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Money can’t buy happiness or a presidential election. Democratic donors just learned that the hard way. After a candidate loses a high-profile, competitive race, the blame game begins. There are many places to point the finger when assessing Vice President Kamala Harris’ run. She entered the race late and only after President Joe Biden had a career-ending debate implosion. She didn’t run a primary gauntlet, which meant voters didn’t know her very well. Having to endure even a token primary may have helped her improve her interview skills. She struggled to separate herself from the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. She took a number of radical positions when running for president in 2019. The Trump campaign effectively used her own words to show voters that she was a radical leftist. But one common excuse for political failure, a lack of funding, doesn’t apply. Harris spent an astonishing $1.5 billion during her 15-week campaign. That works out to around $100 million a week. But even that understates her financial resources. When combined with Biden’s fundraising, the two Democratic campaigns had more than $2.1 billion, according to The New York Times. The Times reported the Trump campaign and Republican Party raised $1.2 billion. Money is certainly an important factor in political races. But the election results show its limits. “There is not a single expenditure in a different spot that would have changed the outcome of the race,” Bakari Sellers, a close ally of Harris, told the Times. Instead, “we had so much money it was hard to get it out the door.” Perhaps this explains why the Harris campaign spent millions on celebrity performances and social media influencers. It even paid $900,000 to advertise on the Las Vegas Sphere. All this is especially ironic given the progressive battle to limit free speech by restricting political expenditures. The far-left Brennan Center for Justice says it’s committed to a “long-term push to overturn Citizens United,” in which the Supreme Court affirmed that arbitrary limits on political spending ran afoul of the Bill of Rights. During oral arguments, the government admitted that the law in question would potentially allow federal regulators to ban books. Ouch. Despite the massive fundraising numbers, Axios reported recently that the Harris campaign is likely to conclude with “millions of dollars in debt.” There’s an old adage about politicians not being responsible with other people’s money. That’s certainly true when it comes to taxpayer dollars. In Harris’ case, it applied to her donors as well. They may have been costly, but the Harris campaign has provided the American public with valuable lessons.
In the end, the young woman's incredible journey serves as a reminder of the strength we all possess within us, a reminder that no matter how lost or alone we may feel, there is always a way to find our way back home. And as she looks to the future, she does so with a renewed sense of gratitude, resilience, and hope for whatever challenges may lie ahead.
China's First AIGC Director Collaboration Program Campus Tour Kicks Off, "AIGC AI" Drives New Trends in Film and Television CreationLooking to buy an underappreciated ASX stock with strong growth potential heading into 2025? Then you may wish to run your slide rule over (ASX: XAO) software solutions company, ( ). That's to ECP Asset Management's Damon Callaghan (courtesy of ). Callaghan said he is bullish on the outlook for Fineos. Although at the moment he said the ASX tech stock is still an "unloved, under-followed technology company". But that may well be set to change. "Fineos is leading in the development of modern core systems software for the life, accident and health insurance industry, in both North America and [Australia and New Zealand]," Callaghan said. He noted that investors may have been put off by the lacklustre financial performance the ASX tech stock has reported in recent years. However, he believes that performance is about to lift off. According to Callaghan, "Over the last five years, a slow deal environment ... makes its backward-looking [profit and loss statement] uncompelling. The business, however, is approaching an inflection point." He pointed to Fineos' new AdminSuite product as something the company's competition will find "extraordinarily difficult to replicate". "It has established a reputation as the software leader among major insurers and has recently developed tier-1 consulting partnerships set to drive new deals," Callaghan added. The ASX tech stock reported its September quarterly on 28 October. Fineos reported a 23% year on year increase in cash receipts from customers to 35.5 million euros. The boost was partly credited to the contribution of revenues from a new name customer. Cash receipts were down 2% from the prior quarter, which management noted had benefited from significant upsell wins. And the September quarter saw the launch of Fineos' AdminSuite, which Callaghan mentioned, at both Guardian and NYL. The ASX tech stock reported a closing cash balance at 30 September of 29.1 million euros. Commenting on the latest quarterly performance, Fineos CEO Michael Kelly said: Pleasingly, we secured another new contract win during the quarter and were able to finalise several important contract renewals. Our pipeline remains healthy and given the significant progress we are making with existing clients moving their business to the Fineos Platform, our growth prospects remain strong. The Fineos share price has gained 19% in a year. Much of that lift has come over the last month, with the ASX tech stock up 36% since 11 November.The hairstylists got to work, discussing ideas and options with Zhang Zuo as they prepared to transform his look. Fans pressed their faces against the salon windows, trying to get a better view of the action inside. The excitement was palpable, as everyone eagerly awaited the big reveal.
