Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certainWindows 10 End-of-Life Alert: Millions Face a New Security TaxNone
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Many auto brands have jumped head-first into completely overhauling their top-sellers and icons, and fallen flat. Volkswagen, for example, has had issues with its latest Mk8 Golf , which lost the number one sales spot in Europe after 14 years in 2022; the current Land Rover Discovery was a big departure from its predecessors and has paid the price for it in terms of sales; and Mercedes-AMG has tuned away V8 lovers by plopping a four-cylinder PHEV powertrain into its C63 and GLC63 . Porsche avoided such blunders by making its first all-electric vehicle, the Taycan, a dedicated EV with no predecessor for loyalists and statisticians to benchmark it against. But now, the hallowed German performance vehicle brand’s top-selling Macan has gone EV-only as key markets around the globe continue to tighten emissions regulations. Since the nameplate debuted 10 years ago, the Macan has cemented itself as the world’s favourite Porsche. Over its decade-long lifespan it offered a range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder (inline and V6 respectively, not boxer) engines, and has long been lauded as the driver’s pick in the mid-sized premium SUV class. Fast forward to 2024, and the second-generation ‘Macan Electric’ has thrown the internal combustion engine out the window and adopted an all-electric platform and powertrains. Like the original, however, it was co-developed with Audi and has strong genetic links to a sister SUV from the Ingolstadt brand – this time in the Q6 e-tron rather than the Q5 . Regardless, the Stuttgart carmaker reckons the battery-powered MkII Macan is better than its ICE forebear in just about every metric. It’s quicker and more tech laden, thanks in part to Porsche’s learnings from the standard-setting Taycan sedan and wagon. This sounds like a sure-fire recipe for success, but is it? To find out, we attended the Australian media launch of the new Macan in Brisbane to see if the new and much more expensive Macan EV is a fitting sequel to the popular original. The move to entirely battery-electric powertrains has bumped up the price of the Macan significantly, with even the entry-level single-motor ‘Macan’ costing over $30,000 more than the outgoing petrol variant it replaces. For reference, the previous Macan petrol range remains on sale while stocks last – see below for MY25 pricing. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool If you’ve sat in the latest Cayenne or the Taycan , you’ll feel at home in the new Macan. A big part of the generational jump here includes an increased level of interior digitalisation, as seen in Porsche’s larger models – think Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Taycan. But while the cabin tech upgrades are significant, the overall design and execution isn’t all that different to the most recent iteration of the old Macan, with familiar ergonomics and switchgear. Perhaps the biggest change is the new 12.6-inch digital instrument cluster, which is taken straight from those aforementioned models. It’s super sharp with buttery smooth animations, and offers a range of customisable layouts to suit different tastes. You can also option a swish augmented reality (AR) head-up display, but it’ll cost you $4120! The central infotainment system is likewise a sharp unit, based on the Android Automotive operating system. With its 10.9-inch touchscreen cleanly integrated into the dashboard, it offers connected services, third-party app compatibility, and requisite functions like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and embedded navigation. If you’re the particularly techy type, or have kids (or other passengers) in need of something to distract them while you’re on the road, you can also option an additional 10.9-inch touchscreen ahead of the front passenger, which is like a ‘lite’ version of the central display. Personally, I think it’s a bit naff and not worth the $2700 spend. As you’d expect, the overall ambience and sense of quality is right up there with the best in this segment, even if the piano black surfaces are vulnerable to fingerprint marks and hairline scratches after wiping dust off. The toggle-style climate controls mixed in with touch capacitive buttons is very modern Porsche, and while the latter are fiddly there’s nice clicky feedback from both the physical toggles and the touch buttons. Storage is pretty good but not overwhelmingly so, with a range of nooks and crannies to stow your odds and ends. I like the damped drawer lid over the wireless phone charger, which stops your phone flying around when you’re giving it a squirt up a winding B-road or on the racetrack – unlike the Polestar 4 we drove recently. Up front we sampled a couple of different seat specs in various vehicles, and the standard Comfort seats with 14-way electrical adjustment are fine – though the 18-way adaptive sports seats are even better. The optional ventilated front seats helped quite a bit during a hot and humid Queensland day, though $1710 is a pretty penny. You can even get massaging with ventilation, for a ‘cool’ $2860. In the second row, the Macan has never