Following Clooney's criticism, Bari Weiss invites him to "visit The CBS Broadcast Center" where she is "spending the holidays" to "relaunch the Evening News" (Pat Saperstein/Variety)
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/bari-
Series A, Episode 13 - Orac
TRAVIS: Right. [They go down some steps into a tunnel. Travis looks around.]
SERVALAN: Travis!
TRAVIS: Huh?
SERVALAN: It's this way. [They walk through wet tunnels, there are loud breathing sounds in the background.]
https://blake.torpidity.net/m/113/94<…
From Translink
Westham Island Bridge Repair Update
🧵1/9
TransLink is moving urgently to restore the Westham Island Bridge following a marine vessel strike on January 20. Engineering inspections have confirmed significant structural damage and, while repairs are complex, work is starting to minimize disruptions and safely reopen the bridge to vehicles as soon as possible.
Detailed inspections show that Pier 5, one of the bridge’s primary support structures, was severely…
„Nach einem Bericht der „Bild"–Zeitung ist für Weimer aber nicht nur die Preisverleihung ein Problem. Die 56-jährige Tuttle habe mit der Filmcrew eine Woche zuvor bereits mit Palästinenserfahne und -tüchern posiert.“
Ah ja. Und?
https://www.de…
Wat leuk, mijn video op het Amsterdams Buurtfilmfestival 2026. Op dat tweedaagse evenement zijn buurtgebonden documentaires, fictie, animatie en kunstfilm te zien.
Mijn video is AdamTok®, want kort en opgenomen met de telefoon. Onderwerp: optreden dansgroep van mijn geliefde voor Amsterdam 750 op de Nieuwmarkt. Eenmalig op het filmdoek OBA Oosterdok, 14 februari in Filmcocktail 2 (15 tot 16.30 uur). Kaartjes op https://abff.nl/abff2026/ ook voor al die andere fraaie films van Amsterdammers.
A minimal wake-vortex model explains formation flight of flapping birds
Olivia Pomerenk, Kenneth S. Breuer
https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.22043 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2602.22043 https://arxiv.org/html/2602.22043
arXiv:2602.22043v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Collective patterns of motion emerge across biological taxa: insects swarm, fish school, and birds flock. In particular, large migratory birds form strikingly ordered V-shaped formations, which experiments and direct numerical simulations have demonstrated provide substantial energetic benefits during long-distance flight. However, the precise aerodynamic and morphological mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unclear. In this work, we develop a reduced-order model of the wake-vortex interactions between two flapping birds flying in tandem. The model retains essential unsteady flapping dynamics while remaining computationally tractable. By optimizing over a six-dimensional state space, which comprises the follower's three-dimensional relative position and three independent flapping parameters, we identify the energetically optimal leader-follower configuration of northern bald ibises. The predicted optimum agrees quantitatively with live-bird measurements. Because of its simplicity, the model allows for direct interrogation of the physical mechanisms responsible for this optimum. In particular, it isolates precisely how the follower's wing kinematics interact with the leader's wake to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The model predicts an 11% reduction in total mechanical power for a follower in formation flight -- consistent with experimental estimates -- and shows that this saving arises from reductions in both induced and profile power, dominated by decreased profile power enabled primarily through reduced flapping amplitude and, secondarily, reduced upstroke flexion. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the structure of V-formations and offer new insight into the aerodynamic principles governing collective flight.
toXiv_bot_toot
Today's alarm in the Radisson Blu Hotel will just be a DRILL!
Der heutige Alarm im Radisson Blu Hotel ist nur eine ÜBUNG!
#radissonbluhotel #39c3
From Translink
Westham Island Bridge Repair Update
January 22, 2026
Delta, BC – Earlier this week, a marine vessel hit the Westham Island Bridge, causing damage that required the bridge to be closed to vehicle traffic. TransLink owns and maintains the bridge, and crews moved quickly to assess the damage and pursue the fastest possible repair.
TransLink has now received an updated assessment from our structural engineer following today’s inspection work.
Series C, Episode 07 - Children of Auron
AVON: So. Those little monsters give us a breather.
TARRANT: Not that it'll do us much good without bracelets to get us up to the Liberator.
https://blake.torpidity.net/m/307/535 B7B4