expectancies of 18 breeds and crossbreeds in the United Kingdom. The dogs had an overall average life expectancy of 11.2 years. However, the life span of these canine companions varied by breed. Related: Why do parrots live so long? The creation of breeds about 150 years ago allowed dog breeders "to give flight to our whims and desires for how wild and extreme we could reshape the canine body," said study senior author Dr. Dan O'Neill(opens in new tab), a veterinarian and epidemiologist at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire, England, told Live Science in an email. Given that many of these dogs no longer had a working function, such as herding or retrieving or guarding, "the requirement for good health was no longer a constraint" in creating new breeds, he noted. The researchers found that small dogs had longer life expectancies than bigger canines. "The life expectancy advantage for small dogs actually flies in the face of the basic rules of life expectancy across species in the natural world, where smaller species generally live shorter lives than larger species," O'Neill said. "A mouse might expect to live one to two years, whereas an elephant may expect to live 60 to 70 years." (Some other research suggests this general size-linked trend in longevity seen across species may not always hold within a species; for instance, while a 2019 study(opens in new tab) suggested larger women may live longer than smaller women, this may not hold true for men.) One possible explanation is not that small dogs live longer, but that the larger breeds live shorter. Breeding may have resulted in large breeds that grow very rapidly compared with their predecessors, triggering early-onset diseases, such as osteoarthritis and cancer, O'Neill said. In addition, the deaths of 90% of dogs in the United Kingdom involve euthanasia, so their life span "is heavily influenced by human decision-making," O'Neill said. It may be more difficult to care for larger breeds of dogs with mobility issues than smaller ones, or the financial costs of medical treatments may be greater for larger dogs than smaller ones as they age, he noted. The scientists also found that the life expectancy of crossbred dogs was 11.8 years, about 6 months more than the average of the group as a whole. This matches previous research suggesting that hybrids are often healthier than purebreds, O'Neill said. Female dogs also generally lived longer than male canines, although whether this was true varied across breeds, he noted. Neutering was also generally linked with a longer life expectancy, potentially because it is often associated with stronger owner responsibility and better care, and perhaps because it may reduce or eliminate a number of health problems linked with reproductive organs and hormones, such as tumors. All in all, the scientists found that Jack Russell terriers had the highest life expectancy, at 12.7 years, while French bulldogs had the lowest life expectancy, at 4.5 years. "Sadly, while many breeds did retain a basic healthy body shape — for example, the Labrador retriever — several other breeds followed a pathway to extreme body shapes — for example, the English bulldog," O'Neill said. Soon after breeding created these major physical differences, "the serious health issues linked to these extreme body shapes started to become apparent," he said. Jack Russell terriers may live longer than other breeds as part of the trend that smaller dogs live longer, O'Neill said. In addition, they were not bred to have an unusual body shape that might limit their overall health. "These little dogs were bred to be hardy and benefited by not being constrained to fitting a pre-defined breed standard," O'Neill said. "Essentially, these are the archetypal healthy little family companion dog." Other dogs with long life expectancies also have body shapes similar to closely related wild species such as wolves, coyotes and foxes, which evolutionary forces likely optimized for survival and health, O'Neill said. For instance, the average life expectancy was 12.5 years for Yorkshire terriers, 12.1 years for border collies and 11.9 years for springer spaniels. In contrast, in addition to French bulldogs, similar breeds often have brief lives. The average life expectancy was 7.4 years for English bulldogs, 7.7 years for pugs and 7.8 years for American bulldogs. Previous research found that these breeds are prone to a number of serious health disorders that are often linked with their physical characteristics, such as their short snouts or large heads. These conditions include skin fold dermatitis, breathing problems, eye ulceration, cherry eye, difficulty giving birth, slipping kneecaps, elbow joint disease and heatstroke. "Many of these disorders are life-limiting in that they either directly lead to early death in these dogs or that owners opt for euthanasia on welfare grounds," O'Neill said. Although a common method for guessing the life span of dogs is to use "dog years" — that is, to multiply their age by seven to get an idea of how old they might be in human terms — the recent work from O'Neill and his colleagues suggests "that such a concept really is no longer that useful," he said. "Given the wide variation in life expectancy across breeds, an alternative approach would be to generate a concept of dog years within each breed. This is much more likely to be accurate." link: https://www.livescience.com/how-long-do-dogs-live

