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The controversy around a religious Christmas sign that was taken down in downtown Kelowna continues. Two days after a sign stating 'Keep Christ in Christmas' was removed from the nativity scene display at Stuart Park, Kelowna-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen went to social media to express her opinion on the matter. "We believe that it's an important detail that Christmas is a Christian holiday," said Loewen in her video, referring to 'we' as all of the MLAs for the Central Okanagan. "We will be standing united and defending all British Columbians rights to religion and freedom of expression, speech, thought, belief," she added. "Canada is an incredible country full of diverse cultures and religions, and a wide variety of views, and I think that's one of the things that makes us so incredible." Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong agreed with her fellow Conservative, quote-tweeting the video and saying "a great message from a colleague and friend. I'm proud to be part of a team that stands for what's right." Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna, also quote-tweeted Loewen's post. However, Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew appears to not have commented on social media. The nativity scene is put up by the Knights of Columbus every year and a permit is given from the City of Kelowna to do so. When the 'Keep Christ in Christmas' sign was displayed beside the scene on Monday, Dec. 9, some people in the community, including the Kelowna Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists Association (KASHA) took issue. A letter by KASHA to Black Press Media on Dec. 9, stated the nativity scene is part of Christmas, just as "lights, festive trees, and other decorative displays" are also. "This message is not merely festive—it is political, advocating for a specific religious interpretation of the holiday," said KASHA about the sign. The next day, the sign was taken down and the City of Kelowna confirmed that the sign was not part of the Knights of Columbus' permit for the nativity scene. The Knights of Columbus had no comment regarding the matter. Capital News reached out to Loewen for further comment but was met with an automatic e-mail reply. Additionally, the City of Kelowna stated it had no comment on Loewen's video. However, Ian Bushfield the executive director of the B.C. Humanist Association did have a comment. "Freedom of religion in Canada includes freedom from religion," said Bushfield in an e-mailed statement. "Ms. Loewen and all Christians are obviously free to celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday but our governments have a clear duty of religious neutrality. That means neither endorsing nor prohibiting any religion over any other. That sign, and arguably even the nativity scene, being on public property breaches that duty. She can put the sign up at her church or at her own house but we do not live in a theocracy." Bushfield has previously stated that BCHA is an organization committed to secular values. “Part of that is the separation of religion and government," said Bushfield. The City of Kelowna also said it received five letters on the matter when the sign was up but none since it's been taken down.D ear Heloise: I wanted to write in concerning not using rugs and towels at animal shelters. I have to wonder what sort of “shelter” is being offered to dogs and cats where it gets so cold and wet that the cloth can freeze. Not to mention the possibility of the poor animal freezing to death! Are they saying these indoor animals are being kept outside? Or are their facilities not being properly heated and dry? This is shocking to me! I hope they can explain themselves. — Frank F., Ventura, California Frank, the letter was referring to feral cats and other outdoor animals. Shelter cats and dogs usually have a better situation than those that are born wild or mistreated by their owners. In my opinion, no animal should be kept outside in the winter if they have owners with a warm house. Sadly, there are too many abandoned cats and dogs that have no one to look after them, making their existence difficult and their lives short. Straw is the best solution to helping these animals stay warm, provided that there is plenty of straw to snuggle in for warmth inside of some type of enclosure. There are a variety of such houses for animals online, and most aren’t expensive. — Heloise Cardboard rolls Dear Heloise: I often use paper-towel rolls and toilet-paper rolls to keep artificial flower stems together. I also cut them lengthwise to put on gift-wrapping paper rolls. If the paper roll is too thin to keep a cardboard roll on, then I use a rubber band to secure the roll. Your readers have given me so much I can use. I thank you and thank them, too. — Jackie, Colorado Springs, Colorado Jackie, I like your cardboard roll ideas. Lately, I’ve received several letters stating that readers use the cardboard roll in paper towels and toilet paper to start a fire in their fireplace. Some also use a toilet roll of cardboard to gather a number of loose cords together. Others use a paper-towel roll to wrap tree lights around when putting them into storage. All of these are great ideas, as well. — Heloise Cleaning glass pie plates Dear Heloise: Our glass pie plates wouldn’t get clean, so my husband had the successful idea to use a ceramic cooktop cleaner! The pie plates are sparkling now! — Connie B., Universal City, Texas Christmas goody boxes Dear Heloise: My mom was never really happy with any gift I gave her. Since she relied on Social Security, money was tight, so I started to give her a goody box. I usually used an empty paper box and filled it with toiletries and products that I knew she used. I also included postage stamps and gift cards for car washes. She would love her goody box and looked forward to it every year. One year, my aunt was visiting from the old country at Christmas, so I made up a smaller box for her. I found out that she loved a certain brand of canned corn, so I included six cans. She was over the moon! It was also easy for me, as I would add things to the box all year long, making it easier on my time and budget. — Liz N., via email Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Colimerio has 15, Queens defeats VMI 81-78
