Category Archives: Evolution

Welcome to SaturCaturday, December 30, 2023, and, being my birthday, its the LAST DAY OF COYNEZAA. On the Sabbath, too. Its also the worst of all food days: National Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) Day, presumably to ease your tummy from holiday eating.

Its also Bacon Day (much better, though not kosher), the fifth day of Kwanzaa, and the sixth of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Readers are welcome to mark notable events, births, or deaths on this by consulting the December 30 Wikipedia page.

Da Nooz:

*I bet a lot of us, including me, have forgotten about the war in Ukraine. Sadly, it doesnt seem to be going well, and on Friday Russia inflicted severe damage on the small country with drone and missile attacks.

Russia fired more than 100 missiles at Ukraine on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, striking multiple residential buildings, a shopping center and other civilian infrastructure in the biggest barrage so far in an otherwise quiet winter.

The scale of the attack confirmed what many in Ukraine have feared for months that Russia was conserving its missile stocks throughout the fall for massive strikes in the winter. Officials in Kyiv have also warned that stalled U.S. security assistance, which includes ammunition for U.S.-made air-defense systems, could embolden the Russians and place Ukrainian cities in peril.

Britains Defense Minister Grant Shapps said his country was sending hundreds of air-defense missiles to Ukraine to ensure it has what it needs to defend itself from Putins barbaric bombardment.

Putin is testing Ukraines defense and the Wests resolve, hoping he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong, Shappssaid in a statement.

The Russians used a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, Zelensky said. Unlike a year ago, Ukraines improved, Western-provided air-defense systems, which now include the Patriot system, contained the damage, shooting down most of the 110 missiles, the president added. Last year, millions of Ukrainians experienced outages when Russia repeatedly pounded the power grid.

. . . The attacks intended to exhaust Ukraines beefed-up air defense, according to officials hit sites across the country, from Lviv in western Ukraine to Odessa in the south to the capital of Kyiv to Kharkiv and Dnipro in the east. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnattold Ukrainian mediathere had never been so many targets at one time.

One of the missiles was in Polish airspace for a few minutes, which of course entitled Poland to shoot it down. But they lack the capacity. It now looks very dire for Ukraine, and Im sure theyre upset that all the worlds attention is focused on Gaza. And now a lot of Republicans dont seem to want the U.S. to give aid to Ukraine. Im neither a Republican nor agree with that stand.

*Now another state has barred Trump from the Republican primary ballot. That makes two, and for sure its going to the Supreme Court. This was an executive rather than a judicial decision:

Maines top election official Thursday barredDonald Trumpfrom appearing on the states primary ballot, the second time a state knocked the Republican formerpresident off its ballotand escalating a national legal effort to disqualify him from office.

In a 34-pagewritten decision, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, said the Constitution bars a second Trump term because of his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol following his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

Her decision, in which she found he is not qualified to hold the office of the President, comes afterColorados highest court ruled last weekthat Trump is ineligible for that states ballot. Both rulings invoked the same section of the post-Civil War 14th Amendment that disqualifies from public office those who swore to defend the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S.

The provision in the 14th Amendment, intended to keep Confederates from getting governmental power after the Civil War, says this:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Back to the article:

In Maine, eligibility challenges are first adjudicated administratively. The secretary of states ruling, which she issued after holdinga public hearing, marks the first time that a state election authority has excluded the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner from a primary ballot.

In her decision, Bellows said Trump used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters to prevent a peaceful transfer of power. She accused him of engaging in incendiary rhetoric and failing to take timely action to stop the assault on the Capitol.

The weight of the evidence makes clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder laid by his multi-month effort to delegitimize a democratic election, and then chose to light a match, she wrote.

*And, in Ohio, the Republican (!) governor vetoed a bill that prevented gender-affirming care as well as trans women from participating in girls and womens sports.

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoeda measureFriday that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors, casting the action out of step with many in his own party as thoughtful, limited and pro-life.

He simultaneously announced plans to move to administratively ban transgender surgeries until a person is 18, and to position the state to better regulate and track gender-affirming treatments in both children and adults.

Thevetoed billalso would have banned transgender athletes participation in girls and womens sports.

