The Biden administration is planning to slow down the rollout of a rule that was designed to juice the United States’s transition to electric vehicles. The administration is reportedly planning to relax its limits on tailpipe emissions‚ in an election-year concession to labor unions and automakers‚ sources told the New York Times on Saturday.  Instead of forcing automakers to continue producing more and more EVs to hit near-term targets‚ the administration will relax the rules‚...

The Biden administration is expected to loosen its rules for the country’s switch to electric vehicles (EVs)‚ The New York Times first reported Saturday‚ citing three people familiar with the plan. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) change in its proposed rule would implement less stringent requirements for vehicle pollution in the short term — effectively allowing car manufacturers to have a smaller percentage of their fleet be electric in 2030 than under the Biden administration’s...

Light appeared at the end of the HB 509 tunnel on Friday as the primary sponsor of the bill — which threatened massive damage to the open records law — agreed to re-tool the bill to omit all changes made by the sections redefining “public record.” Articles published in both the Courier Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader announced Rep. John Hodgson’s decision to “revise” and “overhaul” HB 509‚ a bill that‚ among other changes‚ would have excluded a majority of public records under the expansive...

The Biden administration is considering relaxing stringent vehicle emissions rules it proposed last year‚ giving automakers more time to meet requirements that would make them sell more electric vehicles‚ according to two sources familiar with the plan. The Environmental Protection Agency’s vehicle emissions rule is a key plank of President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. Biden has made the transition to EVs a signature issue of his presidency‚ stressing the economic impacts in addition to the...

Going to the gym can be a daunting prospect for a lot of people. It shouldn't be—the whole point of going to the gym is to exercise‚ which is something that should universally be applauded—but sometimes it can feel like there's pressure to be at a certain fitness level or have a certain physique before stepping foot in the door. For people who are heavier‚ gym culture can be especially intimidating. Unfortunately‚ not everyone remembers to practice kindness and fatphobia appears to remain a fairly tolerated prejudice. That shouldn't stop people with big bodies from enjoying all that fitness centers have to offer‚ but all too often‚ it does.It hasn't stopped a woman named Steph from working out regularly at her gym‚ albeit with some trepidation. As she shared in a hugely viral TikTok‚ she's experienced some unkind behavior at the gym that made her nervous when a man approached her recently. But her description of the encounter ultimately demonstrated how powerful a few positive words can be.In a video made from her car just after leaving the gym‚ Steph explained that a "hardcore" gym-goer who is "super tough" and covered in tattoos had came up to talk to her. Her initial response was to be afraid of what he was going to say to her‚ based on previous experience. She shared in the video how hard it's been to stay steady with her workouts‚ especially with medications she's on making her body hold onto weight‚ but she's been working hard to be consistent. She steeled herself for whatever he might say.She didn't expect it to be this: "I've seen you in here every week‚ almost every day. I've seen you in here every week—and I'm proud of you." Nor did she expect that such simple words of encouragement could make such a huge impact.Watch her tell the story: @steph5468 #gymprogress #workputjourney #keepgoing #healingjourney People had a lot to say about the interchange and Steph's emotional response to it."People do not realize‚ how one person can change everything‚" wrote one commenter. "Girl you are CRUSHING IT‚" wrote another. "That man you encountered is what real men do. Encourage. Support. Be human! It isn’t hard! ❤️""No one knows your story‚ your struggles. You're doing the dang thing and that takes courage and strength. You. Keep. Going. I'm proud of you too!" shared another.More and more words of encouragement flooded Steph's comment section‚ and people on Upworthy's Instagram page weighed in as well."I'm a fitness coach and this made me cry 😢 just having someone say they are proud of you can move mountains for so many of us who didn’t/ don’t get the praise growing up‚" wrote one person."Who knows? He may be going through something too and saw a determined‚ consistent‚ fellow traveler‚" wrote another. "You share your Truth so powerfully. You may not know how many people will see this and be encouraged by your honesty. I’m in awe that you show up for YOURSELF every day. And as for the rude and ill-mannered? Well they struggle too—just to be decent kind human beings. Some people have not been shown Empathy and therefore do not know how to use that muscle. You are beautiful‚ smart‚ articulate‚ wise and a woman who knows where she’s headed. Keep walking‚ head up knowing there are many many more who do empathize‚ who see you and are on your side❤️""It’s amazing to think about how this man’s single act of kindness‚ spread through you to affect us all in a positive way‚" shared another. "This made all of our days‚ and I’m crying tears of joy while I write this. Please thank him from all of us the next time you see him‚ if you’re comfortable with that. And thank you for sharing! ❤️" Indeed‚ thanks to both Steph and the hardcore‚ tattooed gym bro for being wonderful examples for us all. We never know what a small act of kindness or a few words of encouragement will do to make someone's life significantly better‚ but it's always worth trying. This article originally appeared on 9.5.23