Kim Zolciak moves out of seven-bedroom mansion she shared with Kroy Biermann as they face foreclosure auction Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By SAMEER SURI and CASSIE CARPENTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:01 GMT, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 21:11 GMT, 27 November 2024 e-mail View comments Kim Zolciak-Biermann has moved out of the seven-bedroom mansion she lived in with her estranged husband Kroy Biermann , it is claimed. The Real Housewives Of Atlanta alum and the ex-NFL player both filed for divorce last year, plunging into a rancorous legal battle amid their mounting money woes. Their home in Alpharetta, Georgia is in foreclosure and will be auctioned off December 3, after they failed to sell the property despite dramatically slashing the price . Moving trucks were spotted outside the house this week, and a source has now confirmed that Kim, 46, has vacated the premises, via Page Six . It is currently unknown whether Kroy, 39, has also moved out of the property already or is planning to do so in the remaining days before the auction. The former linebacker has reportedly taken a corporate job in the construction business as he attempts to improve his financial situation. Kim Zolciak-Biermann has moved out of the seven-bedroom mansion she lived in with her estranged husband Kroy Biermann , it is claimed He has allegedly obtained a position as a Crane and Rigging Coordinator at Superior Rigging & Erecting Co., where he has been working for months, sources told TMZ . The company has worked on such projects as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, as well as the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida . Kroy's responsibilities are reportedly centered on logistics, with tasks like 'enhancing workflow efficiency' and 'reducing operational bottlenecks.' News of his new position comes after movers were seen outside his and Kim's mansion, less than a week before the scheduled foreclosure action. In a video obtained by TMZ , an Atlanta Peach Movers truck was parked in the driveway of battling Biermanns' seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom house while an even larger Penske truck was parked outside the gate. That same day, Kroy and Kim's daughter Ariana Lenee Biermann announced she was 'home for the holidays.' The New York City-based 23-year-old - whose birth father was Kim's ex-husband Daniel Toce - Instastoried a rare snap of her twin siblings Kane Ren Biermann and Kaia Rose Biermann on their 11th birthday as well as 13-year-old brother Kroy Jagger Biermann Jr. Ariana marveled as they pet a hairy cow: 'I can't get over how grown my siblings are!' She also posted a picture of little Kroy and Kaia cuddling with a large black dog under a blanket. Moving trucks were spotted outside the house this week, and a source has now confirmed that Kim, 46, has vacated the premises, via Page Six; pictured 2020 at the St. Regis Atlanta Their home in Alpharetta, Georgia is in foreclosure and will be auctioned off December 3, after they failed to sell the property despite dramatically slashing the price An Atlanta Peach Movers truck was parked in the driveway of battling Biermanns' seven-bedroom, 11-bathroom house while an even larger Penske truck was parked outside the gate (2019 stock shot) Read More Kim Zolciak is selling fake Christmas trees amid financial problems 'S'mores nights with my munchkins,' Ariana captioned a fireside snap. Zolciak and Kroy will also celebrate their final Thanksgiving at the lake-side mansion with 27-year-old daughter Brielle Karenna Biermann - who's now based in Atlanta - and 12-year-old son Kash Kade Biermann. On November 18, the on/off divorcing couple slashed the price of their single-family residence another $300K on Zillow , bringing it down to $3.65M, ahead of the foreclosure auction looming on December 3. It's a good thing Kim and Kroy will soon live apart as the Milton Police Department have been called several times to break up their fights, as recent as November 18 while she moved some of her belongings out of the house. Originally built in 2013, the Milton manor - sitting on 1.78 acres and measuring 15,694 square feet - was valued at $5.5M by residential appraiser Alan Daniel and it was first put on the real estate market by Jenny Doyle for $6M in 2023. The Biermanns' brick-and-stone estate features a heated pool/spa, in-ground trampoline, gourmet chef's kitchen, entertaining space, 500-bottle climate controlled walk-in wine cellar, billiard room, arcade game room, home theater, two-story walk-in closet, two-station salon, gym with private massage room, and six-car garage. 