At a news conference, DeWine said he is proposing a hybrid approach to gender-affirming care that he hopes can win the support of legislative Republicans who have the votes to override his veto, if they choose as well as serve as a national model to states, asgender-affirming care restrictionsenacted across the country in recent years face lawsuits.

Ultimately, these tough, tough decisions should not be made by the government. They should not be made by the state of Ohio, DeWine said. They should be made by the people who love these kids the most, and thats the parents. The parents who have raised that child, the parents who have seen that child go through agony, the parents who worry about that child every single day of their life.

I havent a firm position on gender-affirming care except that it should be done by an objective therapist, preferably verified by another, that doctors should not be able to begin medical treatment until the gender-dysphoric child is past puberty, and, no, it should not be solely the parents decision. Im not sure what kind of laws can assure that people can still transition knowing the risks, as some people are happy they made that decision, but there has to be some kind of laws given that until youre is of an appropriate age, youre not considered able to make this kind of decision.

As for trans girls and trans women participating in womens sports, thats a big NO to me on the grounds of fairness, and because of the athletic advantage that trans women have. Womens sports should be a womens space except in those sports where theres not a palpable sex difference in ability. Womens sports in Ohio are now doomed, and the governors veto her was very unwise. But you cant veto only part of a bill. They need new legislation that just bans trans women from participating in womens sports.

*Forgetting stuff in your dotage? I am, but its nothing serious, or so I think. If I have a useful thought, I write it down, as Ill often forget it later. Heres some help for the usual memory loss with age in a NYT article called A neurologists tips to protect your memory. Here they are (to see the details of what you have to do, see the article), coming from neurologist Richard Restak:

a.) Pay more attention. Some memory lapses are actually attention problems, not memory problems.

b.) Find regular everyday memory challenges. There are many memory exercises that you can integrate into everyday life. Dr. Restak suggested composing a grocery list and memorizing it. When you get to the store, dont automatically pull out your list (or your phone) instead, pick up everything according to your memory.

c.) Read more novels. [!] One early indicator of memory issues, according to Dr. Restak, is giving up on fiction. People, when they begin to have memory difficulties, tend to switch to reading nonfiction, he said.

I am! Im reading Anthony Doerrs latest novel,Cloud Cuckoo Land

d. ) Beware of technology. Among Dr. Restaks three new sins of memory, two are associated with technology. First is what he calls technological distortion. Storing everything on your phone means that you dontknow it, Dr. Restak said, which can erode our own mental abilities. . . . The second way our relationship with technology is detrimental for memory is because it often takes our focus away from the task at hand.

e.) Work with a mental health professional if you need to. Your mood plays a big role in what you do or do not remember. . . Depression, for instance,can greatly decrease memory. Among people who are referred to neurologists for memory issues, one of the biggest causes is depression, Dr. Restak said. . . . . Your emotional state affects the kind of memories you recall.

f.) Determine whether there is cause for concern. not all memory lapses are problematic. For instance, not remembering where you parked your car in a crowded lot is pretty normal. Forgetting how youarrivedat the parking lot in the first place, however, indicates potential memory issues.

To see if you have a concerning problem, there are doctors who can give you memory tests, and some kinds of dementia can be diagnosed with spinal taps.

*Barry points us to a new Smithsonian article which we all need to read: Thirteen discoveries made about human evolution in 2023. Its very useful to keep up with our genus, and Ill give just four of the 13 discoveries:

Cut marks on a 1.45-million-year-old leg bone are potential evidence for hominins butchering and eating each other. It seems Neanderthals may not have been the only ones with eclectic taste buds. While finding cut marks on animal bones is fairly common after the advent of stone tools in the archaeological record, findingcut marks on hominin bones is much more surprising.

Earliest use of wood for structural purposes is discovered in Zambia. Although stone tools get much of the attention in human evolution, ancient tools were sometimes made from other materials that do not preserve as well as stone. Astudypublished in September by Lawrence Barham and colleagues presentsevidence for the oldest structural use of woodlogs used to build a structure dating to 476,000 years ago.

Homo sapiens originate from two or more African paleo-populations. The researchers used computer modeling to suggest thatour species arose from at least two African populations that interacted and interbred with each other. Fossils from these populations would likely be physically and genetically similar. This study indicates that our species did not arise from a single geographically isolated origin population in Africa.

