Google is in a tough spot. The company says it is committed to protecting the privacy of its users, but it also built one of the most profitable businesses in the world around the idea that if you track what users do online, you can show them personalized ads based on their interests and activity.
The real problem for Google is that not only is it the world’s most popular search engine, it makes the world’s most widely-used browser, Chrome. That gives the company an extraordinary amount of influence over how billions of people use the internet.
Over the past few years, other browser-makers have started to take steps to better protect user privacy. Both Safari and Firefox now block third-party cookies, the pieces of software used to track users across different websites or apps. Both also offer protection against device fingerprinting, which uses other types of data like browser, screen resolution, IP address, and browser extensions, in order to track them.
As the pressure to eliminate cookies continued to rise, Google said in a 2019 blog post that it would start exploring ways to make the web respect user privacy:
We are confident that with continued iteration and feedback, privacy-preserving and open-standard mechanisms like the Privacy Sandbox can sustain a healthy, ad-supported web in a way that will render third-party cookies obsolete. Once these approaches have addressed the needs of users, publishers, and advertisers, and we have developed the tools to mitigate workarounds, we plan to phase out support for third-party cookies in Chrome. Our intention is to do this within two years.
Privacy Sandbox is what Google describes as “a secure environment for personalization that also protects user privacy.” It seems like Google agreed at the time that cookies were bad, but said it wasn’t prepared to block cookies because it would lead to bigger privacy concerns like device fingerprinting.
Then, Google published a blog post in January of 2020 that said the company was working on “a path towards making third party cookies obsolete,” within two years. It’s been a very long way. In fact, the path has only gotten longer.
Now, Google has extended that deadline even further. It now says it won’t phase out third-party cookies until the second-half of 2024. If you’re doing the math at home, it’s already been more than two years. Google now says it will be at least two more.
Part of that is because Google can’t just block cookies without coming up with something to replace them, even if it wanted to. Tracking, after all, is the lifeblood of the digital advertising economy.
Ironically, Google would be better off if it simply blocked third-party cookies wholesale. It doesn’t really need that kind of data considering it already has so much information about you based on the Google websites you use.
Take search ads, for example. You don’t have to do any tracking to figure out what might be a relevant ad to show someone when they literally tell Google what they’re looking for. There has never been a more personalized advertising opportunity, ever.
At the same time, every other advertising platform depends on third-party cookies to track user information across websites, and to provide important data like ad conversions. Shutting off those cookies in Chrome would put them at a massive disadvantage against Google.
In theory, blocking cookies would be good for Google, except it would be seen as highly uncompetitive. It might be better for privacy, but it would be devastating for advertising.
And, so, Google has been trying to figure out a way to get rid of cookies, but also to provide a replacement that balances privacy and advertising. So far, it hasn’t gone well. Its first effort, known as FLoC was widely panned and rejected by both digital advertisers and privacy advocates. It has since moved on to what it calls Topics, which effectively uses Chrome to do all the tracking, which I guess is more privacy protective because advertisers don’t actually know anything about the individual users they target.
Still, tracking is tracking and privacy is privacy. With this latest delay, Google has made it clear that it could make the web respect the latter, but it won’t because it can’t let go of the former.
Here we continue a monthly section that will offer a quick go-to list of what’s coming to cinemas, VOD & SVOD services, and gaming platforms over the coming weeks.
This isn’t a complete list, rather it’s one showing the major and some minor titles of note. The titles are separated by date and ordered with films & film rentals first, then TV, then games.
On the film front, the “Predator” franchise returns with the direct-to-Hulu premiering “Prey,” Brad Pitt takes on multiple assassins in “Bullet Train,” George Miller returns with “Three Thousand Years of Longing,” Apple tries to be Pixar with “Luck,” Idris Elba takes on a man-eating lion in “Beast,” and Kevin Bacon leads a sinister conversion camp in “They/Them.”
There’s also Jamie Foxx battling vampires in “Day Shift,” the return of Esther in the prequel film “Orphan: First Kill,” the Lovecraftian gloryhole dark comedy “Glorious,” Stallone goes superhero in “Samaritan,” there’s HBO’s Princess Diana documentary movie , the John McAfee docufilm “Running with the Devil,” and Amazon premieres Ron Howard’s Thai cave rescue drama “Thirteen Lives.”
On the TV front there are several high-profile new series including HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel spin-off “House of the Dragon,” the long-gestating Netflix TV series adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman” comics, the latest “ Star Wars” series with “Andor,” while Marvel drops the legal comedy “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” and a series of “I Am Groot” short films.
On the new series front, there’s Apple’s bound to be controversial “Five Days at Memorial,” Amazon’s high profile “A League of Their Own” series adaptation, Mike Judge bringing back “Beavis and Butt-Head,” British mini-series import “ The Undeclared War,” FX’s football club docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham,” the anime “Tekken: Bloodline,” the new animated FX comedy “Little Demon”.
