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Wales wants to punish lying politicians – how would it work? - Article 

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Wales wants to punish lying politicians – how would it work? - Article 

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Elected politicians and candidates in Wales who deliberately lie could face serious consequences, including being removed from office, under proposals aimed at restoring trust in politics.

The Senedd's (Welsh parliament) standards of conduct committee has recommended legally defining political deception, and strengthening existing rules to explicitly ban misleading statements. Proposed potential penalties range from a formal retraction to suspension or, in extreme cases, recall by voters.

But the committee stopped short of recommending that deliberate deception be made a criminal offence. The idea that politicians who lie could be investigated by the police and courts had previously been mooted. The option of a civil offence with a lower burden of proof being introduced was also rejected.

The committee has been working on the proposals as a way of restoring faith in politics, and trust in politicians, in the lead up to the next Senedd elections in 2026. While the report sets out options for change, the Welsh government has already promised to introduce a legal ban (in some form) before the next election.

These efforts see Wales become the first UK nation to attempt to tackle the problem of dwindling trust in politics by modern day legislative force.

Those championing the changes refer to how the deliberate rise in campaigns of misinformation, by those of all political persuasions, have in some instances led to electoral victories overseas.

The need to act is also reflected in the public's perception. Surveys have consistently found that trust in politicians to tell the truth has declined. A survey in 2023 placed politicians as the least trusted profession in the UK. Just 9% of the public said they trusted elected officials to tell the truth.

More recently, findings from the British social attitudes report in 2024 revealed that the public is as critical now of how the UK is governed as it has ever been. A record high of 45% of respondents said they now "almost never" trust governments of any party to place the needs of the nation above the interests of their own political party.

Restoring trust

The Senedd committee had considered three different options for restoring trust.

First, to create a criminal offence of deception. Second, to use an existing investigative body such as the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, and to bring in a civil sanction such as a fine. And third, to strengthen the code of conduct for Senedd members with enhanced sanctions. In other words, it would be dealt with through the Senedd's own disciplinary procedures.

To a certain degree there are some mechanisms already in place for dealing with deception in Welsh politics. For example, politicians are already expected to adhere to the seven principles of public life, which include honesty and integrity.

Generally speaking, opposition Senedd members will hold the Welsh government to account by questioning and scrutinising their work. It is also possible to stage votes of no confidence as an accountability mechanism.

Although as seen in the case of former first minister Vaughan Gething, it is questionable as to the extent to which they can be enforced. Gething initially refused to step down after losing such a vote.

The electorate also has an important role to play in holding politicians to account. Ultimately an untrustworthy politician should, in theory at least, be unlikely to win any election. But Senedd elections only take place every five years.

The standards of conduct committee already has the power to review complaints referred to it. It also has responsibility for reviewing the code of conduct for members of the Senedd, guidance on the code and complaints procedures, and rules for lobbying.

Part of the perceived problem with this is that the committee is made up of Senedd members and are, therefore, responsible for setting the rules for themselves. Or alternatively, as Plaid Cymru MS Adam Price (who has campaigned on this issue for many years) put it, it's like marking your own homework. The committee's report offers a potential of recommending appointing lay members to sit alongside them.

Some may be concerned about the practical complexities of disqualifying candidates and Senedd members, and where that may, in turn, leave democracy and democratic processes. If sanctions were to be introduced, questions could also be raised about the potential for vexatious complaints to discredit electoral candidates.

Read more: Wales could become world's first country to criminalise politicians who lie

In respect of making "deception" a criminal offence, concerns may have been raised about the constitutional principle of separation of powers, and whether it should truly be for unelected judges to take decisions about the democratically elected arm of the state. Or whether that could lead to the politicisation of the judiciary.

While, research had found that more than two-thirds of Welsh voters supported a law criminalising political lying, judicial adjudication for serving Senedd members has been ruled out. The report also details concerns from the legal professions that existing resource pressures on the courts would have lead to long disputes, rather than the swift resolutions.

But in reality, we are talking about strengthening safeguards for maintaining standards in public offices. In particular addressing deliberate mistruths by politicians to secure deceitful advantages during an election.

In that sense, the new legislation is essentially bringing the political profession in line with others such as lawyers, doctors, journalistic and financial institutions, by having clearer repercussions when they lie and fail to maintain professional standards.

Given the need for something to change in order to restore trust, and the extensive powers that politicians have to affect the lives of citizens, it is clear why Wales is trying a different approach towards restoring trust.

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Wales wants to punish lying politicians - how would it work?

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Politicians in Wales who deliberately mislead the public could face suspension or even recall under proposals aimed at restoring trust in politics.

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It feels like we are living in busy times.

According to the OECD Better Life Index, 12.5% of Australians report working at least 50 hours a week, higher than the OECD average. Many Australians are also working more than one job to buffer against cost-of-living pressures.

Psychology has long been interested in our goals - our mental representations of desirable outcomes. Much of this research is on how we form, pursue and attain goals, plus how goals make us feel. Across studies, we see a consistent pattern of successful goal pursuit and wellbeing. So, having time to work toward our goals is important.

With this in mind, what is the best way to get things done - and how can we get better at achieving our goals, especially when we feel time poor?

Make a list

Most of us approach multiple goals with the age-old "to-do" list. First, you write down everything you need to do. Then you "check" or tick things off as you do them.

One reason to-do lists are useful is because we are more likely to remember things we haven't completed, rather than things we have. This is known as the Zeigarnik effect.

While to-do lists are easy to write, they don't always work. There are however various approaches for to-do lists that may improve their effectiveness.

Another thing to consider is the wide range of apps, tools and platforms that can make tasks more fun and outsource mental load. Adding elements of game play like point scoring or competition - called " gamification" - can help people work toward goals in educational and work settings. Similarly, app-based reminders can help people reach physical rehabilitation goals and form good exercise habits.

Finding your why

Researchers have focused a lot on the psychology of why people pursue goals - and how this affects their approach to tasks.

For example, some people want to complete a university degree because they want to get a job. Others may be more interested in developing skills or knowledge. In both cases, there is a desired outcome - albeit with differing reasons.

Our goals can be differentiated by who or what is driving them. Goals that feel like our own, and for which we experience a sense of intrinsic motivation, are known as "self-concordant". These goals represent enduring personal interests, are aligned with values and are positively linked to wellbeing.

Goal orientation theory offers a similar perspective. Using the same example, you may study so you score well on a test (a performance goal) or because you want to be sure you develop your knowledge (a mastery goal). Mastery goals tend to lead to better results and self-regulation.

Juggling goals - 4 to-do tips

So, what happens when we have multiple - perhaps even competing - goals, or goals that aren't so enjoyable? We might want to finish writing a report or assignment, then read a few chapters of a textbook - but also go to the gym and binge a few episodes of our favourite TV show.

In such scenarios, psychological science offers some insights into how we might stay task-focused, and on track to tick more items off our to-do list.

1. Beware the planning fallacy. This happens when we underestimate the amount of resources (such as time) it will take to reach a goal. As writer and religious thinker William Penn put it: "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst". Think through the all the steps and time required to complete your goal.

2. Monitor your progress. Incorporating goal monitoring into an activity can boost progress. And reviewing your estimations and expectations against your actual times and achievements can be used to calculate a " fudge ratio " to aid future planning. For instance, you could multiply your expected time on tasks by 1.5 to help buffer against the planning fallacy.

3. Focus on mastery. Self-concordant goals and tasks feel easier, and their underlying tasks may be less subject to forgetting. Tedious but necessary goals (such as doing the dishes or filling out forms) are less intrinsically motivating. This means planning, reminders and support become more important to goal progress.

4. Plan for derailments. People vary in their ability to plan and might forget to take a goal-directed action at an appropriate time (this could be one reason the average Australian streams 27 hours of video each week). Implementation intentions bring our attention back toward our goals by linking them to an environmental marker. These simple "if-then" plans are shown to help overcome issues with self-regulation. Such a statement might be "if I see the 'next episode' icon appear, I will get up and turn off the TV so I can read a chapter of my textbook".

With time being frustratingly finite, it is inevitable we will run out of time to do all of the things on our to-do list. Finding an approach that works for us will take time and effort. But it's probably a worthy goal in itself.

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To-do list got you down? Understanding the psychology of goals can help tick things off - and keep you on track

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One reason to-do lists are useful is because we are more likely to remember things we haven't completed yet.

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Short Story - A Fathers Story by Andre Dubus

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Short Story - A Fathers Story by Andre Dubus

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Short Story - The Other Woman by Sherwood Anderson

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Short Story - The Other Woman by Sherwood Anderson

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A man insists he is in love with his wife and not in love with the other woman he spent a memorable night with, and whom he cannot stop thinking about.

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Short Story - The Little Room By Madeline Yale Wynn

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Short Story - The Little Room By Madeline Yale Wynn

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Short Story - Uncle Auguste by Andrew Allen

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Short Story - Uncle Auguste by Andrew Allen

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Uncle Auguste by Andrew Allen GO BACK TO SHORT STORIES PAGE No one seemed to know exactly who Uncle Auguste was. There certainly hadn’t been any members of the family by that name. Sarah’s grandmother, who’d been less than two years old in 1916 when the portrait had come from France, had always laughed when […]

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Short Story - Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Short Story - Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson

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This Web site is dedicated to the wonderful world of the short story and to all who enjoy reading shorts stories as I do. I will try to add a few short stories every month.

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The UK must make big changes to its diets - Article 

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The UK must make big changes to its diets - Article 

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The UK must make big changes to its diets, farming and land use to hit net zero – official climate advisers

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Numbers of cows and sheep will have to fall by a third, with their farms replaced by huge areas of new woodland.

