Who knew this was a thing&;#63; Apparently‚ during the 2023 Figure Skating Showcase‚ there was an “inflatables” event. Inflatables are funny suits you can wear. They inflate with a tiny motor. There are dinosaurs‚ unicorns‚ and almost everything you can imagine. You have probably seen videos of them mowing the grass‚ clearing snow‚ or meeting Grandma at the airport. There were various costumes at the figure skating competition‚ including an inflatable chicken‚ an eagle‚ and even a Sumo wrestler. @katie.skatie #nationalshowcase2023 #figureskating #showcaseskating #weird #inflatablecostume #mykindofpeople #comedyonice ♬ Gator – Spongebob Squarepants Figure skating is impressive by itself. When you combine this talent with an inflatable suit‚ you would expect hilarity to ensue. But that is not exactly what happened. The competition gold medal winner wore an inflatable chicken suit and nailed the routine. Skating to the song “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly‚ the skater embraces the music and makes us believe they can fly. The song discusses depression and rising from it to soar‚ which might be a sensitive subject. As you watch the routine‚ the skater uses the costume to provide emphasis and meaning to the dance. You can imagine the figure skating inflatable chicken trying to fly as they perform intentionally stumbling jumps. Images from YouTube. Each choreographed move is executed perfectly‚ although clumsily‚ with awkward precision. It is easy to see how the judges scored this as a gold-medal performance. The skater was in character throughout the routine‚ allowing us to “see” the music come to life. Even for those who are not fans of figure skating‚ this routine is worth a watch. It is a fun part of the competition‚ but this skater understood the assignment. They provided superb entertainment‚ showcased their talent‚ and hopefully had as much fun as the audience. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Skater In Inflatable Chicken Suit Wins Unique Competition With Hilarious And Impressive Routine appeared first on InspireMore.

In the realm of music‚ inspiration can strike from the most unexpected sources. From the soft rustle of leaves to the grand roar of a waterfall‚ nature’s symphony has long served as the backdrop for many melodies. Take the hit “Blackbird” by The Beatles—halfway through the track the sweet sound of a male blackbird’s singing adds to the piece’s melody. Nonetheless‚ despite its critical role‚ nature has never received the recognition—or royalties—it deserves. That’s where Sounds Right steps in. Sounds Right: a musical movement for conservation Imagine a world where every chirp‚ rustling‚ and gust of wind is recognized as an important component of the musical tapestry. Sounds Right‚ a ground-breaking initiative from the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live‚ seeks to accomplish precisely that. Sounds Right recognizes nature as a featured artist on streaming services such as Spotify‚ giving credit where credit is due and opening the way for a new era of environmental stewardship. Global jam session: artists celebrate nature’s contributions Already‚ a varied group of musicians has joined the Sounds Right movement‚ mixing their music with sounds from Earth’s natural treasures. From Brian Eno to Ellie Goulding‚ these musicians incorporate nature’s melodies into their songs‚ resulting in a genuinely worldwide soundtrack that celebrates the beauty of our world. According to a press release‚ “From Colombia to India by way of Norway‚ Venezuela‚ Kenya‚ Denmark‚ UK‚ U.S.‚ and Indonesia‚ there is a truly global selection of artists taking part and highlighting natural sounds from a vast range of ecosystems all over the world.” Impact in sound: uniting millions for a greener planet Sounds Right is expected to engage over 600 million listeners and generate $40 million in revenue within the first four years‚ having a substantial influence on both the music business and conservation initiatives throughout the world. As the news release states‚ “The effort comes at a vital time. Wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 69 percent during the last 50 years‚ and at least 1.2 million plant and animal species are believed to be on the verge of extinction.” Sounds Right is more than just a musical movement; it is a force for change. Sounds Right directs royalties and donations to conservation projects in fragile ecosystems all across the world through agreements with groups like EarthPercent and Music Declares Emergency. According to Brian Eno‚ founder of EarthPercent‚ “Hopefully it’ll be a river‚ torrent‚ or flood of royalties— and then what we do is distribute that among groups of people who are working on projects to help us deal with the future.” In a world where every note is important‚ Sounds Right strikes a chord for positive change. By celebrating nature’s sounds and supporting conservation initiatives‚ we can ensure a peaceful future for future generations.The post How the Sounds Right project brings harmony to environmental protection and music  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In a historic attempt to address the growing problem of packaging waste‚ the European Parliament has approved a comprehensive set of legislation aimed at reducing environmental damage and supporting sustainable practices. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)‚ which includes binding targets and limits on throwaway plastics‚ marks a significant step forward in Europe’s commitment to combating waste pollution. Effectively addressing the packaging waste crisis The approval of the PPWR is a watershed point in the EU’s efforts to reduce packaging waste. With roughly 190kg of packaging trash generated per EU person each year‚ immediate action was required to address mounting environmental issues. MEPs backed the proposal‚ which set ambitious targets to reduce trash creation by five percent by 2030‚ with more reductions expected in later years. Key targets and prohibitions: understanding the legal scope The PPWR’s fundamental goal is to reshape packaging habits across the EU through targets and prohibitions. The rule requires that almost all packaging materials be entirely recyclable by 2030‚ with minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging. Take-away restaurants will be obliged to provide reusable containers‚ while plastic bottles and cans will be collected separately via deposit-return programs. Disposable plastics‚ such as individual sachets and lightweight plastic bags‚ will also be banned in order to reduce waste. Industry response: perspectives on the packaging waste regulation The PPWR has received a variety of reactions from industry stakeholders‚ reflecting the multiple interests at play. Matti Rantanen of the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA) called the rule “robust and evidence-based‚” underlining its importance in supporting a circular economy. However‚ Nicholas Hodac of UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe highlighted concerns about obligatory reuse objectives‚ emphasizing the importance of context-specific solutions. Despite various perspectives‚ industry participants understand the value of collaborative action in tackling packaging waste. Challenges and criticisms: exploring the backlash from NGOs While the PPWR has received widespread support‚ it has also been criticized by environmentalists. NGOs have expressed concerns about legislative loopholes‚ particularly in the measurement of recycled content in plastic bottles. The decision to use a ‘ mass balance’ approach‚ enabling recycled content certificates to be applied to virgin plastic products‚ has outraged anti-waste activists. They warn of the dangers of misleading green claims and call for tougher measures to ensure transparency and responsibility. As Europe takes serious steps to address the packaging waste challenge‚ the PPWR demonstrates the region’s commitment to sustainability. The EU hopes to stimulate good change and foster a more environmentally conscious society by establishing ambitious goals and enforcing strict laws. While challenges remain‚ ratification of the PPWR represents a big step forward in the global fight against plastic pollution and waste proliferation.  The post EU parliament passes sweeping measures to combat the growing problem of packaging waste first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