Returnees wise, there are the final seasons of “Locke & Key” and “See,” the thirteenth season of “Archer,” and the return of recent success stories like “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “Kevin Can F— Himself, ” “Reservation Dogs,” “Industry,” “The Cuphead Show,” “Stargirl,” “Resident Alien,” “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” “Tales of the Walking Dead” and a “South Park” concert special.
On the games front, the PC finally gets PlayStation-exclusive “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Remastered” and gets all the bells and whistles. SEGA delivers the long-anticipated follow-up to the great “Two Point Hospital” with “Two Point Campus,” “Destroy All Humans 2 – Reprobed” remasters the classic game sequel, and the “Saints Row” franchise gets a full reboot. There are also some intriguing indies like “Cult of the Lamb” and “Midnight Fight Express”.
Monday August 1st 2022 “Big Tree City” S1 (Netflix) Industry S2 (HBO)
“Killer Camp” S1 (The CW) “LEGO Star Wars: Summer Vacation” Special (Disney+) “The Sandman” S1 (Netflix) “The Snoopy Show” S2 (Apple TV+) “The Outlaws” S2 (Amazon Prime)
“Bokura” (PC) “GigaBash” (PC, PS4, PS5)
Sunday August 7th 2022 “My Life as a Rolling Stone” Mini-Series (Epix)
Monday August 8th 2022 “Darby & Joan” Mini-Series (Acorn TV)
“Tyrant’s Blessing” (PC, Switch)
Tuesday August 9th 2022 “Angel” (VOD)
“Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Detroit Lions” (HBO) “I Just Killed My Dad” Mini-Series (Netflix) “Password” S1 (NBC) “School Tales: The Series” S1 (Netflix)
“Timothy and the Tower of Mu” (PC) Two Point Campus (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, XSX)
Wednesday August 10th 2022 “Heartsong” (Netflix)
“I Am Groot” Short Films (Disney+) “Locke & Key” S3 (Netflix) “Resident Alien” S3 (Syfy)
“Lost in Play” (PC, Switch)
Thursday August 11th 2022 “Bump” S1 (The CW) “DOTA: Dragon’s Blood” S3 (Netflix) “Faking It: R. Kelly” (discovery+) “Trolls: TrollsTopia” S7 (Hulu)
“Arcade Paradise” (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox, XSX) “Cult of the Lamb” (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) “Rumbleverse” (PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) “Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi” (PS5)
Friday August 12th 2022 “13: The Musical” (Netflix) “Day Shift” (Netflix) “Post Malone: Runaway” (FreeVee) “Rogue Agent” (AMC+) “Secret Headquarters” (Paramount+) “ET the Extra-Terrestrial” 40th Anniversary IMAX Re-Release (Cinemas – Limited) “Emily the Criminal” (Cinemas – Limited) “Fall” (Cinemas – Limited) “Mack & Rita” (Cinemas – Limited) “Summering” (Cinemas – Limited) “I Love My Dad” (VOD)
“Children of the Underground” Mini-Series (FX) “Five Days at Memorial” Mini-Series (Apple TV+) “Hamster & Gretel” S1 (Disney+) “Lucy’s School” Special (Apple TV+) “A League of Their Own” S1 (Amazon Prime) “Never Have I Ever” S3 (Netflix) “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” S2 (VH1) “This Fool” S1 (Hulu)
Saturday August 13th 2022 “The Princess” Documentary Movie (HBO)
“South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert” Special (Comedy Central)
Sunday August 14th 2022 “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” S2 (Starz) “Tales of the Walking Dead” S2 (AMC)
Monday August 15th 2022 “Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers” Docuseries (Hulu)
Tuesday August 16th 2022 “Hex” (VOD) “Sharp Stick” (PVOD)
“Devils” S2 (The CW) “Leonardo” S1 (The CW)
Rollerdrome (PC, PS4, PS5) “Tribes of Midgard” (Switch, XBO, XSX) “Way of the Hunter” (PC, PS5, XSX)
Wednesday August 17th 2022 “Look Both Ways” (Netflix)
“Marvel’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” S1 (Disney+)
Thursday August 18th 2022 “Glorious” (Shudder) “Vengeance” (PVOD)
“Dragons: The Nine Realms” S1 (Hulu) “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” S3 (Netflix) “Tekken: Bloodline” S1 (Netflix) “The Undeclared War” Mini-Series (Peacock)
“Cursed to Golf” (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) “RPG Time! The Legend of Wright” (Switch, PS4) “Slaycation Paradise” (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX) Thymesia (PC, PS5, XSX)
Friday August 19th 2022 “Beast” (Cinemas – Wide) “Orphan: First Kill” (Cinemas – Limited & Paramount+) “The Immaculate Room” (PVOD) “Spin Me Round” (PVOD) “The Girl in the Mirror” (Netflix) “Kleo” (Netflix) “The Next 365 Days” (Netflix)
Friday August 26th 2022 “Me Time” (Netflix) Samaritan (Amazon Prime) Seoul Vibe (Netflix) “Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby” (Amazon Prime) “Breaking” (Cinemas – Limited) “Fear” (Cinemas – Limited) “Funny Pages” (Cinemas – Limited) “The Invitation” (Cinemas – Limited) “Maneater” (VOD) “Out of the Blue” (VOD) “The Youth Governor” (VOD)
If part of Essendon’s struggles this season can be attributed to the injury-affected absence of Jake Stringer, then Sunday was a reminder of what the Bombers can be with their game changer at his best.
