It may seem paradoxical, but political stability is a prerequisite for the change we need to transition our economy to one that is environmentally sustainable. The beating heart of America’s economic wealth and power is the politically stable system of law that we Americans take for granted. Investors around the world know that a dollar loaned to the United States or invested in American corporations will not disappear or be stolen by a corrupt, lawless regime. Last week, we saw both the fragility and the resilience of our political system. Its stability was attacked by an aspiring autocrat and his deluded followers as they ransacked the U.S. Capitol building. Its resilience was demonstrated as determined legislators worked all night to complete the certification of the duly elected President of the United States.

Source: Political Stability and Environmental Sustainability

What to expect from your first class:

• There will be people with more experience, so you may feel more comfortable setting up at the back of the room.
• Get to class early. You will want to be able to pick out the best spot to put down your map. 10 minutes early is a good rule of thumb, unless it is a popular class, then even consider arriving 15-20 minutes early (you can ask about typical class turn out when you register).
• It may be appropriate to take off your shoes and socks before you enter the room.
• Don’t forget to breathe. Sometimes people are concentrating, especially on something new, they hold their breath.
• Follow the instructor to the best of your ability. Focus on what they are saying, but don’t worry too much if you are not able to go as deeply into the pose as others around you.
• The final pose is called Savasana, or corpse pose. You really are expected to lie there quietly on your back and focus on your breathing. Do not disturb the rest of the class by leaving at this time.
• Namaste – Means “I honor you.” It is often said at the end of class.

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The Canadian government says it will back an international moratorium against efforts to open up the deep sea to mining after a Vancouver-based company sparked a process to regulate the industry.

The announcement, made Monday by three senior cabinet ministers, comes nearly five months after Canada declared an “effective moratorium” on deep sea mining in domestic waters and ahead of three weeks of negotiations in Kingston, Jamaica, where delegates from around the world are hashing out the future of the industry.

Federal fisheries minister Joyce Murray said the decision to back the moratorium was due to a lack of a strong regulatory regime and a poor understanding of the comprehensive impacts seabed mining will have on the environment.

“The protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ocean ecosystems is essential to all life on earth,” said federal fisheries minister Joyce Murray in a statement.

Two years ago, The Metals Company partnered with the Pacific island nation of Nauru to submit an application to mine an abyssal plain several kilometres below the ocean’s surface between Hawaii and Mexico. That triggered a two-year countdown in which the International Seabed Authority (ISA) — the little-known United Nations body — was required to write the rules of the road for deep sea mining.

The ISA negotiations, which began Monday, could lead to an opening up of seabed mining as early as this year.​

“On substance, Canada is not saying anything new,” said a spokesperson for The Metals Company. “On theatrics, these statements are orchestrated by NGOs who work hard to pin new countries to their ‘rising wave’ picture. They don’t change much what happens on the ground in Kingston.”

The spokesperson added that it is the company’s “strong preference” to submit an application for a mining licence once the regulations are in place. First, the company said it hopes to “set a high bar for this industry” by completing a “high quality comprehensive, science-driven environmental and social impact assessment” on the impact of collecting the nodules.

Source: Times Colonist

The fastest internet network in the US just got a bit faster. The Energy Sciences Network (Esnet) has been upgraded to ESnet6, boasting a blistering bandwidth of 46 Terabits per second (Tbps). But don’t warm up your downloading fingers just yet – it’s strictly scientists only.The original ESnet was established in 1986 to help connect scientists at various Department of Energy (DOE) labs around the US, allowing them to quickly share huge amounts of raw data. In the decades since, it’s had many upgrades to keep pace with the advances in technology and the sheer amount of data generated by scientific experiments. In 2021, a staggering 1.1 exabytes of data was transmitted over the network.

Source: World’s fastest internet network upgraded to staggering 46 Terabit/s

One of the most comprehensive studies on biodiversity loss found 48% of Earth’s animal species are declining, and just 3% are increasing.