Homo sapiens were in southeast Asia thousands of years earlier than expected. While ancient DNA allows researchers to investigate our species African origins, new fossils and archaeological sites can shed light on when our ancestors migrated to new places outside of Africa. Apaperpublished in June by Sarah Freidline and colleagues describes new fossils and dates for members of our own species Homo sapiens and found thathumans reached Southeast Asia sometime between 68,000 and 86,000 years ago.

The last one is the most interesting to me because its widely accepted that all modern H. sapiens come from a single migration event out of Africa that occurred about 50,000 years ago. If thats the case, then a different form of Homo, represented by only two bones (part of a skull and tibia) found in a cave in Laos, left Africa a lot longer ago than we think, but then these far-traveling migrants went extinct without leaving descendants.

Meanwhile in Dobrzyn, all three cats wished me a happy birthday! (Im told that Hili is referring to my battles against creationism, wokeness, and antisemitism.)

Kulka: Today is Jerrys birthday.

Hili: You dont have to remind me.Happy birthday, Jerry. I wish you many victorious duels in the next year.

Szaron: Many happy returns of the day.

In Polish:

Kulka: Dzi urodziny Jerrego.

Hili: Nie musisz mi przypomina. Wszystkiego najlepszego, Jerry. ycz ci wielu zwyciskich pojedynkw w przyszym roku.

Szaron: Many happy returns of the day, Jerry.

*******************

From Linda, a Mike Lukovich editorial cartoon. (I presume you get the reference.)

A DUCK cartoon on Rubes by Leigh Rubin from July 04, 2017:

From Kristen on Facebook:

From Masih, more brave unveiled Iranian women. They risk a lot taking off the hijab!

From Malcolm, spider cats:

From Jay. This crow appears to be helping the hedgehog across the road. But did the hedgehog get over the curb?

First tweet: I dont understand it. Second: is that some kind of condor? If so, which one?

Not a good move, careerwise. Shes been fired:

The profile:

From the Auschwitz Memorial, a Dutch girl, only a bit less than two years old, was gassed to death upon arrival.

Two tweets from Professor Cobb. First, one he calls La verit. (Come on, you know some French!)

This one is kot in basket. Be sure to watch the whole short video:

Follow this link:

Saturday: Hili dialogue Why Evolution Is True - Why Evolution Is True

This allows players a chance to earn select player items like a Pink Diamond Luka Doncic or Klay Thompson.

14 new Evolution Cards are coming to NBA 2K24 MyTEAM tomorrow as part of the New Year's Revolution event. This allows players a chance to earn select player items like a Pink Diamond Luka Doncic or Klay Thompson. For the first time, Pink Diamond Player Cards become directly available in the Player Market, making them a little more simple to earn this time.

The NBA 2K24 New Year's Resolution event begins on December 29th, and adds 14 evolution cards, including:

The highlight player card in all of this includes the Pink Diamond Luka Doncic. Of course, a 96 OVR card of one of the best players in the league is reasonably coveted by many NBA 2K24 MyTEAM players. Now might be the time to consider grading or selling player items to increase your in-game budget.

Of course, we don't imagine the process of unlocking all these cards will be so easy. Therefore, you'll want to brush up on how the Player Market works if you're new to NBA 2K. Additionally, check out our guide on Card grading to help you earn more out of all unwanted items. Overall, you'll need to learn to wheel and deal before snagging some of these items.

Nevertheless, the nice thing about having these cards in the Player and Pack Markets is that you don't need to win any specific challenges to receive them. That should make it easier for new players and those who don't play as often as others.

However, some people might attest to the pay-to-win aspect of this idea. Since these players are available via Pack/Player Market, there's nothing stopping those with deep wallets to just buy their favorite players. Nevertheless, at least free-to-play users still have a shot.

Regardless, we look forward to getting our hands on some valuable MyTEAM items, especially the Pink Luka Doncic. However, the 96 OVR Klay Thompson also looks enticing. The NBA 2K24 New Year Resolution Event begins on December 29th, 2023.

For more gaming and NBA news, visit ClutchPoints.

