Diverse and Interesting Topics

[Sandra]

[Sandra]

[Sandra]

Is humanity doomed?

Doomsday Clock will be updated TOMORROW to determine our fate - so, will it tick closer to midnight?

Tomorrow, humanity will find out if we're closer to total self-destruction when the Doomsday Clock is updated.

The symbolic clock, which edges closer to midnight to reflect human-made global catastrophes, will be revealed during a livestream on Tuesday (January 28).

Since 2023, it has been set at 90 seconds to midnight, but this year scientists say it could move forward to reflect the troubling global outlook.

The Russia-Ukraine war, Israel's ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and the threat of nuclear war and climate change all mean the clock could tick forwards for the first time in two years.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which decides where the hands are set, will unveil the updated clock in a livestream at 10am EST (3pm GMT).

It says on its website: 'For 2025, the Bulletin's Science and Security Board will consider multiple global threats in the clock setting.

'[These include] the proliferation of nuclear weapons, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas war, Israel-Hezbollah conflict, bio-threats and the continued climate crisis.'

Most recent changes to the Doomsday Clock

    2023: 90 seconds to midnight
    2020: 100 seconds to midnight
    2018: 2 minutes to midnight
    2017: 2.5 minutes to midnight
    2015: 3 minutes to midnight

It will be livestreamed on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists YouTube channel and website

[Friendlycock]

US lawmaker issues bill to ban men for masturbating 'without intent to make a baby' - senator accused of 'politicial trolling'



A Democrat Senator has been accused of 'trolling' anti-abortionists with a new bill that intends to ban men from climaxing, unless they're trying to conceive.

The proposed legislation, which appears to poke fun at reproduction laws that limit women's sexual rights, is entitled the 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act', as has been brought by pro-abortion politician Mississippi state Senator Bradford Blackmon.

It is said to be a 'political jab' at Republicans who support a ban on some forms of contraception, as opposed to a real desire to interfere in public sex lives.




US lawmaker issues bill to ban men for masturbating 'without intent to make a baby'

A Democrat Senator has been accused of 'trolling' anti-abortionists with a new bill that intends to ban men from climaxing, unless they're trying to conceive.

The proposed legislation, which appears to poke fun at reproduction laws that limit women's sexual rights, is entitled the 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act', as has been brought by pro-abortion politician Mississippi state Senator Bradford Blackmon.

It is said to be a 'political jab' at Republicans who support a ban on some forms of contraception, as opposed to a real desire to interfere in public sex lives.

The bill, introduced on Monday, is unlikely to pass, but could see fines of $1,000 (£800) for a first offense, $5,000 (£4,000) for a second offense and $10,000 (£8,000) for any subsequent offenses.

Blackman's bill targets mens' reproductive rights as a means of highlighting that all of the recent legislative bills relating to abortion and contraception focus on women.

He said in a statement to local news outlet WLBT News: 'All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the woman's role when men are fifty percent of the equation.

'This bill highlights that fact and brings the man's role into the conversation. People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can't say that bothers me.'

If the bill were to be passed, it would be unlawful for 'a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo'.

I intend to pull myself in protest. Maybe even pull someone else off too

[Sandra]

Police officers are told not to say 'blacklisted' or 'black sheep' over fears of racism

The nine-page document, which was published online last year also stated that 'black mark' was no longer deemed acceptable as part of expressions that use 'black in a negative way'.

[Sandra]

[Sandra]

UK Government make '11th hour' decision on potential deepfake pornography ban
Countless celebrities, campaigners, and politicians, including Taylor Swift and Vicky Pattinson, have pushed for stricter rules around making and distributing deepfake porn

AI tools has allowed sick pervs to create deepfake pornography


The Government has announced it will make sexually explicit deepfake images illegal, bringing in tough new laws to crack down on the practice. Deepfake pornography is usually created using AI.

[Sandra]

Water bills to surge up to £224 in April
A huge rise in water bills from April this year has prompted calls for more help for those already struggling with debts, with prices rising as much as 47% in one hit
Millions of households face water bill increases of up to 47% from April

Households face inflation-shattering water bill increases of up to £224 a year in April in the biggest wave of hikes since privatisation.

Watchdogs called for urgent help for customers already battling to cope, as it was confirmed prices will surge by as much as 47% in one hit. Mike Keil, chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: "These rises are the largest we've seen since privatisation and will heap considerable pressure on millions of customers who are already having to make difficult choices."

[Sandra]

'I'm an American married to a Brit – these three UK phrases make no sense'

A Texan man who married a Brit he met online has shared some of the more confusing phrases we say daily on this side of the pond that Americans just don't understand

Brits and Americans may share a language, but the way we use it differs hugely.

