Tag Archives: Life

World

The 40-Hour Work Week Is, in Fact, Life

Leave a comment

I am a staff member at a predominantly white institution. The other week my colleague asked me to welcome a new employee to our university even though we’re working remotely and I do not work with this new person’s team. This employee is a person of color, and the colleague who asked for my help is a white woman. In the email, my colleague apologized for “singling out my identity.” Still, she thought I would be a great person to welcome the employee to the team and “spill the tea” about our university. She said maybe I could suggest a church or a place to get a haircut. A close work friend said I should’ve clapped back. I regret not speaking on the issue. I’m not a confrontational person, and I assumed this colleague was operating in good faith, despite the questionable language. I’m wondering how you would have responded and what you would say to the employee of color. I’m planning to reach out to this employee and share my honest experience, which has been a mixed bag.

— Anonymous, Kansas

Most of us who have worked at predominantly white institutions have been forced into this position of Minority Ambassador and navigating these inane microaggressions. It’s tokenizing at best, though like you I assume your colleague was operating in something resembling good faith. I don’t know what I would have done in your position. We’re not always able to clap back; it depends on power dynamics. Now that I’m tenured, I would have written back and said, “You are, indeed, singling out my identity,” with a snappy retort clarifying where the person went wrong.

Before that, I probably would have said nothing and taken my frustrations to the group chat. Regardless, I would also, on my own, reach out to the new employee to introduce myself and be collegial, offering any assistance they might need joining a new community. At every institution I’ve joined, I’ve been incredibly grateful to the Black staff and faculty who welcomed me, gave me the lay of the land, and, yes, let me know where I could get my hair done. Wherever I am, I try to do the same for others who join a community I’m part of.

I took a new job right before the pandemic and my boss is a complete dingus. He’s a nice enough man and good at the high-level parts of his job but he’s disorganized and a poor communicator. This makes a job I otherwise love very challenging in stupid ways. We are scheduled to return to the office soon and I have no idea how I am going to control my facial expressions around him. Working from home, I got used to rolling my eyes and cursing aloud at him. Any tips on how re-up that “work filter”?

— Anonymous

This situation calls for maturity. We all work with people who are incompetent or infuriating or otherwise intolerable. But we can’t go around emoting our displeasure at them. It’s unkind and it can, indeed, jeopardize your career. What matters more: rolling your eyes or receiving your paycheck? Ask yourself this question every time your boss does something ridiculous and grit your teeth accordingly. That said, perhaps you’re asking the wrong question. Might it be possible to gently approach your boss about these organization and communication issues? If he’s nice and good at some of his job, he may well be open to constructive, considerate feedback. I don’t think this is an all-or-nothing situation.

My company is requiring that employees return to the office after Labor Day. Three days a week in the office, two days a week at home. I would normally be OK with this but I have a child who is too young to be vaccinated. With cases surging again, I’m likely pulling her out of preschool until she is eligible for a shot. I’ll have to home-school her in the meantime. And that seems incompatible with working in an office. My partner also works full time, and child care is a burden we will share until we can vaccinate our child. Any advice on how I should approach this issue with my employer?

— Anonymous, Austin

So many parents are facing this untenable situation. I’m sorry you must make these impossible decisions. Ask your employer if you can work from home until a children’s vaccine is available. Explain your reasoning as it is entirely reasonable. If that isn’t possible, can you and your partner trade days at home and in the office? Given the way things are going with the Delta variant, I imagine your employer might be changing plans to return to the office.

Read original article here

Business

Where to rent treehouses in U.S., Japan, Australia and Costa Rica

Leave a comment

Travelers looking for a vacation in the great outdoors are turning to a nostalgic source of comfort and solitude: treehouses.

But these aren’t the treehouses of their childhood. Like the travelers who are booking them, the treehouses have matured too.

Modern treehouses are more luxury homes than kid hangouts — with a price to match. Treehouses constructed by professionals can easily cost six figures to build.

“A fully appointed treehouse with kitchen, bathroom, heat and air conditioning … we’re building those around $200,000,” Pete Nelson, the star of Animal Planet’s TV show “Treehouse Masters,” told CNBC in 2014.

Treehouses that are built for people to live in now average around $240,000, according to HomeAdvisor, a website that connects homeowners with home services.