More here:

NBA 2K24 MyTEAM New Year Resolution Adds 14 Evolution Cards - ClutchPoints

the worm logo designer receives NASAs exceptional Medal

On November 6th, 2023, NASA recognized designer Richard Danne by presenting him with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for creating the NASA worm logotype. It is the continuous wide red line that replaced the space agencys logo for several decades starting in the 1970s. After that, NASA brought back its official insignia known as the meatball, the famous outer-space logo with constellations and a blue background. The space agency has also revived the use of the worm for limited use to complement its meatball sibling.

The medal was presented to Danne after a panel discussion at NASA Headquarters in Washington, discussing the logotype and its cultural influence. NASA says that the award is given to non-government employees for specific achievements or substantial improvement in contribution to the mission of NASA. This event, a culmination of a 50-year trek, is extremely rewarding. Creating the worm for NASA has been a singular achievement in my own career and in the history of design. It has not always been easy but it was a glorious experience, and I feel fortunate to be part of the NASA family and to have helped the agency achieve its missions and goals, says Danne.

the traditional NASA blue circular logo | images by NASA

NASAs official insignia, nicknamed the meatball, arrived during the space agencys second year after it was established. It was designed by employee James Modarelli in 1959 who integrated references to different aspects of the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with its outer-space look. The round blue mirror represents a planet, the stars represent space, the V-shaped wing indicates aeronautics, and the circular orbit around NASA represents space travel.

For 16 years, the space insignia marked the brand of NASA until 1975 when the space agency decided to create a more modern logo as part of the Federal Design Improvement Program (NASA was strategically chosen to implement the first new brand identity). The space agency tapped the New York firm Danne & Blackburn, which handed over the worm design alongside a detailed design manual that all the centers of the space agency could use and refer to. For 17 years, the worm logo was the official insignia of NASA, but in 1992, it was retired, bringing back the meatball design by James Modarelli.

NASA used the worm logo from 1975 until 1992

It may have taken NASA almost 30 years, but the space agency resurrected the use of the worm logo on souvenir merchandise in 2017, reintroducing the modern face of NASA to the new generation. Then in May 2020, NASA even printed the worm logo on the space rocket of NASAs SpaceX Demo-2 mission prior to its launch and to mark the return of human spaceflight on American rockets from American soil, NASA says. In November 2022, NASA also used the worm logo on its first rocket around the Moon in more than 50 years as part of its Artemis program.

Slowly, the worm logo resurfaced again from the signage and spacecraft to the spacesuits of the agency. Most recently and as seen during the award presentation to Richard Danne, NASA placed a giant worm logo sculpture directly outside its Earth Information Center at its headquarters when it debuted in June 2023. It was during that event that designer Richard Danne saw the sculpture version of his logo design for the first time. In November 2023, the designer came back again to the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, not to see his logo sculpture again, but to be recognized for his and his firms design work that resulted in a recognizable icon.

Richard Danne awarded the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for his NASA worm logotype on November 6th, 2023 at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington | photo by Keegan Barber

NASA Public Affairs Specialist Megan Cruz delivers remarks during a dedication event for Richard Danne | photo by Keegan Barber

NASA Worm Logo sign unveiled at the opening of NASAs Earth Information Center on June 21st, 2023 | photo by Joel Kowsky

Read this article:

dive into the history of NASA's logo evolution from the space ... - Designboom

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Follow this link:

Resolving the puzzle of same-sex sexual interactions - Nature.com

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[table-of-contents] stripped

Black Friday is widely considered to be the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Occurring this year on November 24, Black Friday has become an inextricable part of the long, post-Thanksgiving weekend, thanks to the sales and discounts that seemingly every store offers.

For shoppers who love the thrill of the hunt and want to get a head start on shopping for their holiday gifts, Black Friday sales offer an opportunity to complete their present purchasing while saving money at the same time. Others may look for discounts on big-ticket household appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines.

But, why is it called Black Friday? Here, we're diving into the history of Black Friday, exploring how it has evolved into the massive shopping event it is today, and even offering some strategies for finding the best deals during this time.

