'I’m gonna do my job as best I can'

By keyboardist Oliver Wakeman’s own admission‚ being the son of Yes’s legendary keyboardist‚ Rick Wakeman‚ doesn’t hurt. Famous bloodline aside‚ though‚ Oliver has set forth on his own journey‚ releasing a ton of outstanding solo work and‚ like his dad‚ holding down duties with Yes from 2008 to 2011. Yes aside‚ Oliver Wakeman has been a member of Strawbs and has collaborated with boatloads of fantastic artists over the years. But most recently‚ he’s been at it as a solo artist again‚ with his latest record‚ Adam Cara‚ due in May 2024. Be it as a solo artist or in The post An Interview With Oliver Wakeman‚ Formerly Of Yes appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Book Recommendations short fiction Eight More Short Fantasy Stories With Happy Endings From Death’s mechanic to questing knights‚ dragon-slayers to evil queens‚ everybody loves an upbeat ending&;#33; By Ratika Deshpande | Published on April 23‚ 2024 Photo by Fiona Murray [via Unsplash] Comment 0 Share New Share Photo by Fiona Murray [via Unsplash] There’s never a bad time to read more stories with happy endings. Here are some recent favourites that brightened my day… “Pale Horsepower” by Cara Masten DiGirolamo When Death comes to your shop to get her car repaired‚ don’t ask her for payment. But what if you do demand payment…and Death asks you what you’d prefer&;#63; Stories featuring Death are usually grim‚ but this one’s got a very clever‚ happy ending. A fun read. “The Only Way Out” by Louise Hughes Annie takes people who want a fresh start to the middle of a dark bridge. Once they cross it‚ her customers’ existence is erased from everyone’s minds‚ giving them a second chance to start things over. It’s often a difficult‚ desperate choice‚ but Annie is here to support them. Tonight‚ though‚ she might have to do something she’s never done before—and discover that there are different ways of getting a new start.  “Memoirs of a One-Time Dragon-Slayer’s Apprentice” by George Nikolopoulos On a Wednesday‚ a dragon-slayer arrives at Ilaria’s village and takes the little orphan as an apprentice. Together‚ they go after dragons‚ collecting them for the dragon-slayer’s master. Ilaria doesn’t like this work‚ and she’s not afraid to question it‚ even though it was a dragon that killed her mother and she now has the opportunity to avenge her. Both Master and apprentice have a lot to learn—how to slay dragons‚ yes‚ but also how to question‚ and how to love. Nikolopoulos’s story reads a bit like a Studio Ghibli movie‚ and I‚ for one‚ cannot have enough of those. “Always Be Prepared” by Ophelia Leong This is the first time Petra‚ a young Knight‚ is out on a quest alone. The people don’t pay attention to her as she boards a train with a manuscript in her backpack‚ but Petra knows she must always be prepared for anything—even being attacked by another Knight in public. Can she make use of her skills‚ live up to her master’s training‚ and prove herself a worthy Knight&;#63; I loved Leong’s concept of knights roaming modern cities and have been keeping an eye out while riding the metro across New Delhi. You never know where your next quest might come from… “The Ransom of Miss Coraline Connelly” by Alix E. Harrow Queen Jaref the Third‚ Empress of the Black Realms‚ has kidnapped little Coraline. All she wants as ransom is nine years of her parent/guardian’s life. Except‚ no one from Coraline’s family seems to be concerned. Queen Jaref’s letters receive no response‚ even after she reduces her demands. What can she do now&;#63; What kind of bargain can she make&;#63;  “Elizabeth’s Pirate Army” by Caroline M. Yoachim No sooner had summer vacation started than a kraken showed up on Edgewood Street. Jimmy is building a pirate army to fight it and Elizabeth knows enough magic to help. But the boys are determined to do it all on their own‚ so Elizabeth decides to take matters in her hands—and so she starts her own army.  “Galaxy Girl and the November Monstrosity” by Aleksandra Hill Sometimes‚ even being a superhero isn’t enough to please your family. Jessie knows that all too well. But it’s Thanksgiving. Can she finally convince her family that her talents are worthy of appreciation&;#63;  “A Box for Buttons‚ Tips and Rose Petal Jam” by Natalia Matolinets (Translated from Ukrainian by Hanna Leliv) Vyshnia’s tip box always has a trick for everyone who tips‚ giving them what they really need. The alchemist who has started frequenting her cafe‚ however‚ does not intend to pay extra. He’s too occupied turning a large stone into gold to prove his skills. Vyshnia hopes for the best for her patrons‚ but the alchemist proves to be an exceptional case. What can she do&;#63; And will her efforts make a difference&;#63; This is one of the best cozy fantasy stories I’ve found since I set out to read more of them. A wonderful tale best enjoyed with a warm drink (and perhaps some rose petal jam). [end-mark] The post Eight More Short Fantasy Stories With Happy Endings appeared first on Reactor.