'He has not paid a bill in that house. He's paid two electric bills in the last 18 months,' the Surreal Life star vented to TMZ in September. 'Not a cable, a water, a phone - nothing. Nothing. That man has not paid a bill in that house. Brielle has helped more than Kroy has [financially].' That same day, the 46-year-old reality star and the 39-year-old retired NFL linebacker's daughter Ariana Lenee Biermann announced she was 'home for the holidays' The New York City-based 23-year-old Instastoried a rare snap of her twin siblings Kane Ren Biermann and Kaia Rose Biermann on their 11th birthday as well as 13-year-old brother Kroy Jagger Biermann Jr. Ariana marveled: 'I can't get over how grown my siblings are!' 'S'mores nights with my munchkins,' Biermann captioned a fireside snap Kim (born Kimberleigh) noted that the Montana-born ex-manager has a security blanket in the form of his $1.5M NFL pension after playing for the Atlanta Falcons from 2008–2015. 'He's fine. He's hoarded all of his money and I've spent all mine taking care of my family,' Zolciak blasted. The debt-ridden exes filed for divorce from each other in May 2023 after 12 years of marriage. But Kim and Kroy's marital problems appeared to have stemmed after the cancellation of their Bravo reality TV spin-off, Don't Be Tardy, in 2020 following eight seasons . The Biermanns - whose November 5-6 divorce trial was postponed - originally met in 2010 during a Dancing Stars Of Atlanta event raising money for Alzheimer's disease. The Florida-born socialite and her daughters both made sure to promote the upcoming 60% Black Friday sale for their beauty brand, KAB Cosmetics, via Instastory on Wednesday. On Sunday, Kim revealed she was selling three fake Christmas trees in order to make some more cash and offload excess stuff . Zolciak previously created a separate Instagram account @kimzbcloset last December in order to sell off her old designer clothing and wigs. On November 18, the on/off divorcing couple slashed the price of their single-family residence another $300K on Zillow, bringing it down to $3.65M, ahead of the foreclosure auction looming on December 3 It's a good thing Kim and Kroy will soon live apart as the Milton Police Department have been called several times to break up their fights, as recent as November 18 while she moved some of her belongings out of the house (pictured in 2017) Zolciak and her daughters both made sure to promote the upcoming 60% Black Friday sale for their beauty brand, KAB Cosmetics, via Instastory on Wednesday On Sunday, the Surreal Life star revealed she was selling three fake Christmas trees in order to make some more cash and offload excess stuff Last June, Kim reunited with her former Real Housewives of Atlanta castmate Cynthia Bailey (R, pictured in 2010) to film Hulu reality competition Got to Get Out for 10 days in Toronto Last June, the former nursing student reunited with her former Real Housewives of Atlanta castmate Cynthia Bailey to film Hulu reality competition Got to Get Out for 10 days in Toronto - according to TMZ . Contestants will live in a mansion and compete for up to $1M in prize money to split equally or for one to steal in a getaway car, which waits outside the front gate 'at random intervals' - according to Variety . Meanwhile, Kroy is employed as a crane and rigging coordinator at Superior Rigging & Erecting Co. and he describes himself as a 'domestic abuse survivor saved by the grace of God' in his Instagram bio. Real Housewives of Atlanta Florida Kroy Biermann Share or comment on this article: Kim Zolciak moves out of seven-bedroom mansion she shared with Kroy Biermann as they face foreclosure auction e-mail Add commentRenowned Journalist Hints at Xbox Taking Action at TGA: A Slew of Major Titles Next Year
NoneDALLAS — The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to clean a toxic site leaking cancer-causing chemicals under dozens of homes in Grand Prairie, Texas. Construction of the cleanup equipment is expected to begin next year, but a timeline for the abatement process is still unknown. A spokeswoman for the EPA said it’s not yet known when the cleanup will begin. Both federal and state authorities have acknowledged frustration with the slow-moving process but said it is typical with this type of toxic site. EPA officials previously said cleanup could begin as early as 2024. Roughly 80 homes in the predominantly low-income Burbank Gardens neighborhood are contaminated by toxic chemicals discarded by defense contractor Delfasco Forge. In 2018, the 1.1-acre property was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List, which includes some of the nation’s most-polluted sites. In an email to The