The name Black Friday sounds curiously gloomy, and it does have a decidedly dark origin. It originally referred to the days of two financial crashes. The first Black Friday, in 1869, saw the price of gold collapse. In 1929, Black Monday marked the steep decline of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was the start of the Great Depression.

The meaning began to change in the '50s and '60s: According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, traffic police in Philadelphia began referring to the day after Thanksgiving as Black Friday, due to the holiday-related traffic jams and crowded sidewalks filled with shoppers.

In the late 80s, retailers started making Black Friday a dedicated shopping event by opening their stores earlier, closing later, and offering special one-day sales. Since then, the shopping window for certain stores has widened to encompass the entire week leading up to and following Black Friday.

The widely accepted definition of Black Friday now is the day when retailers balance sheets supposedly go from being in the red for most of the year to in the black, meaning theyre operating at a profit.

In recent years, Black Friday has spawned other shopping holidays, including Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday, and Green Monday, which is the last day shoppers can place an online order in time for Christmas. (Typically, it's the second Monday in December). These offshoots extend the holiday shopping spree beyond the one-day sale, and, in some cases, help promote independent retailers and charitable causes over big-box stores.

To score the best Black Friday deals, youll want to plan ahead. Many retailers start their sales early, so rather than waiting until Friday morning to start scouring websites, start checking them late on Wednesday evening. Even if the sales havent started, most sites will mention when they will begin.

Spend some time making a list of gifts (for yourself and others) that youd like to buy, so you dont get caught up in the excitement and end up with a lot of things you dont need. If you're concerned about the traffic congestion and crowds at brick-and-mortar stores, you can plan to shop online.

Many stores, like Best Buy, have price-matching policies, so if you buy an item on Thanksgiving and the price drops further on Black Friday, you can request a price adjustment. (Just note that some exclusions do apply).

Before you smash that add to cart button, take a moment to Google the item youre considering. Youll be able to see what its selling for elsewhere and decide if youre getting the best deal.

Theres nothing worse than finding something you think youll love online, discovering that its all wrong, and being unable to return it. If theres a chance that you might need to exchange or return an item, be sure to read the retailers return policy so you don't wind up disappointed.

You Might Also Like

Excerpt from:

The History and Evolution of Black Friday And How It Got Its Name - Yahoo Life

EPISODE SUMMARY

This weeks Pathfinder pod features Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis. Tim walks us through what went wrong during Terran 1s flight and why it wont happen with Terran R. Listen to Pathfinder #0071 for more on Relativitys future on Mars, whether theres a rocket larger than Terran R in Relativitys future, the long-term strategy for 3D printing, and much more.

Last March, Terran 1 became the first 3D printed rocket to reach suborbital space, but failed to reach orbit.

The Shift to Terran R

Earlier this year, Relativity announced that it was scrapping Terran 1 development to focus solely on its larger Terran R vehicle.

Marketing Strategy

Its no secret that Relativity has one of the most innovative marketing strategies of the major launch companies. Ellis shed light on the companys unique marketing approach, which is as strategic as it is creative.

In addition, Mo and Tim also discuss:

This episode is brought to you by SpiderOak, a US-based software company that builds space cybersecurity products and solutions for civilian, military, and commercial space operations. Learn more at https://spideroak.com/

Chapters

00:00 Intro & SpiderOak Ad

01:09 The night of the Terran 1 launch

05:11 What went wrong?

10:11 Why not launch Terran 1 again?

15:18 Are investors okay pushing out an orbital proof point?

20:38 Terran R tech specs

29:05 SpiderOak Ad break

29:52 Milestones for Terran R

34:31 Terran Rs manufacturing cadence at scale

37:46 Terran R R&D costs (vs Falcon 9)

46:13 3D printing the Terran R

51:34 The future of 3D printing

58:32 Relativitys marketing strategy

01:09:53 Heavier than Terran R

01:14:48 Relativity & Mars

01:15:22 Tims favorite musical artists

Link:

Evolution of Terran R, with Tim Ellis (Relativity Space) - Payload

CLEMSON Clemson mens basketball opened their season with a 78-56 victory over Winthrop, and the Tigers got a lot of results out of a veteran thats proving this could be a breakout year.