The electric-vehicle pioneer's stock was down 70 percent in 2022, a remarkable amount even in this year's difficult economic climate, so Tesla's offering some deals. It's been difficult to escape the news regarding Tesla CEO Elon Musk these days. Ever since he purchased Twitter two months ago, the news hasn't stopped—and it hasn't stopped Tesla's share price from taking a massive tumble. It's down 45 percent since Musk bought Twitter and around 70 percent since the start of the year. Amid rumors of softening demand, Tesla has started offering incentives to new buyers. Some current owners are getting a 30-day trial of some Enhanced Autopilot features, which are usually a paid upgrade. Tesla is also offering various discounts around the world, including $7500 for Model 3 and Model Y buyers in December, along with 10,000 miles of free Supercharging. Tesla CEO Elon Musk's long, strange trip to purchase the social media site Twitter continues to get longer and stranger. As the auto industry watches what's happening to the microblogging site under the world's most-famous automaker CEO, Tesla shareholders aren't exactly enjoying the ride. The price of one TSLA share price would cost you just under $200 at the start of 2022. Today, the price is just over $123. There are a number of reasons for that almost 70-percent drop, but the most obvious recent impact has come from Musk's public display on Twitter. Since Musk bought Twitter two months ago, the stock has fallen 45 percent. The fact that Musk sold $3.6 billion of Tesla stock last week—and almost $40 billion since late 2021—hasn't helped. Musk has since promised not to sell any more Tesla stock for two years, but he has contradicted himself in the past. Of course, Tesla is impacted by non-Musk-related factors, and tech stocks have been in an overall decline this year. Still, ABC News notes that the tech-heavy Nasdaq only fell around half as much as Tesla has since January 1, 2022. Another factor impacting Tesla's stock price is lowered demand for its all-electric vehicles. In response, Tesla has lowered prices on some models and has started offering some current owners of its EVs free trials of the company's Enhanced Autopilot, an advanced driver-assistance version of its Autopilot, for 30 days. Enhanced Autopilot features include navigation with Autopilot, automatic lane changes and automatic parking and summoning. These features are usually paid upgrades and require specific sensors to be installed. As Electrek notes, Tesla is shifting away from installing ultrasonic sensors in every vehicle but hasn't updated its software to operate some of these Enhanced Autopilot features (Autopark, Summon and Smart Summon) in Tesla vehicles that only have camera sensors. As for price changes on Tesla, the automaker started offering a $3750 discount to U.S. customers on two models, the Model 3 and the Model Y, at the beginning of December. This amount doubled, to $7500, last week for customers taking delivery this month. Tesla also added another incentive—10,000 miles worth of free energy at Tesla Supercharging stations—for EVs delivered in December. Tesla buyers in other countries are also being offered various discounts, Reuters notes, including $5000 in Canada and around $850 in China. link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42333647/tesla-stock-price-cuts-details/

It wasn’t exactly me, but I’d asked my girlfriend for the piercing as a gift. I have no idea why Tim Jonze Tim Jonze @timjonze Sun 25 Dec 2022 08.00 GMT No, I don’t know why I asked my girlfriend for a tongue piercing for Christmas. It wasn’t exactly “me”, an introverted, 21-year-old indie music fan not prone to bold style statements. Was it a desperate attempt to hang on to some youthful irresponsibility after recently leaving the safety net of university life? Or a nod to my immersion in DayGlo psychedelic trance raves – surprisingly po[CENSORED]r in Leeds around the turn of the millennium, and often frequented by the kind of person who thought forcing a steel bar through a crucial muscle was an eminently sensible idea? Or maybe I was simply trying to impress said girlfriend? It’s not out of the realm of possibility that I was just a 21-year-old, and a bit of a bellend. Either way, I found myself in my home town’s city centre a day or two before Christmas, at an establishment I’ll describe as having a unique interpretation of hygiene standards. Was the piercer, as I half-recall, smoking a fag in one hand as she flashed the needle with the other? It seems unlikely, but the smell of fag ash was certainly upon her, along with a thoroughly uninterested demeanour. She knew I didn’t belong there, and so did I. So did my girlfriend, who I can only imagine found the whole thing hilarious. At least it was over swiftly. I stuck my tongue out and watched as a thin needle came down before my eyes. It didn’t really hurt. Well, not at the time. Afterwards, my tongue began to slowly swell in my mouth. An hour or so later it was impeding my speech to such a degree that people thought I was taking the piss when I spoke to them. To make matters worse, chewing and swallowing solid food were now virtually impossible. I hadn’t considered this – nor the fact that I would soon be sitting down to the biggest family meal of the year. A mouthful of roast turkey is not the most moist of gastronomic experiences. Now, each bite was a war of attrition, taking minutes to slowly break down until a swallow could be attempted. After three or four attempts I admitted defeat, slinking off to the kitchen to find a tin of Heinz tomato soup and a straw. Merry Christmas, everyone! link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/25/i-had-my-tongue-pierced-and-couldnt-eat-the-turkey-the-christmas-present-ill-never-forget

