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The US just returned to the Moon after more than 50 years. How big a deal is it, really?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-flannery-3906">David Flannery</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> In the few short years since the COVID pandemic changed our world, China, Japan and India have all successfully landed on the Moon. Many more robotic missions have flown past the Moon, entered lunar orbit, or crashed into it in the past five years. This includes <a href="https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/kplo">spacecraft developed by South Korea</a>, <a href="https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/04/27/Dubai-s-ruler-announces-new-moon-mission-after-UAE-s-Rashid-Rover-lunar-crash-">the United Arab Emirates</a>, and an <a href="https://www.spaceil.com/">Israeli not-for-profit organisation</a>. Late last week, the American company <a href="https://www.intuitivemachines.com/">Intuitive Machines</a>, in collaboration with NASA, celebrated “America’s return to the Moon” with a successful landing of its Odysseus spacecraft. Recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/change-5-china-launches-sample-return-mission-to-the-moon-is-it-winning-the-new-space-race-150665">Chinese-built sample return missions</a> are far more complex than this project. And didn’t NASA ferry a dozen humans to the Moon back when microwaves were cutting-edge technology? So what is different about this mission developed by a US company? <h2>Back to the Moon</h2> The recent Odysseus landing stands out for two reasons. For starters, this is the first time a US-built spacecraft has landed – not crashed – on the Moon for over 50 years. Secondly, and far more significantly, this is the first time a private company has pulled off a successful delivery of cargo to the Moon’s surface. NASA has lately focused on destinations beyond the Earth–Moon system, including Mars. But with its <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-lunar-payload-services/">Commercial Lunar Payload Services</a> (CLPS) program, it has also funded US private industry to develop Moon landing concepts, hoping to reduce the delivery costs of lunar payloads and allow NASA engineers to focus on other challenges. Working with NASA, Intuitive Machines selected a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapert_(crater)">landing site</a> about 300 kilometres from the lunar south pole. Among other challenges, landing here requires entering a polar orbit around the Moon, which consumes additional fuel. At this latitude, the land is heavily cratered and dotted with long shadows. This makes it challenging for autonomous landing systems to find a safe spot for a touchdown. NASA spent about US$118 million (A$180 million) to land six scientific <a href="https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/About_Payload_Systems">payloads</a> on Odysseus. This is relatively cheap. Using low-cost lunar landers, NASA will have an efficient way to test new space hardware that may then be flown on other Moon missions or farther afield. <h2>Ten minutes of silence</h2> One of the technology tests on the Odysseus lander, NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/impact-story-navigation-doppler-lidar/">Navigation Doppler Lidar experiment</a> or NDL, appears to have proved crucial to the lander’s success. As the lander neared the surface, the company realised its navigation systems had a problem. NASA’s NDL experiment is serendipitously designed to test precision landing techniques for future missions. It seems that at the last second, engineers bodged together a solution that involved feeding necessary data from NDL to the lander. Ten minutes of silence followed before a <a href="https://twitter.com/Int_Machines/status/1760838333851148442">weak signal was detected</a> from Odysseus. Applause thundered through the mission control room. NASA’s administrator released a video congratulating everyone for returning America to the Moon. It has since become clear the lander is not oriented perfectly upright. The solar panels are generating sufficient power and the team is slowly receiving the first images from the surface. However, it’s likely Odysseus <a href="https://www.universetoday.com/165864/odysseus-moon-lander-is-tipped-over-but-still-sending-data/">partially toppled over</a> upon landing. Fortunately, at the time of writing, it seems most of the science payload may yet be deployed as it’s on the side of the lander facing upwards. The unlucky payload element facing downwards <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/23/world/odysseus-lunar-landing-sideways-scn/index.html">is a privately contributed artwork</a> connected <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/22/style/jeff-koons-moon-phases-odysseus-landing/index.html">to NFTs</a>. The lander is now likely to survive for at least a week before the Sun sets on the landing site and a dark, frigid lunar night turns it into another museum piece of human technology frozen in the lunar <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/regolith">regolith</a>. <h2>Win some, lose some</h2> NASA’s commercial approach to stimulating low-cost payload services all but guarantees some failures. But eventually NASA hopes that several commercial launch and landing providers will emerge from the program, along with a few learning experiences. The know-how accumulated at organisations operating hardware in space is at least as important as the development of the hardware itself. The market for commercial lunar payloads remains unclear. Possibly, once the novelty wears off and brands are no longer able to generate buzz by, for example, <a href="https://www.columbia.com/omni-heat-infinity/moon-mission/">sending a piece of outdoor clothing to the Moon</a>, this source of funding may dwindle. However, just as today, civil space agencies and taxpayers will continue to fund space exploration to address shared science goals. Ideally, commercial providers will offer NASA an efficient method for testing key technologies needed for its schedule of upcoming scientific robotic missions, as well as <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/">human spaceflight in the Artemis program</a>. Australia would also have the opportunity to test hardware at a reduced price. It’s worth noting that US budgetary issues, <a href="https://spacenews.com/nasa-warns-of-very-problematic-space-technology-budget-cuts/">funding cuts</a> and <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/jpl-workforce-update">subsequent lay-offs</a> do threaten these ambitions. Meanwhile, in Australia, we may have nothing to launch anyway. We continue to spend less <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Budget/reviews/2023-24/ScienceResearch">than the OECD average on scientific research</a>, and only a few Australian universities – who traditionally lead such efforts – <a href="https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/moon-to-mars-initiative-demonstrator-mission-grants/grant-recipients">have received funding</a> provided by the Australian Space Agency. If we do support planetary science and space exploration in the future, Australians will need to decide if we want to allocate our limited resources, competing with NASA and US private industry, to supply launch, landing and robotic services to the global space industry. Alternatively, we could leverage these lower-cost payload providers to develop our own scientific space program, and locally developed space technologies associated with benefits to the knowledge economy, education and national security.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/224276/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-flannery-3906">David Flannery</a>, Planetary Scientist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Intuitive Machines This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-us-just-returned-to-the-moon-after-more-than-50-years-how-big-a-deal-is-it-really-224276">original article</a>.

International Travel

104-year-old woman becomes world's oldest skydiver

A 104-year-old Chicago woman is believed to be the oldest person in the world to tandem skydive, after jumping off a plane from 13,500 feet (4,100 meters) in northern Illinois. On Sunday the 1st of October, Dorothy Hoffner left her walker behind without hesitation and hopped on a Skyvan to set a world record. The 104-year-old could not contain her excitement as she sat on the plane. “Let’s go, let’s go, Geronimo!” she said. Hoffner first started skydiving when she was 100, and initially had to be pushed out of the aircraft, but this time around, things were different. The centenarian insisted on leading the jump while tethered to a U.S. Parachute Association-certified instructor. She was cool and confident as the plane doors opened to reveal the golden crop fields below. Hoffner fearlessly tumbled out of the plane head first and successfully did a forward roll before freefalling from 13,500 feet in the air. The dive lasted seven minutes, including the parachutes slow descent on to the ground. As soon as she landed at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, just 140 km southwest of Chicago, friends rushed in to share their congratulations. When asked how it felt to be back on land she simply replied with: “Wonderful." “But it was wonderful up there. The whole thing was delightful, wonderful, couldn’t have been better." <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQQyc9kRfio?si=3uj4x5hTPyyU6HrJ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Moments after her touchdown, the centenarian told the cheering crowd: “Age is just a number." The previous Guinness World Record for oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-old Swedish woman Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson. Skydive Chicago is currently working with Guinness World Records to certify Hoffner's jump as a record according to WLS-TV. Hoffner's final message for those who haven't tried it: “Skydiving is a wonderful experience, and it’s nothing to be afraid of. Just do it." Images: ABC 7 Chicago / Skydive Chicago