Global to join forces with Motors & Armatures; Philip Windham named CEO of growing HVAC/R platform LOS ANGELES , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Platinum Equity announced today a significant investment in Global, the Source ("Global"), a leading master distributor of HVAC/R components, and its subsidiary AmRad Manufacturing LLC. The transaction marks Platinum Equity's second investment in the HVAC/R industry this year. In July, the firm invested in Motors & Armatures Inc. (MARS). Global and MARS, which have a longstanding history, will now join forces, helping strengthen the product and service offerings for both companies. Founded in 1982 and based in Universal City, Texas , Global is a leading master distributor of HVAC/R components such as capacitors, relays, transformers, contactors, disconnects, whips, and more. Global serves HVAC/R wholesalers throughout the United States. The company has vertically integrated design and manufacturing operations, including via its AmRad Manufacturing LLC subsidiary located in Palm Coast, Florida , which proudly manufactures USA -made capacitors and Turbo 200® products. MARS, based in Hauppauge, New York , is a leading distribution platform for HVAC/R parts, supplies and equipment in North America , and has been the exclusive sub-distributor for select Global products since 2012. "The partnership between MARS and Global is a natural one as both companies have worked together for decades," said Global Owner and President Dickie Sirotiak. "The investment from Platinum will allow us to introduce more products to market while continuing to maintain the outstanding service levels that both MARS and Global customers demand." In connection with the Global investment, Platinum Equity announced an integrated leadership structure for the combined platform: "We are thrilled to welcome Global to our growing platform," said Chernoff. "This move brings together two great family-owned businesses and will strengthen our position as a category leader in electronic components for the HVAC/R aftermarket." Chernoff praised Windham as a great fit to lead the combined platform. "Philip brings 25 years of industry experience to the job," said Chernoff. "He is passionate about developing people and building high-performance teams. He has a customer-centric mindset and I'm confident he's the right leader to guide these businesses into their next phase of growth." Windham said he's excited about the new role. "Both the Sirotiak and Chernoff families have built impressive businesses over the past several decades, becoming true leaders in the HVAC/R industry," said Windham. "I am honored to continue their legacies and work with both teams to expand our reach within the industry." Platinum Equity expects to continue pursuing additional opportunities to invest in the industry. "We are optimistic about the prospects for growth in the sector and will work with MARS and Global to add more value for their customers," said Platinum Equity Co-President Jacob Kotzubei and Managing Director Dan Krasner in a joint statement. "We will partner with the leadership team to identify and pursue additional opportunities to diversify and increase scale, both organically and through strategic M&A." Financial terms of the Global investment were not disclosed. O'Melveny & Myers served as legal counsel to Platinum Equity and MARS. About Platinum Equity Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores , Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $48 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 60 operating companies that serve customers around the world. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O ® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 28 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 450 acquisitions. Contact : Dan Whelan Platinum Equity dwhelan@platinumequity.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/platinum-equity-invests-in-hvacr-distributor-global-the-source-302325210.html SOURCE Platinum Equity
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When Carl Sagan was five years old, his mother enrolled him at the local library. He would walk there on his own, asking the librarian questions that his parents couldn't answer, such as, “What are stars?” Reflecting on the experience later, he recounted: “I went to the librarian and asked for a book about stars [...] and the answer was stunning. It was that the Sun was a star, but really close. The stars were suns, but so far away they were just little points of light. The scale of the universe suddenly opened up to me. It was a kind of religious experience. There was a magnificence to it, a grandeur, a scale which has never left me. Never ever left me.” This anecdote, shared by Kay Davidson in one of several biographies written about Sagan, illustrates one of his most compelling traits: an insatiable curiosity. Over time, this was complemented by intellectual prowess, skepticism, a passion for teaching and making science accessible to the public, and a notable ego. Together, these qualities made him one of the most influential and fascinating figures in space exploration during the latter half of the 20th century. 