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☆ You think you need more sleep? Tell that to an elephant seal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But some animals get a lot less slumber - with certain species like the northern elephant seal taking sleeplessness to an extreme. During dives lasting about 30 minutes, the seals went into a deep sleep stage called slow-wave sleep while maintaining a controlled downward trajectory. The species is the world's second-largest seal, topped only by the southern elephant seal. Male northern elephant seals may reach 13 feet long (4 meters) and weigh up to 4,500 pounds (2,000 kg). "It is very peaceful to spend time on the beach watching elephant seals sleep.

☆ Elephant seals enter 'sleep spiral' during ocean dives
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The researchers refer to this as a “sleep spiral.”The research marked the first time scientists recorded brain activity in free-ranging wild marine mammals, capturing data from 104 sleep dives. Then she attached them to 13 juvenile female elephant seals that are part of a colony at Año Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, California. In shallow waters, the elephant seals even reached the seafloor, where they would rest. During REM sleep, elephant seals enter a "sleep spiral." Elephant seals sleep the most along the coast and near their foraging grounds, and that data could be used to see how shipping traffic could affect the seals.

☆ 67-year-old American in Mexico shares what retirement is 'really' like—with 'no work and all that free time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Janet Blaser | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In theory, retirement — with no work and all that free time — sounds like a dream. What the early years of retirement is really likeAfter I stopped working, my circle of friends and the community I'd established over the years seemed to shrink. "Up until now, you didn't have time to really consider how you want to spend the rest of your life. Research says we need meaningful purpose to feel satisfied in life, and without work, many retirees struggle to find that. I'm lucky that I still do a little freelance work, which makes me feel productive and connected.

☆ Hyundai, Kia warn 570,000 U.S. owners to park outside until recalls completed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) are recalling just over 570,000 U.S. vehicles over fire risks and urged owners to park outside and away until getting repairs. The automakers said some vehicles with a tow hitch harness could catch fire due to a short circuit. The models covered are 2022-2023 model year Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrid, 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-in Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Kia Carnival. Hyundai and Kia dealers will install new fuse and wire extension kits to address the issue. Hyundai said as an interim repair, dealers will inspect the tow hitch module and remove the fuse as necessary.

☆ NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is so powerful it discovered sand storms on a planet 235 trillion miles away
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope found sand storms on a planet hundreds of trillions of miles away. From its vantage point in space, Webb can peer at a distant world and analyze the entire infrared spectrum of starlight passing through the planet's atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope fully deploys its primary mirror during development at Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Redondo Beach, California. The spectrum Webb found on the planet VHS 1256 b, showing signatures of silicate clouds, water, methane, and carbon monoxide. That means the stars' light doesn't drown out the light of the planet, making it an ideal target for the Webb telescope.

☆ Matte car colors in muted earth tones are suddenly taking over — but the trendy paints come at a cost
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Earthy, muted shades are becoming increasingly popular among car buyers, according to the LA Times. The muted cars are suddenly popping up everywhere, lining freeways and parking lots in unassuming shades of gray, black, brown, tan, and green. "The term 'stealth' comes to mind when we see a car in matte gray or matte black. Derek Joyce, a spokesman for Hyundai Motor North America, told the Los Angeles Times that the muted shades of its Hyundai Santa Cruz model are outselling more traditional hues. The styles are also picking up steam on TikTok, where users are sharing videos of their matte cars, or of transforming old models using the new trendy paints.