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A Visit form St. Nicholas - Short Story 

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A Visit form St. Nicholas - Short Story 

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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too-

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

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A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore | Poetry Foundation

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'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

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"Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor” by John Cheever - Short Story

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"Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor” by John Cheever - Short Story

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“Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor,” by John Cheever

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“His face was blazing. He loved the world, and the world loved him.”

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“A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote - Short Story 

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“A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote - Short Story 

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Becoming a Spelling Bee Champ - Article 

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Becoming a Spelling Bee Champ - Article 

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What it takes to become a spelling bee champ

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The road to becoming a champion speller is made easier with support from family and friends, but ultimately it depends on an individual student’s commitment to learning, a scholar writes.

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A story about father-son relationships by Holden Schmale, ‘Acquaintances’ follows a man reconsidering his idea of independence.

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"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry - Short Story 

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"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry - Short Story 

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The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

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Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate toIt’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where…

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Quantum Mechanics: Key Concepts - Article 

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Quantum Mechanics: Key Concepts - Article 

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Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics relating to the very small.

It results in what may appear to be some very strange conclusions about the physical world. At the scale of atoms and electrons, many of the equations of classical mechanics, which describe how things move at everyday sizes and speeds, cease to be useful. In classical mechanics, objects exist in a specific place at a specific time. However, in quantum mechanics, objects instead exist in a haze of probability; they have a certain chance of being at point A, another chance of being at point B and so on.

Three revolutionary principles

Quantum mechanics (QM) developed over many decades, beginning as a set of controversial mathematical explanations of experiments that the math of classical mechanics could not explain. It began at the turn of the 20th century, around the same time that Albert Einstein published his theory of relativity, a separate mathematical revolution in physics that describes the motion of things at high speeds. Unlike relativity, however, the origins of QM cannot be attributed to any one scientist. Rather, multiple scientists contributed to a foundation of three revolutionary principles that gradually gained acceptance and experimental verification between 1900 and 1930. They are:

Quantized properties: Certain properties, such as position, speed and color, can sometimes only occur in specific, set amounts, much like a dial that "clicks" from number to number. This challenged a fundamental assumption of classical mechanics, which said that such properties should exist on a smooth, continuous spectrum. To describe the idea that some properties "clicked" like a dial with specific settings, scientists coined the word "quantized."

Particles of light: Light can sometimes behave as a particle. This was initially met with harsh criticism, as it ran contrary to 200 years of experiments showing that light behaved as a wave; much like ripples on the surface of a calm lake. Light behaves similarly in that it bounces off walls and bends around corners, and that the crests and troughs of the wave can add up or cancel out. Added wave crests result in brighter light, while waves that cancel out produce darkness. A light source can be thought of as a ball on a stick being rhythmically dipped in the center of a lake. The color emitted corresponds to the distance between the crests, which is determined by the speed of the ball's rhythm.

Waves of matter: Matter can also behave as a wave. This ran counter to the roughly 30 years of experiments showing that matter (such as electrons) exists as particles.

Quantized properties?

In 1900, German physicist Max Planck sought to explain the distribution of colors emitted over the spectrum in the glow of red-hot and white-hot objects, such as light-bulb filaments. When making physical sense of the equation he had derived to describe this distribution, Planck realized it implied that combinations of only certain colors (albeit a great number of them) were emitted, specifically those that were whole-number multiples of some base value. Somehow, colors were quantized! This was unexpected because light was understood to act as a wave, meaning that values of color should be a continuous spectrum. What could be forbidding atoms from producing the colors between these whole-number multiples? This seemed so strange that Planck regarded quantization as nothing more than a mathematical trick. According to Helge Kragh in his 2000 article in Physics World magazine, " Max Planck, the Reluctant Revolutionary," "If a revolution occurred in physics in December 1900, nobody seemed to notice it. Planck was no exception ..."

Planck's equation also contained a number that would later become very important to future development of QM; today, it's known as "Planck's Constant."

Quantization helped to explain other mysteries of physics. In 1907, Einstein used Planck's hypothesis of quantization to explain why the temperature of a solid changed by different amounts if you put the same amount of heat into the material but changed the starting temperature.

Since the early 1800s, the science of spectroscopy had shown that different elements emit and absorb specific colors of light called "spectral lines." Though spectroscopy was a reliable method for determining the elements contained in objects such as distant stars, scientists were puzzled about why each element gave off those specific lines in the first place. In 1888, Johannes Rydberg derived an equation that described the spectral lines emitted by hydrogen, though nobody could explain why the equation worked. This changed in 1913 when Niels Bohr applied Planck's hypothesis of quantization to Ernest Rutherford's 1911 "planetary" model of the atom, which postulated that electrons orbited the nucleus the same way that planets orbit the sun. According to Physics 2000 (a site from the University of Colorado), Bohr proposed that electrons were restricted to "special" orbits around an atom's nucleus. They could "jump" between special orbits, and the energy produced by the jump caused specific colors of light, observed as spectral lines. Though quantized properties were invented as but a mere mathematical trick, they explained so much that they became the founding principle of QM.

Particles of light?

In 1905, Einstein published a paper, " Concerning an Heuristic Point of View Toward the Emission and Transformation of Light," in which he envisioned light traveling not as a wave, but as some manner of "energy quanta." This packet of energy, Einstein suggested, could "be absorbed or generated only as a whole," specifically when an atom "jumps" between quantized vibration rates. This would also apply, as would be shown a few years later, when an electron "jumps" between quantized orbits. Under this model, Einstein's "energy quanta" contained the energy difference of the jump; when divided by Planck's constant, that energy difference determined the color of light carried by those quanta.

With this new way to envision light, Einstein offered insights into the behavior of nine different phenomena, including the specific colors that Planck described being emitted from a light-bulb filament. It also explained how certain colors of light could eject electrons off metal surfaces, a phenomenon known as the "photoelectric effect." However, Einstein wasn't wholly justified in taking this leap, said Stephen Klassen, an associate professor of physics at the University of Winnipeg. In a 2008 paper, "The Photoelectric Effect: Rehabilitating the Story for the Physics Classroom," Klassen states that Einstein's energy quanta aren't necessary for explaining all of those nine phenomena. Certain mathematical treatments of light as a wave are still capable of describing both the specific colors that Planck described being emitted from a light-bulb filament and the photoelectric effect. Indeed, in Einstein's controversial winning of the 1921 Nobel Prize, the Nobel committee only acknowledged "his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect," which specifically did not rely on the notion of energy quanta.

Roughly two decades after Einstein's paper, the term " photon" was popularized for describing energy quanta, thanks to the 1923 work of Arthur Compton, who showed that light scattered by an electron beam changed in color. This showed that particles of light (photons) were indeed colliding with particles of matter (electrons), thus confirming Einstein's hypothesis. By now, it was clear that light could behave both as a wave and a particle, placing light's "wave-particle duality" into the foundation of QM.

Waves of matter?

Since the discovery of the electron in 1896, evidence that all matter existed in the form of particles was slowly building. Still, the demonstration of light's wave-particle duality made scientists question whether matter was limited to acting only as particles. Perhaps wave-particle duality could ring true for matter as well? The first scientist to make substantial headway with this reasoning was a French physicist named Louis de Broglie. In 1924, de Broglie used the equations of Einstein's theory of special relativity to show that particles can exhibit wave-like characteristics, and that waves can exhibit particle-like characteristics. Then in 1925, two scientists, working independently and using separate lines of mathematical thinking, applied de Broglie's reasoning to explain how electrons whizzed around in atoms (a phenomenon that was unexplainable using the equations of classical mechanics). In Germany, physicist Werner Heisenberg (teaming with Max Born and Pascual Jordan) accomplished this by developing "matrix mechanics." Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger developed a similar theory called "wave mechanics." Schrödinger showed in 1926 that these two approaches were equivalent (though Swiss physicist Wolfgang Pauli sent an unpublished result to Jordan showing that matrix mechanics was more complete).

The Heisenberg-Schrödinger model of the atom, in which each electron acts as a wave (sometimes referred to as a "cloud") around the nucleus of an atom replaced the Rutherford-Bohr model. One stipulation of the new model was that the ends of the wave that forms an electron must meet. In " Quantum Mechanics in Chemistry, 3rd Ed." (W.A. Benjamin, 1981), Melvin Hanna writes, "The imposition of the boundary conditions has restricted the energy to discrete values." A consequence of this stipulation is that only whole numbers of crests and troughs are allowed, which explains why some properties are quantized. In the Heisenberg-Schrödinger model of the atom, electrons obey a "wave function" and occupy "orbitals" rather than orbits. Unlike the circular orbits of the Rutherford-Bohr model, atomic orbitals have a variety of shapes ranging from spheres to dumbbells to daisies.

In 1927, Walter Heitler and Fritz London further developed wave mechanics to show how atomic orbitals could combine to form molecular orbitals, effectively showing why atoms bond to one another to form molecules. This was yet another problem that had been unsolvable using the math of classical mechanics. These insights gave rise to the field of "quantum chemistry."

The uncertainty principle

Also in 1927, Heisenberg made another major contribution to quantum physics. He reasoned that since matter acts as waves, some properties, such as an electron's position and speed, are "complementary," meaning there's a limit (related to Planck's constant) to how well the precision of each property can be known. Under what would come to be called "Heisenberg's uncertainty principle," it was reasoned that the more precisely an electron's position is known, the less precisely its speed can be known, and vice versa. This uncertainty principle applies to everyday-size objects as well, but is not noticeable because the lack of precision is extraordinarily tiny. According to Dave Slaven of Morningside College (Sioux City, IA), if a baseball's speed is known to within a precision of 0.1 mph, the maximum precision to which it is possible to know the ball's position is 0.000000000000000000000000000008 millimeters.

