superkill

superkill CAPE TOWN, Nov 25 — On a sunny afternoon in Cape Town’s seaside village of Simon’s Town, three young chacma baboons cause a commotion, clambering on roofs, jumping between buildings and swinging on the gutters. Enchanted tourists stop to photograph the troop crossing the road. Locals are less impressed: it’s a daily scene in the charming village nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain National Park. About 500 chacma baboons — among the largest monkey species and weighing up to 40 kg — roam the peninsula south of Cape Town, says the South African National Biodiversity Institute. And as human development pushes up the mountain into their natural habitat, the animals are increasingly entering plush properties to forage in gardens and take the pickings from the bins. Some manage to sneak into houses where they can wreak havoc. Many locals are fond of the creatures, giving them pet names and following their daily adventures on social media. But others are increasingly frustrated. “They’ve become so bold now. They’re more domesticated than they should be,” said Duncan Low, 60, who runs an ice cream shop. The intruders have even started raiding kitchens and grabbing food from plates in restaurants. “They’re on a sugar and fast-food rush,” Low said. In 2021, the city put down a notorious alpha-male monkey who had terrorised residents with more than 40 raids for food in rubbish bins, from lawns and porches, sometimes entering homes while people were inside. Monkey management Tension between humans and baboons is “the highest it’s ever been”, said ecologist Justin O’Riain, who directs the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa at the University of Cape Town. A baboon on the edge of a wild and an urban area is “the most difficult animal in the world to manage”, O’Riain said. “They are strong, they can climb... and they can learn from each other: there’s no landscape that they can’t conquer.” As human settlement of the Cape has expanded, the baboons have been “pushed higher and higher up the mountain” where foraging conditions are harder, O’Riain added. The lush gardens that people have built, with fruit trees and swimming pools, are tempting attractions. The City of Cape Town, in partnership with park authorities, has for years run a programme to manage the marauding monkeys that relies on teams of baboon monitors. They employ a primarily non-lethal approach, O’Riain said. However, some techniques, such as firing paintball guns to keep troops away or culling a particularly problematic animal, have come under fire. Amid an increasingly emotional outcry, vociferous campaigner Baboon Matters announced court action against the city and parks authorities in May for failing to implement what it considers more acceptable control measures, such as baboon-proof fencing and bins. Facing criticism and funding limits, the authorities said the baboon management programme would be wound down by the end of the year as they investigate other “more sustainable urban solutions”. It will however remain in place through December — a particularly busy month for tourists — but with fewer rangers, it said. “We’re going to lose our first line of defence,” O’Riain said, with more baboons already entering urban areas often at risk to their lives. Deaths highest in 10 years Thirty-three baboons were known to have died between July 2023 and June 2024, the highest number in 10 years, city authorities say. Nearly half the deaths were caused by human factors, including shooting with pellet guns, collisions with vehicles and dog attacks. Coexistence with baboons should come with “a degree of human compliance”, starting with managing food waste, conservation activist Lynda Silk, head of the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation group, said. “We don’t need to be in competition with our natural resources: there can be ways that we can manage our lifestyles to minimise the negative impacts,” she said. For O’Riain, the only viable solution to the baboon battle is to erect fencing in certain areas that is made up of electric wiring and underground mesh to prevent the animals from digging underneath. A prototype installed 11 years ago had shown great success, with almost no animals entering the area, he said. A 2023 report already suggested where the fencing should be placed. “Baboons can come and forage right up to the edge of the fence and no one will disturb them,” said O’Riain. “It’s a completely peaceful interaction, a win-win for people and for baboons.” — AFPOlympic champion cyclist Evenepoel sustains fractures and a dislocated collarbone in training crash

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal investigators in New York are seeking records from the manufacturer of an AI-powered weapons scanner that was briefly deployed this summer in New York City’s subway system. The tech company, Evolv, revealed in a public filing that it “received a voluntary document request from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York” on Nov. 1. It was unclear what the request was seeking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment on the request, which was first reported by the Daily News. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Evolv said the company was “pleased to cooperate with all government agencies and regulators who request information from our company.” The Massachusetts-based tech company, whose scanners have also been used at sports stadiums and schools, has faced allegations of misconduct. Last month, Evolv’s board of directors fired its chief executive following an internal investigation that found certain sales had been “subject to extra-contractual terms and conditions.” On Tuesday, the company announced it had resolved a previous probe launched by the Federal Trade Commission last year over allegations of deceptive marketing practices. The company is also under separate investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite the legal and regulatory scrutiny, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a pilot program this summer to bring a handful of scanners to the city's subways to deter gun violence. The initiative drew immediate criticism from civil liberties groups who said the searches were unconstitutional, along with questions about its efficacy. In October, the city revealed the scanners did not detect any passengers with firearms — but falsely alerted more than 100 times. At the time, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said it was still “evaluating the outcome of the pilot” and had not entered into any contract with Evolv. Jake Offenhartz, The Associated PressConstitution reforms without election risk legal challenges