Since then, prices have risen along with demand, a situation further propelled by the global pandemic and a desire for offbeat, outdoor accommodations.

Grand entrances

Aside from a worn-out patch of grass in the backyard, old-school treehouses didn’t typically incorporate much of an entrance. Modern ones do, some with gated walkways, stone staircases and ramps built for wheelchairs and pets.

The Chez’ Tree Rest treehouse is near New York’s Finger Lakes’ region.

Anthony Costello | Bluenose Studios

One such treehouse is the Chez’ Tree Rest Treehouse in upstate New York, which is accessible via a 60-foot footbridge that begins at a heart-shaped gate. Another 30-foot-long cable bridge connects the treehouse to a separate relaxation deck.

Owner Tom Wallace discusses the treehouse’s construction in a video tour of the treehouse where he also provides tips for a comfortable stay.

Rates start at $285 per night.

New heights

Treehouses for children should be between six and 12-feet tall with railings that are at least 36 inches high, according to Tree Top Builders, a custom builder based in Exton, Pennsylvania. Those heights also assume a mulch or wood chips are placed below the treehouse to soften a potential fall.  

Treehouses built for big people aren’t constrained by these standards, as evidenced by the three-story Punta Jaguar jungle treehouse in Matapalo, Costa Rica.

The Punta Jaguar treehouse has three open-design elevated levels, plus a ground-level bungalow.

Courtesy of Punta Jaguar

What the house lacks in walls, it makes up in style. Sinks and water faucets are made of seashells, and a separate ground-level bungalow comes with colorful swivel windows and electric drawbridge-style dropdown decks. It has a caretaker and private path to the beach, according to the website. Guests are encouraged to be 7 years old and above.

Rates start at $255 per night.

Guests at Peru’s Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica treehouse sleep 70 feet above the rainforest floor.

Courtesy of Inkaterra Hotels

Thrill-seekers can sleep in the Amazon rainforest at Peru’s Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica ecolodge. The lodge’s sole treehouse is located more than 70 feet above the rainforest floor at the end of a series of seven suspended bridges.

Programs start from $492 for a two-night stay, plus an additional $660 to sleep in the treehouse.

Fabulous views

Childhood treehouses may have granted views of neighbors’ backyards, but nothing as spectacular as Australia’s Blue Mountains.

In a twist on childhood clubhouse rules, this treehouse in Australia’s Blue Mountains can accommodate two adults, but no kids or pets.

Jochen Spenser

A tongue-in-cheek sign on the Secret Treehouse’s door may say that no grown-ups are allowed, but in reality, it’s the kids who can’t come along. This treehouse is built on tall stilts at a high elevation and has a combination bridge and ladder entrance.

Rates start at 1,095 Australian dollars ($804) for a one-night stay.

Sophisticated decor

Sports pennants and sticker-adorned walls have been sidelined for plush interiors that resemble modern homes.

The Aerohouse at the Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort in Okinawa, Japan.

Courtesy of the Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort

This is evident at the Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort in Okinawa, Japan. All bookings include two treehouses: the earthy Spiral Treehouse which comes with hammocks and yoga mats, and the luxurious Aerohouse, which has the look and feel of a five-star hotel suite. Its muted, sophisticated décor comes with creature comforts such as an espresso machine and wine cellar, according to the website.

The treehouse resort has been open for less than a month. Guests can currently book two-night stays — no more, no less — and all travelers must be 10 years old and above.

The interior of Okinawa’s Aerohouse.

Courtesy of Treeful Treehouse Sustainable Resort

Rates are 100,000 Japanese yen ($905) per night for up to three people; a fourth person is an extra $225 per night. Bookings are currently 33% off the regular rates. 

Kitted out kitchens

While cooking and treehouses once rarely meshed, treehouses now come with full kitchens outfitted with Nespresso coffee machines and kitchen islands.

The contemporary kitchen in Trinity Treehouse, outside of Atlanta, has a wine rack and bar area.

Courtesy of Dickersonarts.com

The two-bedroom Trinity Treehouse near Atlanta has a kitchen that travelers may envy for their homes, let alone their yards. Three sizable windows enlarge the space, which includes an L-shaped countertop, wine rack and breakfast counter for coffee or quick meals. A decorative backsplash sits above the kitchen cabinets, which were made in the host’s woodworking shop, according to the website listing.