offered limousine levels of passenger space, but nor have rivals like the Q5, BMW X4 or Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. Thankfully though, there has been a small but noticeable improvement to most dimensions, which now allow 6’1′′ me to sit behind 6’1′′ me snugly. Standard rear seat amenities include a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, bottle holders in the doors, and directional air vents. You can option luxe four-zone climate control, but that’ll cost you $810 on all but the Turbo. It’s disappointing that the added 86mm in wheelbase hasn’t resulted in a similar improvement in rear passenger accommodation, given the Macan is often bought by families with multiple children. Further back, the Macan’s boot has grown to 540 litres with all seats in place, which is up around 50 litres on the old model. That grows to 1348 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s additional 84 litres of storage under the bonnet, in lieu of an internal combustion engine. It’s accessed via a touch-capacitive lid that can be opened by swiping your hand across the lower end of the shut line – though my attempt to film it for an Instagram reel required a few takes because it didn’t seem to respond every time. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Gone is the internal combustion engine, which is replaced by the aforementioned front storage area that’s more in line with the company’s rear-engined sports cars, come to think of it... It’s worth noting that all Macan variants offer an overboost function that raises the maximum power output by about 10 per cent when using launch control. The claimed 0-100km/h times above are using launch control, too. Also worth noting is that Porsche Cars Australia’s range claims are based on the ECE standard, which is more closely based on the older NEDC measurement than the newer, more accurate WLTP protocol. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Perhaps the most important question here is: “does it still drive like a Porsche Macan?” In short, the answer is “mostly yes”. There’s certainly added urgency from its various electric drivetrain options to go with the welcome boost in interior tech levels, which brings the new Macan into line with the best rivals from premium and luxury brands. Our two-day launch event started with a drive from Brisbane airport down to Norwell Motorplex south of Queensland capital, followed on day two by a picturesque road drive from Brisbane through the hinterlands to the Gold Coast. The launch program centred around the Macan 4 and Turbo, since the base Macan and the 4S are still on the way to Australia despite already being on sale. We’ll bring you reviews of those when we can get behind the wheel. On the freeway, the Macan felt solid, secure and responsive. We started in a Turbo fitted with a number of options including big 22-inch wheels with carbon-fibre inserts, which cost nearly $15,000 (eek!) according to the local configurator. Even with the big rims and liquorice-thin rubber, the air-sprung Macan Turbo was comfortable over road imperfections and maintained great body control at everyday cornering speeds and on the highway. Road noise and wind noise were also impressively hushed. It’s worth calling out here the Macan’s impressive 0.25Cd drag coefficient figure, which no doubt aids the latter. And I continue to marvel at the ability of Porsche engineers to calibrate what I believe to be the perfect steering calibration when it comes to balancing response, weight and feedback, even in an SUV like the Macan. The Macan’s tiller feels incredibly accurate and the quick ratio means you aren’t twirling the wheel to do basic manoeuvres like you might in some other SUVs. It also has a great, weighty feeling about centre. At Norwell Motorplex we were given ample time to test out the Macan’s dynamic capabilities across a variety of exercises including a motorkhana-style handling course, drifting on the wet skid pan, 0-100km/h runs using launch control, and guided laps around the tight and technical circuit. The motorkhana was good fun and a great opportunity to test out the Macan 4’s sweet handling balance, while the launch control tests really demonstrated the Turbo’s monstrous 1130Nm of torque from standstill. We didn’t hook up timing gear, but it feels every bit as quick as the official 3.3-second claim, which based on Porsche tradition is likely a low-ball figure. On the skid pan we got the chance to get the Turbo a little sideways, upsetting the balance of the vehicle by opening the throttle on a rotating plate then getting skiddy on the wet concrete. The final exercise comprised a couple of guided laps around the tight circuit in the 4 and the Turbo, which again revealed the 4 to be the more balanced and sweeter steerer; the Turbo in comparison felt a little too powerful and heavy to be thrown around at pace on a circuit better suited to lightweight sports cars. On the road drive the following day, both variants proved to be lovely tourers, combining superb general comfort and refinement with strong performance, great steering feel, and eager handling. The Macan 4’s circa-75kg weight advantage is due to the smaller and less powerful electric motor on the rear axle relative to the Turbo, and there