Onward

The principles of quantization, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle ushered in a new era for QM. In 1927, Paul Dirac applied a quantum understanding of electric and magnetic fields to give rise to the study of "quantum field theory" (QFT), which treated particles (such as photons and electrons) as excited states of an underlying physical field. Work in QFT continued for a decade until scientists hit a roadblock: Many equations in QFT stopped making physical sense because they produced results of infinity. After a decade of stagnation, Hans Bethe made a breakthrough in 1947 using a technique called "renormalization." Here, Bethe realized that all infinite results related to two phenomena (specifically "electron self-energy" and "vacuum polarization") such that the observed values of electron mass and electron charge could be used to make all the infinities disappear.

Since the breakthrough of renormalization, QFT has served as the foundation for developing quantum theories about the four fundamental forces of nature: 1) electromagnetism, 2) the weak nuclear force, 3) the strong nuclear force and 4) gravity. The first insight provided by QFT was a quantum description of electromagnetism through "quantum electrodynamics" (QED), which made strides in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Next was a quantum description of the weak nuclear force, which was unified with electromagnetism to build "electroweak theory" (EWT) throughout the 1960s. Finally came a quantum treatment of the strong nuclear force using "quantum chromodynamics" (QCD) in the 1960s and 1970s. The theories of QED, EWT and QCD together form the basis of the Standard Model of particle physics. Unfortunately, QFT has yet to produce a quantum theory of gravity. That quest continues today in the studies of string theory and loop quantum gravity.
Robert Coolman is a graduate researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, finishing up his Ph.D. in chemical engineering. He writes about math, science and how they interact with history. Follow Robert @PrimeViridian. Follow us @LiveScience, & .
Additional resources

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Robert Coolman - Live Science Contributor

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Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics relating to the very small. It results in what may appear to be some very strange conclusions about the physical world. At the scale of atoms and electrons, many of the equations of classical mechanics, which describe how things move at everyday sizes and speeds, cease to be useful.

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The Pros and Cons of Standardised Testing - Article 

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The Pros and Cons of Standardised Testing - Article 

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The Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing

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Standardized testing shouldn’t be viewed as a value judgement on students but as an additional data point that can provide some perspective on student learning.

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A story about rebellion, ‘A Night in Paris’ by Ella Ferreli follows a girl as she goes to Paris for love, and faces the aftermath.

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Most children play video games - and many parents have concerns about it.

But while the office of the Children's Commissioner says the overwhelming majority of children (93 per cent) in the UK play video games, it also points out that the popularity raises a number of concerns for parents, including children being able to talk to strangers or becoming the target of bullying.

And now a new worry has been added to that list of concerns - a large new review has found video gamers, including children and teenagers, are at risk of irreversible hearing loss and tinnitus.

The review of 14 global studies involving more than 50,000 people found that sound levels on video games are often near, or exceed, safe limits.

The study, published in journal BMJ Public Health, concluded that "gamers who are listening at high-intensity sound levels and for long periods of time may be at risk of permanent sound-induced hearing loss and/or tinnitus".

So is this extra evidence that children and young people should be discouraged from gaming?

Not necessarily, says Dr Sangeet Bhullar, founder of WISE KIDS, which promotes digital literacy and wellbeing in children.

"Online gaming can have both health risks and benefits for children and young people," he stresses. "Risks can include disrupted sleep and increased aggression, with excessive gaming also being linked to attention problems and depression. Conversely, we also know gaming can have benefits such as improving mood, promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and strengthening social connections, social and cognitive skills.

"The key here is balance and moderation, and ensuring children and young people have physically active lives with good friendships and support networks. Parental involvement is particularly important for parents of younger children, and gaming together can be a really important way to bond."

But although there are clearly risks and benefits to gaming, it's important for parents to at least be aware of the health risks. They include...
1. Hearing problems
"Excessive gaming for your child can present various health risks, particularly when it comes to ear health," says Christina Kourie, a clinical audiologist at Pindrop Hearing.

"One significant concern is the potential for hearing loss. When exposed to loud gaming sounds or music through headphones for extended periods, your child's hearing may be at risk. Gamers often near, or exceed, permissible safe limits, which can cause permanent hearing loss in the near future."

She stresses it's crucial to monitor usage - particularly in younger children - and encourage them to use headphones at a reasonable volume to safeguard their hearing over time.
2. Repetitive stress injuries
Overuse injuries of the hands and arms are "rampant" among gamers, says Dr Peter Grinspoon, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School in the USA.

An example of these repetitive stress injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves inflammation of a nerve in the wrist, causing pain and numbness. There's also 'gamer's thumb', which happens when the tendons that move the thumb become inflamed, leading to swelling and limited movement, and 'trigger finger', when a finger gets stuck in the bent position due to chronic inflammation.
3. Obesity
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found video game playing increases food intake in adolescents, and it concluded: "A single session of video game play in healthy male adolescents is associated with an increased food intake, regardless of appetite sensations."

Add to that the fact that teenage gamers are sitting in front of a screen for hours every day without getting exercise, and it's not surprising that obesity may be a consequence.

"Gaming is associated with obesity in teens," says Grinspoon. "This is due to the obvious phenomenon that if a teen is sitting in front of a screen for hours every day, he or she isn't getting much exercise. The obesity is also thought to be due to increased food intake while playing video games."
4. Disrupted Sleep
Various studies have associated gaming with sleep deprivation, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders, and Bhullar says: "A study published in Scientific Reports indicated that video gaming may disrupt sleep by displacing sleep time, leading to reduced sleep duration and delayed bedtimes."

And he says another review published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions reported that excessive use of video games is linked to sleep disorders and poor sleep quality.
5. Addiction
The number of people aged over 13 being treated for gaming disorders - when someone struggles to control how often they play video games - increased by more than half from 2021 to 2022, according to the National Centre for Gaming Disorders. In addition, the number of family members of those suffering from a disorder receiving treatment increased by 46%.

The National Centre for Gaming Disorders founder and director Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones says: "Gaming disorders can have a significant impact on children and their family to the extent it can take over and stop them from living their normal daily life.

"From avoiding school or work, engaging in violence, to family breakdowns, the harms to those suffering can be significant; but there is help from the NHS for those who need it.

"We also know as with other addictive and mental health disorders, the earlier they are identified and treated, the more successful the outcomes will be for both the individual but also for the wellbeing of the family members who are also impacted negatively by someone's excessive gaming."
6. Impaired wellbeing...or not?
A 2022 University of Oxford study found that although many school-age adolescents are spending considerable time gaming, it's not usually having a negative impact on their wellbeing.

The study's lead author, Dr Simona Skripkauskaite, says: "Intensive video game use in itself does not necessarily equate to mental health problems. Although traditionally studies on video game or digital media use have found negative associations with wellbeing, a growing body of recent evidence shows that direct links between time spent engaging with digital technology and adolescent wellbeing or mental ill-health are either non-existent or weak."

She says her study found most 'heavy' gamers were experiencing no negative wellbeing effects, and 44% reported higher wellbeing than those who played games less or didn't play them at all.

"The few gamers whose wellbeing was poorer were more likely to be female and report gaming on their mobile phones," Skripkauskaite explains.

"They were also more likely to report previous experiences of abuse or anxiety and aggressive behaviours, suggesting that those with traumatic experiences and mental health issues may turn to gaming as a coping mechanism."

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Six health risks of your child gaming too much | BreakingNews.ie

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As a new study finds gaming can damage hearing, Lisa Salmon asks the experts about the other risks - and benefits for kids who play video games.

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Team Ireland's Daniel Wiffen has finished in 18th place in the 10k Marathon Swim at the Paris Olympic Games this morning. Incredibly, he had never swam a 10k Open Water race before today.

Wiffen leaves Paris as the first Irishman to win a swimming medal at an Olympic Games, claiming Gold in the 800m Freestyle and bronze in the 1500m Freestyle, the twenty-three-year-old has now written more history as the first Irish athlete to compete in Marathon Swimming at a Games, and the first to compete in two aquatic disciplines at a Games.

With the iconic Eiffel Tower as the backdrop, completing six laps of the circuit (1.67km loop) between the Pont Alexandre III and the Pont de l'Alma in the River Seine, where swimming at the 1924 Games took place, the Armagh man finished in one hour, 57.20 minutes.

Wiffen was the fastest of all swimmers who had entered through qualification from the 800m and 1500m pool events, ranking as high as 12 th place during the first two loops.

Hungary took gold and bronze with Kristof Rasovszky (1:50.52) and David Bethlehem (1:51.09) joined by German's Oliver Klemet (1:50.54) on the podium.

Speaking after the race Wiffen said '"It's the worst and best thing I've ever done in my life. The reason why it was the worst is because it was the most painful thing I've ever done. But, in terms of best, it's because I'm happy to say I'm an Olympic open-water swimmer, dual-sport athlete, and a contact-sport athlete as well.'

Talking about his thought's during the race he said, 'What goes through my mind...the first lap was, 'Do you know what, I can win this.' The second lap was, 'Maybe, maybe we can still win', the third lap was, 'we gotta try to get into the place to win', and on the fourth lap I was like, 'Nah, we should get out.' On the fifth lap it was like, 'No, let's try make a move again', and on the sixth lap it was, 'Okay, let's try and hold the position.'

