Bacon1

A German defence-tech firm, Euroatlas, has unveiled a new autonomous underwater vehicle called Greyshark — a shark-shaped robot built to patrol, map, and protect the global network of subsea cables that carry most of the world’s internet traffic and financial data. Greyshark is designed to operate independently over long distances using a suite of sophisticated sensors, quiet electric propulsion, and low-sonar signature hull — allowing it to travel submerged for weeks without detection. Multiple units can work in concert, communicating underwater, lying dormant on the seabed until they detect suspicious activity, such as a ship loitering near a cable or unauthorized attempts at tampering. With subsea cables spanning roughly 1.3 million kilometers (about 800,000 miles), security concerns have escalated following recent unexplained damage in strategic regions like the Baltic Sea. Governments and alliances, including NATO, are ramping up surveillance efforts using patrol vessels, aircraft, and unmanned systems; Greyshark is positioned as a key autonomous tool for persistent underwater monitoring. Beyond protection, Greyshark can map cable routes, monitor infrastructure corridors, and support installation or maintenance of new data and energy lines — a role that becomes more critical as global subsea infrastructure expands. Key Takeaways Autonomous Underwater Defense: Greyshark can patrol and guard the vast global network of subsea cables without direct human control, reducing reliance on ships or divers. Stealthy and Efficient Surveillance: Its low-noise electric motor, quiet hull design, and sensor suite allow for long-range, covert monitoring — ideal for detecting suspicious maritime activity. Critical Infrastructure Protection: As undersea cables carry over 95% of global internet traffic and financial data, Greyshark represents a major step toward safeguarding essential communication and energy networks worldwide. Adapted From https://interestingengineering.com/military/shark-shaped-underwater-robot

A team of researchers at University of Toronto has found that subtle changes in everyday speech — especially the pace of speaking — may be an early warning sign of cognitive decline, including risks associated with Alzheimer's disease. Rather than focusing on how often older individuals struggle to find the right word (a phenomenon known as “tip-of-the-tongue”), the study suggests that how fast — or slow — people speak is a stronger indicator of changes in brain health. In their study, 125 healthy adults aged 18 to 90 were asked to describe visual scenes. The researchers recorded their speech and used artificial-intelligence software to analyze features such as talking speed, pauses between words, and vocabulary diversity. Participants also completed standard cognitive tests measuring memory, attention, planning, and processing speed. They found a clear correlation: people whose natural speech was slower — with more pauses and hesitations — tended to perform worse on those cognitive tests. This suggests that a general slowdown in processing and speech may reflect underlying changes in brain function, even before obvious memory problems or other symptoms appear. By highlighting speech rate as a potential biomarker for early cognitive decline, this research opens the door to simpler, non-invasive screening tools. Because speech is easy to collect and analyze compared with medical imaging or invasive tests, it could help identify people at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s much earlier — when intervention or lifestyle adjustments might be most effective. Key Takeaways: Natural speech speed — not just difficulties in finding words — can signal early changes in cognitive health. Slower, pause-filled speech correlates with declines in executive functions: memory, attention, planning, and processing speed. Speech-based analysis (using AI) could become a simple, non-invasive way to detect potential dementia risk early. Adapted From https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-speech-trait-that-foreshadows-cognitive-decline Link To Study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13825585.2024.2315774 AI Summary Of Conclusions, Edited For Clarity This means that while TDH explains laboratory results, processing speed is most strongly linked to everyday word-finding difficulty and executive-function decline. The study concludes that slower cognitive processing, rather than language-specific breakdowns, plays the largest role in WFD during aging. Verbal reaction time may therefore serve as a useful clinical marker for early cognitive change. WFD -Word Finding Difficulty TDH - Transmission Deficit Hypothesis

https://medtide.com/meds/cardiovascular/diabetes/janumet-50-1000-mg-56-tablets-box/ Janumet 50/1000 mg – 56 tablets/box 1895 bath/box

Too much of a liability. Sounds a bit dodgy. Open the pipeline 💪 😁

Bender's happy about it..

The day after the 2025 budget reveal felt less like economic news and more like a bizarre parody — a chaotic mix of political posturing, media drama, and half-truths. In the spotlight: Rachel Reeves, whose new budget won tentative praise from left-wing supporters and financial markets, yet drew scorn from right-wing critics. Among the most contentious moves: freezing income tax thresholds — a move that quietly hikes taxes for many — and abruptly scrapping the two-child benefit cap. On the flagship morning programme, Nick Robinson pressed Reeves on why this freeze didn’t count as a tax rise — a promise she previously ruled out. Reeves insisted difficult choices were forced by fiscal constraints from the Office for Budget Responsibility, implicitly shifting blame. Meanwhile, the budget’s financial backbone relies on a projected £26 billion boost — largely from delayed tax increases and cuts pencilled in close to the next general election. Even some think-tanks offering cautious optimism warned that this “fiscal headroom” may be built on fragile assumptions. The so-called “welfare wins” — benefit reversals and tax-free pension caps — might appeal to some, but many question whether the overall package delivers real, long-term gains. Critics argue the entire budget smells of political theatre rather than economic clarity. Key Takeaways The 2025 budget mixes genuine fiscal changes with political spin — freezing tax thresholds quietly raises taxes for many, while benefits reforms aim to soften backlash. Media and political commentary dominated the “day after,” with presenters grilling officials and critics accusing them of broken promises. Analysts warn the budget’s reliance on delayed tax hikes and future spending cuts makes its long-term impact uncertain. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/27/welcome-to-the-half-real-half-fantasy-world-that-is-the-day-after-the-budget

Crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) enjoyed a festive Thanksgiving-style meal while orbiting roughly 250 miles above Earth. Rather than freeze-dried rations or bland space staples, the holiday resupply brought a specially curated “Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bag” (BOB), filled with gourmet items like clams, oysters, crab meat, quail, and smoked salmon. Astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman called this their second Thanksgiving in space — with Fincke calling the experience “highly recommend,” and Cardman praising NASA’s ground-team efforts for thoughtfully preparing holiday fare. Beyond seafood, the meal featured traditional holiday dishes adapted for life in microgravity: turkey, mashed potatoes, lobster, and even cranberry sauce (the latter courtesy of the Russian Space Agency). Packaging was designed to prevent crumbs or spills in zero-gravity. Joining Fincke and Cardman was a diverse crew — including fellow NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, three cosmonauts, and one astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Even for those from cultures that don’t observe Thanksgiving, the meal was a shared moment of respect and camaraderie. As new crewmembers arrived aboard a recently docked Soyuz MS-28, the holiday gathering on board the ISS took on special significance — a reminder that food, tradition, and community remain grounding forces, even in orbit. Key Takeaways The ISS crew enjoyed a special Thanksgiving meal in space, featuring both traditional dishes (turkey, mashed potatoes, lobster, cranberry sauce) and gourmet items like clams, oysters, crab, quail, and smoked salmon. Food for the holiday was sent up in a “Holiday Bulk Overwrapped Bag” (BOB), prepared by NASA’s ground teams to ensure the festive dinner felt meaningful even in microgravity. The meal brought together an international crew — astronauts and cosmonauts from NASA, Russia, and JAXA — illustrating how shared traditions can foster unity and human connection on the ISS. Adapted From https://interestingengineering.com/space/iss-thanksgiving-feast-nasa

UBTech Robotics has landed a major contract worth 264 million yuan (about US $37 million) to deploy its humanoid robots at border crossings in the Guangxi region, near the city of Fangchenggang. The order centers on the advanced humanoid model Walker S2, which became available in July and is promoted as the first robot in the world capable of autonomously swapping out its battery — enabling near-continuous operation. Starting in December, Walker S2 units are expected to handle a variety of tasks at border checkpoints: guiding travellers, managing crowd flow, patrolling, performing logistics, and supporting commercial services. Beyond immigration duties, the robots will also be deployed at nearby manufacturing sites — such as steel, copper, and aluminum facilities — to conduct inspections. This agreement represents one of the most significant real-world deployments of humanoid robots in government and public-service settings in China, reflecting a broader push toward commercializing embodied AI. Why Walker S2 Matters The Walker S2 stands about 1.76 m tall and is built with a highly articulated body — 52 degrees of freedom and advanced hands with 11 degrees of freedom each. That enables high-precision manipulation and flexibility. Each arm can lift up to 15 kg (≈33 lbs), with a reach spanning from ground level to about 1.8 m. Its powerful waist joints allow deep bending or squatting, giving it strength and agility for various tasks. Crucially, the robot can autonomously replace its own battery in about three minutes via a hot-swappable dual-battery system — permitting 24/7 continuous operation without human supervision. For perception and decision-making, Walker S2 uses UBTech’s AI frameworks, combining multimodal reasoning, task planning, and real-time adaptability. Its stereo-vision system offers human-like depth perception, while dynamic balancing algorithms keep it stable during heavy loads or rapid movement — even up to about 7.2 km/h (≈2 m/s). Key Takeaways Major order secured — $37 million deal to deploy Walker S2 robots at Chinese border crossings, marking one of the largest real-world robotic deployments to date. Advanced robotics in real-world use — Walker S2 combines precise manipulation, heavy-lift capability, and self-charging autonomy — enabling 24/7 operations in border control, logistics, and industrial inspection. Wider shift toward embodied AI — The deployment aligns with China’s growing trend of integrating humanoid robots into public services, border management, manufacturing, and infrastructure — signaling a broader push for robotics-driven automation. Adapted From https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/ubtech-secures-us37-million-deal

That's a 'yellow flag'.

Unverified post removed.

Flame removed @kwilco

Or I found a strange delight In the false warmth you gave, For the honesty I feared too much, Yet still, my heart misbehaved.

Once you’ve done it, you can present and defend it to me in your viva.

Offensive comment removed @BLMFem

Gross oversimplification. Globulins are only a tiny part of the body’s healing and repair, and your view oversimplifies things. Honestly, it makes me question your grasp of the subject. Claiming globulins do it all is like saying a single brick holds up a whole house — it doesn’t. Healing depends on a network of systems: inflammation, cellular regeneration, hormones, and the immune response all play far bigger roles.

