The unimportant news thread

[Kalevala]

Actually it's nearer completion than I thought -

In March 2024, an updated forecast reconfirmed a likely completion of the building in 2026, though the announcement stated that work on sculptures, decorative details and a controversial stairway leading to the main entrance is expected to continue until 2034. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Família

Sorry to read that some of his original plans were burned.

K

[Kalevala]

Some interesting news:  How beer sludge is being turned into new products rather than just ending up as waste.   

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250206-how-brewers-spent-grain-is-being-turned-into-vegan-barley-milk-leather-and-cakes

K

[Number Six]

Apparently, it's National Bat Day. If you look at videos of bats upside down, it's like a goth party.

[T. D.]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-18/macron-seeks-to-attract-researchers-to-france-in-jab-at-us

"Here in France, research is a priority, innovation is a culture, and science is a boundless horizon. Researchers from around the world, choose France, choose Europe!" Macron said on X on Friday, hours after he hosted US State Secretary Marco Rubio and Trump's envoy Steven Witkoff to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and trade.

Macron added that he would provide more details on the initiative on May 5th. His education minister Elisabeth Borne said in a separate statement that the international context was pushing scientists to relocate — without explicitly mentioning the US.

[Florestan]

RIP Pope Francis (17.12.1936 - 21.04.2025). May God bless his soul.

[drogulus]

[AnotherSpin]

Supporters of the Kremlin khan are naturally drawn to one another.

[Florestan]

Supporters of the Kremlin khan are naturally drawn to one another.

Indeed.

[LKB]

So AI can now win an Oscar:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx4y1lrz2vo

" But the Academy said it would still consider human involvement when selecting its winners. "

How generous of them.

[JBS]

Indeed.

He did make some statements that were not so supportive of Ukraine, to say the least.

But let us remember that the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility includes limits, and lots of things popes say and do are not within those limits.

[SimonNZ]

So AI can now win an Oscar:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx4y1lrz2vo

" But the Academy said it would still consider human involvement when selecting its winners. "

How generous of them.

I hadn't heard this bit before:

"The use of AI in film became a hot topic after Adrian Brody took home the award for Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist at this year's Oscars ceremony in March.

The movie used generative AI to improve the actor's accent when he spoke Hungarian."

Yeah, that should be points deducted when assessing the quality of the "acting".

[AnotherSpin]

He did make some statements that were not so supportive of Ukraine, to say the least.

But let us remember that the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility includes limits, and lots of things popes say and do are not within those limits.

I'm not in a position to judge the Pope's actions — nor do I intend to. But I rather imagine that, at this moment, he's answerable at a higher level — one quite beyond the reach of Putin's money.

[Florestan]

He did make some statements that were not so supportive of Ukraine, to say the least.

But let us remember that the Catholic doctrine of papal infallibility includes limits, and lots of things popes say and do are not within those limits.

Contrary to what many people believe, papal infallibilty does not mean that everything a pope says is absolutely true. Nor does it mean a Pope cannot sin. It applies only to formal, official doctrines of faith and morals. After its official formulation in 1870 it was accepted as valid in only two instances.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

BBC: Earl Grey tea bread crowned Britain's best loaf.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wllmr27no

[Kalevala]

BBC: Earl Grey tea bread crowned Britain's best loaf.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wllmr27no

It sounds quite tasty!  And I'll have to remember that Derbyshire = good bread. 

K

[DavidW]

BBC: Earl Grey tea bread crowned Britain's best loaf.

I like that one, but if I saw the matcha loaf, I would throw it out because I would presume the bread was spoiled!

I can't help but think about how shocked Brits are when they come to the US and have grocery store bread due to all the added sugars. Hey, we just want our bread to last for weeks or months like nature intended. /s 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I like that one, but if I saw the matcha loaf, I would throw it out because I would presume the bread was spoiled!

I can't help but think about how shocked Brits are when they come to the US and have grocery store bread due to all the added sugars. Hey, we just want our bread to last for weeks or months like nature intended. /s 

Maybe depending upon generation.

[Kalevala]

I like that one, but if I saw the matcha loaf, I would throw it out because I would presume the bread was spoiled!

I can't help but think about how shocked Brits are when they come to the US and have grocery store bread due to all the added sugars. Hey, we just want our bread to last for weeks or months like nature intended. /s 

Well, I'm happy that I live in an area where there are a number of good bread (and more) bakers (including wood-fired).  A number of these bakers also deliver to local grocery stores (and co-ops) as well as often having their own stores and/or eateries.  I used to bake bread when I was younger (It's been a while).  For general sandwich bread, I often buy a loaf of Killer Dave's (multi grains and seeds).

As an aside, as good as that winning tea bread sounded, it did seem like it would be quite sweet (lemon curd was one of the ingredients).  I do realize that tea bread (as far as I know) is normally on the sweeter side.

K

[LKB]

Personally relevant, as l had family imprisoned there.

https://bbc.com/news/articles/cx2v31plmkxo

[DavidW]

Well, I'm happy that I live in an area where there are a number of good bread (and more) bakers (including wood-fired).  A number of these bakers also deliver to local grocery stores (and co-ops) as well as often having their own stores and/or eateries.  I used to bake bread when I was younger (It's been a while).  For general sandwich bread, I often buy a loaf of Killer Dave's (multi grains and seeds).

As an aside, as good as that winning tea bread sounded, it did seem like it would be quite sweet (lemon curd was one of the ingredients).  I do realize that tea bread (as far as I know) is normally on the sweeter side.

K

Yeah, I like Killer Dave's bread as well. There is a bakery in town that makes a mean sourdough bread. I remember when I was a child, my Mother loved this bread we would buy in the store called Sheepherder's bread. We would have a slice with butter as desert, which is funny!