A sudden lifting of many of China's Covid restrictions has caused nationwide outbreaks - as well as confusion and anger on social media. Amid a severe shortage of rapid test kits, several provinces like Zhejiang and Anhui, as well as Chongqing, are implementing a new policy that allows people with mild symptoms or no symptoms to go back to work. On Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, the hashtag related to this announcement has been read 33 million times since Monday. There is shock and fury. "There has been no preparation in the past three years, and all of a sudden the restrictions are lifted and you are allowed to go to work while ill - our lives are worthless like ants," a comment with 200 likes reads. "Just several months ago, people would get arrested for going to work while testing positive," reads another comment with almost 1,000 likes. Even some overseas Chinese who returned to the country after a recent shortening of the hotel quarantine period are surprised to find out how fast the virus is spreading. "I had never had Covid in the past few years while living abroad, but got it several days after came back… Everyone I know is getting Covid and having a fever - so if you can stay out of the country recently, don't come back," one user on another po[CENSORED]r social media platform Xiaohongshu wrote. In the past two weeks, the Chinese internet has been flooded with posts of how people were pulling through after contracting the virus. Videos have circulated in Chinese media of young children with no symptoms bringing food and water to their unwell parents. Some have shown the creative ways they navigate social-distancing while in the same household to avoid infecting relatives. Amid a national shortage of medicines, media have also sought to amplify stories of community spirit. Countless videos are to be found on Weibo of individuals bagging up pain relief medicines they don't need, and delivering them to people in need. Outlets are calling on people to be kind to hard-working medical personnel, and are highlighting where acts of kindness have been shown to front-line staff. News website The Paper, for example, has highlighted the call from a man to a government operator in Chengdu, whose throat is hoarse and is coughing down the phone. "Don't worry, there's no problem," he tells her before hanging up. "Please take care of yourself." Social media platforms in China often seek to amplify positive news in the face of adversity in their lists of "trending" stories. The hashtag #PersistentDoctorsandNursesWorkHard has been trending in the last 24 hours, with state media praising their front-line contribution. But the independent South China Morning Post has been reporting in the last week on how fresh protests have erupted among medical students demanding "better pay" and protection on China's front line. No mention has been made of these in state media. However, images and videos of protests are routinely censored, as they represent dissatisfaction with the status quo. This was what happened when protests erupted across the country at strict Covid-19 measures last month. Nevertheless, stories of the health sector being overstrained have been evident. Thousands of retired medical workers have been brought back to the front line, as media have been reporting on "long queues" outside outpatient centres, and fever clinics being under "heavy pressure". Papers in multiple major cities have acknowledged that the number of calls to the emergency services is "rising" and have urged people not to call unless absolutely necessary. Countless images can be found on Weibo of medical workers sleeping at their desks. Images have also circulated showing exhausted workers receiving IV drips. More than 10 million social media users have watched a video posted in the last 24 hours of a man on his knees, begging for his child to be treated at a fever clinic in Guangdong, the province with the highest number of cases. The doctor responds, saying: "I am also on my knees… this is what it's like, there are queues for 6-8 hours. "Everyone is waiting, children and the elderly - you are not the only one." link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-64055849