In the first quarter alone, Stringer booted three goals from the midfield in a ballistic burst that set the tone in Essendon’s 48-point win over North Melbourne.
The 28-year-old bookended his day with two last-quarter goals to finish with five majors as the Bombers steadily built on their lead through the game to claim the 17.12 (114) to 9.12 (66) victory.
BOMBERS V KANGAROOS Full match details and stats
Stringer remains Essendon’s chief matchwinner and his performance also included 14 disposals and six tackles in a damaging display for the Bombers, who recorded their highest score of the year.
It was their fourth win from five games in a turn of form that has lifted them slightly up the ladder and also raised spirits about a season that had otherwise been an ugly backwards step.
Despite losing in-form midfielder Dylan Shiel to a hamstring injury pre-game, the Bombers got on top around the ball, with Zach Merrett excellent with 38 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, defender Mason Redman collected 32 disposals off half-back. Dyson Heppell, too, was consistent, while James Stewart returned to the Bombers’ line-up with three goals.
Jy Simpkin tried valiantly in the midfield for the Roos with a career-best 41 disposals, while Cam Zurhaar was a threat throughout, finishing with four goals for the last-placed Kangaroos.
Stringer was sharp early. He kicked the first of the day from the goal line and had three by quarter-time, including a set shot and a clever snap.
Starting in the center and pushing forward, Stringer was back to some of his brilliant 2021 form when he kicked 41 goals from 19 games and won several matches off his own boot for his team.
The Bombers’ efficiency going forward made them dangerous in attack to hand them a 15-point lead at the first change.
North’s own raging bull Zurhaar was standing in the way of a heavy defeat. He booted a goal to start the second term, his second of the day, and caused some headaches within 50 for the Roos.
The Roos star kicked his third in the dying moments of the half to keep his side within reach of the Bombers, who had stretched their lead to 30 points just before the main break.
But Peter Wright got involved in the third quarter with two goals as the Bombers stretched their lead to 33 points at the final change, as Essendon ran away with its eighth straight win over North Melbourne dating back to 2016.
Perth is set to cop up to 75mm of rain and damaging winds over the next three days.
The bureau is forecasting a very high chance of showers on Monday with the chance of a thunderstorm.
Damaging winds are also possible, the bureau has warned, with up to 25mm of rain predicted.
Tuesday does not sound much better. The bureau says more damaging winds and a thunderstorm are possible.
Winds could reach up to 60km/h.
On Wednesday up to 30mm of rain is forecast with heavy falls possible about the northern suburbs.
The good news is from Thursday onwards the rain and wind should ease somewhat but temperatures will still hover in the mid to high teens.
In a statement issued on Sunday the weather bureau said a severe weather warning had been issued with damaging winds and heavy rainfall potentially impacting Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin and Northam.
“The first front will cross the WA coast on Monday morning and the severe weather is expected to continue through to Wednesday night,” the statement said.
“This weather system is expected to be windier and longer lasting than a typical front and is likely to produce the kind of weather usually seen once a year.”
Wildfires in California near the Oregon border and in Montana exploded in size overnight amid windy, hot conditions and were quickly encroaching on neighborhoods, forcing evacuation orders for over 100 homes Saturday, while an Idaho blaze was spreading.
In California’s Klamath National Forest, the fast-moving McKinney fire, which started Friday, went from charring just over 1 square mile to scorching as much as 62 square miles by Saturday in a largely rural area near the Oregon state line, according to fire officials .
“It’s continuing to grow with erratic winds and thunderstorms in the area and we’re in triple digit temperatures,” said Caroline Quintanilla, a spokeswoman at Klamath National Forest.
Check out The Oregonian/OregonLive’s new wildfire smoke map below. (click here if you don’t see the map.)
Meanwhile in Montana, the Elmo wildfire nearly tripled in size to more than 11 square miles (about 28 square kilometers) within a few miles of the town of Elmo. Roughly 200 miles to the south, Idaho residents remained under evacuation orders as the Moose Fire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest charred more than 67.5 square miles in timbered land near the town of Salmon. It was 17% contained.
A significant build-up of vegetation was fueling the McKinney fire, said Tom Stokesberry, a spokesman with the US Forest Service for the region.
“It’s a very dangerous fire — the geography there is steep and rugged, and this particular area hasn’t burned in a while,” he said.
A small fire was also burning nearby, outside the town of Seiad, Stokesberry said. With lightning predicted over the next few days, resources from all over California were being brought in to help fight the region’s fires, he said.
McKinney’s explosive growth forced crews to shift from trying to control the perimeter of the blaze to trying to protect homes and critical infrastructure like water tanks and power lines, and assist in evacuations in California’s northernmost county of Siskiyou. The fire is west of Interstate 5.