There are many haunted islands out lurking over the horizon‚ and I covered some of these in Part 1 of this series‚ but there are far too many to contain in one article‚ so here we go off again across the dark waters of the supernatural to find some of the most haunted islands in the world.  

How on earth is LIV failing this much

Pantera was formed in Arlington‚ Texas‚ in 1981. Initially founded by the Abbott brothers‚ Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell‚ along with bassist Rex Brown and several early lead vocalists‚ Pantera underwent a stylistic shift with the arrival of vocalist Phil Anselmo in 1987. This lineup released Pantera’s most successful albums‚ including Cowboys from Hell‚ Vulgar Display of Power‚ and Far Beyond Driven‚ with the latter reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Over their career‚ Pantera released nine studio albums and their aggressive style of groove metal has been a significant influence in the genre. The band disbanded in The post Complete List Of Pantera Band Members appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

The cylindrical apparatus engulfs the nun‚ who eschews her traditional brown habit and long veil for a plain T-shirt and loose hospital pants. Equipped with earplugs and resting her head on foam cushions to muffle the deafening roar akin to a jet engine‚ she braces herself for the experience. Supercooled colossal magnets create formidable fields around her head in a cutting-edge endeavor to delve into her thoughts as she communicates with her deity. Stepping away from their cloistered existence‚ the Carmelite nun and her 14 Catholic sisters find themselves in this confined azure tube‚ a far cry from the wooden… This premium content is for PLUS+ members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. The post God hides in our brains: what science says about contact with divine beings appeared first on Anomalien.com.

It was remarkable breaking news‚ occurring live on CNN. The White House Correspondents Association hosted a dinner and a Biden for President rally broke out. It’s only natural that CNN loves live coverage of the White House Correspondents Dinner‚ where the anti-Trump media celebrate themselves for how essential they are to preserving democracy and how valiantly they warn Americans that Donald Trump is democracy's antonym. President Biden’s speech made some jokes about his age – it’s that safe spot where all the late-night comedians go. But he also showed nastiness: “Yes‚ age is an issue. I’m a grown man running against a six-year-old.” They loved that joke on CNN. Like last year‚ Biden thought it was funny to insist he doesn’t have to grant access to reporters‚ because “I do interviews with strong independent journalists who millions of people actually listen to‚ like Howard Stern.” Instead‚ he lectured them about how Trump “has made no secret of his attack on our democracy‚” and the “free press” needs to make sure the voters have “the information they need to make an informed decision.” Biden thinks a pro-Biden media needs to deliver: “I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides‚ but asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment.” He clearly means the media need to underline Trump needs to lose. Biden ripped into Trump‚ ranting about January 6‚ spewing misinformation about Trump’s attention-grabbing way of speaking. “He said he wants to be a dictator on Day One….he promised a bloodbath when he loses again.” If you’re a low-information voter‚ you wouldn’t know Trump joked with Sean Hannity about being a dictator for one day‚ and he said our economy would be a “bloodbath” if Biden was reelected. You can scold Trump for his rhetorical red meat. But that doesn’t mean journalists and presidents should mischaracterize what he says. This is not how these dinners used to work. Twenty years ago at this dinner‚ when President George W. Bush was lining up against Sen. John Kerry‚ Bush didn’t say one negative word about his opponent or one negative word about the opposing party. He made gentle jokes about the press. He didn’t urge the networks to defeat John Kerry at the anchor desk. He talked about heroic reporters in war zones‚ and heroic soldiers. That’s not how it unfolded in 2024. The hired comedian‚ Saturday Night Live fake-news anchor Colin Jost‚ concluded his comedy routine by remembering his late grandfather‚ a Staten Island firefighter‚ who voted for Biden in 2020. “He voted for you‚ and the reason that he voted for you is because you're a decent man. My grandpa voted for decency‚ and decency is why we're all here tonight. Decency is how we're able to be here tonight. Decency is how we're able to make jokes about each other‚ and one of us doesn't go to prison after.” He then repeated: “So‚ Mr. President‚ I thank you for your decency on behalf of my grandfather.” Jost said this after Biden said his opponent was a six-year-old who would spur a bloodbath if he loses. He said this after he mocked Trump as “currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn-star hush-money trial‚” and the courtroom sketch artist makes Trump look like “the Grinch had sex with the Lorax.” At least CNN allowed their contributor Scott Jennings to sum up the evening: “We had Biden speak tonight‚ and then we had a Biden surrogate effectively speak tonight.”  It's no wonder CNN wanted to air the whole thing live.