Daily Archives: December 5, 2021

Detroit took on the expansion Seattle Kraken tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Kraken have struggled in their first campaign thanks in large part to poor goaltending. Getting the start tonight for the Kraken was Philipp Grubauer who is the face of those woes. Grubauer has a .890 SV% thus far this year with a 3.03 GAA and is still desperately searching to regain his form in Seattle.

In the Red Wings net, Thomas Greiss got the start after being on the bench for the last 4 games while Alex Nedeljkovic has seemingly taken over as the leader between the pipes.

Detroit received late word that Tyler Bertuzzi would have to miss this game as a late scratch due to Covid-19 protocol. Details will emerge whether this was an unavoidable absence or if his vaccination status led him to miss a game he would have otherwise been able to suit up for.

As a result of Bertuzzis absence, long time Griffin Kyle Criscuolo cracked the lineup, making his Red Wing debut. He slotted in on the 4th line as the Red Wings juggled their lineup from the late change.

In the opening lineup to start the game, Robby Fabbri was in place for the absent Tyler Bertuzzi. Greiss showed a little rust early as he blockered a distance shot straight up into the air and it ended up landing right in front of him, albeit with no harm done.

The second line had Zadina sliding back up to replace the elevated Fabbri, he was alongside Suter and Smith. Detroits first chance came a few minutes in when Smith pulled up at the half wall and hit a trailing Zadina with a pass at the blue line. Zadina tried to use the defender as a screen with a shot from the high slot but it was blocked to the corner.

Fabbri had a nice hustle play when he made a strong push to get back to break up a 2 on 1 when Hronek pinched at the offensive blue line. The Seattle forward crashing to the net may have still got a touch on the puck but Fabbri made it a difficult play for him.

The first penalty of the game went to Seattles Appleton for putting the puck over the glass. On the ensuing Detroit powerplay, Suter looked to take over the Bertuzzi net front position with Larkin, Fabbri, Raymond, and Seider manning their usual positions. Early in the Detroit powerplay the Wings struggled to gain the zone. It wasnt until late that they were able to even start passing it around the offensive zone. They maybe managed one shot from the point with minimal traffic, a disappointing start for their special teams.

Rasmussen came very close to notching the first goal of the game when a point shot hit him in front of the net landing in front of Grubauer where Rasmussen swiped it just wide of the far post.

The next chance went to Seattle when on a net front scramble Greiss made a nice save followed by a very timely point blank block by Staal that prevented what was a sure goal with Greiss beating out of position following the first save.

But moments later a Seattle point shot found its way through traffic and beat Greiss high to the blocker side. Greiss was deep in his net and down. But the referee immediately waved it off, indicating there was goaltender interference. It seemed odd as it didnt appear anyone was near Greiss. But the review showed Appleton, with some help from Seider did bump Greiss as he passed through the crease just prior to the shot, no doubt affecting Greiss ability to make the save. Seattle considered challenging but ultimately decided against it, the game remainded 0-0. A tough start for Appleton.

Seattle followed up with another good chance when Greiss had to swallow a shot from in tight from Johansson. Detroit gained some relief when Seattle took another penalty, this time in the offensive zone when Geekie took several slashes at Ramussen trying to knock the puck away. It was an easy call for the ref to make and an odd decision by Geekie. But the powerplay was short lived as only 0:22 into it Leddy got called for holding on Sheahan who was trying to make a shorthanded break for the net.

Seattle continued to get pressure at 4 on 4. But following a Red Wing breakout Larkin and Raymond connected on a give and go at the Seattle blue line. Raymond from a very tight angle at the goal line beat Grubauer on the short side for a very ugly goal by the goaltender to allow. But Seattle challenged the give and go play by Raymond and Larkin for offside. On the replay it was pretty clear when Raymond touched a soft pass over to Larkin he entered the zone before the puck crossed. The challenge was successful, and it was a pretty clear one to overturn.

Namestnikov took a slashing penalty through the neutral zone late in the period late in the period. Seattle hit a post with seconds left in the period on the abbreviated powerplay opportunity but had to settle for taking the man advantage into the 2nd period.

The period wrapped with each team having had a goal taken away. Seattle had the shot advantage in the opening frame, 7-6. The early portion of the period was fairly uneventful with the action picking up later. Rasmussen had a noteworthy period with a close chance, drawing a penalty, but also firing a shot about 15 feet wide at one point on a rush entry.

Seattle had a couple of decent looks on the carryover powerplay but no great chances. But they did take some momentum from that powerplay through the first couple of minutes.

But it was Detroit with the first great chance when Seattle got caught puck watching on a Wings breakout and Suter was able to hit Zadina with a pass at the Seattle blueline and send the young winger in alone. He made a quick deke backhand to forehand but count beat Grubauers outstretched leg. He did however draw a hooking penalty by Larsson on the play sending Detroit to another powerplay.

On the powerplay, Detroit looked much improved from the previous attempts. They got a few attempts and a goalmouth scramble early. Then a quick pass play from Raymond down low to Suter who sent it across the crease front didnt find the intended target on the other side. Then Larkin hit a goal post and on the resulting scramble the puck found its way to Fabbris stick who made no mistake hammering it into an empty net. It was an odd scramble as Larkins post shot sat in the crease momentarily before ending up back on Larkins stick where he banked it off the side of the net and it bounced out to Fabbri in the slot, 1-0 Red Wings.

Detroit took over through the early part of the 2nd period amassing a 9-5 shot advantage and similar zone pressure through the midway mark. But then Detroit took a penalty on a Rasmussen minor. On the powerplay, Seattle got Detroits penalty killers to collapse down low when the puck went down behind the goal line. A pass went back out to the point to Dunn who shifted towards the top of the circle, and sent a shot through traffic that beat Greiss high to the glove side, 1-1.

The game was all square on a couple of powerplay goals. Shortly after tying it, Seattle nearly took the lead when a shot from distance beat Greiss but caught the post and bounced away to the corner. Detroit had the next opportunity to break the tie when Rowney had a chance from in tight to Grubauers left but couldnt jam it past the netminder.