Retirement Life

Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> In the history of American popular music, there have been few luminaries as enduring and innovative as Tony Bennett. With a career that spanned almost 80 years, Bennett’s smooth tones, unique phrasing and visionary musical collaborations left an indelible mark on vocal jazz and the recording industry as a whole. That his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-bennett-dies-c3b3a7e2360449fb936a38794c7c3266">death at the age of 96</a> on July 21, 2023, was mourned by artists as varied as <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1682395658395824133">Keith Urban</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OzzyOsbourne/status/1682411338340126720">Ozzy Osbourne</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryConnickJR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1682411086656557056%7Ctwgr%5E04a78435a793b5246d7bc19e09529f2b2f0bcfab%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2023%2Fmusic%2Fnews%2Ftony-bennett-elton-john-reaction-tribute-1235676405%2F">Harry Connick Jr.</a> should come as no surprise. Yes, Bennett was a jazz crooner. But if his voice was always a constant – even late into his 80s, way past an age when most other singers have seen their vocal abilities diminish – then his embrace of the contemporary was every bit a facet of Bennett’s appeal. <h2>Vocal innovator</h2> Bennett’s journey is a testament to the power of daring innovation. From the early days of his career in the 1950s to his final recordings in the early 2020s, he fearlessly explored new musical territories, revolutionizing vocal jazz and captivating audiences across generations. His vocal style and phrasing were distinctive and set him apart from other artists of his time. He utilized a delayed or “laid-back” approach to falling on the note, a technique known as “<a href="https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/rubato/">rubato</a>.” This created a sense of anticipation in his phrasing, adding an element of surprise to his performances. Through Bennett’s skilled use of rubato, he was able to play with the tempo and rhythm of a song, bending and stretching musical phrases to evoke a range of emotions. This subtle manipulation of timing gave his songs a natural and conversational quality, making listeners feel as though he was intimately sharing his stories with them. Armed with this silky, playful voice, Bennett found fame fairly early on in his career, delivering jazz standards alongside the likes of Mel Tormé and Nat King Cole. By the mid-1960s, he was being touted by Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business.” But his musical style fell out of fashion in the 1970s – a lean period during which Bennett <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/07/21/tony-bennett-son-life-career-drugs/">almost succumbed to a drug overdose</a>. Then, in the 1990s, Bennett found a new audience and set off a series of collaborations with contemporary musical stars that would become the standard for his later career. No genre of artistry was deemed off-limits for Bennett. “<a href="https://www.tonybennett.com/music-detail.php?id=11">Duets: An American Classic</a>,” released to coincide with his 80th birthday in 2006, saw collaborations with country stars such as k.d. lang and the Dixie Chicks – now known as the Chicks – and soul legend Stevie Wonder, alongside kindred jazz spirits such as Diana Krall. “Duets II,” a 2011 follow-up, saw further explorations with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson and Amy Winehouse, in what would become the <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/amy-winehouse-final-recording-session/">British singer’s last recording</a>. But his cross-generational, cross-genre and cross-cultural appeal is perhaps best exemplified by his <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/arts/music/tony-bennett-lady-gaga.html">collaborations with Lady Gaga</a>, first on the 2014 Grammy-winning album “Cheek to Cheek.” The recording brought together two artists from different generations, genres and backgrounds, uniting them in a harmonious celebration of jazz classics. The collaboration not only showcased each one’s vocal prowess, but also sent a powerful message about the unifying nature of music. Lady Gaga, a pop artist with avant-garde leanings, might have seemed an unlikely partner for Bennett, the quintessential jazz crooner. Yet their musical chemistry and mutual admiration resulted in an album that mesmerized audiences worldwide. “Cheek to Cheek” effortlessly transcended musical boundaries, while the duo’s magnetic stage presence and undeniable talent enchanted listeners. The successful fusion of jazz and pop encouraged artists to experiment beyond traditional boundaries, leading to more cross-genre projects across the industry – proving that such projects could go beyond one-off novelties, and be profitable at that. <h2>Timeless artistry</h2> Bennett’s embrace of contemporary artists did not mean that he abandoned his own musical self. By blending traditional jazz with contemporary elements, he managed to captivate audiences across generations, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners. One key aspect of Bennett’s success was his ability to embody the sentiment of old America, reminiscent of artists like Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, while infusing contemporary nuances that resonated with the human condition of a more modern era. His approach to music captured both the essence and struggle of America, giving his songs a timeless and universal appeal. Moreover, his voice conveyed familiarity and comfort, akin to listening to a beloved uncle. Bennett’s albums stood out not only for his soulful voice and impeccable delivery but also for the way he drew others from varied musical backgrounds into his world of jazz sensibilities. As a producer, he recognized the importance of nurturing creativity and bringing out the best in artists. Meanwhile, Bennett’s approach to evolving his own sound while preserving its essence sets him apart as an artist. Fearless in his pursuit of innovation, he delved into contemporary musical elements and collaborated with producers to infuse new sonic dimensions into his later albums. The result drew listeners into an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kNpdLZwetU">intimate and immersive, concert-like acoustic journey</a>. <h2>Depth of emotion</h2> The greats in music have an ability to speak to the human experience. And either in collaboration with others or on his own, Bennett was able to achieve this time and time again. His albums were successful not only due to their technical brilliance and musicality but also because Bennett’s voice conveyed a depth of emotion that transcended barriers of time and culture, touching the hearts of listeners from various backgrounds. There was a universality in his music that made him a beloved and revered artist across the globe. Bennett’s life spanned decades of societal upheavals in the United States. But in his music, listeners could always find beauty in challenging times. And as the 20th- and 21st-century American music industry went through its own revolutions, Bennett’s artistic evolution mirrored the changes, cementing his place as a music icon who defies the boundaries of time and trends.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210244/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <iframe style="border-radius: 12px;" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2UxxnhUE5YLchYgutxKEbJ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" loading="lazy"></iframe> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jose-valentino-ruiz-1293457">Jose Valentino Ruiz</a>, Program Director of Music Business & Entrepreneurship, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tony-bennett-the-timeless-visionary-who-with-a-nod-to-americas-musical-heritage-embraced-the-future-210244">original article</a>.

Music

A brief history of the mortgage, from its roots in ancient Rome to the English ‘dead pledge’ and its rebirth in America