Even though it’s 2023 and schools are much more concerned with protecting children from bullying than in the past‚ parents still have to be aware that kids will be kids‚ and having a child with a funny name is bound to cause them trouble.A mother on Reddit is concerned that her future children will have the unfortunate last name of “Butt‚” so she asked people on the namenerds forum to help her convince her husband to name their child something different.(Note: We’re assuming that the person who wrote the post is a woman because their husband is interested in perpetuating the family name‚ and if it were a same-sex relationship‚ a husband probably wouldn’t automatically make that assumption.)"My husband’s last name is Butt. Can someone please help me illuminate to him why this last name is less than ideal‚” she asked the forum. “I totally get we can’t shield kids from everything and I understand the whole family ties thing‚ but c'mon. Am I being unreasonable by suggesting our future kid either take my name‚ a hybrid‚ or a new one altogether?"The posters on the forum overwhelmingly supported her."I can see hubby being a bit of a stickler because he wants to keep the family name‚ but I find it a bit baffling that he doesn’t get why it would be a concern‚” Babelight wrote. “If you have to club him over the head with it‚ indicate that for children/young persons hearing the name‚ they would equate it to someone’s last name being ‘Pooh‚’ ‘Vaginah’ or ‘Peenis/Peniss.’”Other posters noted that her opinion is just as valid as her husband’s when naming their child."You are absolutely not being unreasonable. Your husband's last name is objectively pretty awful‚ and of course‚ you don't want your child to have it. Also‚ even if it wasn't that bad‚ you would be still entitled to at least suggest that your child takes your last name since you are also going to be their parent‚” SwordfishBrilliant 40 wrote. “Also‚ he needs to think about his child‚ let's be honest‚ their life is going to be a lot easier with a ‘normal’/not bad’ last name."Having a last name like Butt opens a child up to being bullied‚ which can lead to feelings of rejection‚ exclusion‚ isolation‚ diminished self-esteem and long-term mental health struggles‚ including depression and anxiety."I knew a kid named Zack Butt. Teased relentlessly. At every age‚" Kwam26 confirmed.There is also the practical problem of living in a digital world where algorithms often filter out names deemed offensive. This issue is known as the “Scunthorpe problem.” Back in the late ‘90s‚ people from the town of Scunthorpe in the UK couldn’t sign up on AOL because a filter blocked out the name due to the offensive term that sits in the middle of it.The husband is proud of his family heritage and‚ possibly‚ of having learned to live with a name that would make most people chuckle. But it’s also understandable that his wife has a real problem bringing a child up in this world with a name that will make them the butt of jokes throughout their lives.One wonders why this wasn’t discussed before the couple got married.This article originally appeared on 9.5.23

Hurkle-durkle might be the silliest word ever‚ but it could be the missing step in your self-care.Hurkle-durkling simply means to linger in bed long past the time when you “should” already be up. It’s a Scottish term dating back to the 1800s—-originally having more to do with sitting in a crouching position either for warmth or secrecy‚ but eventually taking on a more relaxed and positive connotation.It’s a word that only the biggest etymology enthusiast would know‚ had it not been plucked from obscurity thanks to TikTok.The viral trend seems to have started with actress Kira Kosarin sharing it as her “word of the day‚” joking that “I do be hurkling‚ and I do be durkling and once I’ve hurkled my last durkle in a given morning I will get up‚ but I’m a big fan of a hurkle-durkle.” @kirakosarin hurkle-durkle‚ u deserve it &;lt3 ♬ original sound - Kira Kosarin Kosarin’s clip prompted others to share videos of themselves enjoying a good hurkle-durkling‚ blissfully wrapped in their sheets‚ basking in the sunlight‚ leisurely reading‚ etc.One woman hailing from Scotland even joked‚ “[The Scottish] knew it was so critical to well-being they made a whole term about it. So no I’m not being lazy or wasting my life. I’m practicing an ancestral right of passage. I’m connecting with my culture and heritage.”At this point you might be thinking‚ wait‚ isn’t this just bed-rotting? Bed-rotting‚ another TikTok trend about lying in bed‚ and hurkle-durkling are similar‚ but have very different contexts. Bed-rotting has more to do with symptoms of burnout and fatigue‚ whereas hurkle-durkling is a bit more hygge‚ if you will. It’s seen as a pleasurable activity meant to promote rest for overall well being. Plus a hurkle-durkle has an end in sight‚ whereas bedrotting can take up an entire weekend‚ or longer. And now matter how silly hurkle-durkle sounds‚ it could be seriously good for us. Research has shown that sleeping in‚ even a couple days a week‚ reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke by 63%‚ especially for folks who get less than 6 hours of sleep through the rest of the week. (So‚ everyone‚ basically). Not only that‚ but getting those few extra minutes of shut-eye from hitting the snooze can help increase alertness and boost our mood.Really‚ as with any self care practice‚ balance is key. Experts warn against staying in bed as an everyday practice or to avoid responsibilities an uncomfortable feelings‚ especially as too much inactivity can worsen feelings of depression. But when done mindfully and moderately‚ it can be the rejuvenation we long for‚ that so many of us don’t grant ourselves. In fact‚ Kristin Wilson‚ a licensed professional counselor and chief experience officer‚ told Yahoo Life that perhaps so many people are leaning into silly‚ catchy terms like hurkle-durkle because they make rest and self-care‚ activities many Americans "are hesitant to celebrate and fully embrace‚” more accessible. "Sometimes our bodies just need a break‚ and we don’t want to feel guilty about taking time to rest‚" she explained. "Giving this behavior a clever social media name can make it feel more socially acceptable and when it trends and becomes popular‚ it normalizes the need for relaxation within the community of followers." So with that‚ show yourself some love with a little hurkle-durkle. It’s fun to say‚ and oh so important to do.

The former Beatle was very impressed by one Sting composition. The post The Sting track Paul McCartney wishes he wrote: “You stole my song!” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.