Dallas Morning News, EPA spokeswoman Jennah Durant said it is common for the abatement timeline to shift. “Sites that are placed on the National Priorities List are by definition the most complex cleanup sites that usually take years or even decades to fully address.” Tests have shown that trichloroethylene, or TCE, which is a degreaser, contaminated the soil, bled into the groundwater and vaporized into the air. Delfasco Forge — which made practice bombs for the Navy and Air Force and machinery during the 1980s and ‘90s — used TCE to clean equipment. In addition to causing cancer, TCE can cause heart defects in developing fetuses and damage the liver, kidneys, respiratory, immune and central nervous systems in adults. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable. At a public meeting in 2022, several residents questioned whether enough was being done, and quickly enough, to address the public health hazard. The Grand Prairie plant, at 114 N.E. 28th St., closed in 1998. In 2008, Delfasco Forge filed for bankruptcy, in part because of liabilities from the contamination. As part of its bankruptcy settlement, the company paid the EPA $400,000 and the state of Texas $600,000 for mitigation efforts. To clean the site, the EPA said it plans to initially adopt two strategies, which will cost the agency $3.3 million. First, it will use a soil vapor extraction system, which is essentially a large vacuum equipped with carbon filters. The technology has been used to clean some 285 other Super Fund sites. Second, a groundwater treatment barrier will treat the toxic plume. Crews are now conducting groundwater sampling, drilling new wells to establish the extent of the plume and assessing the health risk. Both the EPA and the Texas State Department of Health Services have urged residents to request a free vapor mitigation system be installed in their homes. However, many in the neighborhood are renters, and homeowners must approve the mitigation systems. -------- ©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Bills' letdowns on defense, special teams and clock management in loss to Rams are all too familiar
The Los Angeles Dodgers are actively exploring options to strengthen their bullpen. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic , the team is interested in free-agent reliever Tanner Scott, who made his All-Star debut in 2024. Additionally, the Dodgers are considering a potential trade for Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams. Dodgers Still Looking To Solidify Bullpen The Dodgers’ interest in Scott is not new. They were among the finalists to acquire him at the 2024 trade deadline before he was ultimately traded to the San Diego Padres (via Jon Heyman of The New York Post). Scott enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, posting a 1.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched between the Padres and Marlins. He continued his strong performance into the postseason, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings in the NLDS. MLB analyst Jim Bowden projects Scott to command a four-year, $60 million contract in free agency. The Milwaukee Brewers, meanwhile, declined Devin Williams’ $10.5 million club option for 2025, but he remains under team control for one more year of arbitration. As a result, Williams’ future with the Brewers is uncertain, potentially opening the door for a trade. Williams, the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year, has been a dominant force in the Brewers’ bullpen. Since his debut, he has posted a career ERA of 1.83, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top relievers. In 2024, Williams continued to excel, posting a 1.25 ERA and a 0.969 WHIP in 22 appearances. He averaged a remarkable 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Unfortunately, his season ended abruptly when he allowed a game-winning home run to the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers have already made significant moves this offseason, signing Blake Snell and Michael Conforto. Their focus now shifts to bolstering their bullpen, with Scott and Williams emerging as top targets. They remain front runners to land Japanese fireballer, Roki Sasaki, as well. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.After the regime change in Syria, a new era has dawned upon the war-torn nation, bringing with it a wave of change and uncertainty. The reshuffling of power dynamics has left many pondering over who emerged victorious and who faced defeat in the aftermath. In this analysis, we will delve into the post-war landscape of Syria and highlight the key players who have either thrived or floundered in the new order.
