'The aim of education is wisdom'

Now we gotta deal with these two in hockey

An architecture firm is having fun building microlibraries across Java with playful designs that offer respite from the heat. Envisioned as an excellent way to increase literacy, they attract children with the designs who then get to enjoy a reading environment that inspires imagination and creativity. They were recently profiled in a Guardian photo essay. […] The post Indonesia’s Stunning Micro-Libraries Attract Young Readers with Fun-Filled Architecture appeared first on Good News Network.

Proxy voting is a key responsibility of all fiduciaries. Why in particular should conservatives, and especially traditional worshippers, take care with that responsibility? Because in an era of plentiful and typically controversial “shareholder resolutions,” the invested financial assets of individuals and institutions—including religious organizations (dioceses, temples, hospital chains, orders, colleges, etc.)—are quite powerful things. They are tools able to prove consequential to public policy. That consequence is not always a good thing: Proxy advisers—empowered to vote the value of stock shares for or against shareholder resolutions, can have, and often do have, their own ideological agendas, schemes, and stratagems. And this proxy voting all too often is misaligned with the stated beliefs and missions of the distracted shareholders. Keeping track of these shareholder resolutions may prove taxing for bandwidth-stretched institutions, which can delegate this voting function—despite its importance and opportunity for mischief. Most organizations’ investment committees do. The delegating works this way: The committee either entrusts its organization votes to a proxy adviser—with the expectation that they vote in the organization’s best interest——or the proxy voting is assigned to the asset manager, who in turn also delegates to a proxy adviser. Blind trust should not be part of this delegation. Each organization must clearly ensure that its values are reflected in its proxy voting approach. For Christian organizations, this typically means ensuring alignment between the proxy voting strategy and any values-based investment screening already in place. For example, if an organization screens out companies involved in pornography or abortion, its proxy voting should reflect those same values. Should—in principle. Often not—in practice. More on that shortly. Trust but Verify When using separately managed accounts, it is important for organizations—especially those which are religious or particularly mission-driven—to evaluate the proxy voting practices of the asset managers they engage. À la Ronald Reagan: Trust but verify. If a manager’s approach does not align with the organization’s values, the organization can opt to install a third-party proxy adviser to ensure votes follow custom guidelines, (This option comes typically at no additional cost to the institution). Many organizations use a combination of separately managed accounts, mutual funds, other pooled products, and partnerships on other vehicles common in the alternative asset space. Overall objectives, asset allocation, portfolio size, and other factors drive these decisions. For investors with mutual funds, the proxy voting responsibility lies with that mutual fund. Especially with Christian products, the expectation is that each mutual fund’s proxy voting and screening process is outlined in the prospectus and should align with Christian values. Expectations and reality can often be quite different. Christian Proxy Votes Are Not Lining Up With Christian Values, Analysis Shows A third-party analysis conducted in 2023 by Bowyer Research reviewed the proxy voting records of several Christian and Catholic mutual fund families. The study established a baseline expectation for how a values-aligned fund might vote on various shareholder resolutions. While there is some minor latitude on how these fund families would vote, it became apparent that some either had surprising biases or were asleep at the wheel, unaware as to how their proxy votes were terribly misaligned with their institution’s stated beliefs. Here are some examples: A Christian/Catholic fund voted in favor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resolutions in 38 out of 40 instances. Another voted to allow companies to conceal abortion data 14 of 19 times. Another voted 52 of 56 times to limit political speech. Another voted to defund pro-life states 10 of 19 times. Another agreed with the Bowyer Research Christian overall proxy voting baseline only 48 of 367 times. This is disappointing. Some funds were better than others, but all have room for improvement, some significantly. When the results of the analysis were shared with each fund, many were surprised by the results, and are now using the analysis to make changes. No more wheel-sleeping. Some have already made solid improvements by creating better guidelines that align more with the Christian faith. Still others have either taken back proxy voting from a proxy adviser or have hired a firm more aligned with Christian values. Unfortunately, others stated that their voting reflected their beliefs and aligned with their values. Of interest: The best Christian proxy voter of the whole group against the Bowyer baseline was a “secular” family with a “social” fund. What Can Christian Organizations and Conservative Nonprofits Do? What is a Christian organization, or a conservative nonprofit—strapped for in-house financial expertise, lacking bandwidth, but holding valuable assets that are annually confronted by a spate of shareholder resolutions and other actions that force voting—to do? Ignoring such decision-making should not be an option. Instead, organizations are encouraged to regularly review the proxy voting behavior of the investment products they use and ensure that this voting behavior reflects their core mission and values. Conducting annual proxy voting analyses and engaging with asset managers about misalignment can be an effective way to promote long-term change and improve fidelity between investment strategies and organizational principles. This would also avoid an organization being party to bringing about consequential public-policy changes—the things usually sought by controversial shareholder resolutions—that are at odds with their doctrines of faith, mission statements, and raison d’etres. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post The Results of Christian Mutual Proxy Voting Analysis Leave Significant Room for Improvement appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Just one mutation in these understudied group of bat viruses and we could be looking at COVID 2.0, experts warn.