The average interest rate for a new U.S. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/home-loan-mortgage-interest-rate-7-percent-highest-since-2001/">30-year fixed-rate mortgage topped 7% in late October 2022</a> for the first time in more than two decades. It’s a sharp increase from one year earlier, when <a href="https://www.valuepenguin.com/mortgages/historical-mortgage-rates">lenders were charging homebuyers only 3.09%</a> for the same kind of loan. Several factors, including <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/fed-mortgage-rates">inflation rates and the general economic outlook</a>, influence mortgage rates. A primary driver of the ongoing upward spiral is the <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/fed-interest-rate-decision-today-hike-federal-reserve-meeting-november/12408055/">Federal Reserve’s series of interest rate hikes</a> intended to tame inflation. Its decision to increase the benchmark rate by <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20221102a.htm">0.75 percentage points on Nov. 2, 2022</a>, to as much as 4% will propel the cost of mortgage borrowing even higher. Even if you have had mortgage debt for years, you might be unfamiliar with the history of these loans – a subject I cover <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KVv47noAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">in my mortgage financing course</a> for undergraduate business students at Mississippi State University. The term dates back to <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/medieval/">medieval England</a>. But the roots of these legal contracts, in which land is pledged for a debt and will become the property of the lender if the loan is not repaid, go back thousands of years. <h2>Ancient roots</h2> Historians trace the <a href="https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Nehemiah-5-3/">origins of mortgage contracts</a> to the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, who ruled modern-day Iran in the fifth century B.C. The Roman Empire formalized and documented the legal process of pledging collateral for a loan. Often using the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202%3A13-16&version=NIV">forum and temples as their base of operations</a>, mensarii, which is derived from the word mensa or “bank” in Latin, would set up loans and charge <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%202%3A13-16&version=NIV">borrowers interest</a>. These government-appointed public bankers required the borrower to put up collateral, whether real estate or personal property, and their agreement regarding the use of the collateral would be handled in one of three ways. First, the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiducia">Fiducia</a>, Latin for “trust” or “confidence,” required the transfer of both ownership and possession to lenders until the debt was repaid in full. Ironically, this arrangement involved no trust at all. Second, the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pignus">Pignus</a>, Latin for “pawn,” allowed borrowers to retain ownership while <a href="https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1684&context=penn_law_review">sacrificing possession and use</a> until they repaid their debts. Finally, the <a href="https://legaldictionary.lawin.org/hypotheca/">Hypotheca</a>, Latin for “pledge,” let borrowers retain both ownership and possession while repaying debts. <h2>The living-versus-dead pledge</h2> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claudius-Roman-emperor">Emperor Claudius</a> brought Roman law and customs to Britain in A.D. 43. Over the next <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans/">four centuries of Roman rule</a> and the <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/early-medieval/">subsequent 600 years known as the Dark Ages</a>, the British adopted another Latin term for a pledge of security or collateral for loans: <a href="https://worldofdictionary.com/dict/latin-english/meaning/vadium">Vadium</a>. If given as collateral for a loan, real estate could be offered as “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vadium%20vivum">Vivum Vadium</a>.” The literal translation of this term is “living pledge.” Land would be temporarily pledged to the lender who used it to generate income to pay off the debt. Once the lender had collected enough income to cover the debt and some interest, the land would revert back to the borrower. With the alternative, the “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mortuum%20vadium">Mortuum Vadium</a>” or “dead pledge,” land was pledged to the lender until the borrower could fully repay the debt. It was, essentially, an interest-only loan with full principal payment from the borrower required at a future date. When the lender demanded repayment, the borrower had to pay off the loan or lose the land. Lenders would keep proceeds from the land, be it income from farming, selling timber or renting the property for housing. In effect, the land was <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1321129.pdf">dead to the debtor</a> during the term of the loan because it provided no benefit to the borrower. Following <a href="https://www.royal.uk/william-the-conqueror">William the Conqueror’s victory</a> at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the English language was heavily influenced by <a href="https://blocs.mesvilaweb.cat/subirats/the-norman-conquest-the-influence-of-french-on-the-english-language-loans-and-calques/">Norman French</a> – William’s language. That is how the Latin term “Mortuum Vadium” morphed into “Mort Gage,” Norman French for “dead” and “pledge.” “<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/mortgage">Mortgage</a>,” a <a href="https://ia600201.us.archive.org/1/items/cu31924021674399/cu31924021674399.pdf">mashup of the two words</a>, then entered the English vocabulary. <h2>Establishing rights of borrowers</h2> Unlike today’s mortgages, which are usually due within 15 or 30 years, English loans in the 11th-16th centuries were unpredictable. <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1323192.pdf">Lenders could demand repayment</a> at any time. If borrowers couldn’t comply, lenders could seek a court order, and the land would be forfeited by the borrower to the lender. Unhappy borrowers could <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/chancery">petition the king</a> regarding their predicament. He could refer the case to the lord chancellor, who could <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chancery-Division">rule as he saw fit</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francis-Bacon-Viscount-Saint-Alban">Sir Francis Bacon</a>, England’s lord chancellor from 1618 to 1621, <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/752041">established</a> the <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/equity_of_redemption">Equitable Right of Redemption</a>. This new right allowed borrowers to pay off debts, even after default. The official end of the period to redeem the property was called <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/foreclosure">foreclosure</a>, which is derived from an Old French word that means “<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/foreclose">to shut out</a>.” Today, foreclosure is a legal process in which lenders to take possession of property used as collateral for a loan. <h2>Early US housing history</h2> The <a href="https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/colonial-settlement-1600-1763/overview/">English colonization</a> of what’s now <a href="https://themayflowersociety.org/history/the-mayflower-compact/">the United States</a> didn’t immediately transplant mortgages across the pond. But eventually, U.S. financial institutions were offering mortgages. <a href="https://www.huduser.gov/publications/pdf/us_evolution.pdf">Before 1930, they were small</a> – generally amounting to at most half of a home’s market value. These loans were generally short-term, maturing in under 10 years, with payments due only twice a year. Borrowers either paid nothing toward the principal at all or made a few such payments before maturity. Borrowers would have to refinance loans if they couldn’t pay them off. <h2>Rescuing the housing market</h2> Once America fell into the <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression">Great Depression</a>, the <a href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/news-releases/2008/05/02/does-the-great-depression-hold-the-answers-for-the-current-mortgage-distress">banking system collapsed</a>. With most homeowners unable to pay off or refinance their mortgages, the <a href="https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/great-depression">housing market crumbled</a>. The number of <a href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-and-education-magazines/housing-1929-1941">foreclosures grew to over 1,000 per day by 1933</a>, and housing prices fell precipitously. The <a href="https://www.fhfaoig.gov/Content/Files/History%20of%20the%20Government%20Sponsored%20Enterprises.pdf">federal government responded by establishing</a> new agencies to stabilize the housing market. They included the <a href="https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/fhahistory">Federal Housing Administration</a>. It provides <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-mortgage-insurance-and-how-does-it-work-en-1953/">mortgage insurance</a> – borrowers pay a small fee to protect lenders in the case of default. Another new agency, the <a href="https://sf.freddiemac.com/articles/insights/why-americas-homebuyers-communities-rely-on-the-30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage">Home Owners’ Loan Corp.</a>, established in 1933, bought defaulted short-term, semiannual, interest-only mortgages and transformed them into new long-term loans lasting 15 years. Payments were monthly and self-amortizing – covering both principal and interest. They were also fixed-rate, remaining steady for the life of the mortgage. Initially they skewed more heavily toward interest and later defrayed more principal. The corporation made new loans for three years, tending to them until it <a href="https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,858135,00.html">closed in 1951</a>. It pioneered long-term mortgages in the U.S. In 1938 Congress established the Federal National Mortgage Association, better known as <a href="https://www.fanniemae.com/about-us/who-we-are/history">Fannie Mae</a>. This <a href="https://www.financial-dictionary.info/terms/government-sponsored-enterprise/">government-sponsored enterprise</a> made fixed-rate long-term mortgage loans viable <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/securitization.asp">through a process called securitization</a> – selling debt to investors and using the proceeds to purchase these long-term mortgage loans from banks. This process reduced risks for banks and encouraged long-term mortgage lending. <h2>Fixed- versus adjustable-rate mortgages</h2> After World War II, Congress authorized the Federal Housing Administration to insure <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CPRT-108HPRT92629/html/CPRT-108HPRT92629.htm">30-year loans on new construction</a> and, a few years later, purchases of existing homes. But then, the <a href="https://files.stlouisfed.org/files/htdocs/publications/review/69/09/Historical_Sep1969.pdf">credit crunch of 1966</a> and the years of high inflation that followed made adjustable-rate mortgages more popular. Known as ARMs, these mortgages have stable rates for only a few years. Typically, the initial rate is significantly lower than it would be for 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. Once that initial period ends, <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/arm.asp">interest rates on ARMs</a> get adjusted up or down annually – along with monthly payments to lenders. Unlike the rest of the world, where ARMs prevail, Americans still prefer the <a href="https://sf.freddiemac.com/articles/insights/why-americas-homebuyers-communities-rely-on-the-30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage">30-year fixed-rate mortgage</a>. About <a href="https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=DP04&t=Housing">61% of American homeowners</a> have mortgages today – with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/15214842.2020.1757357">fixed rates the dominant type</a>. But as interest rates rise, demand for <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/intelligence/interest-rates-are-up-but-arm-backed-home-purchases-are-way-up/">ARMs is growing</a> again. If the Federal Reserve fails to slow inflation and interest rates continue to climb, unfortunately for some ARM borrowers, the term “dead pledge” may live up to its name. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-the-mortgage-from-its-roots-in-ancient-rome-to-the-english-dead-pledge-and-its-rebirth-in-america-193005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Real Estate