Visas issued to Moroccan migrants in the US noted a gradual increase over the past decade, going from over 1,500 in 2012 to over 2,000 in 2016. Rabat - More than 3,500 Moroccans received visas from the United States government at the end of 2021, making them the second largest Arab foreigner group to receive visas to the US. A report from the US State Department details that Morocco is only second to Yemeni nationals in receiving visas. More than 2,000 visas were issued to Moroccans on the basis of having “immediate relatives” in the country, followed by over 1,000 visas issued for “diverse immigration” purposes. On the continental level, Morocco is only second to Nigeria. Nigerian nationals received a total of nearly 5,000 visas to the US over the same period, the report specifies. Data from the State Department suggests that the number of visas issued to Moroccan migrants in the US noted a gradual increase over the past decade. Visas issued to Moroccans went from over 1,500 in 2012 to over 2,000 in 2016. The flow of Moroccan migrants to the US was slower between 2017 and 2018, going from 1,100 to 1,300, and especially plummeted in 2020 during the height of the COVID-induced travel restrictions. A little more than 900 visas were issued in 2020 to Moroccan nationals. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, posts were instructed to suspend routine visa services and provide only mission critical and emergency services in late March 2020,” the department said in the report. “This had a significant impact on the provision of Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa-related services. Posts were only able to resume limited services on a post-by-post basis beginning in July 2020, as local conditions allowed.” link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/12/353216/moroccans-are-second-largest-arab-nationality-to-receive-us-visas-in-2021

Nick Movie: Shazam 2: Fury of the Gods Time: January 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: 2h 10m Trailer:

Live Performance Title: Sasa Matic - Poklon koncert za 08. mart (Skupstina grada) Signer Name: Sasa Matic Live Performance Location: - Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 10/9

Music Title: Music Mix 2022 🎧 EDM Remixes of Po[CENSORED]r Songs 🎧 EDM Best Gaming Music Mix Signer: - Release Date: 25/12/2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: - Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/5

Welcome!

• Name: @BirSaNN • Time & Date: 00:01 / 25/12/2022 • Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/nX5evKO

Rishi Sunak has said it is "completely reasonable" for the UK government to examine Scottish reforms making it easier for people to change gender. The Scottish Parliament voted to lower the age when people can apply to change their legal gender to 16, and remove the need for a medical diagnosis. But this has prompted a clash with the UK government who have concerns over safety for women and children. Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish government says it will fight attempts to stop it. On Thursday, members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted by 86 votes to 39 to approve the controversial self-identification system, which makes it easier for people to obtain a gender recognition certification (GRC). Changing gender to be made easier in Scotland What are the plans for gender reforms in Scotland? The two sides of Scotland's gender law debate The UK government could prevent the legislation becoming law by blocking Royal Assent - when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It has also not ruled out mounting a legal challenge. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said many people in Scotland had concerns about the bill. While visiting a homeless shelter in London, he said: "I think it is completely reasonable for the UK government to have a look at it, understand what the consequences are for women and children's safety in the rest of the UK, and then decide on what the appropriate course of action is." Scottish Secretary Alister Jack warned: "We will look closely at that, and also the ramifications for the 2010 Equality Act and other UK-wide legislation, in the coming weeks - up to and including a Section 35 order stopping the Bill going for Royal Assent if necessary." Under UK law, the UK government can apply to have Scottish laws struck down by arguing they would conflict with UK-wide equalities legislation. This power has not been used before. But a spokesman for the Scottish government warned that any attempt by Westminster "to undermine the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament will be vigorously contested". Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish government was very confident of its position. She added: "The bill as passed is absolutely within legislative competence and of course was backed by an overwhelming majority with support from all parties. "It would be unfortunate to say the least of the UK government were to go down this road." Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told the programme he would be "dismayed" if the UK government chose to block the bill. "I think it's inevitable that this bill will end up in court in one way or another but I am confident that we have given it the diligence and scrutiny and tested it in Parliament to ensure it will withstand any court challenge," he added. Will the law affect the Equality Act? Previously, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she would "never apologise for trying to spread equality, not reduce it, in our country". The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill's opponents, including nine SNP MSPs who voted against it, have fears over its potential impact on women and girls, in particular single-sex spaces, like toilets. The Scottish government insists little will change and exceptions barring trans people from single-sex space in some circumstances in the Equality Act will stand. Dr Michael Foran, a lecturer in public law at Glasgow University, highlighted how there was a section in the bill which says it will not change any provisions in the Equality Act - and for that reason it is probably within Holyrood's competence. But he said this did not mean the bill had not changed the law "as it relates to the Equality Act". He explained: "One of the protected characteristics is sex and if they change who can be covered under one category of sex vs the other that could have an effect on how the Equality Act operates. That's quite a technical legal argument but it would open the door for challenges." Meanwhile Helen Belcher, head of charity Trans Actual which campaigns for trans rights, told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme the Scottish law would not affect the Equality Act. "The Equality Act is not within the Scottish Parliament's jurisdiction to change," she said. She added that trans rights should not be restricted "on the basis of a few people" who could take advantage of reforms to the law. "It won't come as a shock to your listeners that criminals do nasty things, criminals break the law. But that's not necessarily a reason to prevent trans people from being treated with a bit of respect," she said. People in Scotland have been able to change their legal gender from male to female or female to male since 2005. The Scottish government believes the existing process can be intrusive and distressing and put people off applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate. The new rules, which are expected to come into force some time next year, will mean applicants will now only need to have lived in their acquired gender for three months - or six months if they are aged 16 and 17 - rather than two years. There will be also be a three-month "reflection period" during which they can change their minds and it will be a criminal offence to make a false declaration or false application for a GRC, with anyone who does so potentially facing up to two years in prison. It will be possible to de-transition by going through the process again. Nine other European countries have already adopted self-declaration systems for legal gender recognition, including the Irish Republic, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland. Also on Thursday, Spain passed a bill bringing it a step closer to allowing people to change their officially registered gender by filling in a form. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64073323