A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
Apple Vision Pro could get Sony's PSVR2 controllers support soon
NoneTitle: Finding the Balance Point: Douyin E-commerce No Longer Overwhelming
One of the key highlights of the Honor GT is the collaboration with KPL (King Pro League) champion Yino for performance calibration. Yino, known for his exceptional gaming skills and strategic prowess, will bring his expertise to the table to ensure that the Honor GT delivers unmatched gaming performance. By working closely with Yino, Honor aims to optimize the device's hardware capabilities and software integration to provide gamers with a competitive edge and an immersive gaming experience like never before.
OMAHA — Creighton did it again. In an in-state women’s college basketball series with Nebraska largely dictated by what happens beyond the 3-point arc, the Jays rallied with six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to beat No. 21 Nebraska 80-74 on Friday at Sokol Arena. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Jays made four straight 3-pointers. The Jays were 6 for 9 on threes in the fourth quarter and 13 for 29 for the game to give Nebraska its first loss to the season. The Jays outscored Nebraska by 24 points on 3-pointers. Creighton has won three straight in the series. Lauren Jensen had a game-high 31 points for the Jays with four 3s. Morgan Maly, a senior from Crete, scored 18. Alexis Markowski worked really hard for Nebraska, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds and calling for the ball inside where she often had an advantage. Britt Prince added 20 points in the first game against her hometown school. Nebraska led 55-52 to start the fourth quarter. For the final 10 minutes, one of the questions was how much did Markowski have left? And also, could the Huskers defend the 3-point line just a little longer? The Jays made two of their first three 3-point attempts to start the quarter to regain a 60-57 lead. Molly Mogensen had the first one, and Jensen the second for her fourth of the game. When Mogensen made another three the Jays led 72-66. The Jays sealed the deal when Prince missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left and the Jays made their free throws. Nebraska led 22-19 after the first quarter. It was an entertaining start. The game started with Markowski going at Maly inside the paint, the Nebraska natives who played in the same club in Lincoln. There were five combined 3-pointers, with three for the Jays and two for Nebraska (each from Prince). Creighton used a 13-2 run that included three 3-pointers to take a 15-8 lead. But Nebraska got back in it with a steal and layup from Allison Weidner and a take to the basket from Callin Hake. Creighton added two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Nebraska was able to keep a lead at halftime 37-35. Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com . On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
In response to the current complex and severe employment situation caused by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic restructuring, the document emphasizes the importance of precise policy measures to boost employment. It calls for actively implementing employment policies such as tax cuts and fee reductions for enterprises, encouraging the hiring of key groups in the labor market, and promoting the development of new types of employment.Munich: Every winter, as smog blankets Delhi and its neighbouring regions, the irony is hard to miss. The city symbolising India's rapid development is also emblematic of its environmental crises. Yet, this annual disaster is not inevitable. As a Tsinghua University graduate student in Beijing, I couldn't help but reflect on how the city had faced a similar crisis not too long ago. Its infamous 'airpocalypse' seemed overwhelming. Yet, Beijing transformed its skies from grey to blue, setting a compelling blueprint for reform. Cities like Beijing - and London - have shown that with political will, change is possible. Beijing reduced PM2.5 levels by over 50% between 2013 and 2017. A 3-year action plan, 'Blue Sky War', targeted pollution at its source. Coal consumption was reduced through cleaner natural gas, shutting down coal-fired plants and relocating polluting industries. Stricter emission standards were enforced for vehicles and factories, alongside aggressive EV promotion and public transport subsidies. The city also prioritised urban greenery, converting rooftops and industrial sites into green spaces to mitigate pollution. However, replicating Beijing's strategy requires caution, as many coal plants were relocated outside central Beijing, transferring pollution rather than eliminating it. Transitioning to cleaner plants, or phasing out coal, is essential to avoid burdening vulnerable communities elsewhere. What truly made the difference, as highlighted in Siddharth Singh's 2018 book, The Great Smog of India, was that Beijing succeeded by elevating air pollution to the highest political priority. The Blue Sky policy became a central framework, with leaders making public commitments and holding local officials accountable. 