LARAMIE -- This year University of Wyoming Extension employees received state, regional and national honors from professional associations in their fields. These outstanding staff members were recognized at an annual UW Extension conference in Sheridan earlier this month. Chance Marshall of Fremont County received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). This award is given to an exceptional educator who has served extension for over 10 years, created effective programming and actively worked to improve extension. Marshall joined UW Extension as a Fremont County educator in 2014. “Chance has shown impeccable leadership and exceptional programming on artificial insemination in cattle and other livestock,” said Jeremiah Vardiman, past president of the Wyoming Association of County Agricultural Agents (WACAA). Jaycie Arndt earned the Achievement Award from the NACAA, which is given to an outstanding educator who has been with the association for less than 10 years. Arndt joined extension in 2020 and currently works as coordinator of the Institute for Managing Annual Grasses Invading Natural Ecosystems (IMAGINE) and an assistant research scientist at the Sheridan Research and Extension Center. “As a newer educator in our association, she shows a very high quality of work, especially leading a statewide organization like IMAGINE,” said Vardiman. He highlights Arndt’s ability to connect with her community. 4-H educators earn state, regional, national honors Several UW Extension employees were recognized by the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP). Awards are given to NAE4-HYDP members who are leaders in their communities and create innovative youth programming. Emily Haver, Carbon County 4-H educator, received the state Excellence in Natural Resources/Environmental Education Award for revitalizing the Carbon County 4-H summer camp. She also earned the state and regional Jim Kahler Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Awards for creating an after-school maker camp. Former Teton County 4-H educator Glenn Owings won the Achievement in Service Award, which recognizes an employee who has been a member of NAE4-HDP for 3-7 years. Laramie County 4-H educator Kristi Nagy won the Distinguished Service Award, awarded to those who have been members of NAE4-HYDP for 7-14 years. Erin Persche, who joined Weston County Extension as a 4-H educator in 2022, was named the 2024 Wyoming Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (WAE4-HYDP) Rookie of the Year. This award recognizes an exceptional 4-H educator who has been a member of UW Extension for less than three years. Persche also received the state and regional Individual Periodical Publication Awards for the Weston County monthly 4-H newsletter. In addition, she won the state and regional Individual Social Media Package Awards for her “This Week in Weston County 4-H” weekly Facebook updates. Finally, Persche earned the state, regional and national Individual Promotional Piece Awards for a postcard that boosted re-enrollments in Weston County 4-H. Campbell County 4-H educator Makala Riley received state and regional recognition for a book club she created for 4-H volunteers. Riley also earned several accolades for her work on the Campbell County 4-H newsletter, including state and regional honors for her personal column introducing the newsletter. Riley, fellow Campbell County 4-H educator Kim Fry and Campbell County administrative assistant Treasure Boller received the state and regional Team Periodical Publication Awards for the newsletter as a whole. UW Extension’s Food, Fun, 4-H Program won the state Team Educational Package Award. This innovative program, created by UW Extension educators Kellie Chichester of Niobrara County, Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Mary Louise Wood of Park County and Erin Persche of Weston County, encourages youth to cook with their families. Finally, Emily Swinyer of Sheridan County earned state and regional Individual Educational Package Awards for organizing and leading a childcare and babysitting course for older 4-H’rs . About the University of Wyoming Extension The University of Wyoming Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. From 4-H programming and pesticide safety education to food preservation and nutrition courses, Extension upholds the university’s land-grant mission by offering learning opportunities for people of all ages. UW Extension staff help Wyoming residents boost agricultural production, care for lawns and gardens, cultivate future leaders, support individual and community well-being, and develop thriving businesses. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call 307-766-5124.10 Walmart holiday deals that make terrific gifts — here's what I'm buying

I like the idea of becoming a stock market millionaire. But my approach to aim for a million is focussed on keeping things simple rather than complicated. So I am not trying to hunt down some tiny company few people have heard of hoping it turns out to be the next big thing. Instead, I am building a portfolio based around well-known blue-chip shares – and not that many of them! Getting serious about investment Before digging into the details of such an approach, though, it is worth mentioning that trying to aim for a million needs commitment, both in terms of time and money. This is not some scheme whereby I miraculously hope to turn just a few quid into a seven-figure sum. Rather, I methodically invest over the long term, continuing to put more money in and letting the money I have already invested get to work. The amount depends on one’s own financial circumstances, but here I foresee putting £1k per month (£12k each year) into my . Hitting the million Doing that and compounding my ISA value at 10% annually means I could realistically aim for a million after 24 years. As a , I am comfortable with that. But what if I managed a compound annual growth rate of 20%, not 10%? Then, still making the same monthly contribution of £1,000, I ought to hit my target in just . Zooming in on quality shares at good value prices Both 10% and 20% are quite tough targets to achieve over the long run, when taking the bad years with the smooth ones. Still, I think they are possible. How could I aim for 20% not 10%? I aim to invest in some of the same shares, just a smaller selection of them. Concentrating on a few great shares means spreading my portfolio less thinly (though still keeping diversified), meaning the strong performance of some shares would have greater overall impact on my returns. Putting the theory into practice now That sounds simple enough. The devil in the detail, though, is trying to spot such high performers. As an example, let me discuss one share that has achieved that target over the past five years. During that period, ( ) has increased by 146% in value. On top of that, it is a regular dividend payer. How might I have known five years ago that the company had brilliant potential? At that stage, it already had a proven business model and strong track record: even well-established companies can produce strong performance. It had a large target market of customers wiling to spend substantial sums on gaming paraphernalia. Crucially, Games Workshop had a competitive advantage. Its proprietary fantasy universes and characters helped build customer loyalty, giving it pricing power. The company faces risks such as a weak economy, which might make gamers less keen to keep buying new characters. That could hurt profits. At the current share price, the valuation is too rich for me and I have no plans to buy the share now. But it does offer lessons about the sort of characteristics I am looking for when choosing shares as I aim for a million.

Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

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