As Oesterle went to collect a puck in his own corner he lost his footing and turned the puck over. With the rest of the Red Wings starting to break out in anticipation of Oesterle gathering the puck, Seattle quickly found Donato in front with a pass and he promptly beat Greiss who couldnt get over in time, 2-1 Kraken.

Tough break for the Wings who were coming on strong in this period but started to get on their heels late in the period.

Detroit responded though with 2:00 to play when Namestnikov tried to fire a shot through traffic from the left circle. The shot was blocked but went back to Namestnikov who shot it again. It hit traffic in front, with Rasmussen among those parked in front. The puck squeaked by Grubauer and credit for the tying goal went to Namestnikov, 2-2.

The period came to a close with the teams tied at 2-2. Detroit took a 19-16 overall shot advantage in a much more eventful second period.

Early in the 3rd period, Oesterle tried to sneak one past Grubauer when he spun and fired a shot from the half wall trying to beat the goaltender high to the short side. Grubauer knocked it down with his shoulder and smothered it.

With 13:30 to play Raymond found a puck in the middle of the slot after a point shot by Seider was blocked. He had his back to the net, but spun and fired it through a defenders feet and it beat Grubauer on the blocker side, 3-2 Red Wings.

A fortunate bounce for Detroit, but also a result of Raymond being willing to go to the front of the net and reacting quickly to the puck.

Seattle came close to tying it again when there was a net front scramble that resulted in Greiss laying flat on his back before the puck was eventually cleared from the zone by Rowney. Seattle again came close when they hit yet another post behind Greiss from the top of the circle which marked at least three for them off the iron to this point.

Gagner absorbed an ugly hit from behind along the boards in the Seattle zone, but with no call on the play. He looked a little shaken up but still able to play after he went to the bench. Seider was also hobbled after blocking a shot just on the inside of his knee. He winced on the bench but remained in the game.

Detroit went into their usual defensive shell when holding a one goal lead. It didnt take long for Seattle to gain momentum and with just under 7:00 to play they broke through. Oleksiak rushed down the right side and attempted to pull up and move to his forehand at the faceoff dot before losing control. However Donato picked up the loose puck and fired it immediately, beating Greiss low the far blocker side off the post and in. After tempting fate too many times the post did not bail Greiss out this time, 3-3.

The question naturally becomes how many blown leads will it take before Blashill and his staff decide sitting on one goal leads for long stretches just does not work. They were taking control of this game and couldve continued to apply pressure but completely let off the gas after taking the lead.

Erne was set up on a great one timer opportunity from the right circle that he hammered on net but Grubauer made a solid glove save on the play.

Shortly later, Erne set up Rasmussen on a similar attempt but Rasmussen whiffed on the one timer attempt.

The period ended with the teams all square and Detroit with a 25-23 shot advantage in the game. Detroit again flirting with holding a lead and unable to hold on to it. One day theyll figure it out.

Detroit opened the overtime session with Larkin, Raymond, and Seider looking to capture the same magic they did the other night against Buffalo. Detroit started with possession but after a lengthy fight down low in the offensive zone turned it over.

The teams tepidly attacked each other for the next several exchanges with no shots. Rasmussen found himself with the puck and almost immediately turned it over as the last man back. Luckily for him Greiss made a big save on Donato as he cut across the goal after the turnover. Erne earned cheers when he doggedly pursued the puck in the Seattle zone and forced a turnover.

With less than 2:00 to play, Detroits original trio of Larkin, Raymond, and Seider were back on the ice trying to create a late goal. But they too were rather conservative turning back several times. With just seconds to play Zadina made a pass to Hronek for a one timer from up high and it caught the post nearly ending it in dramatic fashion

First to shoot was Fabbri for Detroit. He came in with some speed down the right side. He tried to snap one low to the far side after a fake to the backhand but fired it wide.

Donato was Seattles first shooter and he had a hot stick tonight. On the attempt, he came in slow and tried to beat Greiss with a series of moves. Greiss did bite on one eventually but Donato bobbled the puck and couldnt jam it past Greiss pad.

The captain Larkin took Detroits next attempt. He went way out wide right, stalled as he came back across the hashes. He made a quick move to the forehand side and snapped it to the far side beating Grubauer for the first tally of the shootout.

Jared McCann was next up for Seattle. He raced in and tried to make one too many moves and Greiss easily swallowed up the puck taking away any space from McCann.

With a chance to end it, Lucas Raymond attacked from the left side. He cut well low, not cutting back across the net front until he got below the faceoff dot. After a couple of quick stick handles he hit the post with a shot low to the far side.

To extend the shootout, Joonas Donskoi was up for Seattle. He fumbled the puck on a backhand deke but was lucky as Greiss missed the puck on the poke check and it squeaked through his pads and went in. The referees decided this was worth a review to see if Donskoi touched it after losing control. Following review it was a good goal and the shootout continued.

Adam Erne had the next chance. With a rather simple attempt he beat Grubauer over the elbow with a shot to the blocker side from the hash mark.

Trying to again extend the shootout, Alex Wennberg drew the puck back between the hash marks and tried to rip one past Greiss but the goaltender was able to deflect it away, giving Detroit the win 4-3 Red Wings, LGRW!

While it was a good end result for Detroit, theres a bit of a sour taste from blowing yet another 3rd period lead. This team always finds a way to keep it exciting. Blashill and his staff are going to need to throw the book away on current strategies for holding a lead because the team continues to drop them. Perhaps being more aggressive with the lead is the answer but we havent seen them try.

That being said this was a good win for the team playing the second half of back to backs after playing in Boston last night. Giving up the lead twice in this game couldve been enough to break a team running low on gas especially after Seattle took the 2-1 lead. But they climbed back in and showed strong resilence.

Raymond and Seider are not showing any signs of slowing down, they continue to take the league by storm and make several noticeable plays each in almost every game. Wings fans need to be prepared that a wall could be coming for these two given the slower schedules theyve been used to in Europe, especially given the big minutes and roles theyve been playing. But thats no reason not to enjoy it as long as it lasts.