definitely is a sense that it is the lighter and more agile handler of the two. Keep in mind that even a V8-engined Cayenne is lighter than the Macan Electric... As we experienced on track at Norwell, the Turbo almost feels like too much in the sense that it’s so quick you can’t have much fun with it. Plus, its 2.4-tonne heft can’t defy physics in the kind of tight and technical conditions we drove it on during this event. I’m also not sure that many existing Macan owners will be particularly enamoured by the Porsche Electric Sport Sound, even if the old car’s turbocharged V6s weren’t particularly pleasing to the ear. The synthesised ‘engine’ note is standard in the Turbo and optional in lower grades, and while it works in the Taycan it lacks a bit of soul compared to the new Macan’s petrol forebears. The lack of one-pedal driving might also be irksome for a traditional EV buyer, but I’d imagine Porsche customers prefer the more conventional experience of controlling the brakes themselves. I’m also in the latter camp when it comes to driving an EV in a more dynamic manner. While it has grown in most dimensions, the Macan handles mostly like a smaller car, with the quick steering pointing a nose that’s eager to turn in, and a taut chassis that minimises body roll even during spirited on-road driving. As I noted earlier, it’s a really sweet thing to steer, and you don’t have to be driving at 10-10ths to enjoy it. To be frank, you’d almost never be driving the Macan at the limit anyway – it just isn’t that kind of vehicle. There’s heaps of grip and even in the 4 you can blast out of apexes early than anticipated with immediate, clinical effect, thanks to 650Nm of twist from the moment you prod the throttle. It really gives you the confidence to have a little fun on tight and twisty roads in a way that not a lot of SUVs do. That said, something like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N delivers a more focused and sports car-like experience that will better suit keen drivers looking to dip their toes into the EV world – yes, Hyundai’s electric SUV is that good. Porsche has never been known for its ‘hands-off’ driving tech, but when the roads straighten out you can make use of the expanded and intuitive suite of driver assistance functions available in the new Macan. The adaptive cruise control does an excellent job of maintaining a set speed while managing the distance between you and a vehicle in front, without jerking the brakes or seesawing the speed. However, there’s no Active Lane Keeping function like in the Cayenne, which basically facilitates semi-autonomous driving on the freeway. There is a more basic lane keep assist system, which will counter-steer and alert you if you start drifting out of your lane, and there are handy blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert sensors that compensate for the Macan’s coupe-like roofline and thick C-pillar. Even better, the surround cameras (standard in Australia) make parking this 4784mm-long, 1938mm-wide electric SUV a much easier process – there are no excuses for dinged bumpers or scraped alloys. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Porsche is pretty vague about the standard specifications of its vehicles, though Porsche Cars Australia does detail additional equipment for our market compared to the global spec. Macan equipment highlights: Macan 4 adds: Macan 4S adds: Macan Turbo adds: Australian additional equipment – all models: Australian additional equipment – select models: To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Macan Electric hasn’t been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP yet. Its predecessor scored five stars in 2014, though this rating for the outgoing model has expired. Standard safety features include: As noted earlier, some standard safety features in Australian-spec Macans are in addition to the global standard specification. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Porsche Cars Australia persists with a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which lags behind its competitors. Also unlike its key rivals, Porsche doesn’t do advertised or capped service pricing, meaning prices can vary between Porsche Centres. Sadly, there’s also no official partnership or charging subscription tied to any public charger providers. To see how the Porsche Macan lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Porsche has managed to maintain the essence of the Macan in this all-electric sequel, but it didn’t quite wow me like I thought it would, given how much I loved the heavily upgraded Taycan. Make no mistake, it feels unmistakably Macan in flavour, in that it’s a comfortable, refined and punchy mid-size luxury crossover wagon with one of the sweetest steering calibrations in the segment. Despite its weight, that shouldn’t come as a surprise since the old Macan was widely regarded as one of the world’s most dynamic SUVs. So the new all-electric underpinnings have unlocked more performance, but not necessarily better or more engaging handling. It’s quick – bloody quick in Turbo guise – but it’s also quite heavy and you can feel its mass more so than in the Taycan, particularly when you put it on a tight circuit like Norwell. Things get much better and more fun on a