Birdlike dinosaur "was not a picky eater," as evidenced by a rodent's foot found in its fossilized remains. Around 120 million years ago, a crow-size raptor gobbled up a mammal for its last meal. Researchers came across the last supper of the Microraptor, a birdlike carnivorous dinosaur with four wings, while examining its fossilized remains at an undisclosed museum in China, a new study reveals. The well-preserved fossil of the Microraptor zhaoianus included the 0.39-inch-long (1 centimeter) foot of a small mammal, likely a rodent, resting inside the small theropod's rib cage, according to a statement(opens in new tab). The discovery marks the earliest known case of a dinosaur gobbling up a mammal, the researchers wrote in the study, published on Dec. 20 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology(opens in new tab). , director of the Redpath Museum and a vertebrate paleontologist at McGill University in Montreal, said in the statement. "These finds are the only solid evidence we have about the food consumption of these long extinct animals — and they are exceptionally rare." Related: Ancestors of 'veggie' dinosaurs actually feasted on meat Prior to this finding, there were only 20 known cases of fossilized remains that contained a carnivorous dinosaur's last meal, according to the statement. That included the skeleton of Daurlong wangi, a species of raptor also found in China, whose gut contained "a large, bluish layer in the abdomen." Among the 20 cases, scientists have only four published examples (not including this one) of stomach contents from Microraptor itself. The new discovery is also only the second piece of direct evidence that theropods — a group of bipedal, mostly meat-eating dinosaurs that includes Tyrannosaurus rex — gobbled up mammals, the researchers wrote in the study. This Microraptor, whose name means "tiny plunderer," was found in Liaoning province in northeastern China's Jiufotang Formation. Although the exact dates of Jiufotang are unknown, it contains fossils from the early Cretaceous period (145 million to 100.5 million years ago), a 2000 study that originally described the fossil in the journal Nature(opens in new tab) found. "We already know of Microraptor specimens preserved with parts of fish, a bird and a lizard in their bellies," Larsson said. "This new find adds a small mammal to their diet, suggesting these dinosaurs were opportunistic and not picky eaters." He added, "Knowing they were not specialized to any particular food is a big deal" since this could be the first evidence of a generalist carnivore that was part of the Cretaceous ecosystem. It could have served as a "stabilizer in the ecosystem" much like modern-day foxes and crows, according to the statement. "Knowing that Microraptor was a generalist carnivore puts a new perspective on how ancient ecosystems may have worked," Larsson said, "and a possible insight into the success of these small, feathered dinosaurs." link: https://www.livescience.com/microraptor-rodent-foot-meal-china