4 View gallery An insatiable curiosity. High school student Carl Sagan, 1951 ( Photo: Wikipedia ) "It just grabbed me" Carl Edward Sagan was born on November 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. His father, a textile worker, had immigrated from Ukraine, and his mother, a homemaker, was born in New York. The family lived modestly and later moved to New Jersey due to his father's work. . Carl inherited his mother’s intellectual curiosity and skeptical outlook, while his father instilled in him an immense curiosity and sense of wonder about the world. From a young age, Sagan channeled these traits into a deep passion for science. In a biography by Ray Spangenburg, Sagan described his parents’ influence as follows: "My parents were not scientists. They knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder, they taught me the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are central to the scientific method." Sagan was an outstanding student from a young age. While his teachers recognized his potential and sought to support him, his parents couldn’t afford private education for gifted students. He taught himself many subjects, including chemistry, but his primary scientific focus was space. At age 12, when his grandfather asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, Carl replied, “An astronomer,” to which his grandfather responded, “Fine, but how will you make a living?” Later, upon discovering that astronomers could indeed earn a living doing what they loved, Sagan knew he would pursue the field. ''I didn't make a decision to pursue astronomy,'' he would later say. ''Rather, it just grabbed me, and I had no thought of escaping.'' He graduated from high school at just 16 years old. According to another biographer, William Poundstone, near the end of high school, he entered a competition with an essay speculating on the potential dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. He speculated that such a meeting could be devastating for humanity, much like the catastrophic effects that the encounter with European civilization brought upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. This essay may have been influenced by young Sagan's love for science fiction. Sagan received a full scholarship to the University of Chicago, where he began studying physics in 1951. He went on to earn a master’s degree and later a Ph.D. in astronomy, which he completed in 1960. His doctoral research, supervised by astronomer Gerard Kuiper, focused on the physical properties of planets and moons. At the time, new measurements showed that the surface of Venus was extremely hot, contrary to earlier assumptions that it might have Earth-like temperatures. In his dissertation, Sagan proposed that the greenhouse effect was responsible for Venus’s high temperatures, demonstrating that carbon dioxide and water vapor were the primary culprits. He later published these findings in a significant paper in Science. During his studies, Sagan collaborated with several renowned scientists, including George Gamow, a physicist who was instrumental in developing the Big Bang theory. The origin of life was another topic that had fascinated Sagan since childhood. As a student, he worked with renowned chemist Harold Urey, who led the seminal experiment exploring the chemical origins of life on Earth, and with geneticist Joshua Lederberg, a pioneer of gene therapy. Sagan also spent summers training with Hermann Muller, a geneticist and zoologist at Indiana University, who studied the effects of radiation and strongly opposed nuclear weapons. 4 View gallery These images were captured thanks to Sagan’s efforts to persuade NASA leaders to photograph Earth from afar. The planets of the solar system, photographed by Voyager 1 in 1990 ( Photo: NASA ) At the University of Chicago, Sagan met Lynn Margulis, a brilliant young scientist four years his junior who had entered the university at just 14. They married in 1957 when Margulis was 19. The marriage lasted seven years and produced two children. Margulis went on to have a distinguished scientific career, becoming one of the foremost researchers in evolutionary biology. New frontiers After earning his doctorate, Carl Sagan pursued further training at the University of California, Berkeley, where he chose to study biology to deepen his understanding of topics related to the potential development of life on other planets. At the same time, he joined the scientific team for NASA's Mariner 2 mission, a spacecraft launched to explore Venus. In 1963, Sagan became a researcher at Harvard University, where he continued his studies of the planets of the solar system. Among his accomplishments was developing a model of Mars's atmosphere, which demonstrated that its seasonal changes were driven by dust storms. He also joined the scientific teams for additional space missions, including Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit Mars, whose findings helped validate Sagan’s prediction. 4 View gallery Designed to convey a message from humanity to intelligent extraterrestrials. The plaque sent aboard the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft ( Photo: Wikipedia ) Sagan’s extensive research on the planets and his fascination with origin of life research led him to repeatedly explore whether life could develop elsewhere in the solar system and under what conditions. For example, he explored the possibility for life in Venus’s atmosphere and the formation of relatively complex molecules within the environments of planets like Jupiter. These studies positioned Sagan as a founding figure in two scientific fields that were once peripheral to astronomy: planetary science, which focuses on processes occurring on planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, and exobiology—now commonly known as astrobiology—which focuses on the conditions necessary for life and the potential for its emergence or presence in other planetary systems. In 1966, Sagan co-authored Intelligent Life in the Universe with Soviet astronomer Iosif Shklovsky, earning him public recognition beyond the scientific community. The following year, he published a detailed article on the subject in National Geographic and appeared on several television programs. By this point, it was clear that Sagan aimed for a career that would bring him broad public recognition and allow him to present scientific work to a wider audience. This approach was unconventional in academia at the time, and some of his colleagues at Harvard viewed it as a compromise of scientific integrity in favor of self-promotion and publicity. According to his former student David Morrison, this perception likely contributed