Junior forward Ian Schieffelin had 29 starts under his belt coming into the 2023-24 season, but hes showing an exponential evolution headed into his third season. Head coach Brad Brownell talked about Schieffelins development, and how hes taken this next step after the win.

Hes good, man. I just think hes a good player. Made two out of three threes. Hes really worked hard, weve worked hard with him for a year and a half. Really maybe not his freshman year. Just started a little bit his freshman year, were working on it, Brownell said.

Schieffelin was crucial in the win over the Eagles, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting. He was displaying a tremendous amount of effort on the floor, and ripped down three offensive rebounds in the first half.

Shooting is something that Brownell and the staff have slowly worked into Schieffelins evolution. During practice, the players will take 100 threes and its something that certain players take very seriously. Schieffelin is in that group and its a testament to the work hes putting in day in and day out.

Ian made 80 one day., First time and he was celebrating like crazy because 80 out of 100 threes is pretty daggum good now, Brownell said. Like, I guess its in gym in practice but the standards are what they are and you can kind of measure yourself and as you watch your guys get better and reach these standards and fight for these standards, then you know how much they are into it and care. Hes a guy thats been really fighting for this.

As this season could be a special one for the Tigers, Schieffelin is the hard-nosed worker Clemson needs. Now, hes more than just that and with his development, Schieffelin is a catalyst for success in 2023-24.

More here:

Brownell Raves About Breakout Junior's Evolution - The Clemson Insider

KM is a dynamically changing area of business, where, despite these constant changes, many are reluctant to give up traditional knowledge practices. This is further compounded with the rapid acceleration of new technological trends hitting the market; will knowledge practitioners rise to the challenge, or fail to accommodate the modern needs of KM?

Suzan Pickels, knowledge manager at CRB, led KMWorld 2023s session, Evolution or Transformation? Rethinking KM in the Chaos of Disruption, to exemplify the ways in which CRB is leveraging new tech to prioritize knowledge efforts, address clients needs, and invest in AI analysis and application.

It almost seems that technology and KM are at constant odds, where changes in one area necessitate remarkable shifts in the other. However, CRB is managing to marry traditional and proven KM techniques with the evolving technological landscape.

Pickels explained that transformation and evolution are, fundamentally, the sameone is just quicker than the other, and neither is necessarily bad.

The quicker of the two, transformation, is often produced by rapid growthwhich inevitably incurs some organizational chaos.

CRB experienced this sort of growth as a result of the Covid pandemic, and with this growth came knowledge losses and gains because of workforce shuffles. As a result, CRB launched a knowledge services program, or improvement facilitators who optimize process information and collaboration for better workflow and work product.

At the heart of this was understanding the hearts and minds of their enterprise culture, according to Pickels. Due to market changes and other economic factors, this knowledge initiative was served with a side dish of chaos.

Pickels offered these tips to help pivot faster in the event of inevitable change:

We targeted those pieces of the organization where our workflows work together. It made it easier for our executive managers that dont care about knowledge management, Pickels explained. We were translating this for them so they knew why they needed it and how it would help us make money.

Disruption will inevitably mean that an enterprise will change, its goals will change, and its strategies will change. This change means that some methods and ideals will be lost to make way for better solutions.

One of the things CRB retained in the chaos, however, was the concept of client value. Ensuring that the organization was aligned with what their clients needed was critical for CRBs success at a time of disruption. Additionally, CRB employed communities of practice (CoPs), though limited them in its number and its coverage. Small, focused CoPs helped bring in collaboration.

The better they [the workforce] work together, the more collaborative they are, the better we could deliver client value, said Pickels.

Furthermore, CRB held onto lessons learned, data governance, and data analytics as means to navigate an increasingly digital and data-centric world.

Pickels also pointed to the trend of throwing AI at everything, where, in reality, throwing intelligent tech at unintelligent content will never yield positive results. Tech, especially in the world of AI, is constantly changing. It isnt new, its just faster, she explained, and its application should be meaningful.

Taxonomies will be critical in leveraging AI, where categorization will drive understanding of the trends that AI may surface.

You need to put meaning in the click behind the report, Pickels noted. [With taxonomies,] when I point AI at this [content], it will have more meaning.