On his overall experience Wiffen said 'Very happy. In the pool I was amazed with myself. I set my sights to be Olympic champion and I've done that, and I got a bronze medal as well.'

Speaking at the conclusion of aquatics at the Games, Swim Ireland National Performance Director Jon Rudd said "As we complete all of our events at the 2024 Olympic Games and Paris draws to a close for Ireland's swimmers and divers, as Team Leader for this magnificent group of athletes and Performance Director for our great sport, the island of Ireland can be truly proud of a most exceptional and ground-breaking Olympics for Irish aquatics. From Tokyo, to Fukuoka, to Doha and then on to Paris, Swim Ireland continue to set new standards for themselves and for those aspiring to be the next generation to step onto an Olympic flight, whether it be Los Angeles, Brisbane or both. Our medal winners, Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry, both once had those same dreams."

"So you can see why I am so incredibly proud of these athletes, the staff that have supported them whilst here - and their home coaching programmes who have delivered some excellent work prior to us travelling. Thank you also to the unwavering support of Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland and Team Ireland throughout this journey; it would not be possible without your faith in us. And so, thank you to everyone that has supported us - this has been a truly wonderful time for all of us"

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History Maker Wiffen Becomes First Irish Athlete to Compete in Marathon Swimming at Olympic Games - Swim Ireland

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Team Ireland's Daniel Wiffen has finished in 18th place in the 10k Marathon Swim at the Paris Olympic Games this [...]

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The new Champions League format - Article 

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The new Champions League format - Article 

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Everything you need to know about the new Champions League format

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Europe’s premier club competition has been expanded and revamped

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Farmers ditch plastic twine in favour of biodegradable alternative - Agriland.ie

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Farmers are turning to biodegradable twine in lieu of “nightmare” single use plastic twine to bind hay bales, according to Innovative Farmer.

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Most Fashionable Olympics ever? - Article 

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Most Fashionable Olympics ever? - Article 

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Is this the most fashionable Olympics ever?

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From the Opening Ceremony costumes to the excellent athlete uniforms, 2024 marks a new chapter for sport and style

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"Thank You, Ma’am" by Langston Hughes - Short Story

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"Thank You, Ma’am" by Langston Hughes - Short Story

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Staff protest at Lourdes Hospital over ‘back door hiring freeze’ impacting patient care and workers’ morale

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HSE staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda represented by trade unions Unite, Siptu, Forsa and the INMO will stage a lunchtime protest this Thursday at the hospital, to draw attention to what they termed the HSE’s ‘back door hiring freeze’ which they say is impacting on patient services and causing staff burnout.

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Here’s the history of basketball—from peach baskets in Springfield to global phenomenon

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The first game used baskets as hoops and turned into a brawl. Soon after, basketball evolved into a pillar of American sports.

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“A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum - Short Story

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“A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum - Short Story

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Produced by Dennis Amundson

A Kidnapped Santa Claus

by

L. Frank Baum

Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the ryls, knooks, pixies and fairies, live with him, and every one is as busy as can be from one year's end to another.

It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook chuckles to itself as it leaps rollicking between its green banks; the wind whistles merrily in the trees; the sunbeams dance lightly over the soft grass, and the violets and wild flowers look smilingly up from their green nests. To laugh one needs to be happy; to be happy one needs to be content. And throughout the Laughing Valley of Santa Claus contentment reigns supreme.

On one side is the mighty Forest of Burzee. At the other side stands the huge mountain that contains the Caves of the Daemons. And between them the Valley lies smiling and peaceful.

One would thing that our good old Santa Claus, who devotes his days to making children happy, would have no enemies on all the earth; and, as a matter of fact, for a long period of time he encountered nothing but love wherever he might go.

But the Daemons who live in the mountain caves grew to hate Santa Claus very much, and all for the simple reason that he made children happy.

The Caves of the Daemons are five in number. A broad pathway leads up to the first cave, which is a finely arched cavern at the foot of the mountain, the entrance being beautifully carved and decorated. In it resides the Daemon of Selfishness. Back of this is another cavern inhabited by the Daemon of Envy. The cave of the Daemon of Hatred is next in order, and through this one passes to the home of the Daemon of Malice-situated in a dark and fearful cave in the very heart of the mountain. I do not know what lies beyond this. Some say there are terrible pitfalls leading to death and destruction, and this may very well be true. However, from each one of the four caves mentioned there is a small, narrow tunnel leading to the fifth cave-a cozy little room occupied by the Daemon of Repentance. And as the rocky floors of these passages are well worn by the track of passing feet, I judge that many wanderers in the Caves of the Daemons have escaped through the tunnels to the abode of the Daemon of Repentance, who is said to be a pleasant sort of fellow who gladly opens for one a little door admitting you into fresh air and sunshine again.

Well, these Daemons of the Caves, thinking they had great cause to dislike old Santa Claus, held a meeting one day to discuss the matter.

"I'm really getting lonesome," said the Daemon of Selfishness. "For Santa Claus distributes so many pretty Christmas gifts to all the children that they become happy and generous, through his example, and keep away from my cave."

"I'm having the same trouble," rejoined the Daemon of Envy. "The little ones seem quite content with Santa Claus, and there are few, indeed, that I can coax to become envious."

"And that makes it bad for me!" declared the Daemon of Hatred. "For if no children pass through the Caves of Selfishness and Envy, none can get to MY cavern."

"Or to mine," added the Daemon of Malice.

"For my part," said the Daemon of Repentance, "it is easily seen that if children do not visit your caves they have no need to visit mine; so that I am quite as neglected as you are."

"And all because of this person they call Santa Claus!" exclaimed the Daemon of Envy. "He is simply ruining our business, and something must be done at once."

To this they readily agreed; but what to do was another and more difficult matter to settle. They knew that Santa Claus worked all through the year at his castle in the Laughing Valley, preparing the gifts he was to distribute on Christmas Eve; and at first they resolved to try to tempt him into their caves, that they might lead him on to the terrible pitfalls that ended in destruction.

So the very next day, while Santa Claus was busily at work, surrounded by his little band of assistants, the Daemon of Selfishness came to him and said:

"These toys are wonderfully bright and pretty. Why do you not keep them for yourself? It's a pity to give them to those noisy boys and fretful girls, who break and destroy them so quickly."

"Nonsense!" cried the old graybeard, his bright eyes twinkling merrily as he turned toward the tempting Daemon. "The boys and girls are never so noisy and fretful after receiving my presents, and if I can make them happy for one day in the year I am quite content."

So the Daemon went back to the others, who awaited him in their caves, and said:

"I have failed, for Santa Claus is not at all selfish."

The following day the Daemon of Envy visited Santa Claus. Said he: "The toy shops are full of playthings quite as pretty as those you are making. What a shame it is that they should interfere with your business! They make toys by machinery much quicker than you can make them by hand; and they sell them for money, while you get nothing at all for your work."

But Santa Claus refused to be envious of the toy shops.

"I can supply the little ones but once a year-on Christmas Eve," he answered; "for the children are many, and I am but one. And as my work is one of love and kindness I would be ashamed to receive money for my little gifts. But throughout all the year the children must be amused in some way, and so the toy shops are able to bring much happiness to my little friends. I like the toy shops, and am glad to see them prosper."

In spite of the second rebuff, the Daemon of Hatred thought he would try to influence Santa Claus. So the next day he entered the busy workshop and said:

"Good morning, Santa! I have bad news for you."

"Then run away, like a good fellow," answered Santa Claus. "Bad news is something that should be kept secret and never told."

"You cannot escape this, however," declared the Daemon; "for in the world are a good many who do not believe in Santa Claus, and these you are bound to hate bitterly, since they have so wronged you."

"Stuff and rubbish!" cried Santa.

"And there are others who resent your making children happy and who sneer at you and call you a foolish old rattlepate! You are quite right to hate such base slanderers, and you ought to be revenged upon them for their evil words."

"But I don't hate 'em!" exclaimed Santa Claus positively. "Such people do me no real harm, but merely render themselves and their children unhappy. Poor things! I'd much rather help them any day than injure them."

Indeed, the Daemons could not tempt old Santa Claus in any way. On the contrary, he was shrewd enough to see that their object in visiting him was to make mischief and trouble, and his cheery laughter disconcerted the evil ones and showed to them the folly of such an undertaking. So they abandoned honeyed words and determined to use force.

It was well known that no harm can come to Santa Claus while he is in the Laughing Valley, for the fairies, and ryls, and knooks all protect him. But on Christmas Eve he drives his reindeer out into the big world, carrying a sleighload of toys and pretty gifts to the children; and this was the time and the occasion when his enemies had the best chance to injure him. So the Daemons laid their plans and awaited the arrival of Christmas Eve.

The moon shone big and white in the sky, and the snow lay crisp and sparkling on the ground as Santa Claus cracked his whip and sped away out of the Valley into the great world beyond. The roomy sleigh was packed full with huge sacks of toys, and as the reindeer dashed onward our jolly old Santa laughed and whistled and sang for very joy. For in all his merry life this was the one day in the year when he was happiest-the day he lovingly bestowed the treasures of his workshop upon the little children.

It would be a busy night for him, he well knew. As he whistled and shouted and cracked his whip again, he reviewed in mind all the towns and cities and farmhouses where he was expected, and figured that he had just enough presents to go around and make every child happy. The reindeer knew exactly what was expected of them, and dashed along so swiftly that their feet scarcely seemed to touch the snow-covered ground.