Deputies and law enforcement were knocking on doors in the county seat of Yreka and the town of Fort Jones to urge residents to get out and safely evacuate their livestock onto trailers. Automated calls were being sent to land phone lines as well because there were areas without cell phone service.
Over 100 homes were ordered evacuated and authorities were warning people to be on high alert. Smoke from the fire caused the closure of portions of Highway 96.
“We’re asking residents all over the area to be ready,” Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Courtney Kreider said. “Last night we were pushing out evacuations about every hour, and there are large portions of the county that are in warning areas.”
Moments later, she said, “Oh — we just added another zone to the evacuation warning.”
The Pacific Coast Trail Association urged hikers to get to the nearest town while the US Forest Service closed a 110-mile (177-kilometer) section of the trail from the Etna Summit to the Mt. Ashland Campground in southern Oregon.
Oregon state Rep. Dacia Grayber, who is a firefighter, was camping with her husband, who is also in the fire service, near the California state line when gale-force winds awoke them just after midnight.
The sky was glowing with strikes of lightening in the clouds, while ash was blowing at them, though they were in Oregon, about 10 miles away. Intense heat from the fire had sent up a massive pyrocumulonimbus cloud, which can produce its own weather system including winds and thunderstorms, Grayber said.
“These were some of the worst winds I’ve ever been in and we’re used to big fires,” she said. “I thought it was going to rip the roof top tent off of our truck. We got the hell out of there.”
On their way out, they came across hikers on the Pacific Coast Trail fleeing to safety. They offered rides, but one hiker said he would just take a beer, which they gave him, she said.
“The terrifying part for us was the wind velocity,” she said. “It went from a fairly cool breezy night to hot, dry hurricane-force winds. Usually that happens with a fire during the day but not at night. I hope for everyone’s sake this dies down but it’s looking like it’s going to get worse.”
In western Montana, the wind-driven Elmo fire forced evacuations of homes and livestock as it raced across grass and timber, according to The National Interagency Fire Center, based in Idaho. The agency estimated it would take nearly a month to contain the blaze.
Smoke shut down a portion of Highway 28 between Hot Springs and Elmo because of the thick smoke, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.
Crews from several different agencies were fighting the fire on Saturday, including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Fire Division. Six helicopters were making drops on the fire, aided by 22 engines on the ground.
In Idaho, more than 930 wildland firefighters and support staff were battling the Moose fire Saturday and protecting homes, energy infrastructure and the Highway 93 corridor, a major north-south route.
A red flag warning indicated that the weather could make things worse with the forecast calling for “dry thunderstorms,” with lightning, wind and no rain.
Meanwhile, crews made significant progress in battling another major blaze in California that forced evacuations of thousands of people near Yosemite National Park earlier this month. The Oak fire was 52% contained by Saturday, according to a Cal Fire incident update.
As fires raged across the West, the US House on Friday approved wide-ranging legislation aimed at helping communities in the region cope with increasingly severe wildfires and drought — fueled by climate change — that have caused billions of dollars in damage to homes and businesses in recent years.
The legislative measure approved by federal lawmakers Friday combines 49 separate bills and would increase firefighter pay and benefits; boost resilience and mitigation projects for communities affected by climate change; protect watersheds; and make it easier for wildfire victims to get federal assistance.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has sponsored a similar measure.
In the push to decarbonise Australia’s economy, much has been made of the need to transition to electric cars.
But advocates say there is a much cheaper and greener EV to consider — the electric bike.
While you will likely have to go on a 12-month waiting list and come up with at least $40,000 to buy a new electric car in Australia at the moment, you could get a two-wheeled vehicle with a battery that costs less than 10 cents to charge, remove easily.
Chris Jones, president of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, says many of us have forgotten that bikes are a form of transport, and often see them as simply for fitness and recreation.
Chris Jones says EVs on two wheels seem forgotten by policy makers.(ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)
“It’s a bit sad that this humble, very efficient, highly affordable electric vehicle is often overlooked,” Dr Jones said.
“I think a lot of people, especially in Perth, have always viewed bicycles as toys or recreation; they’re very rarely viewed as transport.”
But that is rapidly changing.
“[E-bikes] are the most abundant EV on the market right now. E-bikes are outselling electric cars 10 to one,” he said.
They range from about $1,200 to convert an existing bike to an electric motor and from $2,000 to $3,000 for a factory-built e-bike, and the running costs are “negligible”.
“The battery on my e-bike is about half a kilowatt hour. Based on Synergy [WA’s energy retailer] rates, that’s anywhere between 3.5 and 7 cents to fully charge the battery,” Dr Jones said.
‘You’re halfway there before you know it’
In the Perth hills, we met Andy, who had ridden his bike into the Kalamunda town center to do some shopping.
He bought his e-bike second-hand six months ago after his license was suspended and said it had been a practical replacement for the car, and one he planned to keep using even when he got back behind the wheel.
“It’s more fun riding to the shops and getting around than getting in the car and driving in traffic,” he said.
“And I haven’t had to worry about fuel, so that’s been good, especially with the price of fuel now. You get the pick of the parking spots.”