[1/7] Floodwaters from the Pajaro River are seen flowing under Highway 1, currently closed by officials, in Monterey County, California, U.S. March 14, 2023. read moreNine atmospheric rivers already lashed California in rapid succession from late December through mid-January, triggering widespread flooding, levee failures, mudslides and punishing surf. Massive flooding from failed levees on the Pajaro River in Monterey County this weekend prompted hundreds of evacuations and dozens of water rescues. Mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect for residents in 10 California counties on Tuesday, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta and Nathan Frandino in Monterey County, California; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ I just traveled to Argentina — and doubled my money with a 'black market' exchange rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

A legal exchange rate influenced by the black marketA worker lays out 500 Argentine peso note sheets on Aug. 14, 2020 in Buenos Aires. Greg IacurciPut another way: Your money goes almost twice as far with the "blue dollar" exchange rate. The exchange rate for the transaction was 366 Argentine pesos per U.S. dollar, almost double the official exchange rate (190 pesos per dollar) at the time. Anyone who wants to save more cash in U.S. dollars must turn to the black market, which sets the "blue dollar" exchange rate. The exchange rate offered by Western Union has been similar to that of the "blue dollar" rate on the black market.

☆ California Battered by New Winter Storm After Weeks of Heavy Snow
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Suryatapa Bhattacharya | Gareth Vipers | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A large winter storm brought rain and flooding across parts of California, a state already reeling from weeks of record snowfall that left some residents trapped in their homes. Central California bore the brunt of the storm, known as an atmospheric river, early Friday afternoon and residents in parts of San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were under evacuation orders or warnings.

[1/3] A truck drives through a flooded road after an atmospheric river storm system in Hayward, California, U.S. March 10, 2023. As much as 5 inches (13 cm) of rain has already fallen in some spots across the county, with some seeing as much as 7 inches. U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday declared an emergency in California, ordering federal assistance to help local, tribal and state officials respond to the severe weather. The heavy rains in northern and central California raised concerns that melting snow from a spate of blizzards in mid-elevation mountains could add to runoff and cause flooding downstream. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former Goldman Sachs partners represent the powerful allies and formidable foes the bank has across the Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In many ways, it's easier to become a brain surgeon than a Goldman partner (doctors, please spare me your hate mail). Unlike other esteemed white-collar groups — the partners at law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore, for example — turnover is somewhat common within the Goldman partnership. Insider's Carter Johnson and Dakin Campbell took a look at how many partners have left the bank since CEO David Solomon took over in 2018. In many ways, it's demonstrative of the allies the bank has across the Street. Former Goldman partners can be like missionaries for the bank, spreading the good word to anyone who will listen (and paying their fees).

☆ Valentine's Day chocolate boxes look big, but have more plastic than ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Dworsky said his research shows the over-sized boxes deceive consumers into believing there’s more chocolate inside when there isn’t. Dworsky bought a 9.3-inches wide and 10-inches high Whitman's Sampler heart-shaped chocolate box, with 11 pieces of chocolate inside. Dworsky said a reader alerted him to the chocolate boxes a few days ago and sent him evidence of a heart-shaped Whitman’s chocolate sampler box. Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprüngli, which owns Russell Stover, Whitman’s and Ghirardelli brands, referred requests for comment to Russell Stover Chocolates. He said Dworsky had reached about to him about his most report looking at the Russell Stover and Whitman’s chocolate candy boxes.

☆ Google shows off more of what its ChatGPT competitor Bard can do
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Google’s Search boss Prabhakar Raghavan shared some new examples of its new conversational technology Bard in a live-streamed event in Paris on Wednesday. Bard is Google's competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT AI. Raghavan showed slides with new examples of Bard’s capabilities during a brief presentation. The latest examples come after Google CEO Sundar Pichai Monday publicly announced Google’s new conversation technology Bard that's powered by its artificial intelligence and would be integrated into search, which confirmed CNBC's original reporting. A recent advertisement for Google's service showed Bard offering the incorrect description of the telescope used to take the first pictures of a planet outside our solar system, for example.