to Harvard’s decision not to grant Sagan tenure in 1968, despite his prolific research and reputation as a beloved and respected lecturer. Consequently, Sagan had to seek employment elsewhere. Unlike Harvard, Cornell University in upstate New York was eager to recruit faculty researchers with a potential for stardom. In 1969, Sagan joined Cornell, making it his academic home. A star in the scientific sky Carl Sagan remained a leading figure in planetary science and a regular contributor to solar system exploration missions. Notably, he was part of the scientific team for the Viking Mars landers, playing a crucial role in selecting their landing sites in 1976. He also contributed to the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 missions, which became the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and study Jupiter up close. Sagan further contributed to the Voyager missions, designed to explore the outer planets, and the Galileo mission, which studied Jupiter and its atmosphere. His research drew heavily on data from these missions, including analysis of the geology of Mars at Viking landing sites, studying the composition of Jupiter’s clouds, and investigating the processes of formation of organic compounds in Titan’s atmosphere, Saturn's largest moon. Sagan didn’t just study the possibility of extraterrestrial life—he was also among the first to propose practical methods for communicating with potential alien civilizations. He suggested adding a small metal plaque to the Pioneer spacecraft, featuring a brief description of humanity, illustrations of humans, and a cosmic map indicating Earth’s location. Designed to remain in space long after the spacecraft completed their missions, these plaques were intended to be discovered by intelligent extraterrestrial beings. The artwork for the plaque was created by Sagan’s second wife, artist Linda Salzman, whom he married in 1968. Together, they had one child. During this period, Sagan emerged as an increasingly prominent public figure and a science ambassador in popular media. He achieved this partly through his popular science books. One of his most successful works was The Cosmic Connection, published in 1973, in which he extensively explored the possibility of extraterrestrial life. At the same time, Sagan did not shy away from addressing popular claims made by alien enthusiasts, who asserted that intelligent extraterrestrials frequently visit Earth and that governments are concealing the evidence. Sagan strongly advocated for a scientific approach to evaluating such reports. The success of The Cosmic Connection led to Sagan becoming a regular guest on The Tonight Show, where he often showcased new images from space missions he was involved in. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time to fly to California for interviews with Johnny Carson, whom he referred to as hosting "the largest classroom in history." Sagan’s eloquent media appearances turned him into a true celebrity. His work and image graced the covers of major magazines like Time and Newsweek. His public recognition soared to new heights in 1978 when his next bestseller, The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. The cosmos, television, and everything By the late 1970s, following the successful Viking landings on Mars and with the Voyager spacecraft en route to Jupiter, Carl Sagan set out to use television to bring science to the broadest audience possible. He established his own production company, raised approximately a million dollars from investors, and began developing a script for a documentary series about the universe and humanity’s understanding of it. The series, Cosmos, consisted of 13 hour-long episodes and aired in 1980 on the public television channel KCET. It was an enormous success, winning Emmy and Peabody Awards and reaching over 400 million viewers worldwide. The companion book, also titled Cosmos, remained on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year. The success of the series and book officially cemented Sagan’s celebrity status, earned him widespread media attention and brought him significant financial success. This success came at a cost. While working on the series, Sagan neglected his academic responsibilities, canceled courses, and left research students - who had chosen Cornell specifically to work under his guidance - without supervision, forcing them to seek other advisors. This behavior drew significant criticism from colleagues, which escalated as fame brought its drawbacks, including harassing phone calls, death threats, and an influx of fans or eccentrics roaming the university grounds in search of him. While working on the production of Cosmos, Sagan fell deeply in love with Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on its production and writing. Although he was still married at the time, Sagan moved to Los Angeles to live with Druyan during the series' production. In 1981, he divorced his second wife and married Druyan. The couple later had a daughter and a son. They continued to collaborate professionally, including co-authoring several books. Following the success of Cosmos, Sagan received a $2 million advance from the major publisher Simon & Schuster to write a novel about humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life. The resulting book, Contact, published in 1985, was another major success and was later adapted into a Hollywood film starring Jodie Foster in 1997. A pale blue dot Carl Sagan’s scientific work also explored the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial life. The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, carried a more elaborate message about humanity than the Pioneer plaques. Attached to Voyager was a gold-plated copper record—a kind of "time capsule" of life on Earth. The record contained natural sounds such as ocean waves, music from various periods and cultures, voice greetings in dozens of languages, and images of life on Earth, all stored in audio form. Instructions for playing the record were etched onto its cover, based on the assumption