Andy got his e-bike six months ago, and says it is more convenient for short trips than driving.(ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)
He has used push-bikes and motorbikes before, but the thing that surprised him most about the e-bike was just how easy it was to get around.
“It’s easier than walking out to the car and jumping in and all that turning it on and getting on the road,” he said.
“You’re halfway here before you know it.”
But it has highlighted for him the gaps in cycling infrastructure in his neighbourhood.
“The paths could be better, that’s for sure. I wouldn’t have picked up on that before.”
Removing barriers to riding
While there is nothing that an e-bike can do differently to a pedal-powered one, the powered motor removes barriers to cycling for trips where people would otherwise use their cars.
An electric motor takes away a lot of the difficulty in riding up hills.(ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)
It is also attractive to people who want to ride but don’t have the fitness or desire to work up a sweat, but want to keep riding, according to Henry Shiel, who works at Fremantle e-bike shop Solarbike.
“We see people who, for example, want to commute a relatively short distance, but don’t feel that they want to work up too much of a sweat,” Mr Sheil said.
“The electric bike is like having a little helping hand pushing you along, you still make some effort, but you don’t work up the same sweat otherwise.
“In addition to that, quite a few parents drop their kids off to school with the bikes.
“We also have people who are older, or people who have lost perhaps a sense of balance, maybe after a little medical episode.”
.Henry Shiel repairs an e-bike wheel. (ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)
He said the shop recently sold an electric tricycle to a young man with a disability.
“He can go out with his family and keep up with them, and his father has told me that it has really been a huge benefit to the young man in terms of his independence.
“And there’s definitely a portion of people who have decided to eliminate the car, for the cost and the environmental impact.”
Planners says encouraging people to ride rather than drive will be crucial.(ABC: Emma Wynne)
While most e-bikers choose to pedal while assisted by the motor, they do often come across the attitude that having a motor to assist is somehow cheating or failing to give them the full exercise benefit from cycling.
“I absolutely reject that,” Mr Sheil said.
“I found that [having the motor] meant that I used the bike on days that I otherwise might have gone: ‘Oh, it’s too windy, it’s too rainy, it’s too hot’ and taken the bus, or driven or something else.
“Whereas with the e-bike, I found that I actually use the bike a lot more, and therefore my aerobic fitness, felt the benefit of that.”
Reducing car use crucial to emission reduction
Removing that temptation to just jump in the car is vital if Australia is to achieve a net zero emission target, according to Courtney Babb, senior lecturer in urban and regional planning at Perth’s Curtin University.
“As part of the move towards net zero, we need to move people out of cars and to reduce car use,” Dr Babb said.
“There’s a focus on electric vehicles as doing that, and reducing our emissions that way, but that’s not going to be enough, we actually have to reduce car use.”
He says there is good evidence that e-bikes did that.
“Research shows e-bikes replace 20-80 per cent of trips in different cities around the world, with the cycling-friendly cities having the higher rates,” he said.
A bicycle boulevard in a “safe active street” in Perth’s northern suburbs.(ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
He noted since the start of the COVID pandemic, there had been a growth in sales of both bikes and e-bikes, but there were still barriers, and one of the key ones was cycling infrastructure.
“One of the main drivers for people to cycle is having safe cycling environments,” Dr Babb said.
“We have a very good primary cycling network [in Perth]although it could also be better.
“But what’s missing is a lot of the secondary links… cycling on local streets and roads in general is considered unsafe.
“The United Nations recommends that about 20 per cent of transport budgets are dedicated to active transport, and I think about 2 per cent of ours is.”
Extending EV subsidies to mooted bikes
A number of Australian states and territories now offer subsidies and rebates to buy electric cars.
Dr Babb suggested governments could look at extending that financial support to e-bikes as well.
“I think if the government was serious about de-carbonising transportation, but also addressing some of the issues associated with a very car-focused, car-dependent transport system, we need to think about solutions other than just electric cars and providing subsidies for people for e-bikes might be one way of doing that,” he said.
“Even with a subsidy or a rebate for an electric vehicle, they’re focused on people who are on the wealthier end of the spectrum.
“With e-bikes, you can maybe address people who don’t have that much money to spend on an electric car and also substitute a lot of those trips within that 15-kilometre catchment where they live.”
There are calls to extend subsidies and rebates to e-bikes.(ABC News: Gian De Poloni)
Chris Jones agrees.
“I think the fact that really efficient two-wheeled electric transport has been completely overlooked by the various schemes that are in existence is quite disappointing,” he said.
“I think governments often forget just how cheap e-bikes are as a transport option.”
Sleep. It can be both an elusive beast, or an insistent guest, nudging at your eyelids at the most inconvenient times of the day. We’re all familiar with the sensation of dread that accompanies the alarm creeping its way into your morning slumber and the perplexity of waking up somehow more tired than when we fell into bed the night before.
While many factors contribute to poor sleep quality, including lifestyle, stress, diet and your environment, there’s one thing that has the potential to make a world of difference—and it can take as little as 5 minutes of your day. That thing is meditation.