Larkin and Raymond showed that even without Bertuzzi that top line can drive play all game long. But behind them Zadina had some impressive stretches tonight. He could easily have backed down after his demotion but he looks driven and continues to try and make plays. Yes he still needs to finish more regularly, like the goal against Boston, but there could be a breakthrough soon.

Despite playing on the second line, Givani Smith played a team low 6:28, less than newcomer Criscuolos 9:17 tonight. It seems Zadina may find his way back up sooner rather than later.

All in all a win is a win and one Detroit will happily take. On to the next one Saturday when the Islanders come to town.

Read the rest here:

Red Wings Manage Rough Seas and Conquer Kraken 4-3 in Shootout - Winging It In Motown

Until recently, scientists knew relatively little about the lives of birds on the open North Atlantic. But a group of researchers has identified a habitat in the ocean teeming with great shearwaters and other seabirds. Simon J. Pinder

Ewan Wakefield had been sailing across the North Atlantic for days when the ocean suddenly greened. A phytoplankton bloom had emerged at the edge of an oceanic cold front roughly 1,000 kilometers south of Greenland, attracting precisely what Wakefield was hoping to find. Dozens of seabirdsgreat shearwaters, fulmars, and othersappeared, swinging in high arcs near the vessel, bombing the sea surface, and feeding like crazy, he says. It is what we call a hotspot.

Seabirds comprise one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates. Almost half of all seabirds are in decline. Until recently, scientists knew relatively little about the lives of the birds that dwell on the open North Atlantic. These species spend most of their existence beyond the continental shelves, where life is diffuse and at-sea surveys are costly and dangerous. Not knowing where they live or feed has made protecting the birds nearly impossible. But a group of about 80 scientists, including Wakefield, a biologist at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, has been scouring the North Atlantic to find out more. In the process, theyve identified an ocean habitat teeming with birds.

In an area spanning nearly 600,000 square kilometersreaching from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Labrador to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and from the Azores to the Labrador Basin off Greenlandscientists have found the highest concentration of seabirds ever documented on the open ocean. According to the researchers, an estimated 2.9 to five million seabirds visit the area yearly.

It is a surprise, says Wakefield, who surveyed the area in 2017. The North Atlantic is bounded by some of the most developed countries in the world. And we werent doing that research in our backyard.

The discovery, announced in aseriesofpaperspublished this year, has already prompted a multinationalagreementdeclaring that this vitally important area for seabirds needs to be protected.

I dont think anyone really thought it would be this big or this many birds consistently using the site, says Tammy Davies, a conservation scientist and marine science coordinator at the conservation nonprofit BirdLife International, who led the research that identified the area.

Davies and her colleagues at BirdLife International first became aware of the outsized importance of this stretch of the North Atlantic in 2016, when they began mappingdatafrom previous studies that had tracked 1,500 birds from 56 breeding colonies. The area jumped out. At least 21 species were using it, in many cases for hunting and foraging in the months after the energy-intensive mating seasons. Some, such as the great shearwater, were in molt, a vulnerable period when birds shed and regrow feathers. Wakefield says the birds are likely drawn to the areas oceanic frontswhere the Gulf Stream abuts cold northern waterswhich are rich with phytoplankton, small fish, and crustaceans.

Theres always some hesitancy when extrapolating beyond a few tracked individuals, says Autumn-Lynn Harrison, an ecologist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center who was not involved in the research. But theres no doubt that the absolute number of species that use this place is real.This place is very important.

The agreement to establish this area as the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount Marine Protected Area (NACES MPA) was made by the Oslo-Paris Convention on the protection of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), an international body representing 15 countries and the European Union. OSPAR was the organization that established the first network of marine reserves on the high seas in 2010, protecting areas beyond the reach of national jurisdictions. The NACES MPA is the conventions 11th high-seas reserve and its largest. Yet OSPARs declaration only marks that the area should be protectedexactly what shape that protection will take has yet to be decided.

Its a starting point, says Erich Hoyt, a research fellow with the international NGO Whale and Dolphin Conservation, who has written extensively on marine protected areas. Every protected area starts out on paper, and its what you make of it that becomes something.

OSPARs high-seas reserves offer some protection, but because there is at present no global consensus on how to regulate the open ocean, OSPARs powers are extremely limited. It does not have sole jurisdiction in its protected areas, and it cannot ban longline fishing or seafloor mining, which are managed by separate organizations.

There are lots of opportunities for ensuring [the NACES MPA] doesnt become a paper park, though, says Davies. OSPARs members have committed to monitoring human activities in the area and addressing new threats as they arise. Carrying this out falls to the individual governments that make up OSPAR.

When Wakefield zigzagged across the region four years ago, he noticed a small number of cargo ships and longliners. We also saw fishing gearghost gearfloating around out there, which would still be catching birds, he says, but given that its so far from shore, the NACES area sees relatively few impacts.

Still, as global fish stocks shrink, pressure to develop fisheries in international waters is expected to increase. Threats from deep-sea mining, fossil fuel extraction, and climate change arent going away either. So, while the NACES MPA is unblemished compared to many parts of the ocean, the challenge will be to keep it that way.

This article is from Hakai Magazine, an online publication about science and society in coastal ecosystems. Read more stories like this at hakaimagazine.com.

Related stories from Hakai Magazine:

Why Are There So Many Kinds of Phytoplankton

My Familys Pacific Island Home Is Grappling with Deep-Sea Mining

Recommended Videos

Read more from the original source:

Regulators Look to Protect a Seabird Hotspot in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean - Smithsonian

Mila McKey, the Shinnecock aquaculture manager, farms oysters in Heady Creek, Southampton.

Emma Newburger / CNBC

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. The Shinnecock Indian Nation once had seasonal villages that stretched across the eastern end of Long Island. But after centuries of land loss and forced relocation, more than 600 tribe members now live on a shrinking 1.5 square mile peninsula.

The Shinnecock, whose name means the "people of the stony shore," are fighting to save what's left of their land as climate change prompts sea levels to rise and eat away the shoreline. The tribe has used nature to restore the land, from building oyster reefs to lining up boulders on the shoreline to blunt the energy of the waves of Shinnecock Bay.