Trinity Treehouse is next to the hiking and bike trails of Georgia’s 2,500-acre Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve. 

Rates start at $289 per night.

Features to stoke the imagination

Luxury treehouses needn’t be too serious — that’s what log cabins are for. What distinguishes a treehouse from an elevated house in the woods can be the latter’s dedication to whimsy and childlike fun.

To enter one tropical treehouse on Hawaii’s Big Island, guests climb a ladder to a trapdoor that opens to the second story. Bags and suitcases take a different route; they’re hoisted up via a pulley system.

Though it doesn’t allow kids, the Wanderlust Treehouse incorporates imaginative features into its design.

Levi Kelly

The Wanderlust Treehouse in Crane Hill, Alabama, doesn’t allow kids, but that didn’t stop its owner from installing a playground-style suspension bridge to connect two parts of the house. The treehouse, which has received perfect scores in all of its 85 Airbnb reviews, has outdoor side-by-side showers, a swinging bed and a fire pit.

Rates start at $350 per night.

Want to build your own modern treehouse?

Item Cost
Vacation rental treehouse From $30,000
Bathroom $4,500
Zipline $2,200
Spiral staircase $5,900
Suspended bridge $2,900
Trapdoor $500
Classic slide $1,200
Fireman’s pole $575
Source: Treehouse Experts

Gourmet food

Guest who stay at the Loire Valley Lodges have daily breakfast baskets delivered to their doors. They also have access to an onsite restaurant and room service.

Loire Valley Lodges leans heavily upon local produce and grows herbs and fruit on-site, according to its website.

Courtesy of Loire Valley Lodges

The French treehouse hotel opened in July 2020, with the interiors of each of its 18 structures designed by a different contemporary artist.

Rates start at 395 euros ($428) per night.

*Rates are accurate as of publication date.

 

 

Read original article here

Entertainment

Disney CEO on talent compensation after Scarlett Johansson lawsuit

Leave a comment

Bob Chapek

Jeff Gritchen | MediaNews Group | Orange County Register via Getty Images

The Walt Disney Company has “figured out ways to fairly compensate” talent regardless of its film release method, CEO Bob Chapek said during an earnings call Thursday.

Chapek’s comments, which were prompted during analyst Q&A, come just two weeks after Marvel star Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging it breached her contract by releasing “Black Widow” on Disney+.

“Since Covid has begun, we’ve entered hundreds of talent arrangements with our talent and by and large, they’ve gone very very smoothly, so we expect that that would be the case going forward,” he said.

Chapek did not directly address the ongoing lawsuit with Johansson, but said the company is “trying to do the best thing for all our constituents and make sure that everybody whose in the value chain … feels like they’re having their contractual commitments honored both from a distribution and a compensation standpoint.”

Johansson’s lawsuit stems from Disney’s new hybrid release strategy, which was also used for “Mulan” and “Raya and the Last Dragon.” It was utilized at a time of uncertainty in the theatrical market to bring movies to cinemas and to home audiences for a $30 fee.

It was clear that streaming cannibalized box office receipts. Since it’s July release, “Black Widow” has tallied $185.4 million domestically and nearly $359 million globally. Disney reported “Black Widow” garnered $60 million from sales on Disney+ during its opening weekend, but has not shared additional information about its digital performance.

Previous Marvel films have averaged more than $100 million in ticket sales during their opening weekends and nearly $1 billion over the course of their theatrical runs.

Typically, companies do not comment ongoing lawsuits, but Disney responded to Johansson’s lawsuit with a scathing public statement that suggested the star had a “callous disregard” for the coronavirus and revealed it had paid her $20 million so far.

The statement drew the ire of Johansson’s famed Hollywood agent, Bryan Lourd, as well as the Screen Actors Guild.

The development also raised questions about how other actors, who had similar contracts that guaranteed bonuses for box office performance, may respond to having their own films released on Disney+ and in theaters.

“Certainly this is a time of anxiety in the marketplace, as a lot has changed recently and, again, these films that we’re releasing right now were imagined under a completely different environment than unfortunately the fate has delivered us,” Chapek said.