Seven times people discovered the Americas – and how they got there

When Columbus landed in 1492, the Americas had been settled for tens of thousands of years. He wasn’t the first person to discover the continent. Instead, his discovery was the last of many discoveries. In all, people found the Americas at least seven different times. For at least six of those, it wasn’t so new after all. The discoverers came by sea and by land, bringing new genes, new languages, new technologies. Some stayed, explored, and built empires. Others went home, and left few hints they’d ever been there. From last to first, here’s the story of how we discovered the Americas. 7. Christopher Columbus: AD 1492 In 1492, Europeans could reach Asia by the <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/silk-road">Silk Road</a>, or by sailing the Cape Route around the southern tip of Africa. Sailing west from Europe was thought to be impossible. The ancient Greeks had accurately calculated that the circumference of the Earth was <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/152473a0">40,000 km</a>, which put Asia far to the west. But Columbus botched his calculations. An error in unit conversion gave him a circumference of just 30,000 km. This mistake, with other assumptions born of wishful thinking, gave a distance of just <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0025570X.1992.11996024">4,500 km</a> from Europe to Japan. The actual distance is almost 20,000 kilometres. So Columbus’s ships set sail without enough supplies to reach Asia. Fortunately for him, he hit the Americas. Columbus, thinking he’d found the East Indies, called its people “Indios”, or Indians. He ultimately died without realising his mistake. It was the navigator Amerigo Vespucci who realised Columbus had <a href="https://www.livescience.com/42510-amerigo-vespucci.html">found an unknown land</a> and in 1507 the name America was applied in Vespucci’s honour. 6. Polynesians: AD 1,200 Around 2,500 BC, a seafaring people <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03902-8">sailed from Taiwan</a> to find new lands. They sailed south through the Philippines, east through Melanesia, then out into the vast South Pacific. These people, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia">Polynesians</a>, were master navigators, reading wind, waves and stars to cross thousands of kilometres of open ocean. Using huge double canoes, the Polynesians <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1586/polynesian-navigation--settlement-of-the-pacific/">settled</a> Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. Some went <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1408491111">south to New Zealand</a>, becoming <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10963-017-9110-y">the Maori</a>. Others went east to Tahiti, Hawaii, Easter Island, and the Marquesas. From here, they at last hit South America. Then, having explored most of the Pacific, they gave up exploration and forgot South America entirely. But evidence of this remarkable voyage remained. The South Americans acquired <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.0703993104">chickens from Polynesians</a>, while the Polynesians may have picked up <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440307000805">South American sweet potatoes</a>. And they shared more than food. Eastern Polynesians have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2487-2?from=article_link">Native American DNA</a>. Polynesians didn’t just meet Native Americans, they married them. 5. Norse: AD 1,021 According to Viking sagas, around AD 980, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erik-the-Red">Eric the Red</a>, fierce Viking and cunning salesman, named a vast, icy wasteland “Greenland” to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/iceland-greenland-name-swap">entice people to move there</a>. Then, in AD 986, a boat from Greenland <a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/icelanders">spotted the coast of Canada</a>. Around <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03972-8">AD 1,021</a>, Erik’s son Leif established a settlement in Newfoundland. The Vikings struggled with the harsh climate, before war with Native Americans ultimately forced them back to Greenland. These stories were long dismissed as myths, until 1960, when archaeologists dug up the remains of <a href="https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/top-destinations/lanse-aux-meadows">Viking settlements in Newfoundland</a>. 4. Inuit: AD 900 Just before the Vikings, the Inuit people travelled <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1251-y">from Siberia to Alaska</a> in skin boats. Hunting whales and seals, living in sod huts and igloos, they were well adapted to the cold Arctic Ocean, and skirted its shores all the way to Greenland. Curiously, their DNA is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1251-y">closest to native Alaskans</a>, implying their ancestors colonised Asia from Alaska, then went back to discover the Americas again. 3. Eskimo-Aleut: 2,000-2,500 BC The Inuit descend from an earlier migration: that of speakers of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eskimo-Aleut-languages">Eskimo-Aleut languages</a>. These are distinct from other Native American languages, and might even be distantly related to Uralic languages such as <a href="https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/j.1749-818X.2010.00239.x">Finnish and Hungarian</a>. This, with DNA evidence, suggests the Eskimo-Aleut was a distinct migration. They came across the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bering-Sea">Bering Sea</a> from present-day Russia to Alaska, perhaps <a href="https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1525/aa.1987.89.1.02a00020">4,000-4,500</a> years ago, partly displacing and mixing with earlier migrants: the Na-Dene people. 2. Na-Dene: 3,000-8,000 BC Another group, the Na-Dene, crossed the Bering Sea to Alaska around <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1251-y">5,000 years ago</a>, although other studies suggest they settled the Americas as long as <a href="https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1525/aa.1987.89.1.02a00020">10,000 years ago</a>. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1251-y">DNA from their bones</a> links them not to modern people in the Eskimo-Aleut group, but to Native Americans speaking the Na-Dene language family, such as the <a href="https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/">Navajo</a>, <a href="https://denenation.com/">Dene</a>, <a href="https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/northwest-coast/tlingit">Tlingit</a>, and Apache people. Na-Dene languages are closest to languages <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC25007/">spoken in Siberia</a>, suggesting again that they represent a distinct migration. 1. First Americans: 16,000-35,000 years ago Almost all Native American tribes – Sioux, Comanche, Iroquois, Cherokee, Aztec, Maya, Quechua, Yanomani, and dozens of others – speak <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Indian-languages">similar languages</a>. That suggests their languages evolved from a common ancestor tongue, spoken by a single tribe entering the Americas long ago. Their descendants’ low genetic diversity suggests this founding tribe was small, maybe <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.0030193">less than 80 people</a>. How did they get there? Before the last ice age ended 11,700 years ago, so much water was <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3083538">locked up in glaciers</a> that sea levels fell. The bottom of the Bering Sea dried out, creating the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1705966114">Bering Land Bridge</a>. America’s first people just walked from Russia to Alaska. But the timing of their migration is controversial. Archaeologists once thought the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Clovis-complex">Clovis people</a>, living <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.0704215104">13,000 years ago</a>, were the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-clovis-point-and-the-discovery-of-americas-first-culture-3825828/">first settlers of America</a>. But evidence <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02137-3">now suggests</a> humans arrived in the Americas much earlier. Finds in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1207663?casa_token=i79Z6iFCPuwAAAAA:onB6l4Ih9BSvJY9a6rTuKDjv9pD1_EEaPJlwmjsk1qVgjDcqotjX2jlmzXMg-Kh1fqxMMXLhUeMvIw">Washington</a>, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aba6404">Oregon</a>, <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1201855">Texas</a>, the <a href="https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=sciaa_staffpub">east coast of the US</a>, and <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/sciadv.1600375">Florida</a> suggest people reached the Americas long before the Clovis people. <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg7586">Footprints in New Mexico</a> date to 23,000 years ago. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2509-0">Stone tools</a> in a Mexican cave may date to 32,000 years ago. A <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.903795/full">butchered mammoth</a> from Colorado dates to 31,000-38,000 years ago. And traces of fire put <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379118307716">humans in Alaska</a> 32,000 years ago. Some of these dates could be incorrect, but with each new discovery it seems increasingly unlikely that they’re all wrong. An early migration would neatly solve a major mystery. 13,000 years ago, a vast glacier, the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1601077113">Laurentide Ice Sheet</a>, buried Canada in ice up to three kilometres thick. If people arrived in North America then, how did they cross the ice? Southeast Alaska’s rugged coast, full of glaciers and fjords, was likely impassible, and early Americans probably lacked boats. But 30,000 years ago, the ice sheet hadn’t fully formed. Before the ice spread, people could have hunted mammoths and horses east from Alaska into the Northwest Territories, then south through Alberta and Saskatchewan into Montana. Remarkably, humans may have settled the Americas <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-94408-w">before western Europe</a>. Yet that might make sense. Alaska’s Arctic is harsh, but Europe had <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02536.x">potentially hostile Neanderthals</a>. <h2>The end of discovery</h2> 1492 was the last discovery of the Americas. Following the voyages of Columbus, Magellan, and Cook, the scattered descendants of humanity’s diaspora were finally reunited. Aside from a few <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140804-sad-truth-of-uncontacted-tribes">uncontacted tribes</a>, everywhere was known to everyone. Discovery was impossible. But the story of the Americas’ settlement is still being written, and our understanding is evolving. The Eskimo-Aleut may have been <a href="https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1525/aa.1987.89.1.02a00020">two different migrations</a>, not one. Genes <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14895">hint at the possibility</a> of other, early founding populations. And given how little evidence the Polynesians and Norse left of their visits, it’s conceivable there were other migrations, ones of which we have little evidence. There’s so much we don’t know. No one can discover the Americas anymore, but there’s a lot left to discover about their discovery. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/seven-times-people-discovered-the-americas-and-how-they-got-there-188908" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Travel Tips

Outrage after husky pup shot and killed by hunter

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT A wave of anti-hunting outrage has been sparked online after a hunter in Montana, US, took to social media to pose alongside the carcass of a Siberian husky that she had shot and skinned . The woman in question, Amber Rose, claims that she mistook the dog for a wolf pup. She shared the graphic images on Facebook of her clutching a rifle and grinning while holding up the animal’s body. “So this morning I set out for a solo predator hunt for a fall black bear however I got the opportunity to take another predator wolf pup 2022 was a great feeling to text my man and say I just smoked a wolf pup. #firstwolf #onelesspredatorMT,” Rose wrote. “Amber Rose here hunted, shot, AND SKINNED a HUSKY.. not a wolf, an obvious #HUSKY,” one furious Twitter user pointed out. “Also the fact that she is calling it a ‘pup’ concerns me that she thinks it’s OK to hunt young animals which, as you know, is not good for an area’s ecosystem #revokeherlicense,” the animal lover added. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MontanaFWP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MontanaFWP</a> Amber Rose here hunted, shot, AND SKINNED a HUSKY.. not a wolf, an obvious <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HUSKY?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HUSKY</a>. Also the fact that she is calling it a “pup” concerns me that she thinks it’s ok to hunt young animals which, as you know, is not good for an areas eco system <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/revokeherlicense?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#revokeherlicense</a> <a href="https://t.co/hPNLzBzbJq">pic.twitter.com/hPNLzBzbJq</a> — Tracy 🖤🏳️‍🌈 (@impurrfectwitch) <a href="https://twitter.com/impurrfectwitch/status/1574336321853825025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote> Another user seethed that “this woman is bragging about trapping, killing, and skinning a dog while claiming it’s a wolf pup. This is very clearly a Siberian Husky … I hope that @MontanaFWP looks into this.” The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying it had been contacted by someone who reported picking up “several husky and shepherd mix dogs” in the area of Doris Creek in the Flathead National Forest. The department said it was advised that one of the dogs “may have been shot”. “The parties were able to pick up 11 dogs which were turned over to Animal Control and taken to the animal shelter,” a statement read. “During this investigation, we were advised through Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks that one of the dogs may have been shot.” The Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control and Fish and Game agencies say that they have launched investigations into the shooting. Amber Rose reacted to the condemnation by admitting her mistake — but insisted that she shot the animal in self-defence. “Yes I made a mistake because I did think it was a hybrid wolf pup,” she wrote, adding that she was unaware of several dogs “being dropped 11 miles into the wilderness”. The woman pushed back against her critics by saying that she is “human” and made a mistake.