"This is the only place we have to remain. This is our homeland," said Shavonne Smith, director of the tribe's environmental department, walking near a scared burial ground that's at risk of flooding. "And this is all that's left of it."

Since the mid-19th century, the Shinnecock have had a reservation of about 800 acres a fraction of their traditional lands. Sea level rise on the Shinnecock lands is projected to reach between 2.1 to 4.4 feet by the end of the century. Nearly half of the peninsula is forecast to be inundated by floods if a 100-year storm occurs in 2050, when sea levels are projected to be 1.5 feet higher than today, according to the tribe's climate adaptation report.

"The water levels are getting higher. I've seen it," said Shinnecock aquaculture manager Mila McKey, who grows oysters and restores clam populations in a creek on the tribe's land. "Everyone's affected by it."

Across the shoreline from the reservation, rising sea levels also plague the affluent beachfront communities of Southampton, where some homeowners have resorted to building sea walls that temporarily hold back water while causing the beach to wash away. The federal government is set to spend billions of dollars shoring up the coastline and protecting real estate in areas like Fire Island, Southampton and East Hampton.

The Shinnecock's battle to save their land from rising seas and erosion reflects a broader problem of racial inequity and environmental justice in the U.S., where historically oppressed and disenfranchised indigenous groups have been left more exposed to the effects of climate change. As global temperatures rise and climate disasters grow more frequent and intense, marginalized groups are under greater pressure to fight and adapt to climate change.

For centuries, European settlers, and later the U.S. government, have forcefully relocated Indigenous tribes onto marginal lands more vulnerable to climate hazards. Research published in the journal Science in October found that tribal nations have lost 99% of their historic territory. The land they were left with is often more prone to disasters like heat waves, wildfires and drought, as well having diminished economic value due to lower mineral resource potential.

The Shinnecock are restoring clam populations in Heady Creek and building an oyster reef to blunt the energy of the waves along the bay.

Emma Newburger | CNBC

Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was particularly destructive for the reservation. It washed away bluffs along the shores in the Great Peconic Bay area, inundated the cemetery and ripped roofs off tribal buildings and residential homes. Research shows that more than $8 billion of the total $60 billion in damage from Sandy was attributable to rising sea levels.

Mass relocation due to climate change would be devastating for the Shinnecock, who have inhabited this slice of land for generations. Unlike many of the beachfront homeowners in the Hamptons, who could relocate inland, the Shinnecock, along with other Indian reservations across the U.S., have strict boundaries and a cultural connection to the land.

"The Shinnecock have been restricted," said Alison Branco, the coastal director for the Nature Conservancy in New York. "It's one thing to ask people to move inland when they have a town. But when your reservation is already small and shrinking from sea level rise that's a completely different situation."

The Shinnecock descended from the Pequot and Narragansett Nations of southern New England. In the mid-17th century, European settlers arrived in eastern Long Island and encroached on the tribal lands, bringing infectious diseases that decimated the Shinnecock population.

For generations, the Shinnecock lived in seasonal villages on Long Island, where they moved closer to the water in the spring and summer and moved to woodland areas in the fall and winter. Now, the majority of the reservation resides in a low-lying, south-facing peninsula on Shinnecock Bay that's particularly vulnerable to ocean storm surges and floods. Climate change is also harming the quality of the water by increasing temperatures, salinity and acidification.

Shavonne Smith, director of the Shinnecock Nation's environmental department, stands on the shore of the Shinnecock Bay.

Emma Newburger / CNBC

Today, one in five people on the reservation live below the poverty line. Life on the reservation marks a sharp contrast to surrounding communities, home to the Hamptons elite, many of whom have clashed with the Shinnecock over the tribe's plans to construct a casino to stimulate the economy.

The tribe is now doing everything in its capacity to work against the rising sea levels that have eroded the beaches and flooded homes.

In 2014, the tribe received a $3.75 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore some of the shoreline. The Shinnecock used to money to build anoyster shell reef along the bay that works to mitigate the energy of the waves and protect nearby homes from storm surges. The tribe also planted sea and beach grasses to hold the sand in place and lined large boulders near the high tide line to protect the grasses.

The Shinnecock also recently received state funding to conduct a Heady Creek management plan to study water quality and coastal erosion. The tribe is expanding an oyster hatchery and hopes the facility will produce more reefs along the bay, improve the water quality and produce oysters for the local market.

Heady Creek is located between the Shinnecock reservation and Meadow Lane, a street that runs from the tip of Southampton's barrier island and consists primarily of mansions valued at tens of millions of dollars. McKey said the fertilizer runoff from those homes has affected the creek's water quality and worries that the rise in acidification will harm his shellfish.

"The ecosystem is so precious," McKey said during a walk along the creek. "It's more vulnerable as the area gets built up."

Expensive beachfront homes in Southampton are vulnerable to coastal erosion and rising sea levels.

Emma Newburger / CNBC

Nature-based solutions to prevent erosion often cost less and are better for the ecosystem than other projects like building sea walls, which the town of Southampton has urged residents against building. So far, Smith said, the Shinnecock's efforts have successfully held the water back.

Moving forward, the tribe said it requires additional funding to pour more sand on the beach and expand the oyster reef. Still, these plans are only temporary.

"None of these things are preventing the water from rising. Eventually they will become overwhelmed," Branco said. "The only solution that will be enduring in the long-term is making space for the ocean through mass relocation."

The problem is dire across the world. Half of the world's beaches could disappear by the end of the century from climate change-induced rising seas and coastal erosion, according to a study published in thejournal Nature Climate Change. The Shinnecock area in Southampton could experience chronic floods of more than 6 feet by 2050, according to climate models.

Branco said that while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has given some grants to Shinnecock Nation, the scale of what the tribe is receiving is an order of magnitude smaller than the scale of investment the federal government is set to funnel into shoring up coast lines in affluent areas on Long Island.

Since the mid-19th century, the Shinnecock have had a reservation of roughly 800 acres a fraction of their traditional lands.