Also known as mindfulness, this purposeful practice is considered to have a positive impact on sleep quality. According to Sleep Foundation, “at a biological level, meditation slows the heart rate and breathing and lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.” It is also theorized that “mindfulness may improve sleep quality” and that practicing mindfulness and meditation equip you with the resources to “calm down the nervous system in preparation for sleep.”
So, in an effort to help you set up your mornings for success, we tried some of the most hyped meditation apps on the market. Read on to suss which app works for your own mindfulness vibe.
Smiling Mind
Price:Free
If a good benchmark for whether we vibe an app or not is diving back in after our research phase, then this app ticks the box. We’ve revisited Smiling Mind multiple times since we downloaded it, and can already attest to positive changes. It might look like it’s angeled toward a young adult audience, and it is, but it also has a wealth of content for adults too. Plus, it features homegrown Aussie voices, which is a treat amongst the US and UK leaders in the market.
We recommend the NAIDOC Week Meditation, led by the iconic activist, actor, author and Indigenous elder and 2022 recipient of the NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year, Uncle Jack Charles. If you’re looking to use your commute time to grab a little bit of mindfulness, dive into the Daily Commute series. We also have our eye on the 21 Night Sleep Program, a series specifically designed to use a variety of tools and techniques to help you build healthy habits for a healthy mind, and get a better night’s sleep.
Free, user-friendly and a great range of local talent—we highly recommend it.
calm
Price: 7-day free trial, $79.99 for 1 year, $549.99 for lifetime membership
If the idea of having Simon, the Duke of Hastings trickling his smooth Bridgertonesk elocution into your ears is an ideal mindfulness moment, then Calm is definitely the app for you. Featuring sleep stories told by the likes of Regé-Jean Page, Jesse Mei Li, and Cillian Murphy, this app understands the snooze assignment. Don’t even get us started on the Bob Ross-led ASMR tracks for the soothing factor.
Not just for those hoping to catch a few more z’s, Calm has an extensive range of meditation tracks, encompassing Beginners, Work, Anxiety, Self-Care and a Breaking Habits Series. If you’re interested in ongoing wellness and crafting new habits, this series covers a range of aspects including Thinking, Comparison & Busyness. If your frequency is a more calming guided meditation with ambient sound, we love the Sigur Rós Sound Bath Experience.
head space
Price: 7-day free trial, $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year
This app is beloved for a reason. With a stack of guided meditations ranging from Five Mindful Minutes, to the longer 10-20 minutes tracks, Headspace is extensive and has a sense of playfulness that keeps it fresh. Learn breathing techniques from the master of calm, Yoda himself. Or take a more serious approach and start right at the beginning with easy-to-follow stages, from basics to self-reflection and letting go of stress. Specific themes see a range of tracks focusing on issues like managing financial stress, dealing with the complexities of sexuality and dealing with external and internal pressure.
A great app for embarking on a mindfulness journey if you’re a beginner or if there are specific areas in your life you want to craft healthier habits.
Insight Timer
Price: Free content with an option for premium access, $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year
Smattered with recognizable voices, the likes of Goldie Hawn and meditation guru Lama Rod Owens, Insight Timer has an extensive range of guided meditations and tracks for a detailed range of topics. From interviews to relationship, sleep and performance-specific tracks, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re already a bit of a meditation buff, the namesake timer is great and allows you to craft your own guide, with interval bells and personalized sounds. It also provides a community aspect, with the option to engage with a public profile. If you just want to focus on your own thing, there’s a private option too.
Great for those who have a foothold in classic meditation and want a little help structuring their practice without necessarily being guided. We did find the app a touch clunky though.
SBS Great Minds Podcast
Price:Free
If you feel like you’ve tried all of the meditation apps under the sun, and nothing seems to be the right fit, this podcast might be for you. Hosted by Leah Vandenberg, the SBS Great Minds Podcast provides a doorway into a range of meditation practices from around the world. Learn about Filipino Hilot, Japanese forest bathing and Hawaiian ho’oponopono during the bite-sized, 15-minute episodes. Throughout the 18-episode series, you’ll travel the world with Vandenberg and a little closer to home with a wellness practice grounded in First Nations’ connection to Country called Wayapa Wuurrk developed by Gunai Kurnai man Jamie Marloo Thomas.
Great for delving deeper into the art of mindfulness and what that means around the globe, or reigniting your interest if you’re suffering a little meditation fatigue.
iBreathe
Price:Free
This app is astonishingly simple, and does what it says on the box. iBreathe is structured around simple breathing techniques, allowing you to delve into mindfulness from a physical place. There are four key breathing techniques the app follows, including 4-7-8, Ujjayi, Box and Custom. 4-7-8 and Ujjayi are methods of breathing based on the ancient practice of pranayama yoga that works to calm the mind and the body. Box breathing is a super simple and repetitive method that is a great technique to have in your pocket if you’re out and about and life catches you unaware with a cheeky bout of stress. Using simple 4-second cycles of inhale/exhale repetition, the app can help establish a technique you can replicate on demand.