☆ Bed Bath & Beyond just missed another debt payment. See the full list of stores it will close, including Harmon and Buybuy Baby locations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Avery Hartmans | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

In addition to 87 more Bed Bath & Beyond stores, the company now says it will close all of its remaining Harmon health and beauty stores, and five Buybuy Baby stores. San Leandro: 15555 East 14th St., Suite 24015555 East 14th St., Suite 240 Burbank: 201 East Magnolia Blvd. Marina: 117 General Stilwell Drive117 General Stilwell Drive Vallejo: 105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107105 Plaza Drive, Suite 107 * Palm Desert: 72459 Highway 11172459 Highway 111 * Visalia: 3125 South Mooney Blvd. Arterial * Coralville: 2515 Corridor Way Suite 5Kansas:Lawrence: 3106 S. Iowa St., Suite 2153106 S. Iowa St., Suite 215 Manhattan: 425 3rd Place425 3rd Place * Olathe: 15335 W. 119th St.Kentucky:Elizabethtown: 1998 N. Dixie Ave.1998 N. Dixie Ave. New Hartford: 4805 Commercial Drive4805 Commercial Drive Kingston: 1187 Ulster Ave.1187 Ulster Ave. Plattsburgh: 73 Centre Drive, Suite 10073 Centre Drive, Suite 100 Farmingdale: 251 Airport Plaza Blvd.

☆ Bolivians turn out for opposition-backed 'national assembly' as protests could return
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LA PAZ/SANTA CRUZ, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Bolivians nationwide are expected to participate in an opposition-led "national assembly" on Wednesday to discuss a slew of proposals, including whether to restart protests which ignited in December over the arrest of Santa Cruz Governor Luis Camacho. Camacho's home base of Santa Cruz, a relatively wealthy agricultural stronghold, is expected to turn out the fiercest support in favor of reinstating roadblocks, which would snarl trade within the country. Bolivians in La Paz are bracing for clashes with government supporters. Prosecutors charge Camacho, who was then a Santa Cruz civic leader, with creating the "power vacuum" behind the resignation of former President Morales. Reporting by Santiago Limachi, Sergio Limachi and Monica Machicao in La Paz and Juan Pablo Blacutt in Santa Cruz; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

President Joe Biden will visit parts of California on Thursday to view areas affected by severe storms and assess additional federal support needed for recovery efforts. The president will survey areas of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties along the state’s central coast, where recent storms caused floods and landslides. Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will travel with Biden, who will also meet with Gov. The declaration provides federal support for debris removal, emergency protective measures and individual assistance for homes that have been damaged by the storms. California was battered by a series of storms since late December, leaving at least 21 people dead, according to an NBC News tally.

☆ Biden heads to California to survey damage from severe storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US President Joe Biden disembark from Air Force One on his arrival at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on May 20, 2022. President Joe Biden on Thursday will visit parts of California to view areas affected by severe storms and assess additional federal support needed for recovery efforts. The president will survey areas of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties along the state's central coast, where recent storms caused floods and landslides. Biden is set to meet with first responders, state and local officials, and communities affected by the devastation. He has remained in contact with Newsom and other local officials.

☆ Seeking an Oasis in the Palm Springs Desert With $350,000 to Spend. Which Home Did He Choose?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Soumya Karlamangla | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

He returned to Santa Cruz in 2019 to be closer to family, and then to ride out Covid lockdowns. Like San Francisco, Palm Springs offered a thriving gay community, with a more relaxed vibe and much more affordable housing. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]In March, Mr. Andrade contacted Kevin Koerner, a friend who was a broker with Compass, to help him sift through properties. Palm Springs, historically, has been a destination for buyers “looking for places to get away for the weekend, or a week, or to come here in the winter,” he said. Mr. Andrade set a budget of about $350,000 and began looking for a home with two bedrooms, so friends and family could comfortably visit.

[1/3] People walk along a rocky beach caused by high surf following winter storms in San Diego, California, U.S., January 17, 2023. The White House said Biden, who on Saturday authorized federal disaster assistance for three hard-hit counties in northern and central California, would be joined by Governor Gavin Newsom and other elected officials. Twisted wreckage of wooden piers torn up along the waterfronts at both locations vividly illustrated the storms' destructive force. The high winds wreaked havoc on the state's power grid, knocking out electricity to tens of thousands of Californians. Reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Katherine Jackson in Washington; Writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles.

☆ Bolivia judge rules opposition governor must remain detained ahead of trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Manuel ClaureLA PAZ, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A Bolivian judge ruled Thursday that Santa Cruz Governor Luis Camacho, a leader long in opposition to the left-leaning federal government, must remain detained while he awaits trial. Since then, weeks of protests and blockades in Camacho's Santa Cruz region, an agricultural hub, have impacted trade with the rest of the country, putting pressure on political capital La Paz. Camacho's lawyer had appealed his four-month detention ahead of his expected trial, arguing that he was not a flight risk and should be placed under house arrest. But judge Rosmery Lourdes Pabon on Thursday ruled that he should remain imprisoned. Morales' successor, the conservative former Senate Vice President Jeanine Anez, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in June for orchestrating a coup.

“One of the worst things you can hear from your child is them screaming ‘I don’t want to die! Residents across the state are just beginning to understand the full extent of the damage, especially in marginalized communities, as they recover from the deluge. But instead of work, Naranjo and other farmworkers are faced with some 20,000 flooded farmland in Salinas, according to early estimates from the Monterey County Farm Bureau, a nonprofit association of farmers and ranchers. When asked if he would return to work soon, Naranjo answered: “I don’t know.”Cars driving through a flooded roadway in Planada, Calif., on Jan. 10. “In my head, I thought if it was that bad, someone would come tell us, but no one ever did.

☆ California is emerging from a 'parade of storms' with recovery efforts across a ravaged state
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. He Can Be Reached At Evan.Bush Nbcuni.Com. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

California's snowpack is on pace for a remarkable season after nearly three weeks of atmospheric river storms pummeled California with heavy precipitation. California has had nine atmospheric river storms since Christmas, Anderson said. "We're finally getting through the parade of storms," Anderson said. Meantime, a mudslide closed part of State Route 13 in the Oakland area, the state Transportation Department said. It expected it could take as long as three weeks to clear the road and up to six months for repairs.

☆ California assesses damage after days of deadly storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Authorities in California were set to assess damage on Monday after a wave of storms killed at least 19 people, swept away scores of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Small rainstorms lingered early on Monday from San Francisco through central California and a few inches of snow fell on the foothills of the Sierras, the National Weather Service reported. "It's coming to an end as we speak," said meteorologist William Churchill on Monday morning at the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. The Russian River, swollen with floodwater following a chain of winter storms, flows past the town of Guerneville, California, U.S. January 15, 2023. Then most of the state will have sunny days and at least a 10-day spell of dry, cool weather.

☆ California braces for final burst of heavy snow and rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/8] The Russian River, swollen with floodwater following a chain of winter storms, flows past the town of Guerneville, California, U.S. January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Fred GreavesJan 15 (Reuters) - Storm-lashed California is bracing for what may be a final battering of rain and snow starting late Sunday, adding to the damage unleashed by a weather system that has caused severe flooding and killed at least 19 people across the state. Residents across a swath of central and southern California should prepare for heavy rainfall and snow, with the potential for flooding and mudslides in a region saturated after three weeks of storms, the National Weather Service said. Since December 26, the Golden State has been pounded by a string of so-called atmospheric rivers -- storms akin to rivers in the sky that carry moisture from the Earth's tropics to higher latitudes, dumping massive amounts of rain. Reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mud, mold, and destruction: California businesses face catastrophic damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —At the end of a long wooden Southern California pier that juts out above the Pacific ocean sits the Wharf House. Powerful winter storms have unleashed heavy rain, wind, flooding and dangerous mudslides the likes of which California hasn’t seen in decades. An aerial view shows damage to the pier on which the Wharf House restaurant is located. Businesses digging outAbout 5 million people were under flood watches Wednesday as yet another atmospheric river brings more rain to California. “There was water damage, but luckily our floors are concrete and easy to clean and sanitize.

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