Read original article here

Entertainment

Theme park division posts first profit since Covid struck in 2020

Leave a comment

A masked couple poses for photos in front of a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, with Sleeping Beauty Castle behind, at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, as visitors return to the park with covid-safety restrictions in place, including the park only being at 25% capacity, Monday, May 3, 2021.

Jay L. Clendenin | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

Disney said Thursday its parks, experiences and products division returned to profitability for the first time since the pandemic began, as losses at its theme parks narrowed and merchandise sales soared.

Revenue at Disney’s parks, experiences and products segment jumped 307.6% to $4.3 billion, up from $1.06 billion during the same period last year.

In each of the previous five quarters, Disney has reported a loss in operating income in the segment because of the Covid-19 outbreak. During the third quarter, the company’s operating income from parks, experiences and products reached $356 million, compared with a loss of $1.87 billion during the same quarter last year.

Much of this profitability is attributable to the segment’s consumer products business, which saw operating income reach $564 million, up 290% compared with the same period last year. During the quarter, Disney garnered higher revenue from merchandise based on Mickey and Minnie, Star Wars, Disney princesses and Spider-Man.

Domestic theme parks, resorts and experiences reported positive operating income of $2 million, while international posted a loss of $210 million.

The resurrection of the theme park industry is critical to Disney’s bottom line. After all, in 2019, the segment, which includes cruises and hotels, accounted for 37% of the company’s $69.6 billion in total revenue. Typically, theme parks account for the majority of this revenue.

Disney’s domestic parks eased restrictions in April, which led to a boost in attendance. While guest capacity hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, it improved as mask mandates were loosened during the quarter.

Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida and Shanghai Disney Resort were open for the entire quarter. Last year, during the same period, Disney World was shuttered entirely and the Shanghai location was only open for 48 days. Hong Kong Disneyland was open for 72 days this quarter, compared to 10 days during the same period last year.

Disneyland in California was open 65 days during the quarter and Disneyland Paris was open for 19 days during the third quarter. Both parks were closed for the entirety of the third quarter last year.

However, a surge in Covid, particularly delta variant cases, has led many local governments to reestablish health and safety measures. There are fears that consumers could dial back spending at movie theaters and theme parks and that gains from the first half of the year could dissipate.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Read original article here

Science

Amazing video shows Texas tech firm 3D PRINTING room to help NASA simulate life on Mars

Leave a comment

A Texas company tapped to design 3D printed habitat to support NASA’s missions to Mars has released an incredible video of its 3D printing in action.

ICON – a developer of advanced construction technologies – was awarded a subcontract by the space agency to print Mars Dune Alpha, designed by world-renowned architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group for the Johnson Space Center.

The Austin-based company, known for delivering the first permitted 3D-printed home in the U.S. in 2018, had released stunning video renderings earlier this week showing what the completed modules would look like.

NASA, which hopes to send humans to the Red Planet by 2037, said on Friday it is seeking ‘highly motivated individuals’ to participate in year-long Mars surface simulation where they will live in the 1,700-square-foot module. 

ICON said in a press release that the module will simulate a realistic Mars habitat to support long-duration, exploration-class space missions. 

A Texas company tapped to design 3-D printed habitat to support NASA’s missions to Mars has released an incredible video of its 3-D printing in action

ICON’s Vulcan printer is operated by a tablet, pictured in the hands of one of the company’s employees

The Vulcan creates print beads that are one-inch tall and two-inches wide at rate of between 5-10 inches per second

The module contains four private crew quarters found on one end of the habitat

n the other end, there are dedicated workstations, medical stations and food-growing stations. Some shared living spaces are found in between

Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of ICON, called the Mars Dune Alpha the ‘highest-fidelity simulated habitat ever constructed by humans.’

‘Mars Dune Alpha is intended to serve a very specific purpose – to prepare humans to live on another planet,’ Ballard said.

‘We wanted to develop the most faithful analog possible to aid in humanity’s dream to expand into the stars.’

Ballard added: ‘3D printing the habitat has further illustrated to us that construction-scale 3D printing is an essential part of humanity’s toolkit on Earth and to go to the Moon and Mars to stay.’

ICON will construct the module using the Vulcan, the company’s large-scale construction 3D printer.