Travel Trouble

Novak Djokovic refused entry to America ahead of the US Open

Novak Djokovic has confirmed he won't be competing in the US Open after he has been refused entry to America over his vaccination status. The Serbian tennis champ announced the news on Twitter, and wished his fellow players luck in the competition. "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open,' Djokovic tweeted Thursday ahead of the US Open draw. "Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!" The three-time US Open winner had hoped to enter the tournament, provided the US government changed its policy for unvaccinated visitors. The US Tennis Association previously said it would adhere to such a change by allowing Djokovic to play if he were permitted in the US. After beating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final on July 10, Djokovic said he "would love" to participate in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year at Flushing Meadows, but he also acknowledged, "I'm not planning to get vaccinated." Djokovic had been updating his followers on social media as he attempted to gain entry to the US, but his hopes were dashed ahead of the draw. Officials did stress that he will be welcome to play at the US Open in 2023. "Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will be unable to compete at the 2022 US Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government's vaccination policy for non-US citizens," tournament director Stacey Allaster said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 US Open." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Own the house that Dr Seuss built

The sprawling and glamorous estate where Dr. Seuss wrote his iconic children’s books could be all yours after it has hit the market for the first time in 75 years. The home contains four lots, coming up to a total of over four acres located in La Jolla, California. The property, listed by Barry Estates is for sale with a staggering price tag sitting at $US18.9 million ($AUD27 million). If you’ve got some spare change, you can purchase all four lots or settle on one of the four parcels of land. The estate is in a prime location with 270 degree pacific ocean and mountain views, a stunning outdoor pool and terrace, surrounded by lush greenery and makes a great spot to unwind. Pricing for the individual lots starts at $US3.9 million to $US11.9 million. No interior shots are currently available but one standout feature includes the office which contains a bookshelf with a door leading to a secret hideaway. Images: Barry Estates

Real Estate

The world's best restaurants for 2022 have been revealed

The cosmopolitan city of Copenhagen has had another incredible culinary year after a restaurant in the Danish capital was crowned best on the planet for the second year in a row. Geranium, which serves a meat-free, seasonally based Scandi menu, located in the unique location of the eighth floor of Denmark's national soccer stadium. It's open four days a week, a choice made by head chef Rasmus Kofoed and co-owner Søren Ledet in order to keep to an ethos of work-life balance. The two friends hugged joyfully as they celebrated winning their award at a lavish ceremony held in London's Old Billingsgate, a Victorian building that was once the world's largest fish market. Hollywood actor and CNN presenter Stanley Tucci hosted the ceremony, in a white tuxedo jacket on one of the UK's hottest days on record. Restaurants are only permitted to scoop the awards' top prize once, after which they're entered into a separate "Best of the Best" program. Members of that elite group include Geranium's Copenhagen neighbor Noma, as well as New York's Eleven Madison Park, The Fat Duck near London, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, and Mirazur in Menton, France. South American restaurants fared well. In Lima, chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León's Central climbed two places to the second spot, while Maido, which serves Japanese-Peruvian fusion, slipped down to No. 11. Brazil's A Caso do Porco – a celebration of all things porcine has climbed 10 places to No. 7. Spain's presence on the list this year was solid with Barcelona's Disfrutar at No. 3, while Madrid's Diverxo shot up to 4th place. Larrabetzu's Asador Etxebarri – where all dishes, even dessert, are flame-grilled has slipped down to No. 6. Mexico City was represented by fifth place winner Pujol this year's Best Restaurant in North America and Quintonil, which climbed all the way from last year's No. 27 has landed in a No. 9 spot. Italy's Lido 84 and Le Calandre also moved up the rankings this year. Uliassi, in Italy's Senigallia region, was at No. 12, this year's Highest New Entry. It's not until No.20 that an Asia-based restaurant makes an appearance, with Den in Tokyo earning the highest place on this year's list. In the 20 years the awards have been running, no restaurant outside Europe or North America has ever won the World's 50 Best prize. All winners so far have come from Spain, the United States, the UK, Denmark, Italy and France. Here are the world’s best restaurants: 1. <a href="http://www.geranium.dk/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geranium</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 2. <a href="http://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central</a> (Lima, Peru) *Best Restaurant in South America* 3. <a href="http://www.disfrutarbarcelona.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Disfrutar</a> (Barcelona, Spain) 4. <a href="https://diverxo.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diverxo</a> (Madrid, Spain) 5. <a href="https://www.pujol.com.mx/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pujol</a> (Mexico City, Mexico) *Best Restaurant in North America* 6. <a href="http://asadoretxebarri.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Asador Etxebarri</a> (Axpe, Spain) 7. <a href="https://acasadoporco.com.br/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Casa do Porco</a> (São Paulo, Brazil) 8. <a href="https://www.ristorantelido84.com/en/home-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lido 84</a> (Gardone Riviera, Italy) 9. <a href="http://www.quintonil.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quintonil</a> (Mexico City, Mexico) 10. <a href="https://www.alajmo.it/en/sezione/le-calandre/le-calandre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Le Calandre</a> (Rubano, Italy) 11. <a href="http://www.maido.pe/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maido</a> (Lima, Peru) 12. <a href="https://www.uliassi.com/homepage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uliassi</a> (Senigallia, Italy) 13. <a href="https://www.steirereck.at/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steirereck</a> (Vienna, Austria) 14. <a href="http://www.parrilladonjulio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Don Julio</a> (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 15. <a href="https://www.nikoromito.com/reale/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reale</a> (Castel di Sangro, Italy) 16. <a href="https://www.restauranteelkano.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elkano</a> (Getaria, Spain) 17. <a href="https://www.nobelhartundschmutzig.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nobelhart & Schmutzig</a> (Berlin, Germany) 18. <a href="https://alchemist.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alchemist</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 19. <a href="https://www.piazzaduomoalba.it/it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piazza Duomo</a> (Alba, Italy) 20. <a href="http://www.jimbochoden.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Den</a> (Tokyo, Japan) *Best Restaurant in Asia* 21. <a href="http://www.mugaritz.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mugaritz</a> (San Sebastian, Spain) 22. <a href="http://www.septime-charonne.fr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Septime</a> (Paris, France) 23. <a href="https://www.thejaneantwerp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Jane</a> (Antwerp, Belgium) 24. <a href="https://www.thechairmangroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Chairman</a> (Hong Kong) 25. <a href="http://www.restaurantfrantzen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frantzén</a> (Stockholm, Sweden) 26. <a href="https://tim-raue.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Restaurant Tim Raue</a> (Berlin, Germany) 27. <a href="https://www.hofvancleve.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hof van Cleve</a> (Kruishoutem, Belgium) 28. <a href="https://www.le-clarence.paris/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Clarence</a> (Paris, France) 29. <a href="https://www.st-hubertus.it/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Hubertus</a> (San Cassiano, Italy) 30. <a href="https://www.aoyama-florilege.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florilege</a> (Tokyo, Japan) 31. <a href="https://www.alain-passard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arpège</a> (Paris, France) 32. <a href="https://www.maytalima.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayta</a> (Lima, Peru) 33. <a href="https://www.atomixnyc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atomix</a> (New York City) 34. <a href="https://www.hisafranko.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hiša Franko</a> (Kobarid, Slovenia) 35. <a href="http://thecloveclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Clove Club</a> (London, UK) 36. <a href="http://www.odetterestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Odette</a> (Singapore) 37. <a href="https://fynrestaurant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fyn</a> (Cape Town, South Africa) 38. <a href="https://restaurantjordnaer.dk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jordnær</a> (Copenhagen, Denmark) 39. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sornfinesouthern/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sorn</a> (Bangkok, Thailand) 40. <a href="https://schauenstein.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schloss Schauenstein</a> (Fürstenau, Switzerland) 41. <a href="http://www.la-cime.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Cime</a> (Osaka, Japan) 42. <a href="https://en.quiquedacosta.es/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quique Dacosta</a> (Dénia, Spain) 43. <a href="https://www.borago.cl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boragó</a> (Santiago, Chile) 44. <a href="https://www.le-bernardin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Le Bernardin</a> (New York City) 45. <a href="http://www.narisawa-yoshihiro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Narisawa</a> (Tokyo, Japan) 46. <a href="https://belcanto.pt/index.php?lang=pt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belcanto</a> (Lisbon, Portugal) 47. <a href="http://www.oteque.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oteque</a> (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 48. <a href="http://www.restauranteleo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leo</a> (Bogotá, Colombia) 49. <a href="https://ikoyilondon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ikoyi</a> (London, England) 50. <a href="https://www.singlethreadfarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SingleThread</a> (Healdsburg, California) Image: Eatweek

Food & Wine

"Heartbroken": High-profile women react to landmark Roe v Wade decision

When the US Supreme Court made the landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday June 24, women across America and all around the world took to social media to express their anger, disgust, sadness and outrage. A range of celebrities and high-profile women spoke out over the decision, as they grieved the loss of fundamental women's right and bodily autonomy in the eyes of the law. Roe v. Wade was implemented to grant women in the US the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, regardless of their reasoning. The landmark abortion ruling, which has been in place since 1973, was officially overturned last week, meaning individual states in America now have the right to ban women from seeking legal abortions – which several states have now already done. Australian model Robyn Lawley made a statement on her Instagram as she wrote on her torso, "My body my choice". The model shared her disgust for the ruling, while also empathising with women living the US of the challenges they are about to face. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOyiHmO1ud/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfOyiHmO1ud/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Robyn Lawley (@robynlawley)</a> </div> </blockquote> Former First Lady Michelle Obama posted an emotional statement online, which has been shared millions of times by men and women alike who are in disarray over the ruling. In the statement she wrote, "I am heartbroken that we may now be destined to learn the painful lessons of a time before Roe was made law of the land - a time when women risked their lives getting illegal abortions." "That is what our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers lived through, and now we are here again." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMSJTKu_XY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMSJTKu_XY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)</a> </div> </blockquote> Pop star Taylor Swift was one of the many who reposted Obama's message, adding, "I'm absolutely terrified that this is where we are – that after so many decades of people fighting for women's rights to their own bodies, today's decision has stripped us of that." Kim Kardashian echoed the thoughts of many as she shared that "In America, guns have more rights than women," as the overturning of Roe v. Wade has somehow taken priority over tighter gun restrictions, despite there being over <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/02/mass-shootings-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">250 mass shootings in 2022</a> so far. Hillary Clinton also chimed in on the decision, saying overturning Roe v. Wade is "a step backward". "Most Americans believe the decision to have a child is one of the most sacred decisions there is, and that such decisions should remain between patients and their doctors," Clinton said. "Today's Supreme Court opinion will live in infamy as a step backward for women's rights and human rights." Everyday women across America shared their fear over the ruling, with many encouraging others to delete their period tracking apps, to have real conversations with their partners about their intimacy, and to start savings accounts to travel out of their state for an abortion if needed. As protestors took to the steps of the Supreme Court to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade, online spaces were dominated with anger, as "my body, my choice" began trending on Twitter and became the battle cry for the women of the United States and around the world. Image credits: Getty Images

