Latest news with #Marion
NZ Herald
7 days ago
- Science
- NZ Herald
US city sheds light on the cost benefits of municipal mood lighting
The new lights are directed downward and emit warmer light than many LEDs. Compared with the old orange lights, the new lights appear brighter when fully turned up, but shields can be added to the fixtures to curb what is known as 'light trespass'. Robinson said he also plans to dim the new lights between 11pm and 4am, which will save energy and money, and, according to the city, cause less harm to migratory birds, urban wildlife, and humans. Thanks to urbanisation and electrification, light pollution is growing globally by nearly 10% a year, according to a 2023 study. Many areas are over-lit, which wastes energy, obfuscates starry skies and messes with the circadian rhythms of plants, wildlife, and people. Pittsburgh officials had long planned to swap out the city's old streetlights, but for years they didn't have the budget to adopt the types of LED streetlights that other cities were beginning to install. That turned out to be a good thing. The first generation of LED streetlights led to lower costs and energy savings but also heightened exposure to glare and harmful blue light. In 2016, the American Medical Association warned that blue-rich LED streetlights suppressed melatonin and contributed to sleeplessness, poor daytime functioning and obesity, while also disorienting birds, insects, turtles and fish species that need darkness at night. Some research suggests that bright city lights worsen air pollution by hindering night-time chemical reactions that clean the air. The city of Pittsburgh included new streetlights in its 2021 budget and not long afterwards passed an ordinance that follows guidelines from DarkSky International, a non-profit organisation focused on fighting light pollution. One feature of the new lights that complies with DarkSky International's recommendations is a relatively warmer hue. Night-time LED lighting around warehouses and in prison yards often emits bright, cold blue-rich light that can have a colour temperature of 5500 kelvins and up. DarkSky International recommends streetlights with warmer tones and a maximum colour temperature of 3000 kelvins. Pittsburgh's new lights are 2700 on the Kelvin scale. 'We leapfrogged the LED blue-light phase,' Marion said. According to the city, the new lights will last at least four times longer than the ones they're replacing, saving the city nearly US$500,000 in maintenance costs annually. Because it's using less electricity to run the lights, the city estimates it will prevent 12,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. 'It's practical and pragmatic because of its simplicity and its impact,' said Grant Ervin, Pittsburgh's former chief resilience officer. One of the biggest proponents of Pittsburgh's dark-sky lighting ordinance is Diane Turnshek, who teaches astronomy at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. Turnshek, 70, who grew up in New England, remembers easily seeing the Milky Way as a child. The city skyline in Pittsburgh. Photo / Danielle Amy, the New York Times Over time, she grew dismayed by the fact that her astronomy students couldn't readily see dazzling starry skies and that light pollution often wasn't considered an environmental concern. She was determined to raise awareness about the problem and ways to address it and worked with the city of Pittsburgh to pass the ordinance. 'It's such an easy fix,' Turnshek said. 'You turn them off. You use them appropriately. You don't use them when you don't need them. Change is instantaneous and saves you money.' The prospect of dimmer streetlights is often met with public resistance because of the belief that artificial lights increase night-time safety. While people may feel safer with more light at night, that doesn't necessarily correlate with crime statistics, said John Barentine, a consultant and former director of public policy for DarkSky International. US cities and towns often vastly exceed recommended levels of illumination, creating glare that can be blinding, he said. Lower-income neighbourhoods with more people of colour often had brighter lights than more affluent, white neighbourhoods, he said. 'We're arguing in favour of public safety by preserving and enhancing night-time visibility through better lighting design,' Barentine said. 'We're actually doing people a favour by bringing the light levels down, because we're helping the eye to operate most efficiently under night-time conditions. We're aiding vision, rather than taking something away.' Still, there are limits to the benefits. Avalon Owens, a research fellow at the Rowland Institute at Harvard University, said that even warm, dim artificial light is usually too bright for most nocturnal insects, which have eyes that are thousands of times more sensitive than those of humans and are most active a few hours after dusk. Motion-activated lighting is also preferable, she said. But shielding lights from natural areas does reduce some negative impacts on insects and the species that rely on them, Owens said. LEDs also use less power, generating fewer greenhouse-gas emissions, and climate change is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. 'It's a matter of minimising harm,' Owens said. Pittsburgh also has about 3450 LED streetlights with colour temperatures of 4000 kelvins that will be swapped out for the new, warmer versions. The US$15 million project is expected to be completed in 2027. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Cara Buckley Photographs by: Danielle Amy ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Piers Morgan's ex wife 'fighting for her life' following freak accident