Ultimately, Pickels explained that for a company that once did everything, they had to narrow down their focus, and admittedly, it was heartbreaking, said Pickels. But we had to keep the central heartbeat going.

KMWorld returned to the J.W. Marriott in Washington D.C. on November 6-9, with pre-conference workshops held on November 6.

KMWorld 2023 is a part of a unique program of five co-located conferences, which also includes Enterprise Search & Discovery, Enterprise AI World, Taxonomy Boot Camp, and Text Analytics Forum.

Excerpt from:

Evolution or transformation? Rethinking KM in the chaos of ... - KMWorld Magazine

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An evolutionary continuum from nucleated dwarf galaxies to star ... - Nature.com

Evolving from the labor-intensive manual equipment of centuries past, deck equipment has been transformed through technology and innovation. Todays clean and powerful equipment packages improve safety and efficiency while integrating directly with the vessels on which they are installed.

The evolution of deck equipment in the maritime industry parallels significant milestones across the sector with advancements in materials, automation, safety and efficiency. Today, the industrys most complex challenges are related to designing eco-friendly, energy-efficient and technologically advanced equipment. Deck equipment is no exception.

Stricter regulations and a growing emphasis on sustainability add complexity to an already convoluted market. Current trends toward increased automation, digitalization and integration require leading manufacturers like Cimolai Technology, Markey Machine, Timberland Equipment and Schoellhorn-Albrecht Machine to invest in research and development, focusing on innovative product offerings and exploring unique applications for both existing and emerging markets.

Deck machinery encompasses a diverse array of equipment from towering cranes to incredibly powerful tuggers and winches, monster boat lifts, and more equipment as varied as the maritime activities to which it can be applied. Compared to many other technical innovations in the marine industry, this type of equipment is often overlooked.

Early Versions

To appreciate the evolution of this gear through history, some context is essential.

The earliest versions of deck equipment were comprised of the rudimentary winches, capstans and cranes used on early sailing vessels. Far from the precision and power offered by today's equipment, these manual devices were rarely more than simple lever-and-pulley systems most often operated by sheer human muscle.

The Industrial Revolution brought significant changes across trades as steam power became the motive force for industry. Alongside the switch from sails to steam for propulsion, steam winches and capstans revolutionized cargo handling and made vessels safer and more efficient.

These early mechanisms were still relatively crude compared to subsequent innovations as hydraulic systems became the backbone of deck equipment on board commercial vessels. These systems provided high levels of power while improving precision and control. Companies have excelled in designing and manufacturing hydraulic winches and cranes tailored to meet the specific needs of various industries including offshore oil and gas, shipping and naval operations.

Electric-Drive Systems

Today, however, even this evolution in power is starting to give way to a new motivating power as electric drive systems gain in popularity. Due to their efficiency and reduced environmental impact, electric drives are replacing hydraulic power across the array of deck equipment.

Timberland Equipment, a custom deck equipment manufacturer, is leading the way in this transition by employing a specialized group within its organization. The companys various divisions have put considerable focus on converting existing gas or diesel equipment into all-electric drives. This has led the company to develop electric equipment with greatly improved safety, efficiency and control through the use of modern PLCs (programmablelogic controllers) and variable frequency drives.

Timberland is likewise involved in new products and services across industries. Aaron VanMaanen, General Sales Manager, credits the companys broad client base for expanding its offerings, particularly in the environmental space: Weve been involved in supporting many various industries and initiatives, allowing us to become heavily involved in green energy solutions.

Other manufacturers like Markey Machine, a leading producer of specialized deck equipment are leading the charge with advances in new designs. A significant increase in demand for electric deck machinery has resulted in unique product offerings. Markeys Electric Escort/Ship-Assist winches offer not only advanced electric-drive systems but also include added benefits like regenerative braking and redundant drives for increased reliability. Several substantial orders in 2023 from leading tugboat operators across the U.S. reflect the growing demand for these new products.

The overall cost of innovation in the maritime sector can be high with increased costs for some new equipment pushing 400 percent. however, the risks of not evolving with demands from the industry can be far greater. The regulatory and reputational costs associated with a broken hose leaking oil into the harbor are just too significant not to evolve, says Blaine Dempke, Markeys CEO.

