[ad_1] Open Casting Begins For HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series For Harry, Ron and Hermione [ad_2] View Reddit by cmaia1503 – View Source

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[ad_1] By Ben Nagle Published: 17:09 EDT, 13 September 2024 | Updated: 17:28 EDT, 13 September 2024 Christian McCaffrey has been ruled out of Week 2 of the NFL season and the San Francisco 49ers are considering placing him on injured reserve, it has been reported. The NFL’s star running back missed the team’s Week 1 win over the Jets and was questionable for Week 2 as he continues to battle a calf injury and Achilles tendonitis. His status has now finally been confirmed, with head coach Kyle Shanahan revealing that he is out for the trip to Minnesota on Sunday. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero has since reported that the 49ers are considering placing McCaffrey on injured reserve, which would mean he is out for this week and the following three games. The news would come as a huge blow to one of the Super Bowl favorites, who could lose their star man until at least the middle of October. Christian McCaffrey won’t play this weekend and could miss significant game-time 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (pictured) said they are considering putting him on the IR The Niners are in Minnesota for an NFC clash with the Vikings on Sunday, before they play the Rams, Patriots and Cardinals. If McCaffrey is placed on the IR, the first game he would be eligible to play is in Seattle on October 10. Shanahan revealed on Friday evening that Thursday was McCaffrey’s ‘worst day yet’ as he continues to battle injury. The decision to hold McCaffrey out of Monday night’s 32-19 Week 1 win over the New York Jets came as a surprise to many and upset plenty of fantasy football players who had taken the star running back with one of the top picks in their drafts. Jordan Mason was an able replacement for McCaffrey in the running back position on Monday McCaffrey is married to model, influencer and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo (pictured) McCaffrey had been listed as questionable on the injury report but said Friday he expected to play. Adding more confusion to the issue was a postgame interview on television by fill-in Jordan Mason, who said he was told Friday that he would get the start. Shanahan said the decision was not made until Monday and that he only told Mason to prepare to possibly have a heavier load with McCaffrey dealing with the injury. It now looks as though Mason will see plenty more of the ball in the coming weeks after he impressed against the Jets, proving himself a worthy replacement at running back.  McCaffrey got injured early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field last week, but has been in and out of sessions since then. MinnesotaSan Francisco 49ers Share or comment on this article: Christian McCaffrey’s status for Week 2 revealed – as he continues to battle calf injury and Achilles tendonitis [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Donald Trump said he would enlist Elon Musk to run a “government efficiency commission” if he wins a second term as US president. Speaking to the Economic Club of New York on Thursday, Trump said the X owner had agreed to head a task force to conduct a “complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government” and make “recommendations for drastic reforms.” The two men have alluded to the idea for several weeks, but Thursday’s comments were Trump’s most direct indication yet that he might want Mr Musk to play a role in his potential second administration. “I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” Mr Musk posted on X on Thursday morning. “No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.” Asked by the BBC if Trump and Mr Musk had formally agreed on a role on such a commission, campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes said that “It is premature to discuss any prospective personnel in the next administration, but we welcome the enthusiasm and support of Elon Musk.” The two have not always seen eye-to-eye, but Mr Musk and Trump have recently forged a friendlier public relationship during the 2024 US presidential election. The controversial tech billionaire endorsed the former president in July, after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania, and has said he is contributing money to a fundraising group that supports the Republican’s campaign. “I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’” Mr Musk said during an online conversation with Trump on 13 August, which he hosted on X. “We need to live within our means.” A few days later, on 19 August, Mr Musk posted an apparently AI-generated image of himself at a podium labelled “Department of Government Efficiency” and declared in the caption, “I am willing to serve”. Some internet users appreciated the hypothetical agency name as a joke, as the initials for the proposed task force spell “doge” – a long-running meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog which also inspired the name of a cryptocurrency. But Trump has indicated he is serious about working with the outspoken SpaceX and Tesla boss should he retake the White House in November. “When Elon started the conversation with the president, I think the president was very excited that somebody like Elon Musk is so dedicated to America’s future that he would be willing to be a part of something to help the government work more efficiently,” Mr Hughes told reporters on Thursday, according to CNBC. The former president made his announcement in New York before a high-profile, members-only group of business leaders. Founded in 1907, the Economics Club of New York has hosted speeches from figures such as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Trump last addressed the group in 2019, where he received a warm reception. The former president mostly focused on the economy. He repeated calls to cut taxes and regulation, open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and said he