Piers Morgan's son Spencer shared an update from hospital Piers Morgan 's wife was left fighting for her life following a freak accident. The former couple's son Spencer posted photos from hospital of himself alongside his mum. Sharing with his followers what happened to his mum, Spencer explained how she had a freak accident several months ago, writes The Mirror. He wrote on Instagram: "Seven months ago our mum was involved in a freak accident which left her fighting for her life… We were told on more than one occasion that there was little hope if any but against all odds she hung on in there and thanks to the two heroic surgeons in the third pic and countless others at @chelwestft she left hospital today after 218 days on the ward.' He went on: "The staff labelled her a minor miracle but they are the miracle workers. My family are eternally grateful for their incredible work. Never give up." However, he didn't explain exactly what happened. In the photos, Marion could be seen in a green dress as she stood in between two of her children, Spencer and Bertie, in a hospital ward. In another she stood between doctors. Spencer also shared the moment that she left hospital to nurses clapping her as she walked through the ward doors. And another snap showed Marion walking out of hospital main doors while using a crutch and having her son at her side. Many of Spencer's followers and friends flocked to the comments to send Marion well wishes. Among those sending their best wishes was Denise Welch, who simply sent five red love heart emojis. Piers' former Good Morning Britain co-presenter Susanna Reid also commented: "The best news," along with a love heart emoji. And George Lineker, son of former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, penned: "Buzzing for you all." Marion and Piers were married between 1991 and 2008. They share sons Albert, Stanley, and Spencer together. After they split, Piers went on to marry Celia Walden and they welcomed daughter Elise in 2011. Despite their split, Piers remained fiercely protective of his ex wife. Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2009, he explained their divorce had been a "pretty horrendous experience". "The day Marion and I got divorced, I said, 'You know what? We can both go away feeling awful about this, but let's never mention it again'," he said. He also admitted his ex had supported his Good Morning Britain exit. And he added of their good terms: "I don't regret it because these things happen, but I'm pleased that we've stayed good friends, because it's important for your kids. "I produced three fantastic children with my ex-wife. The best advice I ever got was to speak to them every day - that's when you need your ex to be very accommodating. "I've spoken to my kids, with just a handful of exceptions, every day in the last nine years." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Piers Morgan's ex wife left 'fighting for her life' after freak accident
The ex-wife of Piers Morgan has been left fighting for her life following a freak accident. Their son Spencer shared images from hospital of himself alongside his mum. Giving followers an insight into what happened, Spencer explained how his mum had a freak accident several months ago. He wrote: "Seven months ago our mum was involved in a freak accident which left her fighting for her life… We were told on more than one occasion that there was little hope if any but against all odds she hung on in there and thanks to the two heroic surgeons in the third pic and countless others at @chelwestft she left hospital today after 218 days on the ward.' He went on: "The staff labelled her a minor miracle but they are the miracle workers. My family are eternally grateful for their incredible work. Never give up." Spencer stopped short of saying what the exact accident had been. In the images, Marion could be seen in a green dress as she stood in between two of her children, Spencer and Bertie, in a hospital ward. In another she stood between doctors. Spencer also captured the moment his mum left hospital to nurses clapping her as she walked through the ward doors. And another snap showed Marion walking out of hospital main doors while using a crutch and having her son at her side. The upload was met with a wave of positivity in the comments section. Among those sending their best wishes was Denise Welch, who simply sent five red love heart emojis. Piers' former Good Morning Britain co-presenter also commented. She wrote: The best news," along with a love heart emoji. And George Lineker, son of former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, penned: "Buzzing for you all." Marion and Piers were married between 1991 and 2008. They share sons Albert, Stanley, and Spencer together. Piers later married Celia Walden. The duo welcomed daughter Elise in 2011.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Take a staycation to this Massachusetts beach town that 'isn't too crowded' Here's where
A survey found that less than half of Americans are planning on traveling for summer vacation this year. The Bankrate 2025 Summer Travel Survey said that 46% are planning traveling, 10% of Americans are choosing to "staycation" close to where they live, with 65% percent of people not planning to travel citing affordability as their reason for not traveling. However, a "staycation" isn't the worst thing in the world, if you live in Massachusetts, especially. Islands, a travel publication that started in 1981, says they've found the perfect Commonwealth town to make some great summer memories. "There's nothing like a fun, coastal Massachusetts getaway to pull you out of your day-to-day routine," Islands said. The publication said this community has the calming atmosphere of a seaside town but without all the overwhelming crowds that occupy other maritime towns to ruin your trip. Here is what Islands had to say about this coastal town. Marion, MA — A 'picturesque hub' Islands named Marion, Massachusetts, as the best place to go if you're looking for a charming small town to relax in and see some wonderful sights. What Islands said about it: "Some must-see places to add to your itinerary include the Bird Island Lighthouse, Marion's historic lighthouse built in 1819 and one of its most iconic landmarks. You can also visit Marion Antiques, Washburn Park, and the Marion Art Center. The iconic lighthouse-sandy beach combo isn't exclusive to Marion, though, so travelers who love the atmosphere and aesthetic can always go on a charming, beachy lighthouse road trip around Cape Cod as well." What restaurants to visit in Marion For places to eat, the publication recommended Brew Fish Bar & Eatery at 210 Spring St. for some tasty seafood and wonderful craft beers. They also recommended Cast Seaside Bites at 7 Cottage St. for cocktails and small plates. "If you're looking for something quicker and cheaper, Kate's Simple Eats is the place to be for some healthier sandwiches and gluten-free wraps, too," Islands said. You can find Kate's Simple Eats at 148 Front St. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@ This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Marion is a MA beach town hyped by Islands that 'isn't too crowded' Solve the daily Crossword
Vogue
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Psst: It's Actually Fine to Have a Little Work Crush
It starts small. Maybe you see them hovering around the coffee machine somewhere north of 8 a.m. The first spark of intrigue comes when you notice the color of their eyes. The second is when they opt for an unusual type of milk. Soon, you notice patterns. How they always jiggle their feet under the desk. The strangely large collection of vintage Ralph Lauren shirts they have on rotation. The way they smile whenever you cross paths, and that one time they actually winked. How you always regret not having something clever and funny to say, and instead simply move your mouth slightly before marching in the other direction. Work crushes are a lot of fun. They're exciting, tantalizsing, and carry the potential to revive or reshape your day. For some, a work crush is the thing that keeps us motivated, helping us get from one task to another and providing kindling to an inner spark that is constantly under threat in a corporate environment. Sure, they're distracting. Especially if you're already partnered up. But don't we all need a few distractions when we're in the depths of our daily grind? Well, the writers of And Just Like That don't seem to think so. In the latest few episodes of the increasingly absurd Sex and the City sequel, Lisa Todd Wexley's office crush Marion is presented as a problem. A big one. He looks at her for too long! He has an unspoken but deeply seductive energy! He eats papaya like it's something else we don't need to specify here! And now, in Episode 8, things have spiraled out of control—in Lisa's mind, at least. 'I had a sex dream about my editor last night; it was very explicit and I woke up very turned on,' Lisa confesses while on a walk with Charlotte. 'Why is this happening? I have a really great sex life with my very sexy husband, so why is Marion ripping my bodice off on a farm?' Charlotte reassures her that because of the bodice and the farm, everything will be just fine—not least because Charlotte herself also has sex dreams about other men sometimes. 'But it has nothing to do with reality because sometimes in those dreams, I have short hair,' she says affirmatively.