The printer measures 46.5 feet wide and is capable of printing homes and structures up to 3,000-square-feet using Lavacrete – a cement-based building material. 

The company claims the special concrete can withstand extreme weather and ‘greatly reduce the impact of natural disasters.’

The Vulcan creates print beads that are one-inch tall and two-inches wide at rate of between 5-10 inches per second, according to the company’s website. It was not immediately clear how long it would take to construct the NASA module.

The module contains four private crew quarters found on one end of the habitat. On the other end, there are dedicated workstations, medical stations and food-growing stations. Some shared living spaces are found in between. 

The rooms boast varying ceiling heights and other structural accents ‘to avoid spatial monotony and crew member fatigue,’ according to ICON.

NASA is seeking ‘highly motivated individuals’ to participate in year-long Mars surface simulations, where they will live in ICON’s 1,700-square-foot module

The latest video shows living humans walking among the 3-D printed module

The habitats will be constructed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and will include workstations, medical facilities and a place to grow food.

Blueprints show the layout of the 3D printed living module Mars Dune Alpha 

Mars Dune Alpha will be furnished with a mix of fixed and movable furniture crew members can reorganize to their needs and desires – as well as customizable lighting, temperature, and sound control.

The teams developing the module hope these designs will help regulate ‘the daily routine, circadian rhythm, and overall well being of the crew.’

Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director at BIG, said in a statement that the company – with NASA and ICON – hopes to investigate ‘what humanity’s home on another planet will entail from the human experience.’

‘The data gained form this habitat research will directly inform NASA’s standards for long-duration exploration missions, and as such will potentially lay the foundation for a new Martian vernacular,’ Ingels said.

‘Mars Dune Alpha will take us one step closer to becoming a multiplanetary species.’

The module is being created for a series of missions – known as Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA).

The CHAPEA missions include three one-year Mars surface simulations based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, with the first starting in 2022. Each will see four crew members spend the 365 days completely isolated in the mock Mars habitats.

‘The analogs will support research to develop methods and technologies to prevent and resolve potential problems on future human spaceflight missions to the Moon and Mars,’ a press release from NASA reads.

NASA added: ‘The habitat will simulate the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.’

‘Crew tasks may include simulated spacewalks, scientific research, use of virtual reality and robotic controls, and exchanging communications. The results will provide important scientific data to validate systems and develop solutions.’ 

Applications to join the missions run through September 12, 2021.

The missions aim to provide valuable insights and information to assess NASA’s space food system, as well as physical and behavioral health and performance outcomes for future space missions. Pictured are the workstations

NASA will also use research from the Mars Dune Alpha simulations to inform risk and resource trades to support crew health and performance for future missions to Mars when astronauts would live and work on the Red planet for long periods of time

Those interested in participating must be within the ages of 30 to 55, possess a master’s degree in a STEM field and have at least two years of related professional experience.

Individuals will have to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut simulation and are required to have a COVID-19 vaccination, reads the application website.

But they won’t end up going to the actual Red Planet when a mission, with that honor initially reserved for highly-trained astronauts  

The habitats will be constructed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and will include workstations, medical facilities and a place to grow food.

The missions aim to provide valuable insights and information to assess NASA’s space food system, as well as physical and behavioral health and performance outcomes for future space missions.

NASA will also use research from the Mars Dune Alpha simulations to inform risk and resource trades to support crew health and performance for future missions to Mars when astronauts would live and work on the Red planet for long periods of time.

Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in a statement: ‘This is a rare and unique opportunity. 

Each mission will include four crew members who will have their own sleeping quarters located on one end of the habitat and on the other side of the habitat is dedicated to workstations, medical stations and food-growing stations (pictured)

The living module is being created for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, pictured

‘The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface.

‘Those selected will have a historic role in preparing humanity for the next giant leap in space.’ 

ICON has also received funding from NASA and launched Project Olympus – another partnership with BIG – to begin research and development of a space-based construction system to support future exploration of the Moon.  

NASA hopes to return humans to the Moon by 2024 with the third of the space agency’s Artemis missions – a program aptly named as the sister missions to the Apollo program which first took humans to the Moon. 

Meanwhile, BIG is also currently developing a prototype for Mars Science City at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai for exploring building technologies in future Mars habitation.