It’s free which is amazing, but there are a few pesky ads that pop up between sessions, but they won’t interrupt your breathing time. You can also pay a small fee to upgrade the ad-free access.
It Doesn’t Have A Name, But It’s A Hot, Hot Tip
Price: Priceless
Controversial, but before you go downloading any of these apps that tickle your mindful fancy, we want to pop in a review of something that is kind of the opposite of an app, in a way. The good news is that it’s totally free, does still involve your phone and is something that we have been trialling for a week at the time of writing with great success.
That thing is turning off the notifications on our phones during work hours. Yep, Messenger, Instagram, Tiktok, you name it, we’ve silenced it (except for text messages because if we leave mum unanswered for too long, she’ll worry, you know).
Long review short, this change has made a huge impact on our focus and mindfulness throughout the day, without group chat notifications niggling at our curiosity and FOMO.
If an app for classic meditation isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean the end of the road for your mindfulness journey. There are heaps of ways to engage in mindfulness and support your body to encourage less stress and improved restful sleep. Active meditation and taking time to be in the moment with activities like cooking, walking in nature and going for a swim are also great ways to get back in touch with yourself and simple things like taking a daily multivitamin can have tangible results on your overall wellbeing .
Head over here for Reason Season’s second Morning module on crafting a morning routine you can actually stick to.
To receive all of the upcoming weekly modules for Reason Season straight to your inbox sign up over here, plus go into the draw to win a $4,000 wellness getaway for two.
Image credit: Urban List
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Swiss and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.
Colin Farrell didn’t have a great time filming Thirteen Lives.
“Terrifying, in a word. Terrifying,” the Irish actor told Entertainment Tonight at the film’s premiere Thursday night while describing the experience, reported Page Six.
The Ron Howard-directed movie recounts the real-life 2018 rescue of a dozen young boys and their football coach who were trapped in the flooded Tham Luang cave in Thailand.
“It was scary. I’m not a great swimmer anyway, not that we were swimming, not that we were treading water — we had to stay on the surface — but they built a really impressive network of caves,” the In Bruges star shared.
“It was about four or five different caves that were based on the topography of the caves, the Tham Luang caves in Thailand, and they filled them full of water, and we’d go down and there was no up.”
Farrell, who plays rescue diver John Volanthen, added that not being able to see the water’s surface was horrifying and “just wreaks havoc on [the] mind.” He even shared that he experienced panic attacks underwater, which he called a “new experience.”
However, the True Detective alum explained that all the underwater scenes did not improve his aquatic abilities, adding that being a rescue diver is “a very particular skill set.”
Farrell was not the only star on set who struggled with the intense scenes.
His co-star Viggo Mortensen, who plays real-life hero Richard Stanton, shared that he, too, panicked at one point while filming.
“All of a sudden I couldn’t breathe,” the Green Book star, 63, told People. “It seemed like a long time, but it was only a matter of seconds. I panicked.”
Although he managed to remember his training and switch the mouthpiece to the oxygen tank, Mortensen acknowledged that “it’s not that complicated, but at the moment, it’s hard to think clearly.”
The movie also stars Joel Edgerton, Tom Bateman and Paul Gleeson.
Thirteen Lives is on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, August 5.
This article originally appeared on Page Six and was reproduced here with permission
2022 Commonwealth Games Men’s Rugby 7s (sevens) event kicked-off on 29th July 2022 and is down to the last day of event, we take a look at the quarterfinal results, last day final and semi-final schedule, venue, results, pools , fixtures along with Australia streaming details
The rugby sevens competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which takes place from July 29 to July 31, is featuring a men’s event. The top two teams from each pool by rule, advanced to the quarterfinals.
Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 Men’s Rugby (Sevens) 7s Results, Final Day 3 Semi-Final Schedule, Dates, Time, Draw, Venue, Tickets, Scores, Pools, Points Table, Live Stream Australia And UK
AUSSIES IN ACTION 🇦🇺
Day 3 – Sunday, July 31 (Morning edition)
The final day of the triathlon with three medal events. Georgia Godwin and Emily Whitehead look to grab their second medal of the #CommonwealthGames
2022 Commonwealth Games – Men’s Rugby Sevens Teams, Groups, Quarterfinal Results, Final Day Schedule, Date, Time, And Venue
A brave effort from Australia allowed them to hold on and defeat Samoa 7-0 in the quarterfinal of men’s rugby sevens at 2022 Commonwealth Games. Defense controlled the game, and Matt Gonzalez’s performance in the second half was sufficient to secure the victory. Before a superb cover challenge caused the error in the fifth minute, Nathan Lawson appeared certain to score. After Corey Toole set up Gonzalez, they were then down to six men, but they managed to hold off a determined Samoa to advance to the final four.
Elsewhere, South Africa defeated Canada 33-0 to get to the semi-finals and will now play against Australia. The full schedule of 2022 Commonwealth Games Men’s Rugby Sevens event matches can be found here.