winding B-road, even if it’s a lot heavier than the old MLB-based original, making you hesitant to push like you would in one of Porsche’s sports cars, which is to be expected given this is an SUV. I’ve only driven the Macan 4 and the Turbo, but the lower-spec variants could well be my pick given they’re more than quick enough for the target demographic and will save you a big wad of cash for options and anything else you might want to funnel your funds towards. While the rear-drive Macan range-opener is the lightest and should be the most dynamic, the incoming 4S shapes as a potential sweet spot because of its improved performance while still maintaining a big price gap to the Turbo. Keep in mind, the 4S is quicker than even the fastest previous-generation Macan GTS. As you’d expect, the cabin is lovely and the new Macan offers more space than the old one, which has long been a key criticism. There’s also a much improved tech suite that brings the smaller and more attainable SUV in line with the larger Cayenne, as well as the likes of Porsche’s Taycan e-hero. But it’s still not all that big inside compared to some of its German rivals, and the lower grades in particular need a number of option boxes ticked to make the Macan feel properly special – and that can add up to some serious cash, on top of the substantial price increase for the new model, which means you’re pushing into Taycan territory. Then there’s the superficial stuff like the new exterior design, which appears to be polarising if the commentary on our site and socials is any guide, and the fact the departure of the old model’s combustion engines has taken a lot of the Macan’s soul with them. But with a more objective lens, the new Macan does a great job of transitioning into a sporty electric crossover, and continues to offer Porsche hallmarks like strong performance and fulsome handling. It will be interesting to see how warmly the original Macan’s traditional buyer demographic embraces the much more expensive and far quieter replacement for Porsche’s best-seller. Interested in buying a Porsche Macan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Porsche MacanSeason 14 of Overwatch 2 launches on Dec. 10, and it will welcome a new hero — Scottish punk rock tank Hazard — to Blizzard Entertainment’s hero shooter. The upcoming season of Overwatch 2 will also feature the game’s next major crossover, Avatar: The Last Airbender , based on new teasers released on Thursday. Blizzard doesn’t reveal much about the impending Overwatch 2 -meets- Avatar collab, save for a peek at what appears to be an Aang skin for Zenyatta. On social media, the developer also hinted that Venture — an Overwatch 2 hero with a criminally low number of skins — would get one themed around earthbender Toph Beifong. That would leave a waterbender and firebender still to be identified as part of the Overwatch roster. It’s not clear yet what the extent of the Overwatch 2 -meets- Avatar crossover will entail, but players should expect a handful of skins — most if not all of them requiring the premium currency Overwatch Coins to unlock. Avatar: The Last Airbender will represent the third major animated tie-in with Overwatch, following collaborations with series One Punch Man and Cowboy Bebop . Blizzard has also welcomed K-pop group Le Sserafim , Hasbro’s Transformers , and brands Porsche, Lego, and Gentle Monster into Overwatch over the years. In addition to the ATLA collab, Overwatch 2 season 14 will include a number of returning modes and limited-time events, including Winter Wonderland, Lunar New Year, and Overwatch 2 Classic . The return of Classic mode will bring its balance back to the Moth old meta era, when Mercy dominated the game, ultimately forcing Blizzard to rework her. Overwatch 2 is available to play for free on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Avatar: The Last Airbender Gaming News Nintendo Overwatch PC PlayStation Xbox Overwatch 2
As Jalen Suggs watched from the bench in the second half of Saturday’s contest between the Magic and the Pistons at Kia Center , the fourth-year pro noticed something in particular about his team. “When you look at those really good teams around the league, those playoff teams, veteran-led teams, no matter how the game flow goes, first quarter, second quarter,” he told reporters in the locker room. “There’s never a thought or feel that they’re going to lose those games. “We’re starting to garner that,” he added about coach Jamahl Mosley ‘s squad that won its eighth in the last nine games. Suggs, who exited Orlando ‘s 111-100 win early in the second quarter due to a sore left hamstring, was the latest Magic starter to suffer a injury this season following Paolo Banchero (torn right abdominal muscle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (left foot plantar fasciitis), who haven’t played in weeks. But even without that core trio on the court, the Magic (11-7) found a way to extend its second half lead to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter against Detroit (7-11) and remain undefeated (8-0) at home. “Knowing we walk into these games hurt, tired, long-stretch, a lot going on, there was never a believe that this team was going to come in and beat us,” Suggs said. “Which isn’t a discredit to