An American man has shared the three phrases his British wife uses that left him the most confused.

In the UK, seemingly common expressions may make perfect sense to locals but Americans may can need some extra help to deduce the meaning.

This was the case for Darrell, a man from Texas, who got married to a Brit named Jen after they met online.

During the early days of their relationship, Darrell found himself baffled by a few expressions Jen would say which he thought had different meanings.
Since being around more Brits during the course of his marriage – and while planning a move to England for later this year - there are several more phrases he encountered that initially left him confused.


You alright?

The first phrase Darrell was puzzled by is a very common one in the UK, and it seems simple enough – but there's more to it.

He explained: "This is not a question, this is a greeting. It does not require a response, you just say it back."

This is correct, in the UK, the shortened version of "are you all right?" has made its way into the everyday lexicon as an alternative to the simpler – and arguably less confusing – "hello".

The portmanteau "alright" offers multiple meanings to Brits as it's often used as an adverb, adjective, or exclamation.

What you got on?

The second phrase that had Darrell thrown at first is another question. "What you got on?" had a slightly different meaning to the Texan; he believed it was an inquiry about his clothing but this is not the case.

Darrell continued: "Again, this is also not a question seeking information about what you're wearing, this is curiosity about your plans and schedule for the day."

In the online Cambridge dictionary, the expression "I've got something on" is similar, and is often used when someone wants to show they're busy or unavailable.
For example, if a friend asks to meet up on Friday, a person may respond, "I've got something on then but I'm free Saturday."

You taking the piss?

Finally, Darrell added: "Last but certainly not least, 'you taking the piss?' My wife and I met online, we hadn't been talking but a few days, we got on the phone, had been chatting for about an hour, having a great discussion and out of the blue, she just says, 'you taking the piss?'

"In a moment of panic, I said, 'no, no, I'm sitting in my truck.'
I had no idea what she was hearing, what she thought I was doing.
After she finally stopped laughing, she explained to me what it meant.

So, confusing Americans is probably more than a talent, a skill, a gift – I think it's a service that you enjoy providing.

"You provide it for free – actually, I think you get a little bit out of it.
Just one more of those enduring qualities I love about you guys [Brits]."

[Sandra]

Will it be Dry February too?

Alcohol prices go up TODAY with 54p on a bottle of wine and 32p on gin as swingeing new tax rises come into effect - and there's more to come

Consumers are being warned to expect the substantial price increase as a new system to tax wines and spirits based on strength is to be introduced.

[Sandra]

Drivers are hit by soaring fuel prices for fourth month in a row as petrol rises 5p and diesel 6p

Since October the price per litre has increased by 5p for petrol and 6p for diesel, the RAC said. This means that filling up your tank is now nearly £3 more expensive than it was at the start of October.


You might want to wear gloves next time you fill up! Traces of FAECES found on petrol pumps across Britain in revolting investigation

Bacteria samples were taken at four sites in London, Nottingham and Manchester. All were found to be contaminated with faecal streptococci and enterococci.

 

[Sandra]

Callum Ryan from Milton Keynes, set himself the challenge of flying to Spain to purchase a bottle of olive oil for less than the product's UK price - and he achieved his ambitious goal with money to spare.

Viewers first see him visiting a local Tesco branch in the UK where he picks up a bottle of olive oil and reveals the price as £7.38.
Working on the premise that olive oil, some of which is made in Spain, will be significantly cheaper there, he adds: 'The plan was to spend less than the price of an average bottle of olive oil, which is £7.38 in the UK.'
Next, Callum explains how he was able to find an incredibly cheap plane ticket to a popular part of Spain: 'However, I managed to get a flight last minute for only £3.90 so I hoped on the plane and headed to Alicante.'
'I explored a little before going to the local supermarkets to see what olive oil they had to offer.

'I decided to buy their own brand olive oil because it was only 2.60 euros, which when converted is £2.19.'
Given that Callum's outbound flight cost £3.90 and the olive oil purchased in Alicante cost £2.19, his running total is £6.09.

In order to successfully complete the challenge, he therefore needs to find a flight back to the UK that costs no more than £1.29.

And, while that seems impossibly cheap for the 784 mile journey, the travel enthusiast amazingly manages to find an EasyJet flight for even less.

He says: 'But now it's time for the important part. It's time to get my flight home. And you're not going to believe this but my flight home was only £1!

'I've never seen a flight this cheap in my entire life, so I hopped on it and headed home.'


Its incredibly expensive here too

https://www.jumbo.com/producten/bertolli-extra-olijfolie-van-de-eerste-persing-1-l-357162FLS