That project includes creating inflatable domes on the surface of Mars before robots excavate and harvest water and turn Martian sand into 3-D printed buildings underneath those domes to create interconnected biospheres forming Martian cities capable of maintaining human life.

Read original article here

Business

Alaska Airlines is considering Covid vaccine mandates for staff

Leave a comment

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 taking off from LAX.

PG | Getty Images

Alaska Airlines told staff on Wednesday that it is considering making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for employees, according to company memo, which was seen by CNBC.

The policy change would make the Seattle-based carrier the latest airline to require vaccines for its employees. On Friday, United Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to mandate vaccines for its staff. Frontier Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have since issued similar requirements

Alaska, which has roughly 20,000 employees, said if it does mandate vaccines it would do so after the Food and Drug Administration gives full approval to one of the vaccines that are currently available under emergency approval.

Airline executives have recently raised concerns about the fast-spreading delta variant of Covid. Southwest Airlines earlier on Wednesday lowered its revenue and profit outlook, blaming the variant’s spread on weaker bookings and increased cancellations.

Delta, Southwest and American have encouraged but not mandated that employees are vaccinated.

“As an employer with a duty to keep you safe and given the contagiousness and health risks of the COVID-19 virus and its variants, we are within our rights to make this decision and to ask you for information about your vaccine status,” Alaska told employees. It said that there would be exceptions for religious or medical reasons, similar to other companies’ policies.”

Read original article here

Science

Life after death: Doctor drowned in kayaking accident felt ‘spirit peeling away from body’ | Science | News

Leave a comment

Dr Mary C. Neal had a kayaking accident but, rather than being panic-stricken, she described the situation as calming. She had a fear of drowning growing up but “felt quite wonderful” when she accepted she would pass away.

She wrote a book, To Heaven and Back, about the life-changing experience.

“I was acutely aware of everything that was happening,” Dr Neal said in an interview about the book.

“I knew that my efforts to exit the boat were not working, that I was out of air, and that I was too far from the riverbank for anyone to reach me.

“I knew that I would probably die.

READ MORE: Life after death: NASA’s top rocket scientist believed afterlife REAL

“I could feel my spirit peeling away from my body, and my spirit went up towards the heavens. I was immediately greeted by a group of … somethings. I don’t know what to call them. People? Spirits? Beings?

“I didn’t recognise any of them but they had been important in my life somehow, like a grandparent who died before I was born.”

Dr Neal is not the only person who has reported abnormal near death experiences.

Dr Michael Visser has experienced many near death experiences. The doctor recalls his first experience with the afterlife as young as the age of four.

After completing his medical degree Dr Visser says he has regular experiences with the afterlife.

“They are not always personal, yet often are for others who could not be reached by their spiritual guides and angels,” he told news.com.au.

“Most NDEs are pleasant, yet a small percentage are distressing, that is, dominated by feelings such as fear, isolation, or torment.

“Pain usually vanishes during an NDE, making it an extremely pleasant experience.”



Read original article here

Entertainment

David Schwimmer Responded To The Rumors That He And Jennifer Aniston Are Now Dating In Real Life After Admitting To Having “Major Crushes” On Each Other During The “Friends” Reunion – BuzzFeed News

Leave a comment

  1. David Schwimmer Responded To The Rumors That He And Jennifer Aniston Are Now Dating In Real Life After Admitting To Having “Major Crushes” On Each Other During The “Friends” Reunion BuzzFeed News
  2. More than Friends? Are David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston really dating? The Guardian
  3. ‘Friends’ stars Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer dating months after admitting ‘crush’ on each other: report Fox News
  4. David Schwimmer Breaks Silence on Report He’s Dating Jennifer Aniston Yahoo Lifestyle
  5. David Schwimmer Dismisses Jennifer Aniston Romance Reports HuffPost
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Read original article here

Sports

Adam Duvall continues to love life at Truist Park as Braves topple Reds

Leave a comment

Drew Smyly pitched six strong innings while only giving up two runs against the Reds. His solid outing, a two-run homer from Adam Duvall and a bases-loaded walk by Stephen Vogt were enough for Atlanta to beat Cincinnati, 3-2.