would raise tariffs to promote US manufacturing – at one point promising to restore auto industry employment to its peak decades ago. He also proposed an especially low tax rate of 15% for companies that make products in the US, in contrast to the 20% general rate he proposed for companies. His opponent Kamala Harris has suggested a 28% rate. Trump brushed off concerns that tax cuts might worsen the US budget deficit, saying the US would “make our money back on growth” and proposed creating a national investment fund with money collected from tariffs. The audience was largely quiet, though many attendees clapped when Trump discussed Mr Musk’s endorsement. During a question-and-answer session, Trump was asked if he would roll back sanctions to Russia, which he did not specifically address. He did say, however, that he believes the Biden administration has used the tool too widely in general. Trump said he prefers to use sanctions for short periods and “as little as possible”, so that countries are not encouraged to seek out international alternatives to the US financial system and the dollar. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Cardiovascular health behaviors and overall cardiovascular health were directly associated with adolescent brain development and cognitive function, according to UTHealth Houston research published recently in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity. Led by first author Augusto César F. De Moraes, PhD, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, researchers found that adolescents with healthier cardiovascular behaviors showed higher cognitive and executive function. “While there have been studies on cardiovascular health and cognitive function in adults, less is known about these associations in adolescents,” said De Moraes, who is with the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the school. “Our study fills this gap by evaluating multiple aspects of cardiovascular health and their relationship with brain structure and cognitive performance in a younger demographic.” The research team analyzed secondary research from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study of the National Institutes of Health, an ongoing study that focuses on brain development and overall health in adolescents. The study team analyzed a series of blood samples and standardized assessments, including neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and surveys of 978 adolescents. Researchers based the analysis of cardiovascular health in each individual on methodology from the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8. It includes eight components of cardiovascular health: diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and fasting glucose.  “These lifestyle behaviors contribute to anti-inflammatory effects, crucially countering chronic inflammation known to be associated with cognitive decline,” said De Moraes.  A questionnaire and MRI assessed executive function and cortical brain volume. The study team found that overall cardiovascular health (eight components combined) is most strongly associated with the whole brain cortical volume. “Our study emphasizes the importance of early prevention and intervention strategies focusing on enhancing cardiovascular health, which reflects in better brain and cognitive development,” De Moraes said. “Public health initiatives encouraging physical activity, balanced diets, adequate sleep, and healthy lifestyles could substantially benefit cognitive development and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular and mental diseases.” De Moraes said further research is needed to understand the causal mechanisms linking cardiovascular health to brain health and cognitive function. “Longitudinal studies could provide insights into how changes in cardiovascular health over time affect cognitive development, helping to refine intervention strategies,” De Moraes said. “This is our next step; we will continue following these adolescents and understand the long-term effect of heart health on brain development.” Additional UTHealth Houston authors included Ethan H. Hunt, PhD, MPH, and Harold W. Kohl, PhD, MSPH (in memoriam). Other authors included Gregory Knell, PhD, MS, with The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth; John Virostko, PhD, with The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School; Susan S. Tapert, PhD, with University of California San Diego; and Marcus V. Nascimento-Ferreira, PhD, with University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Media inquiries: 713-500-3030 [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Video | Padellers krijgen publiek op de banken in Ahoy na waanzinnige rally [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Shedeur Sanders puts all the blame on his offensive line for his sloppy play against Nebraska. “How many times did Raiola (Nebraskas QB) get touched?” Colorado lost 28-10. [ad_2] View Reddit by GreenSnakes_ – View Source

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[ad_1] By Jake Nisse Published: 15:30 EDT, 13 September 2024 | Updated: 16:20 EDT, 13 September 2024 Tiger Woods has undergone surgery for nerve impingement in his lower back, he announced. The 48-year-old said in a statement posted to his X page that ‘the surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024. ‘I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.’  The surgery was formally referred to as ‘microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine.’ Woods has dealt with extensive injury issues in recent years, as he was involved in a serious car accident in 2021 that broke his right leg and ankle and required emergency surgery. Tiger Woods announced that he’s had another procedure – this time on his lower back He later had another ankle surgery in 2023 to address lingering issues from the crash. His most-recently announced back procedure is also believed to be the sixth he’s received just on that area of the body. It’s been a difficult year for Woods on the course, as he withdrew from the Genesis Invitational with flu-like symptoms before making the cut in just one of four Majors. Woods finished 16-over-par after four rounds in Augusta but did not make the cuts at the PGA Championship, US Open and British Open. The 15-time Major winner’s last big win came in 2019, when he won The Masters. Woods missed the cut at the British Open in July as he posted a +14 through two rounds Since then, he has not played much golf due to injury and missed most of the 2023 season due to the subtalar fusion procedure he had performed stemming from the car accident. Earlier this week, Woods was slammed for his ‘disgusting and unacceptable’ decision to meet with LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian backers in New York City – just a day before the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center . Both sides of golf’s civil war are hoping to finally work out a deal following the announcement of a shock merger between LIV and the PGA Tour in June 2023.  However, 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson released a damning statement criticizing Woods for taking the meeting just a day before the anniversary of the attacks, calling it ‘incredibly painful that the Tour and Woods would do this—especially now.’ Share or comment on this article: Tiger Woods announces he’s undergone ANOTHER surgery for nerve impingement in lower back [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Chris Baraniuk It’s estimated that one third of the world’s airline seats are made in Northern Ireland In a warehouse building in a quiet town in Northern Ireland, a robot arm is opening and closing an airplane meal table over and over again. It has been programmed to carry out this mundane task no fewer than 28,000 times, day and night, for more than a week. And it won’t even get a bag of peanuts. “We can measure the force that the robot’s having to apply to that,” says Gerald King, head of engineering at Thompson Aero Seating in Banbridge. “Is it increasing? Which means more friction.” Thompson makes first class and business class seats – the expensive kind usually at the front of passenger aircraft, with their own privacy-simulating enclosures, built-in entertainment systems, and heaps of leg room. The company has various machines for testing the longevity and safety of such seats. Including a new £7.5m facility, opened last autumn, where crash test dummies are strapped to a seat and shot down a short track at incredible speeds. The idea is to ensure that the seat – and passenger – would survive a brief exposure to 16 g’s. It is the only facility of its kind on the island of Ireland. Perhaps surprisingly, just under one third of the world’s aircraft seats are manufactured in Northern Ireland, according to Invest NI, an economic development agency. Thompson, which was bought by a Chinese company in 2016, is one of a few businesses in the region that specialise in this trade. The firm currently churns out roughly 1,500 seats per year. Another major Northern Ireland-based supplier of seats is Collins Aerospace, in Kilkeel. There is also Alice Blue Aero, in Craigavon. One of the largest seat manufacturing companies worldwide is Safran. It has facilities on six continents. But, thanks to the pandemic, demand for aircraft seats has flip-flopped dramatically of late. When Covid-19 emerged, the aerospace manufacturing industry slowed to a crawl. Globally, companies laid off thousands of workers. Thompson, for one, cut its own workforce in half, and has faced financial losses running to many millions. The world has at last opened up again, but seat manufacturers have not been able to find all the skilled workers they need, meaning that demand, globally speaking, is outstripping supply. It is a “very difficult situation”, Airbus’ chief executive said in June, referring to the slow supply of seats and other cabin parts. “The industry lost that expertise, both in terms of direct, hands-on manufacturing, but also in terms of teaching younger people how to do the job,” explains Nick Cunningham, an analyst at Agency Partners who tracks the fortunes of another seat maker, Safran. One of the problems, he adds, is that seat makers are finding it hard to get their seats tested and certified quickly by third-parties, since they are also facing labour shortages. Chris Baraniuk Testing and certifying airlines seats has held up production Thompson, however, can sidestep this problem with its in-house testing facilities, explains Colm McEvoy, vice president of corporate accounts. He says that the firm is able to meet its customers’ needs at present, though he adds, “We’re having to be very strategic with regards to the new customers.” There are more than 650 people working at Thompson’s sites in Northern Ireland, but, at the time of writing, the company had more than a dozen job vacancies listed on its website. “We’re in competition with other manufacturing companies to try and secure the best talent,” says Mr McEvoy. Despite this challenge, Thompson has a five-year plan to multiply its annual output of seats. Mr McEvoy shows me around the factory floor at the firm’s Portadown site, where workers are busy riveting aluminium seat parts together, and checking the complex wiring for the entertainment systems in these expensive structures – each seat costs “tens of thousands” to make, says Mr McEvoy. “This seat in front of you is the most complex seat we make,” adds Eoin Murray, operations manager. It takes around 100 hours for the highly skilled workers here to assemble in full. More Technology of Business Mr Murray is determined to boost the rate of production on this factory floor. He shows off a jig, developed in-house, upon which a seat can be mounted and angled so that workers can easily access the sides or underside. “This allows us to hit like a rate 14,” says Mr Murray – 14 seats produced in one shift. “I need to get to 18. To 20,” he adds. To that end, there’s another even more capable version of the jig in the room next door, a prototype that staff here hope will be even better. Mr Murray and his colleagues are also