Richard Linklater: ‘I’ve always had that French new wave notion – that a film should be an extension of your life’

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The American director Richard Linklater has one of the great, eclectic film-making CVs: from classics such as Dazed and Confused to School of Rock, Before Sunrise to Boyhood, which was filmed with the same cast over 12 years. That versatility is seen again in his latest movie, Hit Man, released earlier this year to critical and audience acclaim and now on Netflix. A rare foray for him into the comedy-thriller genre, it tells the trueish story of a nondescript college professor (an excellent Glen Powell) who has a side hustle as an undercover operative for the New Orleans police, pretending to be different hitmen in order to illicit arrests. Next year he releases Nouvelle Vague, shot entirely in French. Linklater is 64 and lives in Austin, Texas.There’s a line early on in your latest film: “Hitmen don’t really exist.” You mean that they are, essentially, an invention of Hollywood films. Were you surprised by this fact?No, I’m completely amused and thrilled by it. I’ve known this for 25-plus years: hitmen are like snuff films, they don’t really exist. There’s not one record of a hitman being arrested. This is a myth, but one people believe so thoroughly because of pop culture – movies and TV mostly. [A hitman] is just a great character and we love the idea of them too much – even though shouldn’t we be relieved that there aren’t any?View image in fullscreenIsn’t there the one famous exception, that Woody Harrelson’s dad was a hitman?Well, he was in a mob. He wasn’t just a lone gun. There are mob killings all the time. There are drug-cartel killings. What we’re saying isn’t real is the retail hitman: “I don’t know you. You don’t know me. I’m a lone killer.” That’s the thing that makes no sense. I’ve watched surveillance videos of someone handing someone $2,000 to kill somebody. You think that person believes this person is risking the death penalty in a state like Texas for premeditated murder for $2,000? It’s crazy!What’s another example of a character or trope beloved of films that just doesn’t exist in real life?Oh well, every western ever made. Films are a great place for myths: Dirty Harry, most cops, things with law and crime, To Kill a Mockingbird, or these perfect people like in some Frank Capra movie.When people recognise you, is there a film of yours they often want to talk about? You must get all ages and films now…I’m appreciating that, the older I get. I’ll meet people who say: “Oh, my kids love School of Rock.” Or Dazed and Confused. And I’ve made enough of them now, maybe there’s something for everybody at this point. I don’t know, I’ll take it!Is there any genre you wouldn’t touch?People are like: “Will you ever make a horror movie?” Or: “Will you ever make a big action film?” I don’t know. If I don’t believe certain things, or it doesn’t interest me that much… but never say never. Making a thriller like this probably wasn’t on my dance card, but I was trying to tell this story. And I love being taken in a direction where you have to deliver something you haven’t quite done before.View image in fullscreenWhen young film-makers ask you for advice, how do you feel?Besides sad for them?Would your career not be possible now?I got the last whiff of the old studio system that’s long gone, where they would take a chance on a younger director and say: “We like your script, here’s $6m, go make a movie.” That’s just not what happens now. So I guess I’ve been lucky, and I didn’t want much. Just wanted to make my next film. I didn’t really have much ambition beyond that.With a film like Boyhood, where the production ran over many years, are you always confident it will come together?I’ve always had that French new wave notion that a film should just be an extension of your life. So I was no more confident that that would work out as I was my own life would work out, you know? And it’s like, hey, an asteroid could smash into our planet any second. You could get hit by a bus. But those things usually don’t happen.You are filming an adaptation of the Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along with a cast including Paul Mescal and Ben Platt. That – like the timeline in the musical – is going to be shot over 20 years, completing in around 2040. That’s quite a commitment…Yeah, well, there’s a certain level of actor, Ben Platt, Paul Mescal, you don’t have to say: “Are you going to be acting in 20 years’ time?” That’s who they are. It goes without saying. Boyhood was kind of floating in the breeze of my own ideas of life and everything. But with this one, we’ve got such a strong score and we’ve got a great partner in [the late] Stephen Sondheim. So we rally around him.You’ve just finished shooting a movie called Nouvelle Vague, which recreates the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 film Breathless. It’s shot in French – where does that rate as a challenge?The most fun challenge of all time. I can’t explain how happy I am with that crazy film, I love it so much. I always said, every film-maker should make one film about making a film, and this is in the spirit of one of my favourite little moments in film history.Merrily We Roll Along will take you to at least 80. Will you always make films?I don’t know what would prevent that. Even bodily, it’s a physically demanding thing, but I have a picture on my wall of John Huston making [the 1987 film] The Dead. He’s sitting in a chair hooked up with an oxygen mask making his last film and I go: “That looks pretty good!” I’m not even a smoker, so maybe I won’t need the oxygen mask. To be in my 80s or let’s go for 90s… but who the hell knows? I have a lot of other interests, but it’s been a fun way to process the world.