Body

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Inexpensive microphone arrays deployed in urban settings can be used to pinpoint the location of gunshots and help police respond instantly to the scene of crimes, scientists say. The process works by recognising that a gunshot produces two distinct sounds: the muzzle blast, and the supersonic shockwave that follows it. Luisa Still of Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Germany, told a meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acoustical Society of America in Denver, Colorado</a>, this week that by using those two signals – in a process akin to that by which seismologists track seismic waves from earthquakes – police departments armed with the right equipment could pinpoint the location of the shot within seconds. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds. In an urban environment, buildings and other structures can reflect, refract or absorb sound waves, causing the sounds of the shot to come at the microphones from any number of directions. But it turns out, Still says, that it only takes two such sensor arrays to locate the source of a gunshot — and a good computer can do so very quickly. In tests, her team began on a rifle range, where they confirmed that a pair of such microphone arrays could indeed determine the location of the shooter to a high degree of accuracy. They then moved to an urban environment, where they repeated the experiment, though in this case the shooter was replaced with a propane gas cannon of the type used by farmers to scare away crop-eating birds. Again, two microphone arrays were all that were needed to zero in on the source of the “shot”. Not that this can work anywhere, any time. Still’s signal-location algorithms require maps of the surrounding buildings, the walls of which might affect the sound and, in extreme cases, create “blind spots” if microphone arrays aren’t properly deployed. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> She also notes that research is ongoing as to whether it is better to put microphones at ground level or atop neighbouring buildings. There’s also continuing research around how many might be needed in complex urban cores, where there are a lot of buildings of varying height and echo patterns can become very convoluted. “We still need to evaluate [that],” she says. There’s also the need to weed out noises that sound like gunshots, such as firecrackers, car-engine backfires and anything else that makes a sudden bang. “We are working on classification methods,” Still says, noting that these involve computerised “deep learning” methods that can be trained to distinguish such sounds. Could similar sensors be deployed within a school building in order to locate a school shooter even more quickly that is currently possible? Still was asked. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “I think that would be applicable.” Though she noted that it might also be acoustically “very challenging” to put into practice. Later that same day, 19 school children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas, in America’s worst grade-school shooting in nearly a decade. Would the death toll have been lower if gunshot sensors such as Still’s were widely deployed? Who knows? But it was one of the most stunningly prescient scientific presentations imaginable, because she spoke less than an hour before the Uvalde gunman opened fire. It was far too late for her research to be able to deflect the tragedy that was about to unfold, but close enough to it to underscore the urgency of what she was doing. <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=192812&title=Targeting+shooters%3A+technology+that+can+isolate+the+location+of+gunshots" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/richard-a-lovett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard A Lovett</a>. Richard A Lovett is a Portland, Oregon-based science writer and science fiction author. He is a frequent contributor to Cosmos. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

Meghan Markle called on to run for president

Meghan Markle would make a “great presidential candidate” according to US President Biden’s sister. Valerie Biden Owens, who works as President Biden’s campaign manager, has called on the Duchess of Sussex to join the Democratic Party saying she would be welcomed with open arms. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Ms Owens was firm in her statement about Meghan Markle being a US President candidate. "Yes, perhaps. Of course she will," she said on the show. "It's wonderful to have women in politics. The more women we have, the better our democratic system will work. A better point of view, a different point of view. "We embrace all women and we welcome her to come in and join the Democratic party." Meghan has previously weighed in on the politics in America after she left her royal duties with husband Prince Harry. She urged Americans to vote in the 2020 Election and also called for more paid parental leave. Author Tom Bower is writing a biography about the Duchess and previously said that it is “possible” and “likely” that she would run for president. "The prospect of Meghan running for president is possible and I'd even say likely. I really believe it's where she sees herself going,” he told Closer Magazine. Fellow author Omid Scobie concurred saying: "Meghan is the embodiment of the American dream. One day we may see Meghan become president." Back in 2020, an anonymous friend told Vanity Fair that Meghan refused to give up her American citizenship in order to have the option to get into politics. As per the British Royal Family, all members are required to remain neutral which Meghan has not - pointing out that she has already met with senators to lobby a bill. A legal expert has called it “controversial” but only time will tell what Meghan decides to do. Image: Getty

Beauty & Style

America’s Roe v Wade abortion law could be overturned

Leaked US Supreme Court documents revealing that the Roe v Wade abortion law is set to be overturned have sparked outcry across the US - prompting protests and widespread debate online - and made headlines around the world. The documents, first published by <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a> and <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/read-justice-alito-initial-abortion-opinion-overturn-roe-v-wade-pdf-00029504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared in their entirety</a>, contain a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito that rejects two significant decisions for abortion rights: 1973’s Roe v Wade and the subsequent Planned Parenthood v Casey. Roe v Wade allowed women the right to access abortions during the first two trimesters, with restrictions in the second trimester. In 1992, Planned Parenthood v Casey replaced the trimester framework with restrictions depending on whether the foetus could survive outside the womb. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thousands out in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoleySquare?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoleySquare</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbortionIsHealthcare?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbortionIsHealthcare</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BansOffOurBodies?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BansOffOurBodies</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoeVWade?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoeVWade</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abortionrights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#abortionrights</a> <a href="https://t.co/4JS3vQ3nhp">pic.twitter.com/4JS3vQ3nhp</a> — Melissa Bender (@mbendernyc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mbendernyc/status/1521638278843273217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2022</a></blockquote> In the leaked documents, Justice Alito wrote that Roe v Wade “was egregiously wrong from the start”. “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” he wrote in a document labelled as the ‘Opinion of the Court’. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” Where previous arguments to overturn the decision have stemmed from the rights of the foetus, Justice Alito reasoned that it has no ties to the US Constitution, which makes no reference to abortion rights specifically. “Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Consitution does not prohibit the citizens of each state from regulating or prohibiting abortion,” he wrote, noting that the right to an abortion isn’t “implicitly protected by any constitutional provision”. As a result, some experts are concerned that this reasoning could also see the right to contraception be targeted next, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2022/05/03/after-roe-v-wade-vote-access-to-contraception-could-be-under-scrutiny/?sh=2b09b0566a29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a>. Jamie Raskin, a constitutional scholar and Congressman, explained to the Rachel Maddow Show that Roe is based on an earlier case, Griswold v Connecticut, which struck down a law banning birth control and that overturning Roe and Casey could result in Griswold falling too. “We know there is a right-wing war on contraception now, but if Casey is to fall, if Roe v Wade is to fall, then Griswold v Connecticut, presumably, is to fall as well, because the word ‘contraception’ or ‘birth control’ doesn’t appear in the Constitution,” Mr Raskin said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> PSA: if Roe falls, your constitutional right to birth control will also be in jeopardy. This has never just been about abortion. It’s about controlling & criminalizing our bodies. — Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepBarbaraLee/status/1518667259413245953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Aside from affecting family life, restricting access to birth control also has repercussions on women’s careers and salaries. Harvard economists Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/117269.pdf?casa_token=HuDCGE6BhzgAAAAA:0txAsdJnXKkosw8IWUugCK7SinBvLRsFfMWkbJ78jKDMb3RYZr_j83avLtoyRC7mcAQkFMpO4jaMid5sBJm2g-WlhlnbE-ikIdLHjhrwjQg_oUQ0TapA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have pointed out</a> that access to contraception and abortions prompted the increase in women who were ‘high-powered professionals’ since the 1970s. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/26/contraception-birth-control-access-contributes-to-womens-wage-increases-says-new-study.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Another study</a> found that women with access to legal contraception earned 11 percent more by year by the time they turn 40, with the study authors suggesting that women can choose to delay having children and invest more in their education and occupation. Current and former leaders have since weighed in on the documents, with President Joe Biden arguing “basic fairness” demands the Supreme Court not overturn the decision, per <a href="https://time.com/6173002/joe-biden-abortion-fundamental-right/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TIME</a>. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker for the House of Representatives, described the potential decision as an “abomination”, as reported by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/03/supreme-court-roe-v-wade-draft-abortion-ruling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a>. “If the report is accurate, the supreme court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past 50 years - not just on women but on all Americans,” she said. “The Republican-appointed judges’ reported votes to overturn Roe v Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history.” Though the Supreme Court has confirmed that the leaked documents are authentic, a court statement has emphasised that the draft isn’t the judge’s final word and could change according to the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-04/us-supreme-court-investigate-roe-v-wade-leak/101035852" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a>. Chief Justice John Roberts has also said he has ordered an investigation into the situation, which he called an “egregious breach of trust”. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

