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Economy Minister warns of ‘devastating impact’ on tourism sector as ETA scheme goes live In a press release issued by the Department for the Economy on Tuesday (7 January), Minister Conor Murphy MLA pressed the Home Office to reconsider their implementation of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, warning it will have a devastating impact on tourism in the region. Under the scheme, as of the 8 January, visitors …

Welcome to the first update of 2025 from the It’s Saturday morning once again so here’s another quick update of activity at the Open Journal of Astrophysics. For the new year we have started Volume 8. Since the last update of 2024 we have published four new papers which brings the total so far published by OJAp up to 239. In chronological order of publication, the four papers published this …

The Korean Herald presents a review article on Kang Yong-soo of the Institute of Philosophical Studies at Korea University and author of a best-selling book in South Korea titled Reading Schopenhauer at Forty. The article title suggests the relevance of Schopenhauer: “When relationships tire you out, try Schopenhauer.” URL: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3414442

In a lush, wooded pocket in Rouen, France, a meditation space rests on the forest floor. Designed by Linfeng Zhou of Vancouver-based LFZ Studio, “Le Monde dans un Gland,” or “The World in an Acorn,” invites visitors into its shell to have a seat and reflect. Diamond-shaped, interlocking panels of marine plywood nest together to create the scaled cupule of the nut, which allows light to pierce through and cast …

Dear RW readers, can you spare $25? The week at Retraction Watch featured: Meet Retraction Watch’s two new journalists Elsevier denies AI use in response to evolution journal board resignations Biotech company agrees to pay $4 million to settle data falsification allegations Science paper by Toronto lab retracted The 14 universities with publication metrics researchers say are too good to be true Our list of retracted or withdrawn COVID-19 papers …

Walking Lucie on a cold, clear late afternoon, the temperature hasn't risen above plus one all day and there's no doubt that tonight it will drop to minus four or five. Fishing plans have been suspended because every waterway in the Fens has a coating of ice. The was one piece of clear water I noticed the day before, it was under a tree, and I could see fish moving …

The Death Korps Veteran Kill Team was just the beginning. After a long wait, the new plastic Death Korps of Krieg range is finally here, kicking off with the army set. In our review, we'll be discussing the build options for all the new kits, including the new Death Riders and Combat Engineers. We'll also be taking a look at high-res sprue images and the new 10th Edition Warhammer 40,000 …

I have to admit that I’m a little proud of this one. It is the sort of mixtape I would have loved for someone else to have compiled - and for me to discover. Twelve compositions released in 2024 and two from 2023 is about as present tense that I’m capable of. Actually it’s way beyond my capabilities in that regard. I made a playlist titled «Strange Beauty», and somehow …

In our 89th episode, we talk about the wires that bring us the bits. And then Derrick the editor time travels. Enjoy it now, or download for later. Here’s a handy feed or subscribe via Overcast or iTunes. https://traffic.libsyn.com/rands/theimportantthing0089.mp3

Reverend Charles Samuel Stewart and his wife Harriet Bradford (Tiffany) Stewart were in the 2nd Company of missionaries that arrived at Honolulu April 27, 1823. On May 20 1823, Stewart wrote the following, noting some of his observations about life of the maka‘āinana (common people, as he called them) … “[The] class of the [common people] constitutes at least one hundred and forty-nine thousand of the one hundred and fifty …

8067/20998This morning I got an email from Phil Daoust, the occasional Guardian journaloust and it was like getting a message from a rock star.It wasn't even really to me personally - it was one that the Guardian was sending to everyone on its email list, but still. Phil Daoust. Emailing me. What a thrill.To be fair I don't know much about Phil Daoust - I didn't even know what he …

A quick reminder to those interested that our first meeting of 2024 is on Tuesday 14th January at the Crosse Keys pub in the City of London. Normally at least a couple of us are there by 6.30 p.m. Join us anytime in the evening. The pub promises to be warm despite the outside temperatures – and an evening there may save you the cost of heating your home that …

I was at a ReThink event about Penn Station the other day; it didn’t talk about through-running but about Penn Station redesign, as Richard Cameron presented options for rebuilding the station in-place, of course without expansion a block to the south. The presentation was interesting, and I have no strong opinions about the architecture, certainly no objection. But something said in there, I forget if by Richard or one of …

January 2025. Cambridge. From the Eagle it’s about 28 minutes back to Cambridge station if you don’t stop in the Fitzwilliam to knock over a priceless Ming vase; I reckoned I could do it in 18 minutes and get a half in the Old Ticket Office. I did it in 17, then remembered this sign I’d seen on the platform last trip; and I realised how rarely I have a …

All is frozen. I already had a full day planned, but had a request dropped on me late last night, so I’m offline until tomorrow except for friends.