2022 Commonwealth Games – Men’s Rugby Sevens Latest Point Table And Standings
Pool A Point Table
Rank
Team
matches
wins
loss
points
1
new zealand
3
3
0
9
two
Samoa
3
two
1
7
3
England
3
1
two
5
4
Sri Lanka
3
0
3
3
Pool B Point Table
Rank
Team
matches
wins
loss
points
1
south africa
3
3
0
9
two
Scotland
3
two
1
7
3
Tonga
3
1
two
5
4
Malaysian
3
0
3
3
Pool C Point Table
Rank
Team
matches
wins
loss
points
1
fiji
3
3
0
9
two
Canada
3
two
1
7
3
wales
3
1
two
5
4
Zambia
3
0
3
3
Pool D Point Table
Rank
Team
matches
wins
loss
points
1
Australia
3
two
0
8
two
Kenyan
3
two
1
7
3
Uganda
3
1
1
6
4
Jamaica
3
0
3
3
Latest Results and Upcoming Schedule (All Times in GMT)
Pool A Results
29 July 2022 9 o’clock New Zealand 63-5 Sri Lanka Coventry Stadium, Coventry
29 July 2022 9 o’clock England 0-34 Samoa Coventry Stadium, Coventry
29 July 2022 17:30 England 47-19 Sri Lanka Coventry Stadium, Coventry
29 July 2022 17:30 New Zealand 19-17 Samoa Coventry Stadium, Coventry
30 July 2022 9 o’clock Samoa 44-0 Sri Lanka Coventry Stadium, Coventry
30 July 2022 9 o’clock New Zealand 20-0 England Coventry Stadium, Coventry
Pool B Results
29 July 2022 9 o’clock South Africa 46-0 Malaysia Coventry Stadium, Coventry
30 July 2022 9 o’clock Australia 7-5 Kenya Coventry Stadium, Coventry
Quarterfinals Results (30 July 2022, 17:30)
Fiji 34-5 Scotland
South Africa 33-0 Canada
New Zealand 31-0 Kenya
Australia 7-0 Samoa
Semi Final Schedule (31 July 2022, 10:30)
New Zealand v Fiji
Australia v South Africa
bronze medal match
31 July 2022 18:00 Coventry Stadium, Coventry
gold medal match
31 July 2022 18:00 Coventry Stadium, Coventry
2022 Commonwealth Games Where to Watch: Live Stream & TV Telecast?
The Sony TEN 1, Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 3, Sony SIX, and Sony TEN 4 networks will all stream all of the men’s rugby sevens matches live from Birmingham to India on Sunday including the final. Indian fans can easily follow the action as it unfolds thanks to the Sony LIV app and website, which will stream the games live.
Country
Rights-holders
Australia
Seven Network
Canada
CBC
India
Sony Pictures Sports Network
new zealand
Sky NZ
United Kingdom
BBC
Also Read: Men’s FIH Pro Hockey League 2022, Schedule, Date, Time, Teams, Format, Fixtures, Points Table, Results, Live Stream
Former Australian Medical Association president Dr Kerryn Phelps has called on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to enforce a mask mandate.
It comes as the state recorded 4,655 new infections on Sunday, with 762 people in hospitals – 28 of those are in ICU.
Queensland has a massive 53,100 active infections.
The one-time independent MP for the Sydney seat of Wentworth replied to a tweet from Ms Palaszczuk who urged anyone over the age of 30 to book in for their fourth COVID-19 vaccination.
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“If you have downtime this weekend, book that booster shot,” the Premier wrote.
“Everyone over the age of 30 is eligible for a fourth vaccination. Getting a booster is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.”
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) updated its recommendation for people aged 50 to 64 years to get a fourth COVID-19 vaccine, while people aged 30 to 49 years may choose to have a fourth shot if they wish to.
ATAGI reiterated that people who had already been eligible for the fourth dose, including those aged 65 years and over, remain at “high risk of severe disease and death” from COVID-19.
But Dr Phelps warned that vaccination alone is not enough to control the pandemic.
“Whatever advice you are receiving @AnnastaciaMP, vaccination alone will not control this #covid19 pandemic,” she wrote on Sunday.
“People will continue to get reinfected without other measures.
“The healthcare system around the country is struggling: hospital staff, paramedics, GPs.
“Please mandate masks.”
It’s not the first time Dr Phelps has weighed in on the need for stronger rules.
Earlier this month she called out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for not wearing an N95 face mask when receiving his fourth jab.
It is not against the rules to enter a New South Wales pharmacy without a mask.
“Where are the N95 masks @AlboMP?” she tweeted.
Dr Chris Moy, Vice President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said the Prime Minister should stop with the “contradictory messaging” and start to be more transparent about the emerging COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly launched an impassioned plea for Australians to “take action” and wear face masks amid a surge in COVID-19 cases this winter – but stopped short of advising the Albanese Government to mandate the measure.
Dr Kelly appeared on Sky News Australia where he warned COVID-19 cases are expected to peak in August as the country endures a third Omicron wave.
“In terms of a mandate, that’s really a decision for government and that’s something they need to consider,” he said on July 20.
