Latest news with #Macdonald
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL head coach rankings: Sean McVay clearly best of NFC West
PFN ranked NFL head coaches. We look at where the four NFC West coaches stack up. NFL training camps begin at the end of next month and the NFL season is still more than two months away, which means we have lots of time to rank players, positions, coaches, and we can create lists and projections. Pro Football Network ranked all 32 head coaches entering 2025. While have seen Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon's overall ranking, how does he compare to the rest of the NFC West? Below are the rankings of the four head coaches in the division. NFL head coach rankings: NFC West Analysis Having McVay and Shanahan as No. 1 and No. 2 make sense. They have both made two Super Bowls, although McVay has a title. McVay has six playoff appearances and four division titles. Shanahan has four playoff appearances and three division titles. The ranking for Macdonald and Gannon are more interesting. Macdonald had a 10-win Seahawks team in his first season. Gannon is 12-22 in two years but has the Cardinals in a much better spot than when he was hired. Macdonald's Seahawks also swept Gannon's Cardinals in 2024, so it makes sense to rank them that way. Can Gannon overtake Macdonald in 2025? That's what we will wait on. The other rankings won't change. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Huge £500million underground tunnels set to connect four UK islands & ‘reverse decades of depopulation'
Councillors to fund study to establish viability of a tunnel system DIGGING DEEP Huge £500million underground tunnels set to connect four UK islands & 'reverse decades of depopulation' PLANS for a £500million underground tunnel service connecting four UK Islands have been taken to the next level. This comes after Shetland councillors agreed to take forward proposals for the construction of tunnels between islands in a move described as 'a significant step.' Advertisement 6 Plans for an underground tunnel service have been taken to the next level Credit: Getty 6 Council leader hopes this will reverse depopulation Credit: Getty 6 Councillors have agreed to fund further research into the viability of a tunnel system Credit: Getty According to The National, a report on the future of Shetland's inter-island transport was presented to councillors for the first time on Wednesday. The report recommended enhanced ferry services for Fetlar, Foula, Papa Stour and Skerries, together with the case for tunnels to Bressay, Unst, Whalsay and Yell. In the wake of the report, councillors have now agreed to fund a study to establish the commercial and financial viability of a tunnel system. Future steps to move the project forward were also discussed. Advertisement The options presented in the report don't come with any cost estimates, with the council emphasising the funding is uncertain. Earlier this year, The Scotsman reported that the tunnels are expected to cost more than £500million Council Leader Emma Macdonald told The National: "Tunnelling in Shetland is, ultimately, about future-proofing our island population. 'Transport connectivity is central to creating sustainable islands which provide good homes and good jobs for our people, and which reverse decades of depopulation.' She added: 'The experience of our neighbours in the Faroe Islands is clear - tunnelling from mainland Shetland to our outer islands could increase their population, lower their average age, and increase their economic prospects.' Advertisement Such tunnels are common in the Faroe Islands and Norway. Ms Macdonald also insisted that they must continue to invest in a reliable ferry service as well. Councillors hope these plans will put a halt to depopulation In reference to Wednesday's meeting Ms Macdonald said: 'This represents a significant step towards the construction of tunnels between our islands.' One of the world's deepest bars to open in London Isles MP Alistair Carmichael expressed his excitement for this project, saying it is now time to deliver on this long-anticipated promise. Advertisement The MP described the tunnels as having the potential to be transformative for Shetland's economy. Mr Carmichael added: 'It has been a long road just to reach this point and there is still a long way to go but I am glad that progress is being made.' He concluded that he is excited to keep up the momentum as he anticipates further talks with UK and Scottish governments. The report was published by a team of consultants appointed by Shetland Islands Council. A team of engineering consultancies COWI, Stantec and Mott Macdonald have been collaborating on the study, and exploring how transport links between islands could be improved over the next 30 years. Advertisement The National also reported that Wednesday saw the discontinuation of any possibility of a Feltar tunnel for the time being. 6 The report was presented on Wednesday Credit: Getty 6 MP Alistair Carmichael, anticipates further talks with the UK and Scottish government Credit: Getty 6 According to the Scotsman, these plans could cost more than £500million Credit: NQ
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
The most expensive musical instrument in the world: This rare viola is now valued at $30 million
In May, Roberto Díaz performed at the US Library of Congress using a rare viola made by Antonio Stradivari in 1690. Called the Tuscan-Medici viola, it is now valued at $30 million, possibly the world's most expensive instrument. Díaz, who leads the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, has played the viola for nearly 15 years. He even recorded a Grammy-winning album with it. Many admire its fine grain and craftsmanship, calling it both simple and deeply beautiful. According to Diaz, the instrument produces an 'incredibly resonant but kind of compact sound'. 'It has a tremendous brilliance to it, and you can hear this. People call it the 'Cremonese spin' inside the sound, which is what makes the sound just kind of travel out into the hall,' the South China Morning Post quoted him as saying. Though he doesn't often think of its price, Diaz calls it 'surreal'. The instrument was recently gifted to the Library of Congress, making its stay permanent after being on loan for years. Díaz showed Curtis board members two violas without telling them which was which. When they heard both, they were surprised. Even without knowing much about music, they could tell the difference in sound. They didn't expect violas to differ so much. Violas are less popular than violins, with fewer concertos and a softer sound. The Tuscan-Medici was made for Grand Prince Ferdinando I de' Medici. It later belonged to Macy's heir Herbert Straus. Later, it was loaned to the Library of Congress by his widow in 1977. Collectors David and Amy Fulton made the gift of the Tuscan-Medici viola possible through a $20 million donation. The previous owners, the Baird family, sold it for less than its market value, giving up $10 million as an in-kind donation. Together, their contributions will help preserve the viola and allow it to be played publicly forever. Only around 10 of Stradivari's violas are known to exist. It makes them rarer and more valuable than his violins. Experts say the Tuscan-Medici is especially prized because it has been actively played and maintained. It will remain at the library, available for top musicians to perform with or take on tour. The most expensive string instrument ever sold at auction is the 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius violin, bought for $15.9 million in 2011. Though a Stradivarius viola called the 'Macdonald' was offered for $45 million in 2014, no buyer came forward.
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Mayor Adams launches re-election campaign, accuses Mamdani of antisemitism
All times eastern The Evening Edit with Elizabeth Macdonald FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Happy Birthday to Mike Macdonald!
We at Seahawks Wire wanted to acknowledge and wish Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald a Happy Birthday! On this day 38 years ago, Macdonald entered this world. Now, he is entering his second season as head coach for the Seahawks. It is almost impossible for the 12th Man to feel anything but optimism for the overall direction of the Seahawks with Macdonald at the helm. In his first year, he showed why Seattle waited until the Baltimore Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs to be able to hire him as their ninth head coach in franchise history. Macdonald was hired to finally fix the lackluster Seahawks defense, and by the second half of his rookie campaign, they were among the best in the league. Seattle finished 10-7, their first double-digit win season since 2020, and barely missed out on winning the NFC West due to the 5th tiebreaker. Now, Macdonald (along with general manager John Schneider) has helped to remake the Seahawks in his image. We at Seahawks Wire hope Macdonald and his family are enjoying this special day, wherever they may be!