Ash Barty has announced a completely new career change after retiring from professional tennis. The former World No.1 <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/ash-barty-announces-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced her retirement</a> in a video interview on Instagram on March 23, thanking those who supported her along the way. After announcing that she will be <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/ash-barty-reveals-surprise-career-move" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writing a book series</a> titled Little Ash as well as a memoir to be released later in the year, Ash revealed she will head to the US to play professional golf. The 25-year-old will head over to the US to play in the Icons Series which will take place at the Liberty National course in New Jersey. Ash has already been spoken highly of by Icons Series chief executive Thomas Brookes. “She’s absolutely terrific,” he told <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/golf/what-ash-did-next-barty-to-play-in-global-golf-tournament-20220418-p5aeaa.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1650323600-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fairfax</a>. “She did a range session with Ian Poulter, who is one of our future captains in September when she was at the US Open, and she had not hit a golf ball for a while. Ian said, ‘just hit a few balls and we’ll see how you go’. “She hit this ball, I don’t know how far. And he turned around and said, ‘you’re having me on. Let’s just take it a bit deeper. Can you do me a high fade?’ And she did a high fade. Then he said, ‘can you do me a low draw?’ And she did a low draw. “He said, ‘oh my goodness, you are something else’. She’s got those skill sets within her locker. With a bit of practice she can get lower than a three or four handicap. I know she’s really, really excited to be playing in New York and she’s also really keen to bring the concept to Australia.” Ash will be captained by Ernie Els and will play in the inaugural nine-hole team match alongside boxer Carnelo Alvarez, Manchester City soccer manager Pep Guardiola and Tottenham striker Harry Kane. “I’m excited to be part of the Icons Series and I hope through my participation in the series that we can encourage more women and girls to participate in golf around the world,” Ash said. She hopes all Aussie fans in New York and New Jersey will come out and cheer her and her teammates on. Image: Instagram

News

Couple in strife for flinging dog poo at Russian neighbour

A couple who allegedly threw dog poo at their Russian neighbour and threatened him are now facing ethnic discrimination charges. Over the past few weeks, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has been investigating several incidents of harassment and intimidation directed at the Russian man. Police said yard signs were defaced with political and anti-national messages, a bag of rice with a similar message was thrown onto his property and he was subject to coarse language and threats. The messages condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin, and dog poo was left in the yard. According to police, an immediate neighbour and his family have reported being harassed almost everyday since Russia invaded Ukraine. One of the victims of this abuse was identified as Vasily Potanin, his father Vladimir Potanin is a multi-billionaire and used to be Russia's deputy prime minister. Mr Potanin says he does not support Russia's attack on Ukraine. “They assume that just because of my nationality, I must be profiting from that. I’m Putin’s spy. I work for him. All this nonsense,” he said. “Honestly I think for them, the best thing that can happen is they can have the consequences legally for their actions and they should face them.” Mr Potanin said he had received hateful messages in the mail, ordering him to leave the neighbourhood in which he has resided for four years. Image: Pittsburgh Police

Legal

Furious backlash after school offers shapewear to female students

Image: Facebook/Getty A Mississippi middle school has offered body-slimming shapewear to female students this month, leading to furious backlash. Southaven Middle School in northern Mississippi sent a letter home to parents of teen and tween girls, educating on the issue of negative body image. The letter concluded with an offer from the school's counselors to provide shapewear — a foundation garment that's used alter a person's body shape. This offer was made to any of the students, aged 10 to 14, whose parents agreed to it. The letter was shared on social media by mom Ashley Heun, who said that she was 'beyond p***ed.' 'This is what was sent home with my 8th-grade daughter,' Heun, whose daughter Caroline attends the school, wrote on Facebook. The memo is headed with the nonsensical title 'Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?' — which should more accurately say suffer from 'bad' or 'negative' body image. The memo goes on to discuss how 'social and cultural experiences' create a 'desire to adhere to an "ideal" body shape,' and how girls are 'more likely than boys to have negative body image.' While the memo is mostly thoughtful, noting that 'women in the United States feel pressured to measure up to strict and unrealistic social and cultural beauty ideals,' it also asserts that girls with a positive body image are more likely to have good self esteem, physical health and mental health — and it offers a surprising way of supporting that. 'We, the counsellors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image. 'We are also providing girls with shapewear, bras, and other health products if applicable.'

Body

White mum accused of trafficking biracial daughter

A US woman has accused Southwest Airlines of racial profiling, claiming she was accused of trafficking her biracial daughter while they travelled together. Data journalist Mary MacCarthy told CNN that she and her daughter Moira were flying from Los Angeles to Denver after receiving news that Ms MacCarthy’s brother had passed away. After making a short stop in San Jose, Ms MacCarthy said the pair discovered they weren’t sitting together on their second flight. “I asked flight attendants if we could be seated together but they told us we’d each have to take a middle seat,” Ms MacCarthy <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/southwest-airlines-mum-says-airline-thought-she-was-trafficking-her-biracial-daughter/b68a09d8-0b95-4a1c-97a9-35abd681b290" target="_blank">explained</a>. “So with their permission I asked other passengers if they would kindly move so we could be together, especially as my daughter was grieving, and they did. People are nice.” But when they arrived in Denver, Ms MacCarthy said they were greeted on the runway by two police officers. “I got quite a shock; having lost my brother the night before, I thought that someone else in my family had died and that police had been sent to deliver the news,” she wrote in an email to the airline’s media team, which was included in the police report. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We talk an awful lot about a divided nation, but when even conservative media like Newsmax and Fox News come to me with surprise & sympathy about what my daughter was subject to by <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthwestAir</a>, it makes me feel a little better about... well... human beings in general! <a href="https://t.co/jLPUhD89aM">https://t.co/jLPUhD89aM</a> — Mary MacCarthy (@MaryMacCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMacCarthy/status/1458112584377241606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote> “As for my daughter, she was terribly frightened; she was already experiencing the trauma of her uncle’s death, and she is scared of police due to constant headlines about how police treat black people (she is black). She began to sob and was inconsolable,” her email said. Ms MacCarthy said the police assured her that nothing was wrong, and that they wanted to question her and her daughter. “They said they were here because my daughter and I were reported for suspicious behaviour, acting suspiciously before boarding and while boarding,” she said. “I took out my phone and immediately started recording. I told (the officer) who we were and that my daughter was crying because she had lost a family member.” According to a report from the Denver police, the pair were cleared of any suspicion. The report also included a note that officers were responding to a “possible Human Trafficking” reported by a Southwest flight attendant. However, Ms MacCarthy said she was unaware that she was suspected of human trafficking until two weeks after the incident. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> So remember my Tweet about being met by armed officers at <a href="https://twitter.com/DENAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DENAirport</a> getting off a <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthwestAir</a> flight, traveling w/ my Black daughter? Today <a href="https://twitter.com/DenverPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DenverPolice</a> called me on suspicion of human trafficking. Have they never encountered a mixed-race family? How is this ok? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BLM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BLM</a> — Mary MacCarthy (@MaryMacCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMacCarthy/status/1455390564031942659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2021</a></blockquote> “I got a call from Denver Police human trafficking unit letting me know they were following up on the incident,” she told CNN. She has since accused the airline of racial profiling, has retained an attorney and wants the airline to be held “fully accountable”. “I gave the airline plenty of time to contact me and apologise - over two weeks later, I’ve yet to receive anything more than two brief automated responses. The time for apology is long past,” she said. In the email to Southwest’s media team, Ms MacCarthy asked for a written apology, an immediate reimbursement of their plane tickets, and “additional compensation to account for the trauma imposed on an innocent family, and especially on a grieving ten-year-old black girl.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Had to cancel upcoming flights, my girl is not yet ready to travel after the <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthwestAir</a> trauma. Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/Expedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Expedia</a> for your exceptional, kind customer service to accommodate us and provide full credit for price of tix! That's the definition of rockstar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/customerservice?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#customerservice</a> — Mary MacCarthy (@MaryMacCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMacCarthy/status/1458178973888704512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote> Dan Landson, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, told CNN in a statement that the company planned to reach out to Ms MacCarthy and conduct “a review of the situation internally”. “Our Employees undergo robust training on Human Trafficking. Above all, Southwest Airlines prides itself on providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for the millions of Customers who travel with us each year,” Mr Landson said. David Lane, Ms MacCarthy’s attorney, echoed her claims that it was a racially charged incident. “Had this been a white child, there would not have been a raised eyebrow,” he said. Image: @MaryMacCarthy (Twitter)