Emma Newburger / CNBC

The U.S. is set to spend at least $1.7 billion over the next three decades to shore up about 80 miles of Long Island waterfront with sand infusions, as part of theFire Island to Montauk Point project.

The project, directed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and slated to begin in December,includes millions of dollars to pump offshore sand back onto beaches and lift waterfront homes onto stilts in areas like Fire Island, Southampton and Montauk, where waterfront homes at higher risk of flooding currently sell at a massive premium. The project is also targeting thousands of homes for lifting projects in the less affluent area of Mastic Beach, where the median home priceis roughly $330,000.

The Army Corps project will focus funding on areas that will prevent the most economic damage possible while protecting the environment. In areas with expensive real estate, it's typically cheaper for the government to lift a flood-prone house up rather than buying and destroying it. This could lead to more buyouts and relocation in less affluent areas as flood conditions worsen, while people in high-value property areas might be able to remain in place longer.

"It's a fallacy that we're only lifting homes that are worth a lot of money," said James D'Ambrosio, a spokesman for the Army Corps in New York. "We're doing the best we can with the funds we have to give the taxpayer the biggest bang for their buck."

The Shinnecock, in their adaptation report, said that mass relocation from climate change is not a realistic option because their people are inherently tied to the land. But given grim projections of sea level rise on Long Island, experts say the tribe and many others on Long Island may eventually have no choice.

Smith, who's lived on the reservation her entire life, described how the Shinnecock elders have noticed the changing shoreline and worry over what the land will look like for their grandchildren.

"We have an emotional, spiritual and genetic attachment to this place," Smith said. "The potential of having to leave it would bring up a lot of trauma to a people who already live with historical trauma."

See the article here:

How a Native American tribe on Long Island is losing its land to rising seas - CNBC

A new season of Tribes of Midgard will start up this month, expanding the Viking game with new mechanics, new gear, new runes and a fearsome new saga boss to hunt down and destroy before the arrival of Fimbulwinter. Season 2: Serpent Saga kicks off December 14, and when it does, prepare to take to the high seas.

Season two introduces new seafaring mechanics to Tribes of Midgard. The free update adds the shipyard, which youll find near your village on an ash beach. Once youve rebuilt it, youll be able to craft boat kits, which you can use to create a range of boats. These will prove to be important in season two, since youll be searching for a new saga boss, which developer Norsfell hints is hidden away in a mysterious island lair.

While Norsfell hasnt said so officially, the Serpent Saga title for the season suggests rather strongly that youll be hunting down Jrmungandr, who is both a massive sea serpent and the middle child of trickster god Loki and Angrboa, the legendary jtunn and mother of monsters.

This new saga boss wont be replacing season ones boss, Fenrir in fact, Norsfell says that daring warriors will be able to attempt to take down both saga bosses in a single session.

Also new in season two is swimming, which will become a vital skill to have should anything unfortunate happen to one of the boats youve built. You can only swim for as long as youve got stamina left in your meter, however, so make sure youve got another ship or some dry land to climb onto close at hand when you go overboard.

The launch of the new season will also mark the kickoff of the seasonal Yulidays event, which runs December 14 January 3. The event features a list of themed challenges, and youll earn new cosmetics, a pet, and other festive goodies for participating.

Norsfell has also updated the Tribes of Midgard roadmap for the near term. In early 2022, as part of season two, you can expect a new saga boss variant, more new gear to loot, new quests, and more.

{"schema":{"page":{"content":{"headline":"Tribes of Midgards next season begins this month, with a new saga boss and boats","type":"news","category":"tribes-of-midgard"},"user":{"loginstatus":false},"game":{"publisher":"","genre":"Strategy Gamer","title":"Tribes of Midgard","genres":["Strategy Gamer","Survival","RPG"]}}}}

Continued here:

Tribes of Midgard's next season begins this month, with a new saga boss and boats - PCGamesN

Life of Pi had a first life as a Booker prize-winning novel by Yann Martel and a second as an Oscar-winning film by Ang Lee. Both were utterly captivating. Now comes playwright Lolita Chakrabartis stage spectacular (first presented in Sheffield in 2019) about Piscine Pi Patel, the zookeepers son from Pondicherry who claims to have survived a shipwreck in a life-raft with a Bengal tiger in tow.

The magic here lies firmly in aesthetics, from the teeming menagerie of large-scale puppets, exquisitely designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, to visual effects that surge, dazzle and undulate like ocean waves (stage design by Tim Hatley with video design by Andrzej Goulding and lighting by Tim Lutkin).

The script and characterisation are flat-footed by comparison: Ive had a terrible trip, says Pi from his hospital bed at the start (the framing device here is different from the book and film). It is meant to be wry but, like much of the dialogue, lands with a thud.

Martels original, unreliable narration left enough space for us to decide if Pis story was one of hope, faith and tiger-taming or of survivors guilt, trauma and delusion. His subtle explorations of truth and the necessary comforts of make-believe are shoe-horned in as soundbites about God, the beauty of the world and storytelling.

The visual effects seem to compete with, and ultimately drown out, the quieter, more philosophical elements of the drama, not leaving enough room for Pis existential rumination, which is key to his tale.

As Pi, Hiran Abeysekera looks every inch the puckish man-boy and is incredibly light on his feet. He plays him as a 17-year-old survivor with PTSD in hospital, and as a slightly maniacal castaway on the boat. He is good at conjuring alarm in whooping, adrenalised highs but seems tense and overwrought in the softer moments.

The characters on the whole are vividly drawn but ironed to a cartoonish flatness, and the tone between them is barking and shrill. Pis father (Nicholas Khan) has a touch of Basil Fawlty, his mother (Mina Anwar) and sister (Payal Mistry) lack distinction and ancillary characters feel like cardboard cut-outs. As a childrens show, the jokes hold but an older audience feels the lack of a finer, more subtle script to square up to the sophisticated visuals.

Still, under Max Websters direction, the stage is full of energy and surprise. Once upon a time, says Pi, as he takes us on the first of many flashbacks, which transform the stage in seconds. There is a flurry of butterflies, a starry sky, iridescent shoals of fish and immersive storms that wrack the extremities of the stage.