them. They’ve got some good basketball players over there and really been playing good this year. “And they were down Cade [Cunningham] which, I hope he gets well, but [the result] more speaks on us and the growth and maturity that we’re applying over here,” he added. “Everyone stepped up.” Beede’s Breakdown: How Magic handled business vs. visiting Pistons And the Magic guard is right. As has been the case since Banchero’s injury, Franz Wagner continued to score with ease (30 points on 50% shooting from the field) and had help from the Magic’s bench that outscored Detroit’s 55-45. That help included 18 points and 7 rebounds from his older brother, Moe Wagner, and 12 rebounds and 3 blocks from Jonathan Isaac, who added 5 points. There was also Anthony Black, who had 11 points with 5 assists and 2 steals after starting the second half in place of Suggs. And Franz Wagner will need more of the same from his supporting cast when Orlando travels to Charlotte (6-10) on Monday, especially if Carter isn’t available. Suggs declined to speak at length about his hamstring injury but told reporters in the locker room he’s “good.” “I’m solid,” he said. “I’m good. Good win [Saturday night].” Orlando’s initial injury report for the Charlotte game confirmed his post-game comments. Suggs wasn’t even listed on the report, meaning he’s expected to be available despite missing most of Saturday’s contest. Carter, who’s again considered questionable to play, continued to do some work pre-game on the court but was ruled out for his 11th consecutive contest. “He’s gone through some pretty, pretty strenuous workouts so we’re going to continue to see how he responds to those and we’ll go from there,” Mosley said of the Magic center, who hasn’t played since Nov. 3 at Dallas. Regardless, Orlando’s mindset doesn’t change entering the game at the Hornets, whom the Magic defeated by 25 points at home two weeks ago. “We talk about doing it by committee,” Mosley said. “One guy goes down and each guy knows the next person is able to step up and make the right plays for this team.” Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
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The question of who uses which bathroom on Capitol Hill has become a heated topic ahead of the 119th U.S. Congress convening next year. This debate was sparked by the historic election of Sarah McBride , a transgender woman, to represent Delaware in Congress. In response, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution aiming to require transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first transgender woman in Montana's state legislature, understands what it feels like to be singled out. She joined Scripps News on Friday to weigh in on the controversy unfolding in D.C. "It's important to acknowledge that while these attacks on transgender people are always brought one bill at a time, they do not focus on specific issues," Zephyr said. "The hate of trans people is boundless. We saw that when Nancy Mace went on far-right media earlier this week and claimed that it was 'offensive' that Congresswoman McBride views herself as an equal to Nancy Mace." "When we see policies targeting trans women just trying to live their lives in the restroom, trying to play sports with their friends — that is not where the hate stops from the right," Zephyr said. "That hate is on display at every moment, which is why it's important for us to resist these efforts to target our community." In 2023, Republican lawmakers in Montana voted to ban Zephyr from the House floor and from participating in debates after she spoke out against a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors. The incident led to legal challenges over Zephyr's censure and to political activism from supporters of transgender rights. "The attacks we see on trans people will escalate. This will not be the last attack on Congresswoman McBride," Zephyr said. "In my perspective, it is important that we make sure as trans people in this country that we do not cede ground to someone who wants to erase us — regardless of whether they want to erase us in the Capitol, or if they want to erase us as we go through our daily lives in public. We have to stand strong." In an interview with Scripps News this week, Mace said her resolution was specifically targeted at Rep.-elect McBride, who stated she will "follow the rules as outlined" even if she disagrees with them. "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," McBride said . "I'm here to fight for Delawareans to bring down the costs facing families." Despite McBride's statement, Mace said her effort to ban transgender individuals from certain bathrooms extends beyond Washington. She is advocating for legislation requiring transgender people to use restrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth on any property receiving public funds. "I have PTSD from the sexual abuse I have suffered at the hands of a man. We have to as women draw a line in the sand, a big fat red line, about our rights," Mace said. "And the basic question today is, do women have rights or do we not? And I will tell you just the idea of a man in a locker room watching me change clothes after a workout is a huge trigger and it's not OK to make and force women to be vulnerable in private spaces." RELATED STORY | As House GOP targets McBride, she says 'I'm not here to fight about bathrooms'Wild F Kirill Kaprizov (knee) sits out against Flames