It didn’t take long for there to be an interesting flashpoint in this one, as the Reds suddenly found themselves ahead by two runs in the second inning. This was after Drew Smyly thought he had struck out Joey Votto for the first out of the inning. The pitch was just barely outside, and Votto proceeded to slap the next pitch he saw from Smyly into right field for a double and then Aristides Aquino smashed one into the seats into left center field for a two-run shot. What could’ve been a comfortable situation for Smyly in that frame ended up being a big bump in the road for him.

Fortunately, the Braves didn’t waste much time getting those runs back. After spending the first three innings off of the scoreboard and getting struck out regularly by Sonny Gray, they finally cracked his code in the fourth inning. It was even more encouraging that the Braves pulled off the run-scoring rally with two outs on the board, as Dansby Swanson extended the inning by drawing a walk. That brought Adam Duvall to the plate, and it’s pretty obvious by now that this man just really enjoys hitting baseballs at Truist Park. Duvall slammed one over the fence in left field to tie the game at two runs apiece.

By the time the sixth inning had rolled around, the Braves had ran Sonny Gray from the game and it was their bullpen’s turn to carry the baton for Cincinnati. Things got off to a rocky start for Heath Hembree, who saw Austin Riley single on the first pitch Hembree threw in his outing. Dansby Swanson walked after that AB and after Duvall struck out, Hembree passed the baton to Amir Garrett. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, he picked up where Hembree left off. Garrett walked Joc Pederson to load the bases and then Stephen Vogt exhibited some really good patience to coax a walk out of Garrett after being down 0-2 in the count. The bases-loaded walk put the Braves in the lead, but they were unable to add on after that.

Firm handshakes all around
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Jorge Soler hit a double in the seventh inning and made it all the way to third base, but was stranded there. Both teams stayed off of the scoreboard, so the score was 3-2 heading into the ninth inning. Will Smith was called upon to get the save, with this being his first outing since blowing a save against the Nationals over the weekend. This time, it still wasn’t easy for Smith as Kyle Farmer hit a double with one out and then Eugenio Suarez (with a 9.0 percent walk rate in 2021 going into this game) took a walk to serve as the potential go-ahead run.

Fortunately for us Braves fans, the baseball gods smiled down upon Will Smith. Mike Moustakas found himself in an 0-2 hole and ended up grounding one to Freddie Freeman, who tossed it to Dansby at second base and then Dansby tossed it back to Freddie at first to end the game right then and there.

Will Smith needed something to go right after that rough outing he had back on Saturday and he got just that with that game-ending double play. It was also an impressive night for Drew Smyly, who did a good job of limiting the damage over six strong innings against a very dangerous Reds lineup. The Braves are playing some good baseball at the moment and they just started off a series against a pretty good team with a close win. If Atlanta continues to win and things keep on working out in the Braves’ favor elsewhere in the division, then things will finally start looking really good and familiar for our Braves after spending months of struggling.



Read original article here

Business

The 5 most expensive cars selling at Pebble Beach this week

Leave a comment

1995 McLaren F1

Photo: Mike Maez | Gooding & Co.

The Super Bowl of super-rich car collecting kicks off in Monterey, California, this week as more than $300 million worth of rolling trophies comes up for auction.

After an unexpected surge in classic car sales and prices during the coronavirus pandemic, Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance marks the biggest test of demand for the most expensive classic cars. Lingering health concerns over Covid and a lack of international buyers will also cast a shadow over an event that typically gathers tens of thousands of wealthy car fans to attend parties, launch events, races and auctions.

So far, however, sales and auctions are shaping up to be some of the strongest on record.

“There is huge pent-up demand,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, the classic car insurance and collector services company. “This week could be extraordinary.”

More than 1,000 vehicles are expected to come up for auction this week, according to Hagerty. Total sales are expected to reach $325 million — up 28% over 2019, the most recent year for sales after the event was canceled last year due to Covid. Monterey is known for having the most prized and expensive cars, and this year at least 115 vehicles are expected to fetch $1 million or more.

All the major car auction companies — from Gooding & Co., to RM Sotheby’s, Mecum and Bonhams — save some of their best collections and most prized cars for the ultra-wealthy Monterey crowd. Mecum this year has “The Big Al Collection,” a fleet of more than 80 cars that includes everything from Corvettes and Camaros to a seven-figure LaFerrari and rare Porsches.