Zebras, giraffes, hyenas and turtles are manipulated sublimely, transporting us to the family zoo and then to the high seas. The first sight of Richard Parker, the tiger, is a breathtaking moment and emulates the CGI effects in Lees film. The life-raft rises out of the floor and the back screen cracks open from its middle, like a suitcase, as the family sets sail for Canada. These animals and effects are a wonder to behold and become the real stars of this show.

Originally posted here:

Life of Pi review the animals are the stars in this puppet-powered show - The Guardian

Klay Thompson is working his way back to the basketball court. After each of the last two seasons were taken away from the Golden State Warriors sharpshooting wing due to injuries, Thompson has spent the early part of this season on the road to recovery, and its believed that he hopes to suit back up for the Dubs sometime before Christmas.

While Thompsons been going through this, hes carved out a niche as the NBAs premier boat guy. Thompson will go live on Instagram while hes on a boat, navigating the open waters with vibes that are absolutely pristine. In his latest video, Thompson explored the high seas and expressed his belief that the fine city of Seattle, Washington deserves to get an NBA team again.

Bring back our Sonics! Thompson exclaimed. Seattle deserves a team. Give Seattle our team back. Bring back our Sonics!

Thompson, of course, went to Washington State and spent time in Lake Oswego, Oregon as a child, which is a few hours away from Seattle. He actually grew up a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers his dad, Mychal, played for the team growing up but wanting the Sonics back in Seattle transcends any type of fandom.

See the original post:

Klay Thompson Wants The NBA To 'Bring Back Our Sonics' - UPROXX

Bangladeshs strong commitment to peace and humanity encouraged it to stand for the persecuted Myanmar nationals, he says

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has alerted the international community about possible disruption of peace and security in the region due to prolonged stay of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

"As the crisis lingers, the desperation of these forcibly displaced people increases jeopardizing the peace and security of the region," he said as the two-day World Peace Conference ended on Sunday evening.

Momen said Bangladeshs strong commitment to peace and humanity encouraged it to stand for the persecuted Myanmar nationals.

Also Read-Momen seeks Commonwealth's help to expedite Rohingya repatriation

Like many other countries, he said, Bangladesh could have turned its back and remained insensitive. "Such indifference, however, is alien to our psyche," said the foreign minister.

Quoting Dr Martin Luther King, he said: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

"Lets lit up the power of love in every heart and create a mindset of tolerance; let the message of peace which this conference has generated help construct a defence of peace in every mind.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the closing ceremony as the chief guest.

Also Read-Rohingya repatriation: PM Hasina seeks strong steps from world leaders

In Dhaka Peace Declaration, the participants said they remain sensitized to the growing security, displacement and ecological challenges posed by climate change and commit to enhanced climate action for a peaceful and sustainable future of planet.

"We must join forces to keep our oceans and high seas, outer space and Polar Regions free from armed conflicts and contestations," the Peace Declaration read.

The participants said they need to make the various components and manifestations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution employed at the service of our shared well-being.

Originally posted here:

FM Momen: Rohingyas staying in Bangladesh is security threat to region - Dhaka Tribune

Todays chart is best viewed full-screen. Explore the high resolution version by clicking here.

Sailors have been circumnavigating the high seas for centuries now, but what could be found beneath the sunlit surface of the ocean remained a mystery until far more recently. In fact, it wasnt until 1875, during the Challenger expedition, that humanity got its first concrete idea of how deep the ocean actually was.

Todays graphic, another fantastic piece by xkcd, is a unique and entertaining look at everything from Lake Superiors ice encrusted shoreline down to blackest, inhospitable trench (which today bears the name of the expedition that first discovered it).

The graphic is packed with detail, so well only highlight a few points of interest.

Deep in Siberia, abutting a mountainous stretch of the Mongolian border, is the one of the most remarkable bodies of water on Earth: Lake Baikal. There are a number of qualities that make Lake Baikal stand out.

Depth: Baikal, located in a massive continental rift, is the deepest lake in the world at 1,642m (5,387ft). That extreme depth holds a lot of fresh water. In fact, an estimated 22% of all the worlds fresh water can be found in the lake.

Age: Baikal (which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is estimated to be over 25 million years old, making it the most ancient lake on the planet.

Clarity: Interestingly, the water in the lake is exceptionally clear. In winter, visibility can extend over 30m (98ft) below the surface.

Biodiversity: The unique ecosystem of Lake Baikal provides a home for thousands of plant and animal species. In fact, upwards of 80% of those species are endemic, meaning they are unique to that region.

Since 1964, a hard-working research submersible named Alvin has been helping us better understand the deep ocean. Alvin explored the wreckage of RMS Titanic in 1986, and helped confirm the existence of black smokers (one of the weirdest ecosystems in the world).

Though most of the components of the vessel have been replaced and upgraded over the years, its still in use today. In 2020, Alvin received an $8 million upgrade, and is now capable of exploring 99% of the ocean floor.

We know more about the surface of Venus than the bottom of the ocean. The potential for discovery is huge. Anna-Louise Reysenbach, Professor of Microbiology, PSU

The deepest point in the ocean is the Mariana Trench, at 11,034 meters (36,201 feet).

This trench is located in the Pacific Ocean, near Guam and the trenchs namesake, the Mariana Islands. While the trench is the most extreme example of ocean depths, when compared to surface level distance, its depth is shorter than Manhattan.

Obviously, the context of surface distance is wildly different than vertical distance, but it serves as a reminder of how narrow the explorable band of the Earths surface is.

The ancient Greek word, byssos, roughly means unfathomable, bottomless gulf. While there is a bottom (the abyssopelagic zone comprises around 75% of the ocean floor), the enormous scale of this ecosystem is certainly unfathomable.

Objectively, the abyssal plain is not the prettiest part of the ocean. Its nearly featureless, and lacks the panache of, say, a coral reef, but there are still some very compelling reasons were eager to explore it. Resource companies are chiefly interested in polymetallic nodules, which are essentially rich manganese formations scattered about on the sea bottom.