developing new working practices – such as utility belts with tools arranged in the sequence they are required. If the worker is left-handed, that sequence can be reversed so that the process of picking a tool and carrying out a task with it is as rapid as possible. Workers here rehearse and hone key stages of seat assembly, which helps them go faster. A bit like learning how to build the same piece of Ikea furniture over and over again until it becomes like muscle memory, I suggest – just a lot more complicated. “We can seamlessly slot people in, and they can now work through these different stages with no computers,” says Mr Murray. “When I started working here, if you told me I would be working without a computer I’d have told you [that] you were crazy.” Chris Baraniuk More and more technology is going into airline seats Besides volume, there is constant pressure to come up with new and better seat designs, says Mr McEvoy. Airlines want the latest and best entertainment technology, for example – 32 inch screens are now included in Thompson’s top seats. “They’re striving for something different, something that makes them unique,” Mr McEvoy adds. Thompson uses leather

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[ad_1] (Illustration via Talker Research) By Talker The majority of parents would give up social media, vacations for life and even their best friend—all for their child’s well-being. The survey of 2,000 parents of children aged 0–8 looked at what parents would be willing to give up if it meant their child was happy and healthy as the back-to-school season approaches, with the season’s first colds and flus to follow. If their child could be healthy mentally and emotionally, parents would be willing to give up social media (76%), their smartphone (61%) and even electricity (39%). Concerts (71%) and sporting events (71%) would also be off the table and 66% said they’d even give up trips and holidays for the peace of mind, knowing their child’s wellbeing is in tip-top shape. But activities weren’t the only thing on the table. Respondents were also asked about the relationships they’d be willing to forgo. Many said they would give up their best friend (60%), living with their partner (41%), or the ability to talk to their own parents (40%) if it could somehow keep their child from coming down with any illnesses or ailments. Taking things a step further, the average parent would be willing to go more than $30,000 in debt in order for their child to be treated quickly for a cold or the flu for the rest of their lives. By Talker Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of TYLENOL, the survey moved from these hypothetical “what ifs” to explore what it is parents actually do to keep their child as happy and healthy as they can. Almost two-thirds (63%) of parents said keeping their child healthy is their top priority during the back-to-school season. This may be why a majority noted that, in addition to new supplies (85%) and new clothes (82%), medications (52%) and hand sanitizer (75%) are just as essential on the back-to-school shopping list. The average parent reported thinking about ways to keep their child happy and healthy more than 16 times per day and two-thirds of parents are more concerned about their child getting sick during the back-to-school season than any other time during the year.  In fact, parents report losing an average of five hours of sleep per night caring for their child when they’re sick.  “Looking at the data, it’s clear American parents are willing to give up pretty much anything if they could ensure their children would always be in good health physically and emotionally,” said Dr. Mona Amin, TYLENOL brand partner, Pediatrician and mom. “With back-to-school right around the corner, the lengths parents have already reported they’ve gone to in preparation for cold and flu season is astonishing. When choosing the right medicines, it’s important to pick trusted brands with historical reputations. Products that are dye-free and great tasting are a win-win for parents – ensuring you don’t have to compromise between safety and your kid’s willingness to take the medicine.” When asked how often respondents go through their medicine cabinets, throwing out old, expired items and replenishing with new products, nearly three-quarters (72%) said they don’t go longer than every few months and replenish an average of four times per year. Two in five (41%) rarely find expired bottles; yet 10% admit that there’s a bottle between three and six years old lurking in the back.  Parents keep their medicine cabinets readily stocked with pain relievers and fever reducers (81%), cold and flu medications (77%), a thermometer (73%), tissues (68%) and cough drops (57%). Still, 71% have needed specific medications for their child within the last year and found that they didn’t have it on hand, and 38% of those parents went to several stores in order to find it. (Illustration via Talker Research) By Talker In the case that all parents surveyed don’t have the medicine they need, 37% said there is no limit to how far they’d travel to get that medication with one in 10 (11%) explicitly noting they’d drive more than 50 miles. More than one-third (36%) would even be willing to travel to more than 10 different stores to find it for their child. WHAT WOULD AMERICAN PARENTS GIVE UP FOR HEALTHY AND HAPPY CHILDREN? Social Media – 76% TV – 66% Smartphone – 61% Food Delivery Services – 61% Friends – 60% WiFi – 55% Car – 45% Electricity – 39% Talker Research surveyed 2,000 parents of kids ages 0-8; the survey was commissioned by TYLENOL and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 25 and July 31, 2024. We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are: Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan. Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value. Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample. Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes: Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or

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