Mecum CEO Dave Magers said the company is seeing the strongest demand in its history, with much of it coming from new collectors who started learning about classic cars online during the pandemic and are now bidding online. Mecum’s sell-through rate, or the percentage of cars coming up for auction that actually sell, is running about about 85% this year — much higher than historical averages.

“When the sell-through rate goes up, prices go up,” he said. “Everything is lifted.”

Gooding will be selling the collection of the late rock star Neil Peart, the famed drummer and lyricist for the band Rush. The collection includes a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (of James Bond fame) expected to fetch up to $725,000, a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, expected to top $1 million, and a 1970 Lamborghini Miura that could sell for $1.5 million.

“The buyers right now don’t hesitate,” said Gooding CEO David Gooding. “If they want something, they go for it. It’s an attitude of ‘things are uncertain, I’m not going to wait.'”

Here are the top five cars by estimated sale price coming up for auction this week, according to Hagerty.

1995 McLaren F1

1995 McLaren F1

Photo: Mike Maez | Gooding & Co.

Gooding & Co. estimate is $21.5 million.

Jay Leno once called the McLaren F1 the best four-wheeled investment he ever made. McLaren only built 106 F1s, and they originally retailed for under $900,000. Now, F1s often trade for more than $20 million. Known as the “Formula 1 car for the road,” the F1 is often credited with relaunching the McLaren sports car brand and ushering in the modern super car era, with highly specialized vehicles designed to dominate on the track and on the road, with a top speed of 240 mph.

The F1 being sold by Gooding is especially prized because it only has less than 250 miles on it, making it what many call a “one-off time-capsule” car. Painted in a striking “Creighton Brown,” it has been kept and meticulously maintained by a Japanese collector since its purchase. “This is fresh to the market, never-before seen,” Gooding said.

1970 Porsche 917 K

1970 Porsche 917 K

Source: RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s estimate is $15 million.

The Porsche 917 K was a legend in racing, and the car being sold by RM Sotheby’s has special star power as the winning car in Steve McQueen’s classic film “Le Mans.” It was rebuilt at the Porsche factory in 1971 and continued to race for another two years on the track and for the next two decades at historic events.

A different Porsche 917 K that also appeared in “Le Mans” was sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2017 for $14 million.

1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagat

Source: RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s estimate is $11 million.

In 1962, Aston Martin built the ultimate DB4 for both the road and track, called the DB4 GT Zagato. Only 19 were ever built, so they rarely come up for sale. The car being sold by RM Sotheby’s was owned by the late car collector Paul Andrews, and has the original engine.

1959 Ferrari 250 California LWB Spider Competizione

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione

Source: Gooding&Co.

Gooding & Co. estimate is between $10 million and $12 million.

The Ferrari 250 GT California Spider is part of car collecting royalty — famed for its timeless style, rarity and performance on the race track. Or as Ferris Bueller famously described his joy ride for the day, “It’s so choice.” Ferrari made only 106 Cal Spiders, which is one reason they have traded for more than $18 million.

The car being sold by Gooding is more geared toward racing, hence the “competizione” badge. Ferrari only made 50 of the long-wheel-base variations of the Cal Spider, and only 10 of those were prepared new by the factory for competition, making this one of the rarest of the rare Cal Spiders. This particular car was built for amateur racing driver Dott. Ottavio Randaccio, who raced it in several Italian circuit races and hill climbs. With its Italian-colored paint scheme and meticulous restoration, the car could easily top its estimate.

1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR

1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR

Photo: Josh Hway | Gooding & Co.

Gooding & Co. estimate is $8.5 million.

As part of its racing program, AMG developed the CLK GTR, which won the FIA GT championship in 1997 and dominated the track in 1998. To comply with the racing rules, AMG had to build 25 CLK GTR’s that were legal for the road, which makes them among the rarest in the world. The car being sold by Gooding is the ninth of the 25 built and has less than 900 miles on the odometer. The car is powered by a 6.9-liter V-12 that generates 604 horsepower and has a top speed of 214 mph. And of course, it’s painted in Mercedes’ signature silver racing color.

Read original article here