Travel Trouble

The “loneliest woman in America” who brewed root beer for thousands of visitors

From 1934 to 1986, Dorothy Molter lived alone on the Isle of Pines in Minnesota’s million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Her home was 25km by canoe from the nearest road and 50km from the nearest town, and the waters and wilderness surrounding it played home to bald eagles, swans, deer, bear, and the occasional moose. During the summer, she operated a fishing camp, but lived in almost permanent solitude during the winter. Her interesting choice of residence wasn’t what cemented her <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dorothy-molter-root-beer-lady" target="_blank">legacy</a>, however: it was the root beer she brewed with lake water and served to visitors. Thanks to this hobby, she became known as “the root beer lady”. Molter fell in love with the woods in 1930 during a family fishing trip, and after struggling to find work as a nurse during the Depression in her home city of Chicago, she returned. A man named Bill Berglund promised her that if she stayed to help him run his fishing camp, he would leave her the four-cabin resort in his will. True to his word, when he died in 1948, Molter took over. She gained a reputation as a wilderness “first responder”, using her nursing training to help injured canoers and animals alike. Her tendency to help those who were injured earned her another nickname, “Nightingale of the Northwoods”. Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum, said that despite all of this, it was her decision to live in solitude that most intrigued people. “An unmarried woman living alone in the wilderness was a curiosity,” she says. Molter herself once swore that she wouldn’t marry unless she found a man who could “portage heavier loads, chop more wood, or catch more fish” than her. It’s a good thing Molter was so self-sufficient, because living in such isolation is not for the faint of heart. Without electricity, a telephone, or running water, she chopped her own wood, hauled lake water, and harvested ice in winter to preserve food in warmer months. Communication, whether by mail, telegraph, or word-of-mouth, often took days. Her isolation was only exacerbated by the US government’s attempts to preserve the wilderness surrounding her home. After float plane flights to the island ended in 1952, Molter was dubbed the “loneliest woman in America” in the press. The Wilderness Act of 1964 mandated that residences and buildings had to be removed from the area. Molter ignored repeated orders from the US Forest Service to vacate, and eventually, following a groundswell of public support, she was allowed to stay on her island as a “volunteer-in-service”, although she was forced to close her camp. This made her the last resident of the Boundary Waters. With the cessation of flights to the area, it became impossible to transport drinks, so naturally, Molter began making her own root beer. She bought flavoured syrup from the nearby town or local Boy Scout base, and blended it with sugar, yeast for carbonation, and lake water in a 30-litre crock. She bottled the resulting beverage in hundreds of empty glass bottles she had collected over the years, with nowhere to dispose of them. Despite the quality of the drink not always being consistent, as many as 7000 visitors managed to consume around 12,000 bottles of the homemade soda, with the local Boy Scouts being particular fans. After Molter passed away at her cabin in 1986, a group that dubbed itself “Dorothy’s Angels” managed to move her buildings to the nearby town of Ely and create a museum in her honour. The Dorothy Molter Museum sits in a woodsy area at the edge of the town, offering visitors a sample of root beer and a taste of Molter’s quiet life. Image: Buddy Mays/Corbis via Getty Images

Retirement Life

Couple killed just two days after getting married

Image: Gofund Me A newlywed couple have been identified among three people who were killed in a highway crash in the North American state of Tennessee. Jessiah Plemons, 31, and his new wife Lillian Rose, 25, were killed in the crash on the morning of Sunday the 17th of October. The couple had been married just two days prior on the 15th of October, WBIR reports. The third person identified in the crash was 23-year-old Madison Davis. The trio was struck on the highway by a Chevrolet pickup after becoming stranded when their vehicle struck a guardrail. All three died at the scene of the accident. Plemons' mother Michelle said she was informed of the couple's death after receiving a knock at her door on Sunday morning. “It’s the worst thing a mother can go through,” she said. The couple had four children, Michelle added. “Jess was my everything, the glue that held our family together,” she said. “Lily made my baby happy until the very end.” “She is just such a sweet girl. She brightened the room and they looked so happy together.” “It’s made me feel more alive knowing Jess did a lot of great things out there before all this.” She said she will always remember the impact Jessiah and Lily had on so many people. Two fundraisers have been launched to support both the Plemons' and Rose’s families at <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/jessiah-plemons-memorial-fund" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/f/jessiah-plemons-memorial-fund</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-lily-rose" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-lily-rose</a>.

Family & Pets

Laundrie lookalike ambushed at gunpoint

Image: Instagram and Facebook A New Yorker bearing an uncanny resemblance to Brian Laundrie had a rude shock when US Marshals on the hunt for the fugitive pulled their guns on him during a nap on the Appalachian Trial. Ithaca couple Severin Beckwith and Anna Brettmann were taking a nap at the Lodge at Fontana Village Resort after lunch when they heard a knock and seconds later their door flew open. “Next thing I see is a bunch of guys with riot shields with ‘US Marshals’ written on them, handguns pointed at my face,” Beckwith told Fox News. The stunned hiker was promptly handcuffed as one of the feds helped Brettman get dressed. Beckwith, who resembles Brian Laundrie, the sole person of interest in his girlfriend, Gabby Petito’s murder, said he had a hunch why he was targeted on the Appalachian Trail, where tipsters have reported spotting the 23-year-old fugitive. The look-a-like told the New Yorker that one of the agents touched the side of his head and said he had a “notch in the upper part of my inner ear, just like his”. Making matters worse for Beckwith, was that he and Brettman, who had been hiking from Georgia to Virigina since late September – had booked their room with a credit card connected to an Empire State ID, the outlet said. Gabby was originally from Long Island. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844924/new-project-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/feb94d4bfe024e8bb1a4c2c9143d18ec" /> Gabby and Brian together. Image: Instagram. Beckwith was quickly cleared because he didn’t have Laundrie’s telltale tattoos and he produced an ID that ruled him out as the wanted man. Following the marshals’ advice, Beckwith shaved his beard – but quickly regretted it “because I have much less of a chin that Laundrie does”. Beckwith suspects that an employee at Fontana Lake marina alerted the authorities to his presence and even snapped his photo, which a marshal showed the guest after breaking down the door. For their trouble, the lodge provided the couple with a free night’s stay and a complimentary breakfast. Last month, another Laundrie lookalike became a TikTok sensation overnight. The unidentified man, who created the @notbrianlaundrie account was seen doing his laundry in one clip and asking another TikToker for tips on how to avoid being “attacked” for being confused with the fugitive. Meanwhile, a woman who pioneered the FBI’s Behavioural Science Unit told Fox News that the argument between Laundrie and Petito that people witnessed at Wyoming eatery in August may hold the key to the woman’s fate. “The restaurant incidient… is the second and most important,” Ann Wolbert Burgess told Fox News about two incidents that she raised as red flags before Petito’s death. The second incident being the domestic dispute called on August the 12th in Moab, Utah. Burgess is the author of “A killer by Design: Murders, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal.” “How she has to apologise for his behaviour is something that’s kind of characteristic, and this probably enrages him even more because he wants to appear in a certain way,” Burgess said of the incident at Merry Piglets, a Jackson Hole restaurant. Nina Celie Angelo, a photographer who witnessed the incident at the eatery, recently told Fox News Digital she believed Laundrie was arguing with staff over the bill or about money. She said his body language appeared “aggressive” and that he left and returned several times.

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The US just returned to the Moon after more than 50 years. How big a deal is it, really?

104-year-old woman becomes world's oldest skydiver

Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future

A brief history of the mortgage, from its roots in ancient Rome to the English ‘dead pledge’ and its rebirth in America

Seven times people discovered the Americas – and how they got there

Outrage after husky pup shot and killed by hunter

Novak Djokovic refused entry to America ahead of the US Open

Own the house that Dr Seuss built

The world's best restaurants for 2022 have been revealed

"Heartbroken": High-profile women react to landmark Roe v Wade decision

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Meghan Markle called on to run for president

America’s Roe v Wade abortion law could be overturned

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

Couple in strife for flinging dog poo at Russian neighbour

Furious backlash after school offers shapewear to female students

White mum accused of trafficking biracial daughter

The “loneliest woman in America” who brewed root beer for thousands of visitors

Couple killed just two days after getting married

Laundrie lookalike ambushed at gunpoint

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

The US just returned to the Moon after more than 50 years. How big a deal is it, really?

104-year-old woman becomes world's oldest skydiver

Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future

A brief history of the mortgage, from its roots in ancient Rome to the English ‘dead pledge’ and its rebirth in America

Seven times people discovered the Americas – and how they got there

Outrage after husky pup shot and killed by hunter

Novak Djokovic refused entry to America ahead of the US Open

Own the house that Dr Seuss built

The world's best restaurants for 2022 have been revealed

"Heartbroken": High-profile women react to landmark Roe v Wade decision

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Meghan Markle called on to run for president

America’s Roe v Wade abortion law could be overturned

Barty reveals new major sporting career move

Couple in strife for flinging dog poo at Russian neighbour

Furious backlash after school offers shapewear to female students

White mum accused of trafficking biracial daughter

The “loneliest woman in America” who brewed root beer for thousands of visitors

Couple killed just two days after getting married

Laundrie lookalike ambushed at gunpoint

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