Suddenly a strange thing happened: a rope shot through the moonlight and a big noose that was in the end of it settled over the arms and body of Santa Claus and drew tight. Before he could resist or even cry out he was jerked from the seat of the sleigh and tumbled head foremost into a snowbank, while the reindeer rushed onward with the load of toys and carried it quickly out of sight and sound.

Such a surprising experience confused old Santa for a moment, and when he had collected his senses he found that the wicked Daemons had pulled him from the snowdrift and bound him tightly with many coils of the stout rope. And then they carried the kidnapped Santa Claus away to their mountain, where they thrust the prisoner into a secret cave and chained him to the rocky wall so that he could not escape.

"Ha, ha!" laughed the Daemons, rubbing their hands together with cruel glee. "What will the children do now? How they will cry and scold and storm when they find there are no toys in their stockings and no gifts on their Christmas trees! And what a lot of punishment they will receive from their parents, and how they will flock to our Caves of Selfishness, and Envy, and Hatred, and Malice! We have done a mighty clever thing, we Daemons of the Caves!"

Now it so chanced that on this Christmas Eve the good Santa Claus had taken with him in his sleigh Nuter the Ryl, Peter the Knook, Kilter the Pixie, and a small fairy named Wisk-his four favorite assistants. These little people he had often found very useful in helping him to distribute his gifts to the children, and when their master was so suddenly dragged from the sleigh they were all snugly tucked underneath the seat, where the sharp wind could not reach them.

The tiny immortals knew nothing of the capture of Santa Claus until some time after he had disappeared. But finally they missed his cheery voice, and as their master always sang or whistled on his journeys, the silence warned them that something was wrong.

Little Wisk stuck out his head from underneath the seat and found
Santa Claus gone and no one to direct the flight of the reindeer.

"Whoa!" he called out, and the deer obediently slackened speed and came to a halt.

Peter and Nuter and Kilter all jumped upon the seat and looked back over the track made by the sleigh. But Santa Claus had been left miles and miles behind.

"What shall we do?" asked Wisk anxiously, all the mirth and mischief banished from his wee face by this great calamity.

"We must go back at once and find our master," said Nuter the Ryl, who thought and spoke with much deliberation.

"No, no!" exclaimed Peter the Knook, who, cross and crabbed though he was, might always be depended upon in an emergency. "If we delay, or go back, there will not be time to get the toys to the children before morning; and that would grieve Santa Claus more than anything else."

"It is certain that some wicked creatures have captured him," added Kilter thoughtfully, "and their object must be to make the children unhappy. So our first duty is to get the toys distributed as carefully as if Santa Claus were himself present. Afterward we can search for our master and easily secure his freedom."

This seemed such good and sensible advice that the others at once resolved to adopt it. So Peter the Knook called to the reindeer, and the faithful animals again sprang forward and dashed over hill and valley, through forest and plain, until they came to the houses wherein children lay sleeping and dreaming of the pretty gifts they would find on Christmas morning.

The little immortals had set themselves a difficult task; for although they had assisted Santa Claus on many of his journeys, their master had always directed and guided them and told them exactly what he wished them to do. But now they had to distribute the toys according to their own judgment, and they did not understand children as well as did old Santa. So it is no wonder they made some laughable errors.

Mamie Brown, who wanted a doll, got a drum instead; and a drum is of no use to a girl who loves dolls. And Charlie Smith, who delights to romp and play out of doors, and who wanted some new rubber boots to keep his feet dry, received a sewing box filled with colored worsteds and threads and needles, which made him so provoked that he thoughtlessly called our dear Santa Claus a fraud.

Had there been many such mistakes the Daemons would have accomplished their evil purpose and made the children unhappy. But the little friends of the absent Santa Claus labored faithfully and intelligently to carry out their master's ideas, and they made fewer errors than might be expected under such unusual circumstances.

And, although they worked as swiftly as possible, day had begun to break before the toys and other presents were all distributed; so for the first time in many years the reindeer trotted into the Laughing Valley, on their return, in broad daylight, with the brilliant sun peeping over the edge of the forest to prove they were far behind their accustomed hours.

Having put the deer in the stable, the little folk began to wonder how they might rescue their master; and they realized they must discover, first of all, what had happened to him and where he was.

So Wisk the Fairy transported himself to the bower of the Fairy Queen, which was located deep in the heart of the Forest of Burzee; and once there, it did not take him long to find out all about the naughty Daemons and how they had kidnapped the good Santa Claus to prevent his making children happy. The Fairy Queen also promised her assistance, and then, fortified by this powerful support, Wisk flew back to where Nuter and Peter and Kilter awaited him, and the four counseled together and laid plans to rescue their master from his enemies.

It is possible that Santa Claus was not as merry as usual during the night that succeeded his capture. For although he had faith in the judgment of his little friends he could not avoid a certain amount of worry, and an anxious look would creep at times into his kind old eyes as he thought of the disappointment that might await his dear little children. And the Daemons, who guarded him by turns, one after another, did not neglect to taunt him with contemptuous words in his helpless condition.

When Christmas Day dawned the Daemon of Malice was guarding the prisoner, and his tongue was sharper than that of any of the others.

"The children are waking up, Santa!" he cried. "They are waking up to find their stockings empty! Ho, ho! How they will quarrel, and wail, and stamp their feet in anger! Our caves will be full today, old Santa! Our caves are sure to be full!"

But to this, as to other like taunts, Santa Claus answered nothing. He was much grieved by his capture, it is true; but his courage did not forsake him. And, finding that the prisoner would not reply to his jeers, the Daemon of Malice presently went away, and sent the Daemon of Repentance to take his place.

This last personage was not so disagreeable as the others. He had gentle and refined features, and his voice was soft and pleasant in tone.

"My brother Daemons do not trust me overmuch," said he, as he entered the cavern; "but it is morning, now, and the mischief is done. You cannot visit the children again for another year."

"That is true," answered Santa Claus, almost cheerfully;
"Christmas Eve is past, and for the first time in centuries
I have not visited my children."

"The little ones will be greatly disappointed," murmured the Daemon of Repentance, almost regretfully; "but that cannot be helped now. Their grief is likely to make the children selfish and envious and hateful, and if they come to the Caves of the Daemons today I shall get a chance to lead some of them to my Cave of Repentance."

"Do you never repent, yourself?" asked Santa Claus, curiously.

"Oh, yes, indeed," answered the Daemon. "I am even now repenting that I assisted in your capture. Of course it is too late to remedy the evil that has been done; but repentance, you know, can come only after an evil thought or deed, for in the beginning there is nothing to repent of."

"So I understand," said Santa Claus. "Those who avoid evil need never visit your cave."

"As a rule, that is true," replied the Daemon; "yet you, who have done no evil, are about to visit my cave at once; for to prove that I sincerely regret my share in your capture I am going to permit you to escape."

This speech greatly surprised the prisoner, until he reflected that it was just what might be expected of the Daemon of Repentance. The fellow at once busied himself untying the knots that bound Santa Claus and unlocking the chains that fastened him to the wall. Then he led the way through a long tunnel until they both emerged in the Cave of Repentance.

"I hope you will forgive me," said the Daemon pleadingly. "I am not really a bad person, you know; and I believe I accomplish a great deal of good in the world."

With this he opened a back door that let in a flood of sunshine, and
Santa Claus sniffed the fresh air gratefully.

"I bear no malice," said he to the Daemon, in a gentle voice; "and I am sure the world would be a dreary place without you. So, good morning, and a Merry Christmas to you!"

With these words he stepped out to greet the bright morning, and a moment later he was trudging along, whistling softly to himself, on his way to his home in the Laughing Valley.

Marching over the snow toward the mountain was a vast army, made up of the most curious creatures imaginable. There were numberless knooks from the forest, as rough and crooked in appearance as the gnarled branches of the trees they ministered to. And there were dainty ryls from the fields, each one bearing the emblem of the flower or plant it guarded. Behind these were many ranks of pixies, gnomes and nymphs, and in the rear a thousand beautiful fairies floated along in gorgeous array.

This wonderful army was led by Wisk, Peter, Nuter, and Kilter, who had assembled it to rescue Santa Claus from captivity and to punish the Daemons who had dared to take him away from his beloved children.

And, although they looked so bright and peaceful, the little immortals were armed with powers that would be very terrible to those who had incurred their anger. Woe to the Daemons of the Caves if this mighty army of vengeance ever met them!

But lo! coming to meet his loyal friends appeared the imposing form of Santa Claus, his white beard floating in the breeze and his bright eyes sparkling with pleasure at this proof of the love and veneration he had inspired in the hearts of the most powerful creatures in existence.

And while they clustered around him and danced with glee at his safe return, he gave them earnest thanks for their support. But Wisk, and Nuter, and Peter, and Kilter, he embraced affectionately.

"It is useless to pursue the Daemons," said Santa Claus to the army. "They have their place in the world, and can never be destroyed. But that is a great pity, nevertheless," he continued musingly.

So the fairies, and knooks, and pixies, and ryls all escorted the good man to his castle, and there left him to talk over the events of the night with his little assistants.

Wisk had already rendered himself invisible and flown through the big world to see how the children were getting along on this bright Christmas morning; and by the time he returned, Peter had finished telling Santa Claus of how they had distributed the toys.

"We really did very well," cried the fairy, in a pleased voice; "for I found little unhappiness among the children this morning. Still, you must not get captured again, my dear master; for we might not be so fortunate another time in carrying out your ideas."

He then related the mistakes that had been made, and which he had not discovered until his tour of inspection. And Santa Claus at once sent him with rubber boots for Charlie Smith, and a doll for Mamie Brown; so that even those two disappointed ones became happy.