Our look back at the peaks and valleys of the past year’s automotive news. There are more valleys than peaks because, well, it was that kind of year. Again. Winner: Scot Burner They say genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. In the case of Scot Burner’s new Guinness World Record, we’d say it’s 99 percent inspiration. He earned the certificate for fastest mile driven in reverse, averaging 48 mph lapping his C7 Corvette around the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park racetrack in Kentucky. We did something similar in 2011 with rental cars, which got four of our staffers banned from Avis for life. Turns out loss prevention has no sense of humor. If Burner’s feat inspires you to make a run for a record, find a Lincoln Town Car. As our decade-old story can tell you, it’ll do a terrifying 63 mph in reverse, 9 mph faster than the highest speed Burner saw. Hertz may still have a few in service. Loser: Maserati Naming its MC20 the Cielo might not seem like much of an L for Maserati on the surface. After all, the roof is removable, and cielo is Italian for sky. But back in 1999, Buick introduced its own Cielo, a really lame concept car based on the Regal sedan. The Goldleaf Chromaflair—a metallic orange—concept lacked a roof and had a look that may have been inspired by a plastic grocery bag. We’ll just lay it out here: This sort of design and thinking led to things like the Pontiac Aztek. Maserati’s Cielo is gorgeous, but when we hear Cielo, all we can see is that Buick. link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g42254822/2022-in-review-winners-and-losers/

I finally got the racing car set I’d always wanted when I went to university. But it didn’t work out quite as I imagined As a child, I always wanted a Scalextric set for Christmas or my birthday, but I never got one. That’s not to say I wasn’t inundated with toys. Had my mum not later donated my entire Star Wars collection to the church jumble sale (thanks, Mum!), or had my dog not chewed up my original 1977 double-telescoping Darth Vader (thanks, Jasper!), I’d now be a millionaire. But, for some reason, the Formula One slot car racing game eluded me. So, in my final year at university, when my parents asked what they could get the student who seemingly had everything, I asked for a Scalextric set. I could picture the scene perfectly: I’d have it set up in my student bedroom as a way of enticing the ladies back for a quick “circuit” or two. Or, better yet, we would set it up in the living room, figure-of-eighting around the back of the sofa, where we would host epic Scalextric tournaments as we watched TFI Friday on our rented (yes, rented) TV, to decide who would do the washing-up or take out the bins. Or, when we felt really lazy, we could use the cars to deliver cups of tea between fellow housemates. “Pass the TV remote control, you say? No, but I’ll happily Scalextric it to you …” So, Christmas came, and I finally got my dream present although, spoilsportingly, my parents requested that I didn’t set it up immediately, and asked if I couldn’t at least help peel the sprouts or set the table, as it had been nearly midday by the time I’d got out of bed to open my presents, and everyone would be here any minute. So it sat in its box until I could take it back to university to enjoy it with my – less demanding – housemates. Obviously, being students, we didn’t put it up straight away, because that would have involved doing something productive as a collective, which was far too much effort when Dawson’s Creek was on Channel 4. But eventually we cleared the living room, opened the box, and set to what was considered work: laying the track, plugging in the controllers and placing the cars. And it was crap. The complete track wouldn’t nearly fit in the living room. No one wanted the bother of moving the sofa, which would have affected the position of our individual TV-watching spots. It didn’t even include a loop-the-loop, so we put most of the track together in a boring oval in the middle of the room. Even though, between us, we were doing degrees in chemistry, politics, history and economics, none of us could work out how hard you needed to squeeze the handle to avoid the cars flying off the track at almost every corner. Once a car had flown off, you really expected me to leave my comfy sofa to put it back on the track? And (one for the Scalextric aficionados), there are only so many times you can flatten those two little metallic tab things on the underside of the cars so they fit the groove of the track before you entirely lose patience with the universe. After about five minutes of entertainment, the set lay unused in the middle of the living room floor, gradually gathering dust and getting kicked apart, rogue cars and plastic controllers ready to trip up anyone who walked into the living room after a few drinks – everyone, almost every night. No one bothered to move the track or take it apart until our final summer term came to an end and we all left university. After that, the boxed Scalextric lived in my parents’ attic for more than a decade until my dad eventually took it to the tip. And there we have it. Never give up on your childhood dreams, unless your childhood dream is owning a Scalextric, in which case, yes, you should give up. This Christmas, I’m asking for a Super Nintendo instead … link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/24/we-planned-epic-scalextric-tournaments-as-we-watched-tfi-friday-the-christmas-present-ill-never-forget