Hit Man is on Netflix now

Richard Linklater: ‘I’ve always had that French new wave notion – that a film should be an extension of your life’

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The American director Richard Linklater has one of the great, eclectic film-making CVs: from classics such as Dazed and Confused to School of Rock, Before Sunrise to Boyhood, which was filmed with the same cast over 12 years. That versatility is seen again in his latest movie, Hit Man, released earlier this year to critical and audience acclaim and now on Netflix. A rare foray for him into the comedy-thriller genre, it tells the trueish story of a nondescript college professor (an excellent Glen Powell) who has a side hustle as an undercover operative for the New Orleans police, pretending to be different hitmen in order to illicit arrests. Next year he releases Nouvelle Vague, shot entirely in French. Linklater is 64 and lives in Austin, Texas.There’s a line early on in your latest film: “Hitmen don’t really exist.” You mean that they are, essentially, an invention of Hollywood films. Were you surprised by this fact?No, I’m completely amused and thrilled by it. I’ve known this for 25-plus years: hitmen are like snuff films, they don’t really exist. There’s not one record of a hitman being arrested. This is a myth, but one people believe so thoroughly because of pop culture – movies and TV mostly. [A hitman] is just a great character and we love the idea of them too much – even though shouldn’t we be relieved that there aren’t any?View image in fullscreenIsn’t there the one famous exception, that Woody Harrelson’s dad was a hitman?Well, he was in a mob. He wasn’t just a lone gun. There are mob killings all the time. There are drug-cartel killings. What we’re saying isn’t real is the retail hitman: “I don’t know you. You don’t know me. I’m a lone killer.” That’s the thing that makes no sense. I’ve watched surveillance videos of someone handing someone $2,000 to kill somebody. You think that person believes this person is risking the death penalty in a state like Texas for premeditated murder for $2,000? It’s crazy!What’s another example of a character or trope beloved of films that just doesn’t exist in real life?Oh well, every western ever made. Films are a great place for myths: Dirty Harry, most cops, things with law and crime, To Kill a Mockingbird, or these perfect people like in some Frank Capra movie.When people recognise you, is there a film of yours they often want to talk about? You must get all ages and films now…I’m appreciating that, the older I get. I’ll meet people who say: “Oh, my kids love School of Rock.” Or Dazed and Confused. And I’ve made enough of them now, maybe there’s something for everybody at this point. I don’t know, I’ll take it!Is there any genre you wouldn’t touch?People are like: “Will you ever make a horror movie?” Or: “Will you ever make a big action film?” I don’t know. If I don’t believe certain things, or it doesn’t interest me that much… but never say never. Making a thriller like this probably wasn’t on my dance card, but I was trying to tell this story. And I love being taken in a direction where you have to deliver something you haven’t quite done before.View image in fullscreenWhen young film-makers ask you for advice, how do you feel?Besides sad for them?Would your career not be possible now?I got the last whiff of the old studio system that’s long gone, where they would take a chance on a younger director and say: “We like your script, here’s $6m, go make a movie.” That’s just not what happens now. So I guess I’ve been lucky, and I didn’t want much. Just wanted to make my next film. I didn’t really have much ambition beyond that.With a film like Boyhood, where the production ran over many years, are you always confident it will come together?I’ve always had that French new wave notion that a film should just be an extension of your life. So I was no more confident that that would work out as I was my own life would work out, you know? And it’s like, hey, an asteroid could smash into our planet any second. You could get hit by a bus. But those things usually don’t happen.You are filming an adaptation of the Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along with a cast including Paul Mescal and Ben Platt. That – like the timeline in the musical – is going to be shot over 20 years, completing in around 2040. That’s quite a commitment…Yeah, well, there’s a certain level of actor, Ben Platt, Paul Mescal, you don’t have to say: “Are you going to be acting in 20 years’ time?” That’s who they are. It goes without saying. Boyhood was kind of floating in the breeze of my own ideas of life and everything. But with this one, we’ve got such a strong score and we’ve got a great partner in [the late] Stephen Sondheim. So we rally around him.You’ve just finished shooting a movie called Nouvelle Vague, which recreates the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 film Breathless. It’s shot in French – where does that rate as a challenge?The most fun challenge of all time. I can’t explain how happy I am with that crazy film, I love it so much. I always said, every film-maker should make one film about making a film, and this is in the spirit of one of my favourite little moments in film history.Merrily We Roll Along will take you to at least 80. Will you always make films?I don’t know what would prevent that. Even bodily, it’s a physically demanding thing, but I have a picture on my wall of John Huston making [the 1987 film] The Dead. He’s sitting in a chair hooked up with an oxygen mask making his last film and I go: “That looks pretty good!” I’m not even a smoker, so maybe I won’t need the oxygen mask. To be in my 80s or let’s go for 90s… but who the hell knows? I have a lot of other interests, but it’s been a fun way to process the world.

Hit Man is on Netflix now

‘Quiet travel’ is having a moment; here are top US spots where you can embrace the trend

Travel

“Quiet travel” has been trending among vacationers this year as more Americans disconnect from technology and choose to prioritize rest, relaxation and connecting with nature.Whether you head to a big city and see its softer side or spend endless hours lazing in the serenity of the mountains, here are the best destinations in the U.S. for quiet travel. Waterville, Maine  Waterville has become the picture of “quiet travel” with plenty of options to fully rejuvenate. (Courtesy of Colby College )Waterville, Maine, is perched along the Kennebec River with nature aplenty. NEW TRAVEL TREND HAS AMERICANS CHASING FOUNTAIN OF YOUTHSet up shop at Lockwood Hotel, which recently unveiled a fly fishing package, “Maine River Retreat,” so you can bliss out with a half-day guided expedition and meals from the hotel’s restaurant, Front & Main, which focuses on seasonal and local ingredients. Feeling sufficiently rejuvenated from your time on the water, take an easygoing hike on the Quarry Road Trails or amble around the Colby College Museum of Art, a quiet sanctuary for American and contemporary works.Lake Forest, Illinois Get away from the big city and enjoy some quiet time at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Ill. (Deer Path Inn)Relaxation in the Chicagoland area awaits in Lake Forest, a bucolic city of some 20,000 residents nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan. The transition to a slower pace is seamless from the moment you step into the Deer Path Inn, complete with Tudor-inspired rooms that are said to be tranquil. In your digs, up the quiet travel ante by digging into a surprise book from the Lake Forest Book Store with the inn’s “A Good Book and Spot of Tea” evening offering. RESERVATIONS FOR ELECTION WEEK GETAWAY SELL OUT IN SECONDS AS ‘UNPLUGGED’ TRAVEL SPOT OFFERS STEAL OF A DEALBy day, spend your time walking beside the gently lapping waters of Lake Forest Beach, just a few minutes away from the hotel or head to the Chicago Botanic Garden.Cocoa Beach, Florida Escape the rush of Orlando and consider enjoying the scenic views of Cocoa Beach in Florida. (Space Coast Office of Tourism)In Cocoa Beach, you’re less than an hour away from Orlando, but you may feel planets away from the hectic rush of theme park land. Dubbed the “Space Coast” for NASA’s presence with the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center, the region spans some 72 miles of beaches on the Atlantic. Consider booking an evening kayaking tour on the waters of Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and Indian River Lagoon (June through October).’HUSH VACATIONS’ TREND AS REMOTE WORKERS SLIP OFF FOR TRAVEL GETAWAYS WITHOUT TELLING THE BOSSOr marvel at species of plants and animals that call the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge home as you ride the soul-soothing lull of being in nature.Boise, Idaho Do leisure the right way in Boise, Idaho, with outdoor activities that will help you enjoy the quiet. (Chad Case)Start your time in the Gem State by pumping your calves along the Boise River Greenbelt, a 25-mile pathway along the river, where you can walk, bike or bird watch.If weather allows, just off the Greenbelt is Quinn’s Pond, a beloved local haunt for stand-up paddleboarding.’SLEEP DIVORCE’ ON VACATION: TRAVEL TREND HAS COUPLES ‘BREAKING UP’ AT BEDTIMEFor R&R, try the deep-soaking tub or on your private balcony at The Avery, before contemplating what you want to do next in Treasure Valley. Some ideas are hiking the typically crowds-free Stack Rock Trail, a 9.5-mile round-trip route near Bogus Basin or unwinding with vineyard vistas and laid-back seats along the Sunnyslope Wine Trail.Brewster, Massachusetts  From the beach to the trails, there are plenty of ways to find peace when you visit Brewster, Mass. (Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club)In Cape Cod, life typically moves a bit slower.If you start your trip in Brewster, you can check out Breakwater Beach or the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History or take a bike ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail. NO. 1 REASON TRAVELERS ARE DISAPPOINTED ON VACATION: BLOGGERConsider checking into Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club and lean more into your quiet travel desires by enjoying a solo stroll on the resort’s private Bay Pines Beach or partaking in Vinyasa yoga, a massage at the spa or floating sound baths at the indoor heated pool. Some low-key travelers with a penchant for shopping may also enjoy hopping into nearby antique galleries and vintage shops during their time on the Cape. Beaufort, South Carolina   There are all sorts of sights and historic scenes to take in when you check out Beaufort, S.C. (Visit Beaufort, Port Royal & the Sea Islands)This small town on South Carolina’s Sea Islands, roughly 70 miles south of Charleston and 40 miles north of Savannah, brims with Spanish moss-lined streets, storybook historic homes and the ocean breeze. You could start your day from a swinging bench at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park as you watch the boats enter the marina and end it with a sunset kayak tour with Coastal Expeditions. ‘SCREAM TOURISM’ TREND HAS HALLOWEEN FANS AND TRAVELERS FLOCKING TO CREEPY SPOTS ALL YEAR ROUNDIn between, walk around the historic Point neighborhood to gape at the 18th- and 19th-century homes or one on the half-mile walking trail at Cypress Wetlands. Better yet, do both, and cap off your quiet vacation with a glass of wine on the third-floor patio at Anchorage 1770 as you behold cinematic views of the Beaufort River.Shandaken, New York   Whether you want to get in a good stretch during a yoga class or check out the fall foliage on a hike, Shandaken, N.Y., is a place worth visiting if you are looking to find some solitude. (Urban Cowboy Lodge)Harried New Yorkers and other globetrotters can look forward to finding salvation in the hamlet of Big Indian at Urban Cowboy Lodge. Situated on 68 acres in the Big Indian Wilderness inside the 700,000-acre Catskills Park, the property’s Unplug & Play program has guests swapping their phones for a Polaroid camera upon check-in. US TO EXPECT 90 MILLION VISITORS BY 2026 WITH RECORD-BREAKING VISAS APPROVEDFrom there, it’s time to do whatever TLC strikes your fancy, whether it’s sweating away your worries in the hand-built Estonian sauna or taking a dip in the Esopus Creek. There’s also getting your downward dog on in a yoga class, seeing what’s in store for your future in a tarot card reading or hiking any of the surrounding trails like Giant Ledge and Panther Mountain Trail or Balsam Mountain.Billings, Montana Spend some time in the great outdoors on your bike, walking around or even on horseback while on a trip to Billings, Mont. (Visit Billings)Montana is all about spending time in the great outdoors, and Billings, whether explored via horseback, bike or by foot, is one outdoorsy spot you could check out.In Coulson Park, you can learn about the fascinating history of a town established on the “wrong side of the tracks.” Listed on the National Register of Historic Places is another worthy quiet travel destination in the ghost town of Coulson.TRAVEL AND TOURISM TO BREAK RECORDS, BRING OVER $11 TRILLION IN 2024: REPORTIf you want more of a history fix, swing by the Yellowstone County Museum, which houses more than 15,000 artifacts in a pioneer log cabin.Or pair fresh mountain air with brews, ciders and wine along the Billings Brew Trail, a walkable route through the historic downtown. Count sheep at The Northern Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from the Yellowstone Art Museum, or the Western Heritage Center and Rock Creek Soaps, which is a cool soap shop in town.If you crave peace and quiet on America’s great open roads, cruise along Beartooth Highway, just 60 miles from downtown Billings.Welches, Oregon There is no wrong time to visit Welches, Ore., but finding solace during the winter splendor is encouraged by tourists. (Courtesy of Mt. Hood Village Resort)Located in the Mount Hood National Forest, Welches and the surrounding area boast 700-plus groomed hiking trails, rock climbing sites and opportunities for bird watching. In the winter, experienced skiers will likely enjoy night skiing at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl. Meanwhile, fishermen can get their fill at numerous lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in the Mount Hood National Forest area, including Salmon River. For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyleEven if you’re not an angler, the Salmon River Trailhead is also a favorite for hikers.When you’re ready to get cozy, there are perhaps no better spots in the region to do that than Mt. Hood Village RV Resort or Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, both in Welches. The latter features abodes equipped with a kitchenette, full bathroom and porch. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERAlexandria, Virginia Find relaxation just outside of the busy D.C. metro area in Arlington, Va. (Hotel AKA Alexandria)Swap the cosmopolitan energy of D.C. for its more relaxed neighbor across the Virginia state line. You can stroll around the designated historic district along the Potomac River waterfront, popping into various boutiques and museums as you desire. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPOld Town Alexandria’s King Street Mile, comprised of brick-lined streets, artisan shops and a canopy of twinkling lights, is particularly alluring for those who want to wander around with no set itinerary or ambitions. Consider a stay at the Hotel AKA Alexandria, which is described on TripAdvisor as having a “serene atmosphere.” to curl up with a good book at the end of your day. 

Towson business owner speaks out after getting assaulted in front of his restaurant

Business News

At the Kerb Restaurant in the heart of downtown Towson, Masaud Atharis is hopeful justice is served for the suspects who assaulted him in front of his restaurant a week ago.“While I’m trying to you know, get ahold of them, he finished his business and as I’m turning, he punches me in the face,” Atharis stated.Seconds later, the other joins in and when Masaud Atharis tries fighting the men off, that’s when it became life or death.“Once he got the chance to get free to run away, I tried to chase him. That was the time he pulled the gun out and he was like do you want one,” he said.This incident left him battered and bruised. This brazen crime is just the latest incident in the Towson area.According to the latest data from Baltimore County, 360 assaults have been reported in the area of Atharis’ restaurant.

Rawalpindi traders express concern over Sunday’s protests as business continues to suffer

Business News

RAWALPINDI: Despite placement of containers on main arteries between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Saturday remained normal in the garrison city. However, uncertainty prevailed in the downtown and cantonment areas ahead of the protest on Sunday.A senior official of the local administration told Dawn that placing containers at some entry points of the city was a preventive measures to avoid any untoward situation.
He said that there was no new container brought to block the roads. He said police pickets had already been established and had been asked to stay vigilant to avoid any untoward situation.
“We opened the shops on Saturday but there were less customers in the bazaar. If the roads are closed in and around Raja Bazaar then shops will also remain closed otherwise, we will open the shops as per routine,” said Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha while talking to Dawn.
He said that mostly people were facing price hike and had no time to be part of the such activities in the city.