As for the wicked Daemons of the Caves, they were filled with anger and chagrin when they found that their clever capture of Santa Claus had come to naught. Indeed, no one on that Christmas Day appeared to be at all selfish, or envious, or hateful. And, realizing that while the children's saint had so many powerful friends it was folly to oppose him, the Daemons never again attempted to interfere with his journeys on Christmas Eve.

End of Project Gutenberg's A Kidnapped Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum

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Produced by Dennis Amundson A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the ryls, knooks, pixies and fairies, live with him, and every one is as busy as can be from one year's end to another.

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Kelleher ready to pack his bags at Liverpool but admits ‘it’s not always in my hands’

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Caoimhín Kelleher has indicated he would have departed Liverpool in the summer if the club had accepted bids for his services, and admitted that the signing of Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili would suggest he’s not in the club’s long-term plans.

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A story about age by Mark Andrew, ‘Sunday’ follows a man visiting his mother in a care home and helping her connect with her memories.

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A story about sisterhood by Elise Tyson, ‘La Niña’ follows a woman considering her connection to home after her sister’s death.

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A story about football, ‘Running the Line’ by Dan Corry focuses on a father-son relationship at a Sunday football game. ‘The rain ran down Dave’s nose...’

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A story about dreams by Cecilia Dolan, ‘There’s Nothing Left That I Can Do’ follows a woman who often dreams about her death.

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It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Evening came on, the last evening of the year. In the cold and gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the streets. Of course when she had left her house she'd had slippers on, but what good had they been? They were very big slippers, way too big for her, for they belonged to her mother. The little girl had lost them running across the road, where two carriages had rattled by terribly fast. One slipper she'd not been able to find again, and a boy had run off with the other, saying he could use it very well as a cradle some day when he had children of his own. And so the little girl walked on her naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried several packages of matches, and she held a box of them in her hand. No one had bought any from her all day long, and no one had given her a cent.

Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along, a picture of misery, poor little girl! The snowflakes fell on her long fair hair, which hung in pretty curls over her neck. In all the windows lights were shining, and there was a wonderful smell of roast goose, for it was New Year's eve. Yes, she thought of that!

In a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected farther out into the street than the other, she sat down and drew up her little feet under her. She was getting colder and colder, but did not dare to go home, for she had sold no matches, nor earned a single cent, and her father would surely beat her. Besides, it was cold at home, for they had nothing over them but a roof through which the wind whistled even though the biggest cracks had been stuffed with straw and rags.

Her hands were almost dead with cold. Oh, how much one little match might warm her! If she could only take one from the box and rub it against the wall and warm her hands. She drew one out. R-r-ratch! How it sputtered and burned! It made a warm, bright flame, like a little candle, as she held her hands over it; but it gave a strange light! It really seemed to the little girl as if she were sitting before a great iron stove with shining brass knobs and a brass cover. How wonderfully the fire burned! How comfortable it was! The youngster stretched out her feet to warm them too; then the little flame went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the burnt match in her hand.

She struck another match against the wall. It burned brightly, and when the light fell upon the wall it became transparent like a thin veil, and she could see through it into a room. On the table a snow-white cloth was spread, and on it stood a shining dinner service. The roast goose steamed gloriously, stuffed with apples and prunes. And what was still better, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled along the floor with a knife and fork in its breast, right over to the little girl. Then the match went out, and she could see only the thick, cold wall. She lighted another match. Then she was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. It was much larger and much more beautiful than the one she had seen last Christmas through the glass door at the rich merchant's home. Thousands of candles burned on the green branches, and colored pictures like those in the printshops looked down at her. The little girl reached both her hands toward them. Then the match went out. But the Christmas lights mounted higher. She saw them now as bright stars in the sky. One of them fell down, forming a long line of fire.

"Now someone is dying," thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star fell down a soul went up to God.

She rubbed another match against the wall. It became bright again, and in the glow the old grandmother stood clear and shining, kind and lovely.

"Grandmother!" cried the child. "Oh, take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match is burned out. You will vanish like the warm stove, the wonderful roast goose and the beautiful big Christmas tree!"

And she quickly struck the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother with her. And the matches burned with such a glow that it became brighter than daylight. Grandmother had never been so grand and beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and both of them flew in brightness and joy above the earth, very, very high, and up there was neither cold, nor hunger, nor fear-they were with God.

But in the corner, leaning against the wall, sat the little girl with red cheeks and smiling mouth, frozen to death on the last evening of the old year. The New Year's sun rose upon a little pathetic figure. The child sat there, stiff and cold, holding the matches, of which one bundle was almost burned.

"She wanted to warm herself," the people said. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, and how happily she had gone with her old grandmother into the bright New Year.

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Hans Christian Andersen : The Little Match Girl

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It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Evening came on, the last evening of the year. In the cold and gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the streets. Of course when she had left her house she'd had slippers on, but what good had they been?

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The most beloved story by British author Beatrix Potter, published in 1902.

Peter Squeezes Under The Gate

ONCE upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were- Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.

They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir tree.

"NOW, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor."

"NOW run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out."

THEN old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.

FLOPSY, Mopsy, and Cottontail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries;

BUT Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezed under the gate!

Peter Rabbit Eating Carrots

FIRST he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes;

AND then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.

BUT round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!

MR. McGREGOR was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, "Stop thief!"

PETER was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.

He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.

AFTER losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.

Stuck in the Gooseberry Net

PETER gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.

MR. McGREGOR came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him.

AND rushed into the toolshed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not had so much water in it.

MR. McGREGOR was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the toolshed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.

Presently Peter sneezed- "Kertyschoo!" Mr. McGregor was after him in no time,

AND tried to put his foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work.

PETER sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can.

After a time he began to wander about, going lippity- lippity-not very fast, and looking all around.

HE found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath.

An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.

Peter watches from the wheelbarrow

THEN he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans. A white cat was staring at some gold-fish; she sat very, very still, but now and then the tip of her tail twitched as if it were alive. Peter thought it best to go away without speaking to her; he had heard about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.

HE went back towards the tool-shed, but suddenly, quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe-scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch. Peter scuttered underneath the bushes. But presently, as nothing happened, he came out, and climbed upon a wheelbarrow, and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!

PETER got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow, and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk behind some black-currant bushes.

Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.

MR. McGREGOR hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.

Peter's coat & shoes

PETER never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree.

He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!

I AM sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.

His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!

"One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time."

BUT Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail had bread and milk and blackberries, for supper.

enjoying bread, milk & blackberries

Add The Tale of Peter Rabbit to your library.

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The Tale of Peter Rabbit, a Short Story by Beatrix Potter.

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MR. JAMES DUFFY lived in Chapelizod because he wished to live as far as possible from the city of which he was a citizen and because he found all the other suburbs of Dublin mean, modern and pretentious. He lived in an old sombre house and from his windows he could look into the disused distillery or upwards along the shallow river on which Dublin is built. The lofty walls of his uncarpeted room were free from pictures. He had himself bought every article of furniture in the room: a black iron bedstead, an iron washstand, four cane chairs, a clothes- rack, a coal-scuttle, a fender and irons and a square table on which lay a double desk. A bookcase had been made in an alcove by means of shelves of white wood. The bed was clothed with white bedclothes and a black and scarlet rug covered the foot. A little hand-mirror hung above the washstand and during the day a white-shaded lamp stood as the sole ornament of the mantelpiece. The books on the white wooden shelves were arranged from below upwards according to bulk. A complete Wordsworth stood at one end of the lowest shelf and a copy of the Maynooth Catechism, sewn into the cloth cover of a notebook, stood at one end of the top shelf. Writing materials were always on the desk. In the desk lay a manuscript translation of Hauptmann’s Michael Kramer, the stage directions of which were written in purple ink, and a little sheaf of papers held together by a brass pin. In these sheets a sentence was inscribed from time to time and, in an ironical moment, the headline of an advertisement for Bile Beans had been pasted on to the first sheet. On lifting the lid of the desk a faint fragrance escaped -- the fragrance of new cedarwood pencils or of a bottle of gum or of an overripe apple which might have been left there and forgotten.

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My uncle was a high school track star. Around here that makes him a reservation legend. I go to the same high school as my uncle did, as my mother did, and all my cousins do, but I’m no track star and I don’t fool myself into thinking I’ll ever be one. We still have… Continue reading Running

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Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros - Short Story 

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Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros - Short Story 

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Once upon a time there was a prince who had a fiancée whom he loved very much. Once when he was sitting beside her very happily, news came that his father was deathly ill, and wanted to see him before he died.

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She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as if by an error of fate, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no expectations, no means of becoming known, understood, loved or wedded by a man of wealth and distinction; and so she let herself be married to a minor official at the Ministry of Education.

She dressed plainly because she had never been able to afford anything better, but she was as unhappy as if she had once been wealthy. Women don't belong to a caste or class; their beauty, grace, and natural charm take the place of birth and family. Natural delicacy, instinctive elegance and a quick wit determine their place in society, and make the daughters of commoners the equals of the very finest ladies.

She suffered endlessly, feeling she was entitled to all the delicacies and luxuries of life. She suffered because of the poorness of her house as she looked at the dirty walls, the worn-out chairs and the ugly curtains. All these things that another woman of her class would not even have noticed, tormented her and made her resentful. The sight of the little Brenton girl who did her housework filled her with terrible regrets and hopeless fantasies. She dreamed of silent antechambers hung with Oriental tapestries, lit from above by torches in bronze holders, while two tall footmen in knee-length breeches napped in huge armchairs, sleepy from the stove's oppressive warmth. She dreamed of vast living rooms furnished in rare old silks, elegant furniture loaded with priceless ornaments, and inviting smaller rooms, perfumed, made for afternoon chats with close friends - famous, sought after men, who all women envy and desire.