Vladimir Putin believes Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine, adding both countries are "sharing a tragedy". During a televised address with senior military officials, the Russian president said he continued to see Ukraine as a "brotherly nation". In February, President Putin sent up to 200,000 troops into Ukraine sparking a war which has led to tens of thousands of deaths. He argued the conflict was "the result of the policy of third countries". The theory, which implies Western expansion is the cause, has been repeatedly dismissed outside Russia. During his address President Putin said the West had "brainwashed" post-Soviet republics, starting with Ukraine. He said: "For years, we tried to build good-neighbourly relations with Ukraine, offering loans and cheap energy, but it did not work." President Putin's longstanding concerns appear to stem from Nato's growth since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Nato's original goal was to challenge Russian expansion after World War Two, but the Kremlin has long argued Nato's acceptance of former Soviet allies as members threatens its security. Tensions between the Kremlin and the West increased after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, following months of street protests. In his address President Putin continued: "There's nothing to accuse us of. We've always seen Ukrainians as a brotherly people and I still think so. "What's happening now is a tragedy, but it's not our fault." Russia has launched more than 1,000 missiles and Iranian-made attack drones in a wave of strikes on Ukraine's power infrastructure which began on 10 October. The attacks have plunged millions into darkness. Military officials vowed to continue the "special military operation" into 2023. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February, President Putin promised only professional soldiers would take part. But by September that had all changed as he announced a "partial mobilisation", potentially drafting hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens into the armed forces. Now, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has proposed raising the age range for mandatory Russian military service. Under the current law, Russians aged 18-27 can be called up for mandatory military service - Mr Shoigu is now proposing this covers citizens aged 21-30. Mr Shoigu also announced plans to establish bases in two port cities - Berdyansk and Mariupol - seized during the Russian offensive. But, in recent months Ukrainian forces have made a series of major advances, including retaking Kherson - the only regional capital captured by Russian forces since the invasion. The address came as Ukrainian leader Volodmyr Zelensky arrived in Washington for his first visit outside of Ukraine since Russia invaded 10 months ago. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64055018

Severe droughts and wildfires this year have put the threat of ecological threats in the spotlight. Rabat - Morocco is expanding its partnership with the World Bank (WB) to improve the resilience of its cities in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, a recent report from the international financial organization said. The Urban Resilience Handbook for Moroccan Cities, put together by the World Bank, is aimed at decision-makers and technical staff to understand the necessary resources and steps to develop more resilient cities, the report detailed. City officials from across the country also took part in an October workshop to learn how to tailor resilience plans to their cities, the organization claimed. The effects of extreme weather events and climate change are estimated to cost Morocco over $575 million a year, the WB claims, stressing the importance of risk management to protect Morocco’s cities, which contribute a massive chunk to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The partnership manifested in 2018, when Morocco’s Ministry of Interior requested technical assistance from the World Bank to support resilience strategies, choosing Fez and Mohammedia as the two pilot cities to improve the country's response to emerging climate challenges. Fez is particularly vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes, says the report, while Mohammedia has an increased risk factor for coastal flooding and sea level rise. Over the next few years, Morocco’s government and the World Bank are reportedly planning to expand the pilot projects in Fez and Mohammedia to the rest of the country, and introduce a national fund dedicated to supporting those projects. Morocco witnessed this year severe wildfires engulf the country during the summer, burning down thousands of hectares of land. A severe drought that significantly harmed the country’s agricultural output combined with this to drive home the importance of tackling climate change as a threat in the future. link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/12/353205/morocco-improves-cities-resilience-in-face-of-environmental-challenges

Nick Movie: Oppenheimer Time: July 21, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: 2h 30m Trailer: