It’s not just you. Experts agree the post-pandemic workplace really is more distracting
The Globe and Mail
23-09-18 11:00
Many workers are feeling uneasy in office environments that may have once felt like a second home. While some of that discomfort may be temporary, experts suggest we may never feel the same about shared workspaces again. During the pandemic period, the nature of work itself has changed in a way that may be causing more in-office distractions. Specifically, with virtual meetings becoming the norm, many workers – especially those working in an open office layout – are exposed to more one-sided conversations, which research conducted by Dr. Galván suggests can make it harder to concentrate.
Padres owner Peter Seidler had a medical procedure and won't be at the ballpark again this season
The Toronto Star
23-09-18 18:55
San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler has revealed that he underwent a medical procedure last month and is now in recovery. The team did not provide further details at the family's request. Seidler, a two-time cancer survivor, expressed gratitude for the medical care he received and the support of his family. He also stated that he is watching all of the team's games and looks forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the team's ballpark in 2024. Seidler, a member of the O'Malley family that used to own the Los Angeles Dodgers, purchased the Padres in 2012 and became the majority stakeholder in November 2020. Despite having a high payroll and a strong lineup, the Padres have had a disappointing season and are currently six games under .500.
Authorities locate debris of F-35 fighter that crashed in South Carolina
Guardian
23-09-19 00:23
The US Marine Corps has paused operations for two days after a Marine Corps F-35 stealth fighter jet crashed in South Carolina on Sunday. The pilot ejected and parachuted to safety and is now in a stable condition in hospital. This is the third "Class-A mishap" in recent weeks. Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Eric Smith, has ordered a stand-down while authorities search for the missing FB-35B Lightning II aircraft. It is currently unknown what caused the crash and an investigation is underway.
Officials find debris from F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina after pilot ejected
The Toronto Star
23-09-18 23:08
A debris field has been found in rural Williamsburg County, South Carolina, following the crash on 28 September of an F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The pilot ejected and parachuted to safety. The crash was the third “Class-A mishap” for the US Marine Corps in the past six weeks. All Marine Corps aviation units have been ordered to halt operations for 48 hours while the authorities search the area for the missing aircraft. The pilot is in a stable condition in hospital.
Campusano's go-ahead 3-run homer helps the Padres beat the Rockies 11-9
The Toronto Star
23-09-19 05:07
The San Diego Padres defeated the Colorado Rockies 11-9 on Monday night to extend their winning streak to five games. Luis Campusano hit a go-ahead three-run home run, while Garrett Cooper and Eugy Rosario also hit home runs for the Padres. Despite their recent success, the Padres are unlikely to make the postseason, as they are currently six games out of the final wild card spot. Third baseman Manny Machado may undergo surgery on his right elbow once the Padres are eliminated from playoff contention. The sellout crowd of 42,062 helped the Padres set a new attendance record for the season.
Campusano’s go-ahead 3-run homer helps the Padres beat the Rockies 11-9
Associated Press
23-09-19 05:05
The San Diego Padres extended their winning streak to five games by beating the Colorado Rockies 11-9 on Monday night. The Padres' winning streak is too little, too late to save their disappointing season, as they are currently six games out of the final wild card berth. The Padres have underwhelmed all season despite having a payroll of about $250 million. They have been below .500 since May 12.
Schwarber hits 483-foot homer, 4 other Phillies go deep to lead Phillies over Braves 7-1
The Toronto Star
23-09-19 03:10
Kyle Schwarber hit a 483-foot, two-run homer to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 7-1. It was Schwarber's 45th homer of the season and the second-longest of his career. The Phillies hit a total of five home runs in the game, including homers from Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, and Johan Rojas. The win gave the Phillies a 3.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top NL wild card spot. The Braves, despite losing four straight games, have already secured a bye in the Wild Card Series and home-field advantage in the Division Series. Braves manager Brian Snitker wasn't too concerned about the losing streak, saying that the team has come out of similar stretches before and will do so again. Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler gave up one run in six innings to earn the win.
Adam Wainwright wins 200th to lead Cardinals to 1-0 victory over Brewers
Associated Press
23-09-19 02:55
Adam Wainwright earned his 200th win with a vintage performance as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0. Wainwright, 42, pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out three and walking two. It was his longest outing this season and he has now won consecutive starts after going 0-10 with a 10.72 ERA over his previous 11 games between June 24 and Sept. 7.
Schwarber hits 483-foot homer, 4 other Phillies homer to lead Phillies over Braves 7-1
The Toronto Star
23-09-19 02:05
Kyle Schwarber hit a 483-foot, two-run homer to help lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. The win gave the Phillies a 3.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the top NL wild card spot. Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, and Johan Rojas also homered for the Phillies. Zack Wheeler pitched six innings, allowing one run and three hits, to earn the win. The Braves lost their fourth straight game but secured a bye in the Wild Card Series and home-field advantage in the Division Series.
Synthetic Biology Moves From the Lab to the Marketplace
WSJ
23-09-19 15:00
Companies in the synthetic biology space are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to help them meet the growing demand for sustainable materials, foods, fuels, therapies and vaccines. Companies such as LanzaTech, Geno and Ginkgo Bioworks are using AI to help predict the outcomes of their experiments, reduce the number of trials needed and accelerate research and development processes. LanzaTech, for example, is using generative AI models to design DNA sequences for enzymes that allow microbes to turn carbon into rubber. Geno is exploring ways of using AI to improve the performance of enzymes in turning corn or sugar cane into synthetic nylon. Ginkgo Bioworks is working with Google's cloud-computing arm to develop language models that can generate protein designs and optimize protein sequences. Meanwhile, CULT Food Science is using AI to determine the best possible combinations of molecular compounds to make beanless coffee.
Sacramento County District Attorney Sues City Over Homeless Encampments
WSJ
23-09-19 23:36
The district attorney in Sacramento County, California, has filed a lawsuit against the city government, accusing it of failing to enforce ordinances on homeless encampments. The district attorney, Thien Ho, said his office repeatedly asked the city to enforce laws on sidewalk obstruction and to provide professional camping sites for the homeless. The lawsuit comes as homelessness becomes the top issue for voters in California, and as the state's governor faces criticism for a lack of progress in combating the issue.
The Summer of 2023 Was California’s Coolest in More Than a Decade
NY Times
23-09-21 13:00
California experienced its coolest summer since 2011 this year, according to Dan McEvoy, a researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center. While the northern third of the state was warmer than usual, southern California experienced below-normal temperatures due to low-pressure systems and the cooling effect of Hurricane Hilary. However, experts say that California is still experiencing the effects of climate change and generally getting hotter, even if this summer didn't set records for scorching weather across the state. California's 10 warmest summers were in 2021, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2006, 2016, 2015, 1961, 1996 and 2020.
The Summer of 2023 Was California’s Coolest in More Than a Decade
NY Times
23-09-21 13:00
California experienced its coolest summer since 2011 this year, according to Dan McEvoy, a researcher with the Western Regional Climate Center. While the northern third of the state was warmer than usual, southern California experienced below-normal temperatures due to low-pressure systems and the cooling effect of Hurricane Hilary. However, experts say that California is still experiencing the effects of climate change and generally getting hotter, even if this summer didn't set records for scorching weather across the state. California's 10 warmest summers were in 2021, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2006, 2016, 2015, 1961, 1996 and 2020.
Eight big banks must face US cities' bond collusion claims
Reuters
23-09-21 16:51
A US judge has ruled that American cities can pursue class-action claims against eight banks for driving up interest rates on municipal bonds. The cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and San Diego have accused the banks of conspiring to raise rates on over 12,000 variable-rate demand obligations from 2008 to 2016, reducing available funding for schools, hospitals, water and power supplies and transportation. The banks involved in the case are Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo.
Rise in refinery outages, tighter supplies pushing up US fuel prices
Reuters
23-09-21 15:11
Mechanical outages at US oil refineries have reached a nine-year high, negatively impacting the ability of refiners to rebuild fuel stockpiles and driving up fuel prices. Outages have increased by over 50% in the first nine months of this year. In addition, the switch to cheaper, winter grade gasoline this month may provide only short-term relief as already depleted fuel inventories are under increased pressure from the outages. As of 15 September, US gasoline stocks were 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.
Analysis: MLB’s recently expanded playoff field helps provide great playoff races in both NL, AL
Associated Press
23-09-21 20:15
The playoff races are heating up in MLB, with the Arizona Diamondbacks making a late-season push for the playoffs. The NL wild-card race is particularly tight, with six teams competing for three spots. In the AL, the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners are fighting for the AL West title and wild-card spots. The NL MVP race is between Ronald Acuña and Mookie Betts, while the AL MVP is likely to go to Shohei Ohtani. The article also mentions the disappearing workhorse pitcher, with only one pitcher having thrown over 200 innings this season.
Booking a COVID-19 vaccine? Some are reporting canceled appointments or insurance issues
The Toronto Star
23-09-21 20:08
Some Americans seeking the newest COVID-19 vaccine are running into high demand, insurance issues, and supply delays. Despite millions of the vaccines being shipped out, some people have had to cancel appointments due to insurance not covering the vaccines and others have had their appointments canceled due to supply issues. Some areas are experiencing a lack of available vaccines, while in other places, pharmacies have a limited supply due to order backlogs and slow shipments. CVS and Walgreens have confirmed that delivery delays have led to canceled appointments at some stores.
Caratini, Perkins homer in Brewers 6-0 victory over the Cardinals
The Toronto Star
23-09-21 19:54
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Thursday, with Victor Caratini hitting a three-run homer and Blake Perkins adding a solo shot. The victory brought the Brewers' magic number to clinch the National League Central title down to three, with nine games remaining in the regular season. The Brewers have won eight of their last 11 games and 22 of their last 31. Meanwhile, the Cardinals fell to 20 games behind the Brewers and are enduring their first losing season since 2007.
Chargers, Vikings meet in precarious place after pair of close losses to start their seasons
The Toronto Star
23-09-21 19:50
The Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) are set to face off against the Minnesota Vikings (0-2) in Week 3 of the NFL season. The Vikings are currently favored by 1.5 points, according to FanDuel SportsBook. The Chargers have the 4th overall offense, while the Vikings have the 8th overall offense. Chargers QB Justin Herbert is close to reaching 15,000 passing yards and 100 touchdown passes in his career. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson has the opportunity to become the first receiver in NFL history to have three consecutive 150-yard games to start a season.
Record numbers of migrants head to US border, in fresh test for Biden
Reuters
23-09-21 19:42
A dramatic increase in migration flows along the US-Mexico border is causing fresh political challenges for President Joe Biden. Numbers had dropped after Biden announced measures to deter illegal crossings, including deporting migrants and banning re-entry for five years. However, the tougher measures appear to be wearing off, with an uptick in arrivals at the border and increased numbers of migrants journeying north across Central and South America. Experts suggest the US lacks the capacity to detain and process migrants at the border, making it difficult to carry out the harsh penalties announced in May.
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