When she sat down to dinner at a round table covered with a three-day-old cloth opposite her husband who, lifting the lid off the soup, shouted excitedly, "Ah! Beef stew! What could be better," she dreamed of fine dinners, of shining silverware, of tapestries which peopled the walls with figures from another time and strange birds in fairy forests; she dreamed of delicious dishes served on wonderful plates, of whispered gallantries listened to with an inscrutable smile as one ate the pink flesh of a trout or the wings of a quail.

"What's the matter? What's the matter?"

With great effort she overcame her grief and replied in a calm voice, as she wiped her wet cheeks:

"Nothing. Only I have no dress and so I can't go to this party. Give your invitation to a friend whose wife has better clothes than I do."

He was distraught, but tried again:

"Let's see, Mathilde. How much would a suitable dress cost, one which you could use again on other occasions, something very simple?"

She thought for a moment, computing the cost, and also wondering what amount she could ask for without an immediate refusal and an alarmed exclamation from the thrifty clerk.

At last she answered hesitantly:

"I don't know exactly, but I think I could do it with four hundred francs."

He turned a little pale, because he had been saving that exact amount to buy a gun and treat himself to a hunting trip the following summer, in the country near Nanterre, with a few friends who went lark-shooting there on Sundays.

However, he said:

"Very well, I can give you four hundred francs. But try and get a really beautiful dress."

*

The day of the party drew near, and Madame Loisel seemed sad, restless, anxious. Her dress was ready, however. One evening her husband said to her:

"What's the matter? You've been acting strange these last three days."

She replied: "I'm upset that I have no jewels, not a single stone to wear. I will look cheap. I would almost rather not go to the party."

"You could wear flowers, " he said, "They are very fashionable at this time of year. For ten francs you could get two or three magnificent roses."

She was not convinced.

She danced wildly, with passion, drunk on pleasure, forgetting everything in the triumph of her beauty, in the glory of her success, in a sort of cloud of happiness, made up of all this respect, all this admiration, all these awakened desires, of that sense of triumph that is so sweet to a woman's heart.

She left at about four o'clock in the morning. Her husband had been dozing since midnight in a little deserted anteroom with three other gentlemen whose wives were having a good time.

He threw over her shoulders the clothes he had brought for her to go outside in, the modest clothes of an ordinary life, whose poverty contrasted sharply with the elegance of the ball dress. She felt this and wanted to run away, so she wouldn't be noticed by the other women who were wrapping themselves in expensive furs.

Loisel held her back.

"Wait a moment, you'll catch a cold outside. I'll go and find a cab."

But she would not listen to him, and ran down the stairs. When they were finally in the street, they could not find a cab, and began to look for one, shouting at the cabmen they saw passing in the distance.

They walked down toward the Seine in despair, shivering with cold. At last they found on the quay one of those old night cabs that one sees in Paris only after dark, as if they were ashamed to show their shabbiness during the day.

They were dropped off at their door in the Rue des Martyrs, and sadly walked up the steps to their apartment. It was all over, for her. And he was remembering that he had to be back at his office at ten o'clock.

In front of the mirror, she took off the clothes around her shoulders, taking a final look at herself in all her glory. But suddenly she uttered a cry. She no longer had the necklace round her neck!

She wrote as he dictated.

*

At the end of one week they had lost all hope.

And Loisel, who had aged five years, declared:

"We must consider how to replace the jewel."

The next day they took the box which had held it, and went to the jeweler whose name they found inside. He consulted his books.

"It was not I, madame, who sold the necklace; I must simply have supplied the case."

And so they went from jeweler to jeweler, looking for an necklace like the other one, consulting their memories, both sick with grief and anguish.

In a shop at the Palais Royal, they found a string of diamonds which seemed to be exactly what they were looking for. It was worth forty thousand francs. They could have it for thirty-six thousand.

So they begged the jeweler not to sell it for three days. And they made an arrangement that he would take it back for thirty-four thousand francs if the other necklace was found before the end of February.

Loisel had eighteen thousand francs which his father had left him. He would borrow the rest.

And he did borrow, asking for a thousand francs from one man, five hundred from another, five louis here, three louis there. He gave notes, made ruinous agreements, dealt with usurers, with every type of money-lender. He compromised the rest of his life, risked signing notes without knowing if he could ever honor them, and, terrified by the anguish still to come, by the black misery about to fall on him, by the prospect of every physical privation and every moral torture he was about to suffer, he went to get the new necklace, and laid down on the jeweler's counter thirty-six thousand francs.

When Madame Loisel took the necklace back, Madame Forestier said coldly:

"You should have returned it sooner, I might have needed it."

To the relief of her friend, she did not open the case. If she had detected the substitution, what would she have thought? What would she have said? Would she have taken her friend for a thief?

*

From then on, Madame Loisel knew the horrible life of the very poor. But she played her part heroically. The dreadful debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their maid; they changed their lodgings; they rented a garret under the roof.

She came to know the drudgery of housework, the odious labors of the kitchen. She washed the dishes, staining her rosy nails on greasy pots and the bottoms of pans. She washed the dirty linen, the shirts and the dishcloths, which she hung to dry on a line; she carried the garbage down to the street every morning, and carried up the water, stopping at each landing to catch her breath. And, dressed like a commoner, she went to the fruiterer's, the grocer's, the butcher's, her basket on her arm, bargaining, insulted, fighting over every miserable sou.

Each month they had to pay some notes, renew others, get more time.

Her husband worked every evening, doing accounts for a tradesman, and often, late into the night, he sat copying a manuscript at five sous a page.

And this life lasted ten years.

At the end of ten years they had paid off everything, everything, at usurer's rates and with the accumulations of compound interest.

Madame Loisel looked old now. She had become strong, hard and rough like all women of impoverished households. With hair half combed, with skirts awry, and reddened hands, she talked loudly as she washed the floor with great swishes of water. But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down near the window and thought of that evening at the ball so long ago, when she had been so beautiful and so admired.

What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows, who knows? How strange life is, how fickle! How little is needed for one to be ruined or saved!

"Oh, my poor Mathilde! Mine was an imitation! It was worth five hundred francs at most! ..."

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Short Stories: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant

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Full online text of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. Other short stories by Guy de Maupassant also available along with many others by classic and contemporary authors.

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Are Ferrari and Charles Leclerc back in the hunt for F1's 2024- Article

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Are Ferrari and Charles Leclerc back in the hunt for F1's 2024- Article

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After Charles Leclerc's surprise victory for Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 assess whether driver and team are back in championship contention.

The win, aided by a major upgrade package the Italian squad brought to their home race, was Ferrari's first since Leclerc triumphed at the Monaco Grand Prix in late May.

After Leclerc's win at his home race, he was only 31 points back from Drivers' Championship leader Max Verstappen and Ferrari had closed to within 24 points of Red Bull at the top of the Constructors' Championship,

That result sparked talk of a title battles in both championships but Ferrari would regress dramatically over the weeks that followed, with Lando Norris and his McLaren team emerging as Red Bull's main challenger, and Mercedes also surging into contention for race wins.

While there had been signs of progress with podium finishes for Leclerc either side of the summer break in Belgium and the Netherlands, there was little evidence that Ferrari were ready to return to the top step of the podium at Monza.

Halfway through Sunday's race that prospect still seemed unlikely, until it became clear Ferrari were attempting an audacious one-stop strategy, which Leclerc executed to perfection to prevent McLaren repeating the one-two finish they had delivered in qualifying.

The scenes as the T ifosi celebrated a first Ferrari win at Monza since 2019 were among the most stunning sport has to offer, but questions remain over whether this was a one-off or confirmation that Ferrari are back.

How fast were Ferrari amid strategic masterstroke?

Leclerc's victory was the result of an audacious strategic gamble from Ferrari, as they put both the Monegasque and his team-mate Carlos Sainz on one-stoppers while the rest of the front-runners pitted twice.

Similarly to when George Russell won for Mercedes in Belgium (before he was disqualified), the Ferrari drivers benefitted from finding themselves in a race position where they didn't have a huge amount to lose from attempting the one-stopper.

While there is always huge pressure on Ferrari to perform at Monza, the fact they have fallen away in the standings meant that missing out on a few points if the gamble had failed wouldn't have been a disaster.

Leclerc found himself running third after being undercut by Norris at the first round of pit stops, and was left with a decision to make when McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Norris pitted again to give him the lead.

"Oscar maybe was a little bit quicker," Leclerc reflected. "It was difficult to see Lando's pace as he was behind.

"Then once we got undercut, I was like, 'ok, maybe we are losing the win there.' But then once they both pitted, I actually picked up quite a lot of front grip, having the free air in front."

Leclerc and Sainz extended their stints and maintained a solid pace, which in the former's case was enough to hold off Piastri for victory. Sainz played his part by briefly halting the McLaren driver's progress before eventually finishing fourth.

"Being the last car, I didn't have much to lose by trying the one-stop," Leclerc said. "But we did a really, really good job with that front left, which has been very, very tricky for everybody. We had a lot of front graining but managed to take that front grip again. And that helped us to win today."

While the way the Ferrari drivers were able to make their tyres last was impressive, the McLaren's were still faster on the day and it's reasonable to assume Piastri could have made it to the end ahead of Leclerc had he one-stopped.