Israel repeatedly attacked nuclear facilities and military sites across Iran Thursday night, neutralizing elements of the country's nuclear program, air defense systems, and military leadership.The strikes, which the Trump administration stressed were undertaken unilaterally, have prompted condemnations from Arab nations in the region and a mixed response from American politicians.The strikes"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening. "This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."Over 200 Israel Air Force jets hit targets in the Iranian cities of Tabriz, Kermanshah, Arak, Isfahan, and Natanz, as well as in the capital city of Tehran, where a residential apartment building collapsed, another large building was set ablaze, and military command housing was hit.'The world is a better place without them.'According to the Israel Defense Forces, the target in the Natanz area was a uranium enrichment site, "which has operated for years to achieve nuclear weapons capability and houses the infrastructure required for enriching uranium to military-grade levels." — (@) The strikes allegedly damaged the underground area of the site, which contains an enrichment hall home to centrifuges, electrical rooms, and supporting infrastructure.Israel also targeted dozens of radar and surface-to-air missile launchers, crippling the air defense system in the west of the country.Both Israeli and Iranian authorities confirmed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami was killed in the strikes. The Israel Defense Forces said they also killed Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces and the second-highest commander after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters."These are three ruthless mass murderers with international blood on their hands," said the IDF. "The world is a better place without them."RELATED: Rubio not taking guff from ICC — hammers foreign judges over targeting of US and Israel Photo by OHAD ZWIGENBERG/POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesMohammad Pakpour, the brigadier general who commanded the IRGC ground forces, has reportedly taken Salami's place.Iranian state media indicated that at least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also killed in the attacks, reported Reuters.The American geopolitical intelligence platform Stratfor indicated in an assessment ahead of the attacks that Israel had destroyed most of Iran's S-300 air defense capabilities in its October 2024 strikes, which afforded it an ever-shrinking window of opportunity to destroy parts of Tehran's nuclear program without great risk to its attack aircraft.Additionally, in recent months, Iranian proxies in the neighborhood have been thinned out — including the Assad regime, Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah in Lebanon — meaning less opposition in the aftermath.The day before the strikes, the U.S. State Department issued orders for personnel to depart from embassies and diplomatic offices overseas.American responseSecretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement shortly after the attacks began, "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.""Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense," continued Rubio. "President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners."'They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!'"Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel," added Rubio.Rubio's threat comes just days after Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh indicated that in the event of a new conflict, "all U.S. bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them in host countries."RELATED: Liberals freaked out over Vance's Munich speech. Just wait till they read the State Department's Substack. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo by John McDonnell/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump, who was engaged in on-again, off-again negotiations with Tehran, underscored Thursday that he didn't want another conflict in the region.After noting that "there's a chance of massive conflict," Trump told reporters, "I don't want them going in because that would blow it. Might help it, actually, but also could blow [a potential deal with Iran]."On Friday morning, Trump stated on Truth Social, "I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done.""I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come," continued the president. "And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner's [sic] spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!"'Retaliation for this aggression is Iran's legitimate right.'"There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!" added Trump.Whereas House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other lawmakers rallied behind Israel, reiterating that it has a right "to defend itself," some in Washington criticized the move.Democratic Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.) called the strikes a "reckless escalation." Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote, "A war with Iran would make Iraq look like a skirmish. If your goal were to bankrupt America and destabilize the world, dragging us into another endless Middle East war would be the way to do it."Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck emphasized the surgical nature of the strikes, tweeting:Israel is incredible. Like surgeons. They must have had people on the ground with targeting. The world would have cheered if we could have taken out the scientists and military leadership in Germany. Same genocidal evil, but watch the media of the world take the side of the mullahs.Iran respondsThe Iranian government claimed that the attacks were a "blatant violation of international law and a terrorist attack" that "resulted in the martyrdom of citizens, commanders, and nuclear scientists.""Defending Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty is the undeniable responsibility of the government and the armed forces," continued the government. "Retaliation for this aggression is Iran's legitimate right, and with the 'powerful hand of the armed forces' and under the command of the Leadership, severe punishment will be inflicted upon Israel."Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose senior adviser was reportedly wounded in the overnight attack, emphasized that the "powerful arm of the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces won't let them go unpunished."Early Friday, Iran reportedly launched around 100 drones toward Israeli territory in retaliation, which Israeli authorities said they were working to neutralize.This is a developing story.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) recently appeared on New York Times columnist Ross Douthat’s “Interesting Times” podcast. The conversation touched on several big political topics, but one moment stood out — not for its insight, but for its sheer evasiveness.Douthat asked Murphy whether he found it unfair for biological males to compete in girls’ sports. Murphy’s answer? “I don’t have girls.”The facts are indisputable: Chris Murphy stands on the wrong side of one of the clearest-cut issues in American politics.Instead of addressing a question that concerns millions of American families, the senator dismissed it based on the composition of his own household. When Douthat pressed him to show empathy for those who do have daughters, Murphy claimed that “lots of parents of girls” in Connecticut don’t see any problem with it.Really, Senator? On an 80-20 issue, your go-to argument rests on anecdotal outliers who are fine with their daughters competing against biological males? As Joe Biden might say, c’mon, man!Sure, such parents exist — but they’re rare. The overwhelming majority of moms and dads, whether they have daughters or not, understand that allowing males to compete in girls’ sports is fundamentally unfair.You don’t need to have a daughter to see the injustice. Anyone paying attention can recognize a rigged contest when a biological male steps onto the field, court, or track. As a mother of three sons, I understand the biological differences firsthand — and I’ve seen just how dangerous it can be when girls are forced to compete against boys.Murphy surely understands this too. He even mentioned that his sons play competitive travel sports. Every father of male athletes knows the advantage boys possess. The idea that Murphy genuinely believes girls can fairly compete against biological males stretches the bounds of credibility. More likely, partisan ideology has overridden his common sense.Reserving girls’ sports for girls isn’t discrimination. Saying you’re a girl doesn’t make you one. Female athletes have no obligation to indulge a make-believe ideology that denies biological reality.Since Congress passed Title IX in 1972, women and girls have had the legal right to fair competition, which includes female-only athletic events and locker rooms. That means girls shouldn’t be forced to change clothes next to males or be exposed to male genitalia in private spaces — yet Murphy supports exactly that, so long as those males claim to identify as female.RELATED: USA Today obliterated online over bizarre claim about transgender athletes Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty ImagesThis is not a fringe position. It is now the standard view of the Democratic Party and most public school districts. And it has consequences.When boys enter girls’ events, girls lose — podium spots, medals, school records, regional and national competition slots, even college scholarships. They lose their shot at excellence. They lose their privacy. And apparently, if you ask Senator Murphy, that’s just fine — because his kids aren’t affected.After some prodding from Douthat, Murphy finally gave a definitive answer: “Yes, my conclusion is that I would support those athletes being able to participate in my community.”But who are “those athletes”? He means males who identify as females. And yes, they absolutely should be allowed to participate — on boys’ teams.Title IX applies in every zip code. It was written to protect girls. It still does — if we enforce it.Whether Senator Murphy genuinely believes what he said or is simply toeing the Democratic Party line is a question only he and his conscience can answer. But the facts are indisputable: He stands on the wrong side of one of the clearest-cut issues in American politics. He may not have daughters, but that does not excuse him from standing up for those who do.