Source: Nearly Half of Earth’s Animal Species Are in Decline, Study Finds – EcoWatch

Indigo lost $50 million in its last fiscal year as its highly publicized cybersecurity incident walloped what was otherwise a profitable year, the book retailer said Wednesday.

The TSX-listed company posted financial results on Wednesday for the most recent quarter and full financial year up to April 1.

They showed that the book retailer posted revenue of $1.058 billion last year, a decline of $4.6 million, or 0.4 percent, from the previous year’s level. The previous year’s revenues were boosted by a one-time renegotiation of financial terms with one of the cafés that operate inside its stores, to the tune of $17 million.

In terms of core merchandise sales, the number grew by $4.6 million, or 0.5 percent, to $1.015 billion, compared with $1.010 billion in the prior year.

But a bad year-ago comparison was far from the company’s biggest problem. In February, Indigo was hit by a massive cyberattack that rendered its stores unable to process debit or credit card transactions for several days and wiped out online sales for almost a month.

“This had a material impact on sales and profitability in the fourth quarter and fiscal year,” the company said.

The 5 Most Common Ph.D. Held by American Billionaires: Report

Here’s what some of the most wealthy Americans studied before they became successful.

By JUSTIN RAY 

Boston Globe via Getty Images

The story of the young entrepreneur who dropped out of college to earned millions is a well-worn myth in the tech world. It’s so ubiquitous that sometimes it’s easy to forget that education is actually a very important factor in determining how much wealth a person can accrue over a lifetime. 

Forbes has been tracking the habits of the richest people in the world, uncovering the factors that lead high earners to the upper-most reaches of the tax bracket. Education, it turns out, matters. The publication has compiled a list of the most common Ph. Ds held by American billionaires on its real-time ranking system. While formal education isn’t the sole determinant of anyone’s earning potential, some of the country’s wealthiest show that an investment in post-graduate education—especially in the sciences—can pay lifelong dividends. Here is a list of the top five Ph. Ds held by American billionaires, according to the report.

1. Engineering

Engineering is an interdisciplinary study that uses math, science as well as business acumen to solve problems, according to U.S. News & World Report. Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google studied electrical engineering and computer science for his doctorate in 1982, Forbes reported.

2. Computer Science

Computer science is the study of how to develop computer systems that more adequately meet the needs of people, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Billionaire Charles Simonyi, an early Microsoft employee who helped create Word and Excel programs, has a Ph.D. in computer science.

2. Biology (Tie)

Biology is the study of functions and characteristics of living things; studies in the field often prepare people for careers in health or environmental disciplines, according to U.S. News & World Report. Patrick Hanrahan, the cofounder of software firm Tableau, has a doctorate in the field.  

4. Chemistry

If you want to understand the world of atoms, molecules, solids, and processes that govern how compounds change states, a Ph.D. is a discipline for you, according to MIT. Frank Laukien, CEO of scientific instruments maker Bruker Corp., has a chemical physics doctorate. 

5. Physics

Physics is the study of the laws that govern the motion of matter, making it one of the fundamental disciplines of all sciences, according to Yale. Fisk Johnson III obtained a Ph.D. in physics before becoming chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, a company that manufactures household cleaning products.

Say Hello to Vampire Bill, aka Bilbo, William, and Billiam. For years I want a dog but could not seem to take the leap to get one. One day I was at a pet store near my workplace and there in the kennel was a little ball of fluff. He was about the size of a guinea pig and jet black. I loved him from the moment I saw him but I was not sure if it was the right time. So I left the store without him. On the way home from work that night I was telling my husband all about the little puppy that stole my heart. He told me to turn the car around and go get the dog. I did just that and the rest as they say is history.

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A freelance writer covering topics like how to support yourself, how to find pet and tech-friendly rentals, how to save on travel/expenses, how to keep your pet safe and occupied when you’re busy, and how to communicate effectively with clients/customers.

Jessica Brody Ourbestfriends.pet