Was the upgrade just a 'Monza special'?

In addition to pulling off a strategic masterstroke, Ferrari were also the only top team to bring significant upgrades to Monza.

The track is something of an outlier on the F1 calendar, meaning that a car that performs well at the circuit isn't necessarily guaranteed to be particularly competitive elsewhere.

Ferrari brought seven new parts that are general upgrades that should remain on the car for the rest of the season, along with circuit specific front and rear wings.

It's fair to say Ferrari probably place greater emphasis on their 'Monza special' rear wing, but only time will tell if the permanent new parts, including an updated floor, will result in a leap forward.

Team principal Fred Vasseur said: "It's quite difficult to understand the impact of the upgrade on a track like Monza because it is such a different configuration compared to the rest of the season, that it's quite difficult to understand.

"In qualifying, you see six or seven cars in less than one tenth. Every single bit makes the difference.

"For sure you can say the upgrade is crucial but the pace on Sunday was more linked to tyre management. In qualifying, when you have six cars in two tenths, that's when every single upgrade will pay a lot."

Leclerc also admitted that Ferrari's rear wing may have been a crucial factor in Monza.

"We've got to be cautious," he said. "After Monaco, I think we've had the four worst races of the season, because Monaco was so specific to our car at that time.

"Monza is also a very specific and particular track. Lots of straights, not many corners. We had a rear wing for this track as well, which helped us to win today."

Is a title challenge realistic?

Leclerc's victory reduced his deficit to Verstappen to 86 points, which is a huge gap to close down with just eight rounds of the season remaining.

While Verstappen is struggling badly, the fact Norris is also 24 points ahead of Leclerc in a very consistent McLaren makes it hard to see a scenario in which the Monegasque can get back into to contention.

In the constructors' standings, Ferrari's strong result brought them within 39 points of leaders Red Bull, who are now only eight points clear of McLaren.

That gap is certainly bridgeable for Ferrari, but once more McLaren look like they will be hugely difficult to overhaul.

A more realistic target might be chasing down Red Bull for what could end up being second.

For any of these ambitions to be realistic Ferrari will need more victories, which Vasseur seems to think is possible.

"It's so tight the fight," he said. "I spent couple of years on the pit wall, but it's the first time that I think in F1 we have this situation where eight drivers can win the race, without an accident or crash, that four teams are able to win or to be on the podium.

"I have the feeling it will be like this everywhere, except Lando dominating in Zandvoort, so I have the feeling it will be like this until the end of the season.

"It will be a huge fight. With eight cars, with this competitiveness, one team can do a one-two and another seventh and eighth, then this makes a huge difference in points."

As for where Ferrari are most likely to win again, Leclerc is eyeing the streets of Singapore at the end of September.

"Singapore maybe could be a strong track for us," Leclerc said. "On the other tracks, I still feel like we are a step behind McLaren and Red Bull.

"But today we've seen that we can be very on a par with McLaren if we do everything perfect.

"I think that the upgrade has helped us in some ways today to have the same pace as them. However, for the other tracks, I don't know whether it will be enough to completely close the gap, especially the gap we've seen in the previous races."
Formula 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 13-15, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime

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Are Ferrari and Charles Leclerc back in the hunt for F1's 2024 titles after stunning Monza win?

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Charles Leclerc claimed Ferraris first win in eight races with a stunning victory at the Italian Grand Prix; the result saw the Monegasque close the gap on Drivers Championship leader Max Verstappen, and Ferrari reduce their deficit to leaders Red Bull in the constructors standings

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Charles" by Shirley Jackson - Short Story

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Charles" by Shirley Jackson - Short Story

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"After Twenty Years" by O. Henry - Short Story

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"After Twenty Years" by O. Henry - Short Story

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The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson - Short Story

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The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson - Short Story

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The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o’clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 20th, but in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.

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All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury - Short Story 

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All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury - Short Story 

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Louth marks National Fire Safety Week with events across the county

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National Fire Safety Week 2024 was marked across Louth with a series of events led by Louth Fire Service, urging people to think about the potential fire risks in their home.

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Termonfeckin Tennis Club breaks ground on ambitious new development at An Grianán

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Phase one of a hugely three-phase ambitious project in Termonfeckin that will make the local tennis club one of the finest facilities in the region, is set for completion by the end of this month.

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Major new tourism plan for Boyne Valley launched by Minister McEntee at Emerald Park

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Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has launched Boyne Valley’s new, ambitious seven-year tourism strategy at an event held in Emerald Park.

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DNG Brady is bringing the 45,000 square foot industrial property to the market.

Standing on a 4.58 acre site overlooking Clogherhead Harbour, the premises is currently used as a fish processing facility together with other associated uses.

The property comprises a processing plant, four cold store areas, chill store, loading bay, offices, canteen, boardroom and a one-bedroom apartment.

The selling agents say this huge facility is ideally suited to its current usage but holds great potential for a variety of purposes.

Its size and layout make it suitable for various industrial, commercial, or even redevelopment projects.

According to the agents, the proximity to the harbour ensures easy access to maritime activities, making it ideal for businesses related to shipping, logistics, or marine services.

There are 4 tenancies currently in place at the facility.

The premises extends to 4.58 acres the site is zoned "EM" in the local area plan "to facilitate opportunities for marine based industry and recreation".

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Clogherhead industrial facility goes on sale with a guide price of €5 million

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A large industrial facility at Port Oriel in Clogherhead has been put on the market at a guide price of some €5 million.

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Young Louth sacrifices his long locks for Rapunzel Foundation

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In a heartfelt gesture, a young man from Dunleer has donated over 14 inches of his hair to the Rapunzel Foundation, an Irish charity that supports individuals experiencing long-term hair loss by providing wigs made from donated hair.

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Elon Doing Questionable Things - Article 

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Elon Doing Questionable Things - Article 

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https://www.thejournal.ie/elon-musk-million-dollar-giveaway-legal-6532594-Nov2024/

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Judge rules Elon Musk’s million dollar giveaways for Trump support can continue

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Although Musk promoted the giveaways as “random”, his lawyer said the winners are selected.

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https://theconversation.com/germany-lowers-voting-age-to-16-for-the-european-elections-but-is-it-playing-into-the-far-rights-hands-229401

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Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections – but is it playing into the far right’s hands?

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The far-right Alternative for Germany is courting the youth vote on TikTok with great success, ahead of the elections in June.

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US Presidential Election 2024

We are less than 24 hours away from polling day in the US presidential election contested by Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

The campaign trail has been fraught with scandal, including the shooting of former president Trump, president Biden dropping out of the race at the 11th hour and Kamala Harris being slingshot into the limelight as the Democrats' nominee.

The polls cannot split the contestants and the Irish Independent will bring you live coverage of the election right through the build-up on Monday, all through polling day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning as America decides its next president.

We will have live coverage, analysis, on-the-ground reporting from Washington DC, an early-morning podcast on Wednesday alongside all the explainers and video content you need to follow the most-watched political event on earth.

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US Election 2024: Harris and Trump bring campaigns to end in battleground states as polling day arrives for divisive election

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We are just hours away from polling day in one of the most divisive elections in US history, which will see Republican Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term or the US elect the first woman president in its history.

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Damien Duff: ‘Who do you hate more? Do people not like us still within the league? Absolutely’

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Damien Duff believes Shelbourne’s title challenge has the support of the general public but remains convinced that most of the League of Ireland community would hate it if his side got over the line.

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https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/ardee-celtic-forced-to-play-waiting-game-to-learn-promotion-fate/a2118563537.html

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https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-unlikely-to-hit-2030-climate-targets-6532383-Nov2024/

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Ireland unlikely to hit 2030 climate targets even in ‘most optimistic scenario’, according to new report

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Ireland is projected to miss its agreed overall 2030 targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy share and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

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https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/24/taylor-swift-eras-tour-wembley-stadium-final-night-london-live-review-florence-welch-jack-antonoff

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Ireland's population could grow much faster than previously expected, according to new scenarios published by the Department of Finance.

In a high growth scenario there would be 7.59m inhabitants by 2065.

The estimate is significantly above most recent projections from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

John McCarthy, the Chief Economist of the Department of Finance, said the department’s estimate was higher due to larger forecasts for immigration.

In a central growth scenario, the population would reach 6.7m by 2065 and in a low growth estimate it would be 6m.

The department produced the estimates to ensure the Government is prepared Ireland’s changing demographics.

Mr McCarthy said: "One of the reasons we are where we are with housing is the population."

An increasing old-age dependency ratio would put pressure on the public finances, with rising costs for pensions, healthcare and social services.

While there will be more immigration, the proportion of children born to women in Ireland is expected to continue to decline.

The fertility rate has fallen from close to 2.6 births per woman 40 years ago to 1.53 births today.

That rate is expected to fall to 1.3 births per woman by 2038 before stabilising.

The growth in the population is expected to be driven by immigration.

A high growth scenario for net migration, or people arriving minus those leaving, is expected to see up to 58,000 additional people coming to the country per year over the coming decades.

The central estimate is up to 40,000 and the low scenario is 18,500.

In its report, the Department of Finance said: "If net migration was to fall to zero by 2035, Ireland’s labour force would contract from that point onwards, while the number of people ageing out of the labour force would continue to grow."

It adds: "The economic consequences of such a fall would potentially be very negative - posing major challenges for Ireland’s enterprise base, diminishing the capacity of the State to provide public services, and ultimately reducing living standards as a shrinking labour market constrains economic growth."

The analysis also highlights an issue as half of migrants with critical skills work permits are leaving the country within five years to work elsewhere.