He said the business community held routine business in the city and the mostly people were busy in their work instead of taking part in political shows.
“We suffered a lot during the last few months and it was not possible for us to allow any more wheel jams and protests,” he said.
“Traders are against protests and rallies in the city as they affected their business. We already asked the government to allocate a space for protesters so that they do not disturb the routine business in the markets,” he said.
Although Sunday is a weekly off in Saddar area, Cantonment Traders Association General Secretary Zafar Qadri said shopkeepers had decided to open the shops on Sunday as they had suffered a lot due to recent past developments in politics in the last few months. He said that customers were already avoiding coming to Saddar due to closure of Bank Road for vehicles for the last two weeks.
Mr Qadri said the RCB had started work on turning Bank Road into a pedestrian street and this had affected the business of the shopkeepers.
“Now, the protest will further ruin business activities in the garrison city. The government should not close roads and the opposition should not stage any protest in the bazaars,” he said.
Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024

The growing role of ‘citizen scientists’

Science and Health

Science is not just for lab coats and microscopes anymore. In fact, one of the most exciting trends in modern research is the growing role of ‘citizen scientists’ – ordinary people like you and me contributing to extraordinary discoveries.
From cataloguing stars to tracking wildlife and even monitoring pollution, citizen science is proving to be a vital tool in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.
So, what is citizen science? Simply put, its scientific research conducted with the help of non-professional volunteers.
This can involve gathering data, analysing results, or even just observing and reporting on the natural world. Thanks to the rise of smartphones and internet connectivity, it is now easier than ever to get involved in science, no matter your age, background or expertise.
Take stargazing, for instance. Projects like NASA’s Citizen Science Projects or the Zooniverse platform have recruited amateur astronomers to identify stars, galaxies and even potential exoplanets. These platforms have enabled thousands of people to assist professional scientists in analysing data that would otherwise take decades to process.
But it is not all about space. On Earth, citizen science is making waves in wildlife conservation. Apps like iNaturalist and eBird let users record sightings of plants and animals in their local environment. These observations help researchers track biodiversity, study migration patterns and monitor endangered species. For example, data from eBird has been instrumental in understanding the effects of climate change on bird populations worldwide.
Citizen science also plays a critical role in addressing environmental issues
Citizen science also plays a critical role in addressing environmental issues. In Malta, volunteers have participated in beach clean-ups while collecting data on plastic pollution for global research projects. Others have contributed to monitoring air and water quality, giving scientists valuable insights into local environmental health.
The beauty of citizen science lies in its inclusivity. You do not need a degree in biology or a telescope worth thousands of euros to make a difference. All you need is curiosity, commitment and access to a smartphone or computer. Whether you are a retired teacher, a high school student or a stay-at-home parent, there is a citizen science project for you.
The impact of citizen science goes beyond just collecting data. It democratises knowledge, bridging the gap between experts and the public. It fosters a sense of community and shared purpose, reminding us that science is a collective endeavour. It also encourages public engagement in scientific issues, helping to inform better policies on climate change, urban planning and public health.
Citizen science has already led to remarkable achievements. In 2017, amateur astronomers helped pinpoint a previously unknown type of aurora, now called ‘Steve’. In 2020, a group of citizen scientists discovered a rare comet visible from Earth. Even during the pandemic, people around the world contributed to COVID-19 research by sharing health data through apps and platforms.
As we face complex global challenges, from biodiversity loss to climate change, the need for citizen science is greater than ever. By participating, you are not just helping scientists –you are helping build a better future for everyone.
So, why not join the movement? Look up at the stars, record a bird’s song or take a walk on the beach with purpose. Science needs you, and your contributions might just change the world.
Mohamed Daoud is a public engagement expert.
Sound Bites
•         A research team has developed an algorithm that analyses observational data from a plant identification app. The novel approach can be used to derive ecological patterns that could provide valuable information about the effects of climate change on plants.
•         What influences how Maltese citizens engage with science? A recent study delves into ‘science capital’ – the factors shaping people’s interest and participation in science activities. While 80% of respondents expressed a love for science, younger adults (18–24) were the most active attendees at events, while older age groups lagged behind.
For more soundbites, click on www.facebook.com/Radio MochaMalta.
DID YOU KNOW?
•         Malta’s citizen science roots: One of Malta’s earliest citizen science projects began in 1909, following the 1908 Messina earthquake. Local students recorded observations of the resulting tsunami, including wave heights at Msida Creek, providing valuable data for understanding rare natural disasters.
•         Migratory bird monitoring: Malta is a key stopover for migratory birds. Citizen scientists contribute to bird monitoring projects, providing vital data on species passing through the islands.
•         Plant conservation: Local volunteers support the identification and preservation of Malta’s native flora, including rare plants like the Maltese rock-centaury, a national symbol.
•         Dark sky observations: Maltese stargazers participate in light-pollution-mapping projects to help preserve the islands’ remaining dark sky areas for astronomy.
•         Heritage mapping: Citizen archaeologists in Malta contribute to identifying and documenting prehistoric sites, including lesser-known megalithic temples and cart ruts.
•         Water quality monitoring: Citizen-led initiatives in Malta collect data on seawater quality, aiding researchers in tracking pollution and protecting marine habitats.
For more trivia, see: www.um.edu.mt/think.
 