Andy Murray será el entrenador de Novak Djokovic en el Abierto de AustraliaWater-related disasters currently make up over 90% of all disasters on Earth, with record-breaking floods and droughts making headlines around the world. Over the past ten years, the number of fatalities from these catastrophes has doubled. Climate change, warming surface water temperatures, and more aggressive hurricanes making their way up to some of the planet’s oldest mountains in North Carolina have all contributed to a growing awareness that rising temperatures have disrupted the entire water infrastructure of the Appalachians. For a mountain city, the recovery is multi-layered. I used to worry that the next generation would have to go through this, but now I wonder whether it will be much worse. The city of Asheville has worked tirelessly and diligently to do a good job in an unexpectedly unfortunate and difficult crisis. Climate change has made the weather more changeable and unpredictable, and Asheville has done its best with infrastructure that needs much improvement. The city had actually made preparations for flooding a while back (video below). It could have been worse. Of course, it can also be improved. And thanks to the Biden administration , more care will be possible . The video below demonstrates how many more people might have been harmed or killed if things had gone differently. It’s a brief but intriguing overview. I quote Jeff Bridges in my title because of a documentary, Living in the Future’s Past , between him and Susan Kucera that was touching and relevant. Susan and I talked for well over an hour about the documentary, an interview I will never forget. Bridges questions our hearts, not cheap attitudes of miseducation. Sometimes I digress too easily, but with water, everything is connected. Bridges addressed our hearts and how they respond to climate change, rather than our complacence, greed, ignorance, or denial. After nearly two weeks without showering — three weeks for some — many people in Asheville were relieved. Water, yet unsafe, began to flow again. The backed-up toilets could flush. Calls, texts, and emails came four times a day to remind us not to allow children to sip or drink water while they were taking a shower. The city was still finding bacteria in the water. During the experience, I was more distraught about Gaza, Sudan, and all the conflict zones where water might never reappear . The floods that left the damage reminded me of images of Libya last year. (4,300 people died in Libya, while more than 8,500 went missing.) Because of the shock, the perspiration, and the deprivation of water for my face, hands, feet, and teeth, I kept thinking about what children in war zones have to deal with on a daily basis. Asheville would get the water back on. Those children may spend most of their lives with a difficult relationship to daily water supply, baths, and hydration. And the toilets. I considered people like Beloved Asheville , Patricia Arquette , and others who work for nonprofits that supply toilets to those in need around the world. Patricia Arquette founded GiveLove in January 2010 after the devastating earthquake in Haiti . Besides building the toilets hands-on, they are teaching and promoting ecological sanitation and composting. Beloved Asheville came to anyone’s aid, whether they had an ID or not. (How do you have an ID in an unexpected flood that destroys your property and sinks your car?) Like many boomers who grew up watching Vietnam on television, I know conflict also affects who gets water and who decides if some children need to be overlooked or worse. Long before “reality TV,” there was footage of actual reality on our black-and-white TVs. It was starkly vivid. At the age of 10 or 11, we boomers saw children running naked and burning alive; these images were etched in our memories, and we were taught at an early age that war created a lack of compassion and humanity. Climate change is also caused by conflicts and causing conflict. First of all, to really dive into this topic, download The Pacific Institute’s brief Water Resilience . Environmentally, Biden and Harris are doing nicely with their work in this field. Their administration will be noted for its continued focus on climate and the environment. See: “ Biden-Harris Administration Announces $125 Million Investment for Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects .” The Department of the Interior has announced a $125 million investment into five projects in California and Utah that will help create new sources of water and improve drought resiliency. “These investments support the Department’s new Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, launched in 2023 with new funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new program incentivizes conservation projects at a larger scale, with no cap on project size, and will play an important role in helping communities develop local, drought-resistant water supplies by turning unusable water sources into clean, reliable ones. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history and is providing much-needed resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and climate change. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including rural water, water storage, conservation and conveyance, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse, and desalination. Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed in November 2021, Reclamation has announced more than $3.5 billion for more than 530 projects. “The projects selected are: $60.4 million for the City of San Buenaventura’s Ventura Water Program. It is estimated to produce 3,600 acre-feet of recycled water annually. $30 million for the Los Angeles Groundwater Replenishment Project. The project is estimated to produce 26,000 acre-feet annually. $26.2 million for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Pure Water Southern California. The project is estimated to produce 118,590 acre-feet annually. $10.8 million for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency of California Advanced Treatment of Recycled Water to Enhance Chino Basin Resiliency Project. The project is estimated to produce 15,000 acre-feet annually. $641,222 for the Washington County Water Conservancy District, Utah’s Regional Reuse system, which is estimated to produce 28,373 acre-feet annually. “This second round of funding builds upon the announcement of $179 million in May. This funding also advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative , which aims to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.” Modernizing water safety through the use of natural techniques, such as sponge cities, is another partial solution. Using more environmentally friendly technology in water infrastructure is a lot to think about. Creating a “sponge” deals with the two issues that cement- and asphalt-laden urban centers create and thus contend with — more heat risk and flooding risk. Imitating nature in the concrete jungle is a key solution. For more, see: “ Berlin & China Creating ‘Sponge Cities’ — Landscape Architects Help Cities Absorb Water, Cool Down .” Please leave more solutions in the comments. Asheville residents are now also in the process of emotional rehabilitation. I have survived numerous hurricanes on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and I can tell you that the people in Asheville are different, the crisis is different, and, most importantly, Asheville is kind. Below is one of many posts in Asheville about people employing kindness, from “ @witchesforhope .” “We keep us safe! Repost from @them “You know our systems are broke when 5 gay DJs can bring 10k of supplies back before the national guard does,” read a viral meme, referring to the work of mutual aid efforts in NC after the storm. It’s true. Long before FEMA had any presence in Western North Carolina, an all-trans group called the Pansy Collective (only two of whom are actually DJs) distributed six truckloads, two trailers, and a box truck filled with non-perishable food and crucial supplies to various hubs, including remote mountain locations where residents were unable to leave. Pansy Collective (@pansy.collective) was founded in 2016 as a response to the rising fascism in the US following Donald Trump’s election, with the mission to support those most affected by oppressive policies and hateful ideologies. Initially, the group organized punk shows, workshops, and teach-ins while also providing mutual aid funding for community members in emergencies. But after Hurricane Helene, the collective, along with other queer-run businesses and groups, became a lifeline for many Asheville residents affected by the storm.” CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook X Email Mastodon Reddit
'Dungeons & Dragons' is a cornerstone of big-business nerdworld. A top exec says Wizards of the Coast has a plan to keep the game hot for 50 more years.
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Charles attended the show for the first time as patron of the Royal Variety charity. The King seemed amused as he laughed at British comedian Matt Forde’s impression of President-elect Donald Trump on the stage of the Royal Variety Performance. Charles attended the show at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the first time as patron of the Royal Variety charity, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, he said: “The charity’s crucial work in assisting those who have fallen ill, had an accident or hit hard times is as essential now as it ever has been. “I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard to stage this year’s production and wish everyone a very enjoyable evening.” The performance saw political comic Forde reference the unfounded claims Mr Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield. Forde exclaimed in the president-elect’s voice: “They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs!” He then turned to address Charles from the stage, saying in Mr Trump’s voice: “Your Majesty King Charles, you’re named after a spaniel – be very careful, they’ll eat you alive.” The King was seen laughing in response to the joke from the royal box. Charles appeared at the event without the Queen, who insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.
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