that any extraterrestrial beings who might find it would have some ability to perceive and interpret visuals and sounds in ways similar to humans. Sagan chaired the committee that selected the content, with its artistic direction led by his new partner, Ann Druyan. The record also included an audio representation of Druyan's brainwaves. Sagan was also a strong supporter of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), an initiative dedicated to scanning space for radio signals that might indicate the presence of intelligent alien civilizations. He collaborated with his colleague, astronomer Frank Drake, to design the Arecibo message—a radio signal broadcast into space with the aim of reaching extraterrestrial beings and drawing their attention to humanity's existence 4 View gallery Cosmic Love. Sagan with his third wife, Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on the Cosmos series and co-authored several of his books ( Photo: Peter Morenus/Cornell University, Courtesy of Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc. ) In 1990, after Voyager 1 completed its primary scientific mission in the solar system and began its journey outward into interstellar space, Sagan’s persistent efforts convinced NASA leadership to capture a distant photograph of Earth. The resulting image, taken from about six billion kilometers away, showed Earth as a tiny speck—less than a pixel—against the vast emptiness of space. This iconic image was named Pale Blue Dot by Sagan, a title that also became the theme of his 1994 book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, in which he reflected on humanity’s place in the cosmos and, above all, our smallness. “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot,” Sagan said in a lecture at Cornell University. Years of disappointments In the 1980s, under U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the government increased defense spending and promoted the "Star Wars" initiative, a program aimed at deploying defense systems in space. This, along with the Soviet Union’s response, rekindled fears of nuclear war between the superpowers. Sagan, an opponent of nuclear weapons since his student days, co-authored an influential scientific paper with four colleagues on the potential effects of nuclear war. In this paper, they coined the term "nuclear winter," referring to climate changes caused by massive amounts of dust rising into the atmosphere following large-scale nuclear explosions. Sagan went on to co-author two books on the dangers of nuclear weapons and frequently discussed the topic in media interviews. However, unlike his work on space exploration, his stance on the politically sensitive issue of nuclear weapons drew significant opposition. Critics included those who viewed disarmament as a threat to U.S. security, as well as scientists who disputed the nuclear winter theory, arguing that it was an overly pessimistic and insufficiently substantiated prediction. This opposition sometimes manifested in personal attacks on Sagan in the media, a stark contrast to the favorable coverage he had previously enjoyed. Many believe that Sagan's advocacy and his efforts to highlight the dangers of war through the concept of nuclear winter ultimately helped pave the way for the disarmament negotiations and the eventual signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by U.S. and Soviet leaders in 1987. During this period, Sagan also faced challenges from budget cuts to U.S. space exploration, including NASA missions. The Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 marked a low point for the agency and disrupted research-oriented missions. Sagan saw this as an opportunity to promote U.S.-Soviet collaboration on a joint mission to Mars, leveraging the Soviet Union's growing openness to the West. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and Sagan was forced to abandon the idea after the Soviet Union’s collapse, which left its space program in a state of limbo due to the political upheaval. In 1990, amid stalled space initiatives, Sagan made his most significant scientific misstep. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and its threats to ignite oil wells if the West intervened, Sagan feared that such widespread fires could release enough soot to trigger a smaller-scale version of nuclear winter. Despite opposition from three of his four co-authors of the original nuclear winter paper—who did not believe the fires would have a global climatic impact—Sagan published his predictions in articles and TV interviews. In early 1991, Iraqi forces did set Kuwait’s oil wells ablaze, but when the smoke cleared, it became evident that Sagan had been wrong. The fires did not cause global or even local climate changes. This miscalculation drew widespread criticism, and Sagan faced ridicule from his opponents, some of whom used the incident to cast doubt on the entire nuclear winter theory. In 1992, Sagan was nominated for membership in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Despite meeting the accepted criteria for scientific publications, contributions to the scientific community, and his efforts to make science accessible to the public, his nomination received only about half the votes—well below the two-thirds majority required. Two years later, the Academy awarded him its prestigious Public Welfare Medal in recognition of his contributions to popularizing science and explaining complex issues. However, it is unclear whether this honor softened the sting of his earlier rejection. Adding to his disappointment, the 1993 book Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, co-authored with his wife Ann Druyan, did not achieve the success they had hoped for, despite being regarded by some critics as his best work. Billions and billions In 1994, Carl Sagan was diagnosed with cancer and began undergoing treatment. Despite his illness—or perhaps because of it—he did not slow down and continued working on new books. Foremost among them was The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. This book was a passionate defense of science, the scientific method, and rational thinking, countering irrationality and pseudoscience. In the book, Sagan revisits his field of expertise, extraterrestrial communication, and critiques unfounded claims about alien visits to Earth and alleged abductions by extraterrestrial spacecraft. He also equips readers with a "baloney detection kit," a list of logical fallacies typical of pseudoscientific arguments. Additionally, Sagan used the book to publicly acknowledge his earlier error in predicting the catastrophic environmental effects from the burning of oil wells in Kuwait. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Another book Sagan managed to work on with Druyan was Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. The title, evoking the vast number of stars in the universe, became synonymous with Sagan since the days of Cosmos. In the book, Sagan and Druyan discuss the application of scientific tools to everyday life and global issues such as climate change and international relations. Sagan also shares his religious perspective, expressing skepticism about the existence of God in the traditional sense, though he refrains from identifying himself as an atheist. Sagan did not live to see the publication of this final book. After undergoing three bone marrow transplants, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away from pneumonia on December 20, 1996, at the age of 62. “Carl Sagan, more than any contemporary scientist I can think of, knew what it takes to stir passion within the public when it comes to the wonder and importance of science,” eulogized Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. “American astronomy lost its clearest and most colorful voice with the death of Carl Sagan,” wrote astronomer Yervant Terzian of Cornell University. Quoting a Washington Post obituary by Joel Aschenbach that stated, “We have needed Sagan since Copernicus removed us from the center of the Universe,” Terzian added, “And the need remains. Carl Sagan received a great many awards during his 62 years, but ‘billions and billions’ would not have been enough to repay what the scientific community owes him.” Content distributed by the Davidson Institute of Science Education . >Bengaluru: One97 Communications (OCL), which runs digital payment platform Paytm , has announced that it is selling its 5.4% shareholding in Japanese payment company PayPay for ₹2,364 crore, or nearly $280 million, to SoftBank. In a stock exchange filing on Saturday, the Noida-based fintech said the shares will be transferred to SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Through the deal, PayPay will be valued at ₹1.06 trillion ($7 billion approximately). On Friday, Paytm in another stock exchange filing had said One97 Communications Singapore, the subsidiary entity through which the shares of PayPay were held, had passed a board resolution to undertake this sale. This comes after Paytm divested its entertainment and ticketing business Paytm Insider to Zomato for ₹2,048 crore. The PayPay stake sale will add to Paytm's cash pile. In the September quarterly results, the company had announced that it has a cash reserve of around ₹10,000 crore. Paytm CFO Madhur Deora had then said once the core business becomes cash positive, the board of directors will take a call on what to do with their reserves. In a statement to the press on Saturday, Paytm said the board of Paytm Singapore approved the sale process as its shares have created significant value for the company. 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LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Leo Colimerio had 15 points in Queens' 81-78 win against VMI on Saturday. Colimerio had seven rebounds and five assists for the Royals (4-5). Jaxon Pollard scored 13 points while finishing 6 of 8 from the floor and added eight rebounds. Yoav Berman had 12 points and shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 1 for 4 from the line. A 3-pointer by TJ Johnson got VMI within 77-76 with 8 seconds remaining, but Nasir Mann's layup gave Queens an important three-point lead with 6 seconds left. Rickey Bradley, Jr. led the way for the Keydets (5-6) with 19 points and four steals. TJ Johnson added 17 points, six rebounds and three steals for VMI. Augustinas Kiudulas also put up 15 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
The astronomer who brought the cosmos closer to usDETROIT, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DT Midstream, Inc. ("DT Midstream” or the "Company”) (NYSE: DTM) today announced that it has closed the previously announced offering (the "Offering”) of $650,000,000 of 5.800% Senior Secured Notes due 2034 (the "Notes”). The Notes were issued by DT Midstream, guaranteed by certain of DT Midstream's subsidiaries and secured by a first priority lien on certain assets of DT Midstream and its subsidiary guarantors that secure DT Midstream's existing credit facilities and existing senior secured notes. DT Midstream intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, together with the proceeds from its recently completed offering of common stock, borrowings under its revolving credit facility and cash on hand, to fund the consideration payable by DT Midstream in the previously announced, pending acquisition of all of the equity interests in Guardian Pipeline, L.L.C., Midwestern Gas Transmission Company and Viking Gas Transmission Company from ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and Border Midwestern Company (the "Pending Acquisition”). The Notes were sold in a private placement to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act”), and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws. This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. About DT Midstream DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The Company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a goal of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute "forward-looking statements” under the securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe,” "expect,” "expectations,” "plans,” "intends,” "continues,” "forecasts,” "goals,” "strategy,” "prospects,” "estimate,” "project,” "scheduled,” "target,” "anticipate,” "could,” "may,” "might,” "will,” "should,” "see,” "guidance,” "outlook,” "confident” and other words of similar meaning. The absence of such words, expressions or statements, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions, but rather are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to be materially different from those contemplated, projected, estimated, or budgeted. This release contains forward-looking statements about DT Midstream's intended use of proceeds and the Pending Acquisition. For additional discussion of risk factors which may affect DT Midstream's results, please see the discussion under the section entitled "Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any other reports filed with the SEC. The above list of factors is not exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time. DT Midstream cannot predict what factors may arise or how such factors may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements. Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, you should not put any undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise. CONTACT: Investor Relations Todd Lohrmann, DT Midstream, 313.774.2424 [email protected]
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Alan Simpson: Scotrail can show Starmer that nationalisation isn't always bestA Pepsi truck drives on a road. Tamer Soliman/iStock Editorial via Getty Images For me, the objective of dividend growth investing is to buy and hold businesses that I believe can withstand the test of time. This is admittedly a tall Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PEP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Indian legend Virat Kohli was on his way back to the pavilion in Perth. And almost instantaneously, every Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports viewer had exceptional insight as to why. By the time a bereft Kohli had left the centre wicket area in the first Test of the summer, the production team behind the Halo technology being used exclusively by Fox Cricket this summer had the images demonstrating what caused his downfall. In the broadcast booth, former Australian captain Allan Border was awaiting confirmation of something he suspected Josh Hazlewood had managed to extract from the pitch with his delivery. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Border’s instincts were as sharp as the reflexes he used to show when facing the ferocious West Indian attack and within the blink of an eye he had what he needed from behind the scenes. He had believed additional bounce was the key and so it proved. The 80 cameras circling Perth Stadium had captured perfectly the surprise on Kohli’s face at the Hazlewood delivery that reared sharply into his rib cage before deflecting from the upper portion of his bat through to Usman Khawaja at first slip. A graphic detailing the difference in height from the previous delivery, even though it landed on a similar length, was broadcast to viewers as Border readied himself to explain what had just unfolded. “He is on the front foot and he makes himself a little vulnerable (and) was surprised by the extra bounce,” Border explained to the Kayo Sports subscribers. Border marvels at the technology now available for viewers. As he explained to foxsports.com.au prior to the series, the detail provided by innovations including Fox Halo provides a phenomenal insight into what occurs in the middle. That is a massive bonus for subscribers to Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket. Perhaps the only people not pleased with the intensive insights it provides are those who are holding the bat. “There’s so much homework done on you as a batsman, about where to bowl. Now there’s so much footage of you batting on all sorts of services, against all sorts of bowlers, so you’re analysed,” Border said. THE HOLY GRAIL FOR BROADCASTERS Brad McNamara, who played 59 first class games for New South Wales and is now Innovation and Production Lead of the Fox Cricket coverage, was conducting the process behind the scenes in Perth, just as he is in Brisbane for what shapes as a pivotal Test. Standing a few metres behind Border, with more television screens than one would find at a Harvey Norman outlet between them, he alternated between whispering instructions to the Korean team operating the Halo system and letting the commentators know what was coming. The broadcasting business has changed since “Buzz”, who is also a member of the Six & Out crew performing gigs at Tests throughout the summer, swapped his time in the middle for the Blues to help enhance the entertainment for viewers after his retirement in 2000. He loves the context his team are now capable of delivering to lovers of the sport watching at home on Kayo and Fox Cricket and checking in with foxsports.com.au for on-line coverage as well. Being able to deploy the groundbreaking technology, which is used in American baseball among other elite global sports, has added to his excitement broadcasting what is shaping as another nail-biting series between Australia and India. “We’ve been able to do that before, but with another program, but it took about 25 minutes to stitch all those camera angles together,” McNamara said. “This is ready within 15 seconds, which is extraordinary. We’re all about being live and being immediate and people these days, they don’t want to wait 20 minutes. They want to see what happened now. “Our philosophy at Fox Sports, with all our sports, is to get it live immediately. ‘What happened? Why did it happen? What’s going to happen?’ And the quicker you can do that, that’s the Holy Grail for us. What once used to take 20 minutes, now it is immediate.” Champion Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has no doubt the technology, which was used by international broadcasters to cover the Paris Olympics, will improve the ability of former players to explain to subscribers the reason something has happened. “It is going to be very interesting to analyse ... the batting positions, the foot positions, the weight transferrals (and) to try and bring you people at home, wherever you are, out into the middle of these fine venues. It is fantastic,” he said. Fox Cricket’s executive producer Joe Bromham told News Corp papers leading into the Adelaide Test the new technology was a big hit back in India as well. “It’s really made for cricket. It’s an incredible innovation for analysis. Our coverage is going to the Indian audience through Star and they’re raving about Fox Halo,” he said. “There was a cut shot from Yashasvi Jaiswal (in Perth) which just showed his footwork and his movement and when he contacted the ball, both his feet were off the ground. (Halo) just showed it perfectly.” THE CREW TAKING CRICKET TO THE WORLD As impressive as the insights provided by Fox Halo are, it is just one facet of a massive operation aimed at delivering the best coverage the sport of cricket has ever seen. From the expert analysts in the commentary booth in the grandstands to the camera operators out on the fence to the broadcast vans tucked under or behind the stadiums, it is an immense operation. A quick view of the main centre of operation — a broadcast van where everything comes together before beamed around the world — would be mind-boggling for the average viewer. Plugged into the back of the van is a tangle of blue, yellow, red and white cords resembling a nest of snakes, but every single link is critical to telling the whole story out in the middle. In this van sits the director and about 10 other specialists viewing feeds from various vantage points around Adelaide Oval to decide what goes to air and when. From one second to the next, decisions are made as to whether to flick from the top of the bowler’s mark to the vantage point of the keeper, or from the DRS graphic and out to the centre to get a close-up on the face of the batter anxiously awaiting their fate at the hands of the third umpire. Fox Cricket host Mark Howard provided an insight into the Flying Fox, which uses a Sony P50 camera weighing about 10kg, for viewers during a lunch break in the first Test in Perth. It is, pilot Nick Linton said, one of about 30 systems in the world and it costs about $1 million to operate through a Test match. But the value to the subscribers watching is immense. Howard said the quality of the microphones attached to Flying Fox made it easier to interview players and fellow Fox Cricket analysts before and during a day’s play. “Originally when we started interviewing players in the middle, the player had to put on a headset to be able to hear the questions from commentary,” Howard said. “But the way it has been developed now, there is an actual speaker on the camera, so the players no longer have to put the headset on. “They stand next to the camera and they can hear commentary blaring out from the speakers asking all sorts of questions. Then you can see the microphone under the camera where we get the return audio from the players.” AN ANALYSTS DELIGHT William Edwards is a broadcast operator in the Virtual Eye technology van, which is positioned about the length of a pitch away from the main broadcast truck. This van drips diamonds when it comes to providing insights as well. The crew staffing the Virtual Eye truck have all played cricket at various levels and love the sport, and have also covered elite golf tournaments, top-level baseball and also the America’s Cup. They aim to provide the best experience at every international event they attend and are delighted to be contributing to the broader Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports offering. Edwards explains there are four cameras dedicated to tracking the ball every single delivery and the information provided enables various technologies that enhance the spectacle. The detail features in graphics that portray, as examples, the DRS system, pitch maps, the wagon wheels as to where a batter has scored, the launch angle from the bat and so on. It also uses two cameras dedicated to tracking the players for every single ball, which provides a mini-map to allow the viewers to know where the cricketers are positioned. At Adelaide Oval on the opening day of the Second Test, the Flying Fox added to the detail and accuracy of what was broadcast. A prime example was the footage used to decide whether Nathan McSweeney had managed to execute a fine catch to dismiss KL Rahul. “If we didn’t have this technology and cricket broadcasted the way that we have it now, I probably wouldn’t watch cricket,” Edwards told foxsports.com.au . “I’d probably find it a little dull, to be honest, but being able to show what players are up to and how they’re moving, along with their decision making and the process behind it, and why they’re doing what they’re doing, it adds to the excitement to the game. “We’re trying to tell the most valuable stories that the general public wouldn’t be able to tell while watching the normal broadcast because we have access to dozens of cameras ... and we can show this before anyone else can see it. We work very closely with the producers at Fox so we can tell those stories.” Another innovation on the Fox Cricket coverage is HyperLayer, but the Virtual Eye team say this is only just the beginning of a new intelligence stream that will assist players, broadcasters and also the viewers to understand what is going on in the centre. Already this technology is providing detail for graphics on ball and bat speeds, for example, but in time ... well, it might just be able to tell us what is going to unfold based on probability. “The whole idea is that it could end up predicting what play could be the right one to make, it could be the right field to place, it could be better decision making than the players themselves are capable of,” Edwards said. As McNamara said, the aim is to provide the “Holy Grail” when it comes to broadcasting cricket. And in an intriguing series, the technology further magnifies the interest.BBC presenter living with brain tumour gives festive update