If the original Cities Skylines is still popular after ten years, it’s partly because of its extensive, flexible asset editor. You can import custom assets, create bespoke intersections, and even design your own in-game models. It’s a fundamental part of modding and key to the ‘open’ nature of CS1’s development tools. Naturally, the arrival of the Cities Skylines 2 asset editor is highly anticipated. In October, it will be two years since the city-building sequel was originally released, and despite some transformative updates and patches, customization tools with equivalent depth and flexibility to those in CS1 are yet to arrive. With the Bridges and Ports DLC delayed and still in the works, the Cities Skylines 2 team now confirms that development of the assets editor is temporarily a secondary priority. Continue reading The Cities Skylines 2 asset editor has been "pushed to the background" for now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review, Cities Skylines 2 roads, Cities Skylines 2 maps

The long-awaited arrival of Inzoi mod support is finally here, as its developer launches the first major update for the hyper-realistic life sim. As one of the leading challengers to The Sims 4’s crown, Inzoi’s biggest early-access trouble has been a sense that it’s currently a bit light on variety and personality. Fortunately, this new update injects a much-needed dose of items and features into its stunning world, taking a big step on the path towards fulfilling its promised potential. Alongside this comes the first Inzoi Steam sale, letting you sneak a discount if you’re ready to give it a try. Continue reading Inzoi update expands the Sims rival dramatically, and it's on sale to celebrate MORE FROM PCGAMESN: InZoi release date, Best simulation games, InZoi system requirements

How long is The Alters? Jan doesn’t know the extent of how much trouble he’s in, at least not at the beginning. Crash landed on an alien planet, the entire crew dead, a deadly sun on its way; things are looking great for old Dolski. There’s a lot of work to be done, and a lot of alters to create. It’s easy to get lost in the mission in The Alters, with hours spent at your mining outposts, and nights spent watching movies with your newly-created pals. If you plan on unlocking every alter and neutralizing every anomaly, here’s how long it will take, not factoring in any disastrous The Alters base breakdowns like we had. Continue reading How long is The Alters? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best strategy games, Best story games