Advance Auto Parts is closing hundreds of stores in an effort to turn its business around

Business News

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The Associated PressNEW YORK — Advance Auto Parts is closing more than 500 stores and shedding another 200 independent locations as part of its efforts to revive its struggling business.North Carolina-based Advance Auto said Thursday that it would be reducing its U.S. footprint as part of a “strategic plan to improve business performance.” The company said it is shuttering a total of 523 of its Advance corporate stores, as well as four distribution centers, and exiting 204 independent locations by the middle of next year.Advance Auto Parts currently has stores in Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Sunbury, Coal Township, Mount Carmel, Bloomsburg, Montoursville and Williamsport.Specific locations and the number of employees expected to be impacted was not immediately disclosed. A spokesperson for Advance Auto declined to comment further.Advance Auto still outlined some wider turnaround efforts in Thursday’s announcement.

Scientists decode brain activity that can help treat anxiety and depression

Science and Health

New York, November 24 (IANS): A team of scientists has uncovered newer parts of the brain, that support social interactions, and are connected to and in constant communication with the ancient amygdala region — a discovery which can help treat psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression.In a new study by Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine in the US and published in the journal Science Advances, scientists sought to better understand how humans evolved to become so skilled at thinking about what’s happening in other peoples’ minds.“We spend a lot of time wondering, ‘What is that person feeling, thinking? Did I say something to upset them?’” said senior author Rodrigo Braga.The parts of the brain that allow us to do this are in regions of the human brain that have expanded recently in our evolution, and that implies that it’s a recently developed process.“In essence, you’re putting yourself in someone else’s mind and making inferences about what that person is thinking when you cannot really know,” Braga added.The study found the more recently evolved and advanced parts of the human brain that support social interactions — called the social cognitive network — are connected to and in constant communication with an ancient part of the brain called the amygdala.Often referred to as our “lizard brain,” the amygdala typically is associated with detecting threats and processing fear.“The amygdala is responsible for social behaviours like parenting, mating, aggression and the navigation of social-dominance hierarchies,” said Braga, adding that previous studies have found co-activation of the amygdala and social cognitive network, but “our study is novel because it shows the communication is always happening.”Within the amygdala, there’s a specific part called the medial nucleus that is very important for social behaviours.This study was the first to show the amygdala’s medial nucleus is connected to newly evolved social cognitive network regions, which are involved in thinking about other people.This link to the amygdala helps shape the function of the social cognitive network by giving it access to the amygdala’s role in processing emotionally important content, said scientists.Both anxiety and depression involve amygdala hyperactivity, which can contribute to excessive emotional responses and impaired emotional regulation.With this study’s findings, a much less-invasive procedure, trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), might be able to use knowledge about this brain connection to improve treatment, the authors said.