The demand for electric equipment is not just on board but also shoreside. Cimolai Technology out of Italy is well known for its mobile boat hoists. With a market focusing more heavily on electric versions of traditional shipyard offerings, Cimolai has responded with new innovations of its own including fully electric models of its mobile boat hoist (MBH), ranging in lifting capability from 30 tons to a 1,500-ton beast due for delivery to Hyak Maritime in Oregon in late 2024.

Eco-Friendly Solutions

The maritime industry as a whole is increasingly focused on sustainability, efficiency and a reduced environmental impact. Deck equipment manufacturers are contributing to a greener maritime sector in their own space, exploring eco-friendly solutions with innovative designs and materials. Lessons from the past underscore the critical need to prioritize safety, sustainability and efficiency in the design and use of deck equipment.

With a holistic approach to reducing energy consumption and emissions across the entire vessel, industry leaders like Schoellhorn-Albrecht Machine Co. are leveraging centuries of expertise toward improved environmental protection alongside increased reliability, efficiency and, of course, personnel safety. Being able to custom-build not just the equipment itself but also the power packs and control installations, Schoellhorn-Albrecht can ensure that all equipment is working as designed for each unique application, regardless of the client.

That includes government agencies. The company recently completed a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and manufacture the replacement dredge head hoist for the dredge Jadwin. The winch is designed for continuous use during the dredging season, providing a maximum output torque of 27,000 foot-pounds via a 367-horsepower DC motor and utilizing a pneumatically actuated drag brake system.

Automation has transformed the way deck equipment is operated. Wireless technology has made its way into deck equipment controls, improving flexibility and safety. Modern systems often include remote control capabilities, allowing operators to perform tasks from a safe distance and even remotely.

Wireless remote controls have become standard features in many winches, tuggers and capstans. These systems enhance operator mobility and reduce the risk of accidents during deck operations.

New Markets

As the marine industry explores new markets like offshore wind and other sectors, one of the major impacts that affect deck equipment is the request for winches with greater speed and line pull capabilities. The advent of electric motors allows for more flexibility with regards to footprint and weight as well as the capability of smart winches with automatic controls and variable programming.

As vessels are required to do more and more, the equipment needed also often needs to grow in size and complexity, says Timberlands VanMaanen.

The continued construction of LNG terminals likewise creates a demand for specialized escort tugs equipped with appropriate escort winches. As wind, LNG and other new markets become a part of the industrys new reality, analysts have noted a languishing supply of conventional tugs equipped with wire-rope towing winches.

Manufacturers have seen a subsequent uptick in demand for equipment to serve this need. Markey has introduced advanced control systems that enhance precision and safety during these specialized towing and mooring operations including a full line of winches with motion-compensation.

Markeys Dempke is proud of his companys progress and innovation. Like VanMaanen, Dempke gives much of the credit to his customers: Our philosophy is simply to follow our customers and let them take us where we need to go and where the industrys needs lie. Being open to these ideas and requests is key to continued growth.

Leading the Way

The wide variety of deck equipment has, by necessity and opportunity, evolved considerably from the manual, labor-intensive, block-and-tackle systems of the past. Modern technology and innovative engineering have transformed these essential components into powerful, efficient and environmentally sound tools.

Innovators in the manufacturing realm continue to drive progress in the maritime industry, ensuring that vessels and shipyards are equipped with the best tools for safe and efficient operations. In many instances, pioneering deck equipment manufacturers introduce advances in the industry ahead of other sectors.

As the industry continues to evolve, we can expect even more advances that will further enhance the capabilities of this equipment, contributing to the continued growth and success of the maritime sector. Markey, Cimolai, Timberland, Schoellhorn-Albrecht and other industry leaders are steering the course of innovation in this industry, prioritizing safety, sustainability and technological advancements.

As technology progresses, these companies will play a pivotal role in charting its future course, leveraging their history and expertise to navigate change. By contributing to a more sustainable and technologically advanced maritime future, theyll help ensure safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operations both at sea and on shore.

Chad Fuhrmann is a maritime consultant and owner of Revolution Consulting X Engineering.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

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Safe Load: The Evolution of Modern Deck Equipment - The Maritime Executive