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Results were remarkable. Within a few years, Beijing transitioned from suffocating smog to significantly clearer skies. London's story is equally instructive. Once infamous for its 'pea soup' smog - a deadly mix of coal smoke and fog that claimed thousands of lives and was immortalised in Victorian literature - the city took bold steps to improve air quality. After the 'Great Smog of London', which covered the city with toxic smog for five days in December 1952, Parliament passed the Clean Air Act of 1956, banning coal in urban areas, introducing smokeless zones and marking a turning point in urban environmental action. Congestion charges in 2000's London curbed car usage, supported by expanded public transport. Investments in cleaner buses, EVs and cycling infrastructure made sustainable mobility accessible. Urban planning prioritizsed green spaces, low-emission zones and pedestrian-friendly designs, while public awareness fostered shared responsibility. So, what lessons do these two cities offer Delhi? Clean air is a right: Political will among policymakers to prioritise clean air must align with the scale of the crisis. India's successes - such as eradicating polio, rolling out Aadhaar and delivering Covid-19 vaccines - show that when politicians commit to a cause, transformative progress is possible. While many argue that tackling pollution would come at the cost of economic growth, China's example proves otherwise. Its economy grew over 6% annually even as it halved air pollution, showing that solving for pollution and robust growth can coexist. After London was covered with toxic smog for five days in Dec 1952, Parliament passed the Clean Air Act of 1956, banning coal in urban areas, and introducing smokeless zones Tackle dispersed sources: Culprits of Delhi's pollution crisis are numerous and interlinked. While vehicular emissions and industrial pollution draw the most attention, nearly half of the city's PM2.5 load stems from sources like construction dust, debris on public land, garbage burning and unpaved roads. Efforts like the intervention of A-PAG (Air Pollution Action Group) show that monitoring, enforcement and public engagement can make a difference. However, the sheer scale of the problem demands a systemic overhaul, tackling root causes. Coordination is key: Coordinated action across states, particularly to address stubble-burning in nearby regions, is a must. Finger-pointing between states has only delayed progress. Expecting individual state leaders to resolve it alone is like trying to mop up a flooded room while the tap remains open. Ministries such as power, environment and health must collaborate, rather than work in silos. This level of coordination is non-negotiable if we are to address the persistent smog that blankets northern India each winter. Beijing reduced PM2.5 levels by over 50% between 2013 and 2017. A 3-year ‘Blue Sky War’ targeted pollution at its source, with leaders making public commitments and holding local officials accountable Reuse stubble: Stubble-burning can be seen as an opportunity. Startups are turning rice straw into biofuel, proving agricultural waste to be a key raw material. The National Policy on Biofuels, which incentivises the use of agricultural waste as input, offers a promising framework. Technologies like the Happy Seeder - a tractor-mounted machine that sows seeds directly into recently-harvested fields, without the need to prepare a seedbed - and financial incentives for farmers could help make stubble-burning a relic of the past. Who says fighting pollution can't be a win-win? All-round reform: Bold reforms are needed to rethink urban design, reduce congestion and expand public transport systems. Delhi must replace headline-grabbing but insufficient stop-gap measures, like the odd-even scheme, with systemic solutions that tackle pollution at its root. Delhi has the knowledge, tools and global examples to guide its fight for clean air. What it needs now is focus, urgency and determination to act decisively. The stakes are high. But so is the potential reward: a national capital where smog-filled skies give way to clear blue horizons.
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