Reminder: @Red Phoenix @transam Forum rules apply of course, but most importantly be respectful to others opinions and views. This forum is only lightly moderated.

Flame post & reply removed @Airalee Community Standards Be polite and respectful to other users. Do not post defamatory, offensive, or discriminatory content.

As Spain marks the 50th anniversary of Francisco Franco’s death, a powerful movement is amplifying the silenced stories of women jailed under his dictatorship — particularly mothers who endured censorship, abuse and forced separation from their children. While scholars estimate that Franco’s forces killed or executed tens of thousands, the particular suffering of imprisoned mothers remained largely hidden for decades. Under the regime’s strict ideology of “National Catholicism,” women were expected to conform to rigid roles of obedient wives and devoted mothers loyal to the state and church. Those who defied the regime — for political reasons or simply by association — were punished brutally. Many were rounded up as early as 1939, soon after Franco led a military uprising that triggered civil war and triggered decades of authoritarian rule. Testimonies gathered in a 2024 research project at the Documentation Center of Historical Memory in Salamanca recount head-shaving, forced castor oil ingestion, public humiliation, beatings, verbal and sexual abuse inflicted on incarcerated women — many of them without formal political affiliation. The trauma went deeper: mothers often lost custody of their newborns or young children, who were sent to orphanages or adopted by pro-regime families. In some prisons, children born behind bars were allowed to stay only for a few days — after which infants were forcibly taken away, leaving mothers unable to breastfeed and utterly powerless to protect their own babies. Even decades later, many survivors and their descendants carry emotional wounds. Because the 1977 amnesty law shielded perpetrators from prosecution, accountability remains rare. As Spain confronts this dark legacy, these women’s stories — once concealed — are finally being heard. Key Takeaways Gendered repression under Franco — Women were targeted not only for political reasons, but also for violating restrictive gender norms; the regime used misogynistic, patriarchal ideology to justify brutal punishments. Forced motherhood trauma — Many imprisoned mothers were stripped of their children or denied basic care during detention, turning motherhood into an arena for state control. Silenced suffering, ongoing legacy — Although Franco died 50 years ago, and Spain transitioned to democracy, many victims remain without justice; their stories have only recently gained public recognition. Adapted From https://theconversation.com/50-years-after-francos-death-giving-a-voice-to-spanish-dictators-imprisoned-mothers-249931

In a shocking scandal unfolding in France, more than 240 women claim that Christian Nègre — a former senior civil servant at the culture ministry — drugged them during job interviews. Between 2011 and 2019, the women say Nègre offered coffee or tea laced with a powerful illegal diuretic and then steered the interviews on long walks far from restrooms, causing uncontrollable, urgent urges to urinate. Some were unable to reach a toilet in time and wet themselves in public, enduring humiliation — and the psychological scars remain years later. The case only came to light in 2018, after a colleague alerted police that Nègre had attempted to photograph a senior official’s legs during a meeting. Investigators discovered a spreadsheet on his computer titled “Experiments,” documenting times of druggings and victims’ reactions. Despite being removed from his civil service role in 2019 and placed under formal investigation — facing charges including drugging and sexual assault — Nègre continues to work privately, and a criminal trial has yet to take place. This prolonged delay has deepened the victims’ trauma. Advocacy groups and survivors are calling for swift justice and reforms to prevent “chemical submission” — the use of drugs in assaults. Many of the affected women described long-term consequences: PTSD, anxiety, and a damaged sense of self-worth that drastically altered their professional lives. For some, failing to secure employment, avoiding job-hunting or even leaving France entirely became the aftermath of that day’s interview. Key Takeaways Over 240 women allege that a high-ranking culture-ministry official drugged them with diuretics during job interviews, leading to uncontrollable urges to urinate and public humiliation. Evidence uncovered — including a spreadsheet tracking “experiments” and victims’ reactions — has triggered formal investigations, but criminal proceedings have been delayed for years. Survivors continue to suffer psychological trauma, stigmatization, and professional setbacks; advocates demand reforms to prevent drug-facilitated abuse and hold institutions accountable. Adapted From https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/26/women-allege-drugging-by-senior-french-civil-servant

https://wise.com/gb/currency-exchange/roi-et Not a personal recommendation, just a suggestion. 😊

Write her a poem instead, more tender, thoughtful. This is good. Cameroni wandered in the rain, clutching a Japanese teacup for luck, while C.M. twirled her umbrella like life was never stuck. They ended up at KFC, laughing over crispy bliss— and somewhere between the fries and fortune, he stole one perfect kiss.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/23/prisoner-951-review-narges-rashidi-joseph-fiennes-nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe https://m.imdb.com/title/tt32750053/

Bumrungrad quotes 200k baht. https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/centers/urology-prostate-bladder-center-bangkok-thailand Government hospitals will be considerably less, of course.

There are a few threads on Prostate issues. Some have had surgery, you could ask them directly. Good luck in getting it all sorted out soon.

15°C in Nong Khai