Manganese is already essential in steel production, but demand is also getting a substantial lift from the fast-growing electric vehicle market. The first company to find an economical way to harvest nodules from the ocean floor could reap a significant windfall.

Demand for resources can force humans into some very inhospitable places, and in the case of Deepwater Horizon, we chased oil to a depth even surpassing the famed Marianas Trench.

Drilling that far below the surface is a complicated endeavor, and when the drill platform was put into service in 2001, it was hailed as an engineering marvel. To this day, Deepwater Horizon holds the record for the deepest offshore hole ever made.

After the rigs infamous explosion and subsequent spill in 2010, that depth record for drilling may stand the test of time.

See the original post:

Visualizing the Accumulation of Human-Made Mass on Earth - Visual Capitalist

Sign warns drivers to engage lower gear on some of the steep roadways on an icy / snowy Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. Image: Weatherboy

The National Weather Service in Honolulu, Hawaii has raised a Blizzard Warning for portions of the Big Island where heavy snow and winds with the potential to do damage are expected tomorrow into Saturday. The Blizzard Warning is in effect from Friday night through Saturday night and includes the higher elevations of the Big Island of Hawaii which include Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Several inches fell on Mauna Kea on Tuesday, prompting officials to close roads due to ice and snow conditions there.

According to the National Weather Service, a foot or more of snow is possible between Friday and Saturday; however, what will make conditions really bad will be the powerful winds. Wind gusts higher than 100 mph are possible, which is the equivalent of a mid range Category 2 Hurricanes winds on the Saffir Simpson wind scale.Blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility at times, with periods of zero visibility, the National Weather Service Warns.

Bluntly, the National Weather Service warns, Travel could be very difficult to impossible.

A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow or ice accumulations that may impact the summits. Anyone planning travel to the summits, including hikers and campers, should monitor the latest forecasts and consider postponing their trip until improved weather returns.

In addition to the Blizzard Warning, the National Weather Service has also issued a High Wind Warning. In addition to the higher terrain of Hawaii Island, the High Wind Warning is also in effect for Maui and Haleakala, a popular tourist attraction on the Valley Isle. The High Wind Warning is in effect from 6pm Friday until 6am Monday local time. Southwest winds of 50 to 80 mph are likely with localized gusts over 100 mph. The National Weather Service says, Winds this strong will make driving and walking extremely dangerous. The winds can cause significant damage or injuries.

Tourists and local residents should avoid the Blizzard Warning and High Wind Warning zones until this significant winter storm passes. The warnings are up for elevations at and above 6,000 feet.

While most people dont associate the tropical paradise Hawaii is known for with snow, theyre surprised to learn that it does snow in the winter due to the elevation of these volcanic peaks. Mauna Kea is the highest of the bunch at 13,803 feet. Mauis Haleakala is much lower at 10,023 feet. Because of that difference, Hawaii Island will see snow more frequently than the lower Maui Island. Just one storm last Januarydropped 2-3 feet of snow on Hawaii Island and created snow drifts that were far deeper.

In addition to coating Mauna Kea, this new snowstorm could bring snow to Mauna Loa, considered to be the worlds largest active volcano. While its larger in volume than Mauna Kea, its a tad bit shorter, standing up at 13,678 feet compared to Mauna Keas 13,803. Because Mauna Loa is an active volcano and Mauna Kea isnt, there isnt much in the way of buildings or telescopes on it. While there are science stations and the HI-SEAS Lunar / Mars simulating lab are on Mauna Loa, a single narrow road rides up the slope and it stops short of the summit. Both roads up Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are likely to be closed during and immediately after the storm.

Visit link:

Hawaii Winter Storm Watch Upgraded to Blizzard Warning - Weatherboy

Here's What You Need to Know:Weaponeers are working at helter-skelter speed to remedy the U.S. Navys range shortfall.

Ah, yes, the carrier-killer. China is forevertoutingthe array of guided missiles its weaponeers have devised to pummel U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs). Most prominent among them are its DF-21D and DF-26 antiship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), which the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has made a mainstay of Chinasanti-access/area-denial(A2/AD) defenses.

Beijing has made believers of important audiences, including the scribes who toil away at the Pentagon producing estimates of Chinese martial might. Indeed, the most recent annual report on Chinese military powerstatesmatter-of-factly that the PLA can now use DF-21Ds to attack ships, including aircraft carriers, more than nine hundred statute miles from Chinas shorelines.

Scary. But the U.S. Navy has carrier-killers of its own. Or, more accurately, it hasshipkillers of its own: what can disable or sink a flattop can make short work of lesser warships. And antiship weaponry is multiplying in numbers, range, and lethality as the navy reawakens from itspost-Cold War holiday from history. Whose carrier-killer trumps whose will hinge in large part on where a sea fight takes place.

Thatcarrier-killer imageryresonates with Western audiences comes as little surprise. It implies that Chinese rocketeers can send the pride of the U.S. Navy to the bottom from a distance, and sink U.S. efforts to succor Asian allies in the process. Worse, it implies that PLA commanders could pull off such a world-historical feat without deigning to send ships to sea or warplanes into thecentral blue. Close the firing key on the ASBM launcher, andpresto!, it happens.

Well, maybe.Why obsess over technical minutiae like firing range? For one thing, the nine-hundred-mile range cited for the DF-21D far exceeds the reach of carrier-based aircraft. A carrier task force, consequently, could take a heckuva beating just arriving on Asian battlegrounds. And the range mismatch could get worse. Unveiled at the PLAs military parade through Beijing last fall, the DF-26 will reportedlysporta maximum firing range of 1,800-2,500 miles.

If the technology pans out, PLA ballistic missiles could menace U.S. and allied warships plying the seas anywhere within Asias second island chain. The upper figure for DF-26 range, moreover, would extend ASBMs reach substantially beyond the island chain.