Even as Americans grow increasingly pessimistic and agitated about their personal finances‚ Congress is about to ask struggling families to cover the cost of more funding for Ukraine. The $95 billion foreign aid package adopted Saturday by the House and facing near-certain passage in the Senate includes an additional $61 billion for Ukraine. Once added to the money already appropriated for Ukraine since 2022‚ the United States will have spent approximately $173 billion. That translates to more than $1‚300 per American household‚ according to Heritage Foundation economist Richard Stern‚ director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. Well over $1‚300 in new inflation taxes per American household&;#33; https://t.co/YNKpu8OA58— Richard A. Stern (@RichAStern) April 21‚ 2024 “This will continue to drive higher inflation and interest rates and increase the cost of living for Americans‚” Stern told The Daily Signal. “No matter where you live‚ every American family will pay the price.” Stern explained that the funding isn’t offset with spending cuts and will instead be added to “the national credit card and by printing cash out of thin air at the Fed.” He warned that it will devalue the U.S. dollar as well as the paychecks and life savings of all Americans. After three years of Bidenomics‚ Americans are feeling exasperated about the economy‚ pollster Scott Rasmussen discovered in an RMG Research survey conducted earlier this month. Only 19% of Americans surveyed say their personal finances are improving. That number has dropped five percentage points since January and is at its lowest point in 18 months. Nearly half‚ 44%‚ say their personal finances are getting worse. Inflation‚ caused by excessive government spending‚ is a significant factor in Americans’ economic outlook‚ according to Rasmussen’s survey. More than three-quarters of Americans‚ 76%‚ say their wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. By comparison‚ just 20% believe their incomes are keeping pace. That number is at its lowest level since September 2022. Heritage Action for America Executive Vice President Ryan Walker lamented that Washington politicians appear disconnected from the economic struggles of many Americans. Speaking to “The Daily Signal Podcast‚” Walker said Congress’ latest spending spree will negatively affect Americans’ personal finances. (Heritage Action is a partner organization of The Heritage Foundation‚ which founded The Daily Signal in 2014.) “The American people see it at the grocery store‚ they see it on their credit card bills‚ they see it in their mortgage rates‚ they see it in their credit card rates. They experience this on a daily basis‚” Walker said. “Many people in Washington‚ D.C.‚ may be so disconnected from the struggles of the average person in their community that they don’t take those factors into consideration. And they should.” While frustration mounts among everyday Americans‚ lawmakers in Washington will soon have spent more on foreign aid to Ukraine than the annual wages paid to every American manufacturing worker who produces motor vehicles‚ vehicle parts‚ and other transportation equipment. It’s also more than the annual wages paid to every American worker in all agriculture‚ mining‚ and oil and gas extraction industries‚ Stern calculated. With the Senate set to approve $61 billion more for Ukraine—along with $34 billion for Israel and the Indo-Pacific—lawmakers have made no attempt to offset the additional spending. On its own‚ the $95 billion package would cost $730 per household. Another $730 per household in brand NEW inflation taxes are set to hit once the “aid package” becomes law &;#63;&;#63;&;#63;&;#63; Never forget‚ the government has a monopoly on legal violence and doesn’t have any reason to care about your quality of life.— Richard A. Stern (@RichAStern) April 20‚ 2024 “Every time the federal government spends money‚ it forcefully takes that money from hard-working Americans‚” Stern explained. “Even if you don’t pay federal income taxes‚ you still pay through inflation taxes and slower overall economic growth.” The consequences of profligate spending aren’t just reflected in the national debt‚ already at $34.6 trillion and growing at a record pace. Stern noted that high interest rates for mortgages‚ for example‚ force some Americans out of the housing market or make it more costly for others to buy a home. When the government borrows money this way‚ driving interest rates higher‚ it does so by promising to tax someone else or print more money in the future‚ Stern said. As the government is now planning to lift yet another $95 billion out of the economy‚ the storm clouds are gathering. Mortgage rates jumped 0.2 percentage points in just a week. Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon and other leading bankers see mortgage rates climbing to about 8% with credit card debt already at record levels. “Never forget‚” Stern said‚ “the government has a monopoly on legal violence and doesn’t have any reason to care about your quality of life.” Rasmussen’s poll was conducted by RMG Research from April 3-4. It surveyed 1‚000 registered voters and has a plus or minus 3.1 percentage point margin of error. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‚ pictured Thursday in Kyiv‚ celebrated the House’s passage of $61 billion in funding for his country. (Photo: Kay Nietfeld/Getty Images) The post How Much Are You Paying for Ukraine Aid&;#63; Economist Crunches the Numbers appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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When you think “cells” you generally also think “microscopic”‚ but sometimes evolution likes to take things in a different direction. It’s hard to believe from looking at it‚ but this green alga‚ Caulerpa taxifolia is an organism composed of one single cell – the biggest one on the planet.Also known by the sinister moniker “killer alga”‚ these feathery green fronds are native to warm tropical waters in areas like the Caribbean coast‚ the Gulf of Guinea‚ and the northern Indian Ocean. Its vibrant color attracted aquarium owners who wanted to use it as a tank decoration‚ but that’s also where the problems began.It’s now considered an invasive species after an especially hardy and fast-growing strain – known as the aquarium strain – was accidentally leaked into the Mediterranean near Monaco in the 1980s. Exposure to ultraviolet light and chemical stressors had led to the genetic alterations responsible for its rapid growth.Since then‚ it has expanded its range far across the seabed‚ where it causes huge harm to native marine life. Not only does it outcompete other algae and seagrasses for food and light‚ many native fish aren’t able to safely consume it. C. taxifolia was also discovered off the coast of southern California in 2000‚ and it took a concerted effort from authorities over six years to eradicate it from the area. Invasive C. taxifolia‚ collected off France's Mediterranean coast.Image credit: anaxvp via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0)As well as being able to grow quickly and withstand cooler waters‚ the aquarium strain of C. taxifolia can achieve impressive sizes‚ with primary fronds sometimes reaching as far as 60-80 centimeters (24-31 inches) in the depths. And yet‚ it is still a single-celled organism. How is this possible&;#63;It’s all down to some very elegant organization. C. taxifolia‚ along with other similar siphonous algae‚ is an example of a coenocytic organism. Coenocytes contain multiple nuclei within their single cell‚ because nuclear division can take place without the accompanying formation of a new cell wall.  As the authors of a 2015 study explained‚ C. taxifolia gets around this lack of walled-off internal compartments by segregating groups of nuclei into chambers within its body. They discovered that gene transcripts related to different cellular functions were localized to specific regions within the massive cell‚ called “pseudo-organs”. The killer alga is not the only peculiar underwater resident that takes advantage of this arrangement. Check out the intriguing Ventricaria ventricosa‚ also known as bubble algae‚ sea grapes‚ or sailor’s eyeballs.Repeat after us: I must not eat the delicious green orb.Image credit: Haplochromis via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)Like C. taxifolia‚ V. ventricosa is coenocytic. Each one of those forbidden boba pearls is a single cell that you could hold in your hand (not that we recommend disturbing nature‚ as a rule)‚ but with lots of nuclei contained inside. Reaching diameters of up to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches)‚ it can’t quite compete with C. taxifolia for world’s largest single-celled organism‚ but it would certainly win an “algae masquerading as fruit” costume contest. So‚ that’s something. 

Imagine having fun in the bedroom‚ then one wrong move and the person with the penis may be crying out in pain rather than pleasure. Numerous injuries can occur during sexual activity and – one that is cringe-worthy is the snapping of the banjo string.What is a banjo string&;#63;The banjo string is another term for the penis frenulum. A frenulum is a small fold of connective tissue‚ and all people have one under the tongue and under the upper lip. They are also present on the genitals – specifically‚ on the clitoris‚ labia minora‚ and penis.What causes the frenulum to break&;#63;While the frenulum on the penis can be resilient‚ sometimes it can tear. Almost half of all cases of torn frenulum occur when people are having enthusiastic hanky panky. However‚ this injury can occur with any forceful motion of the foreskin‚ and this includes accidental injuries and vigorous masturbation sessions.Most people who get this injury know about it pretty quickly‚ as there can be a lot of pain and bleeding from the area (as you can imagine‚ a lot of blood is probably there if the person is… excited). The bleeding can often be stemmed by applying direct pressure on the area and a cold compress.What to do when your penis frenulum breaks&;#63;Often when these injuries occur‚ no medical intervention is needed‚ as the tissue can heal itself over time.While healing it is recommended that the person avoids sexual intercourse or masturbation‚ avoid any oil-based lube (water-based is preferred)‚ and not put on any condoms until the healing has finished as this can cause friction.Once healed‚ the scar tissue could be more rigid than it was before. If the tear does not heal‚ appears severe‚ or looks to be infected‚ then you should visit a doctor.What happens if there is recurrent tearing&;#63;Despite taking the recommended recovery period‚ some people may find that tearing is a regular occurrence.There are a few things that may be recommended by a medical practitioner:Frenuloplasty (this surgical procedure increases the length of the frenulum‚ which will ultimately reduce the risk of tearing)Frenectomy (this surgical procedure removes the frenulum)Circumcision (this surgical procedure removes the foreskin)  Stretching exercisesSteroids or creams to help stretch the frenulum over timeWhile tearing of the frenulum can appear terrifying‚ as it can resemble a scene out of Carrie‚ it is important to stay calm as once the bleeding has stopped – the injury often heals itself. If you are concerned at all‚ always visit your medical practitioner.  The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.