From an Atlantic perspective, striking a ship east of Guam from coastal China is like smiting a ship cruising east of Greenland from a missile battery in downtown Washington, DC. Reaching Guam would become a hazardous prospect for task forces steaming westward from Hawaii or the American west coast, while shipping based at Guam, Japan, or other Western Pacific outposts would live under the constant shadow of missile attack.

Now, its worth noting that the PLA hasnever testedthe DF-21D over water, five-plus years afterinitially deployingit. Still less has the DF-26 undergone testing under battle conditions. Thats cause to pause and reflect. As the immortalMurphymight counsel, technology not perfected in peacetime tends to disappoint its user in wartime.

Still, an ASBM will be a useful piece of kit if Chinese engineers have made it work. The U.S. military boasts no counterpart to Chinas family of ASBMs. Nor is it likely to. The United States isbound by treatynot to develop mid-range ballistic missiles comparable to the DF-21D or DF-26. Even if Washington canceled its treaty commitments today, it would take years if not decades for weapons engineers to design, test, and field a shipkilling ballistic missile from a cold start.

Still, the U.S. Navy isnt without options in naval war. Far from it. How would American mariners would dispatch an enemy flattop in combat? The answer is the default answer we give in my department in Newport: it depends.

It would depend, that is, on where the encounter took place. A fleet duel involving carriers would take a far different trajectory on the open searemote from fire support from Fortress China, the PLAs unsinkable aircraft carrierthan if it unfolded within range of ASBMs, cruise missiles, or aircraft emplaced along seacoasts or offshore islands.

The former would be a fleet-on-fleet affair: whatever firepower each force totes to the scene of action decides the outcome, seamanship, tactical acumen, and lan being equal. The latter would let PLA commanders hurl land-based weaponry into the fray. But at the same time, the U.S. Navy would probably fight alongside allied naviesfrom the likes of Japan, South Korea or Australiain near-shore combat. And, like China, the allies couldharness Asias congested offshore geography,using land-based armamentsto augment their fleets innate combat punch.

In short, the two tactical arenas differ starkly from each other. The latter is messier and more prone to chance, uncertainty, and the fog of warnot to mention the derring-do of an enterprising foe.

Submarine warfare would constitute a common denominator in U.S. maritime strategy for oceanic and near-shore combat. Nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) such as U.S.Virginia- orLos Angeles-class boats can raid surface shipping on the high seas. Or they can slip underneath A2/AD defenses to assault enemy vessels, including flattops, in their coastal redoubts.

In short, SSNs are workhorses in U.S. naval operations. Thats why its a grave mistake for Congress tolet the size of the SSN fleetdwindle from fifty-three today to forty-one in 2029. Thats a 23 percent drop in the number of hulls at a time when China is bulking up its fleet of nuclear- and conventionally propelled substo as many as 78 by 2020and Russia is rejuvenating its silent-running sub force.

American submarines, then, are carrier-killers regardless of the tactical setting. Now, theres a bit of a futurist feel to talk about battling Chinese carrier groups. At present the PLA Navy has just one flattop, a refitted Soviet vessel dubbedLiaoning. That vessel is and will probably remain a training carrier, grooming aviators and ship crews for the operational carriersmost likely improved versions ofLiaoningthat arereportedly undergoing construction.

Lets suppose Chinese shipyards complete the PLAs second carrierChinas first indigenously built carrierat the same clip that Newport News Shipbuilding completed USSForrestal, the nations first supercarrier and a conventionally propelled vessel with roughly the same dimensions and complexity asLiaoning. It tookjust over three yearsto buildForrestal, from the time shipbuilders laid her keel until she was placed in commission.

Lets further suppose that the PLA Navy has made great strides in learning how to operate carrier task forces at sea. If so, the navy will integrate the new flattop seamlessly and speedily into operations, making it a battleworthy addition to Chinas oceangoing fleet. Our hypothetical high-seas clash thus could take place circa 2020.

In 2020, as today, the carrier air wing will remain the surface U.S. Navys chief carrier-killer. U.S. CVNs can carryabout 85 tactical aircraft. While estimates of the size of a future Chinese flattops air wing vary, lets take ahigh-end estimateof 50 fixed-wing planes and helicopters. That means, conservatively speaking, that the U.S. CVNs complement will be 70 percent larger than its PLA Navy opponents.

And in all likelihood, the American complement will be superior to the Chinese on a warbird-for-warbird basis. It appears future PLA Navy flattops will, likeLiaoning, be outfitted with ski jumps on their bows to vault aircraft into the sky. That limits the weightand thus the load of fuel and weaponsthat a Chinese aircraft can haul while still getting off the flight deck.

U.S. CVNs, meanwhile, slingshot heavy-laden fighter/attack jets off their flight decks using steam or electromagnetic catapults. More armaments translates into a heavier-hitting naval air force, more fuel into greater range and time on station.

For example, F-18E/F Super Hornet fighter/attack jets can operate against targetsaround 400 nautical miles distant, not counting the additional distance their weapons travel after firing. Thats roughly comparable to the combat radius advertised for Chinese J-15 carrier planesbut again, a U.S. air wing will outnumber its Chinese counterpart while packing more punch per airframe. Advantage: U.S. Navy.

By 2020, moreover, promising antiship weaponry may have matured and joined the U.S. arsenal. At present the surface navys main antiship armament is the elderly Harpoon cruise missile, a bird of 1970s vintage with arange exceeding 60 miles. That pales in comparison with the latest PLA Navy birdsmost notably the YJ-18,which boasts a range of 290 nautical miles.

Weaponeers are working at helter-skelter speed to remedy the U.S. Navys range shortfall. Boeing, the Harpoons manufacturer, isdoublingthe birds range. The Pentagons Strategic Capabilities Office recentlyrepurposedthe SM-6 surface-to-air missile for antiship missions, doubling or tripling the surface fleets striking range against carrier or surface-action groups. And on it goes. Last year the navytested an antiship variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile, reinventing averyverylong-range capabilitythat existed in the late Cold War. A newlong-range antiship missileis undergoing development.

Read the original here:

Beijing's Nightmare: How the U.S. Navy Could Sink Its Prized Aircraft Carriers - The National Interest