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  • ‘Like being with a rock star’ – Son’s 10 years at Spurs

    ‘Like being with a rock star’ – Son’s 10 years at Spurs

    “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Walker, who spent eight years in north London before joining Manchester City in 2017, said on his ‘You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker’ podcast.

    “We’d do an appearance and then we’d have to use decoy vehicles to get away because fans would try and stop the traffic. They all wanted to catch a glimpse of Sonny.

    “They’d come back to the hotel where we were staying and all night they’d sit outside. It was incredible.

    “I’ve seen it before to a certain degree with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. But it was nothing compared to Sonny.”

    Wimmer, who has stayed in touch with Son since leaving Spurs in 2017, likened it to “being in the company of a rock star”.

    “I was always joking with him about this,” he says.

    “I said: ‘You are the most famous guy in South Korea’, but he was like: ‘No, no, it’s not so special’.”

    Former Austria defender Wimmer had arrived at White Hart Lane from Cologne in the summer of 2015, three months before Son.

    “I knew of him because, like me, he was playing in the Bundesliga,” adds Wimmer.

    The pair struck up an instant friendship in London.

    In their early days at Tottenham, they would often speak German together while they improved their English.

    After a win at Southampton in 2016, Son and Wimmer interviewed one another – in English – for Spurs TV.

    “Kev, why are you my best friend?” asks Son.

    Wimmer replies: “Because you are a wonderful guy, an honest guy. It’s always funny with you and I hope we stay together for many more years here.”

    Within a year, Wimmer had been sold to Stoke for £18m. Son stayed to become a Spurs great.

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  • ArianeGroup Receives Heat Shield Mock-Up for ExoMars Mission

    ArianeGroup Receives Heat Shield Mock-Up for ExoMars Mission





    Credit: Loiretech

    French tooling manufacturer Loiretech has delivered a mock-up of the ExoMars heat shield to ArianeGroup’s facilities in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles.

    In April 2024, the European Space Agency awarded a €522 million contract to a Thales Alenia Space-led consortium to restart development of the ExoMars mission, which will carry the Rosalind Franklin rover to the surface of Mars. As part of the consortium, ArianeGroup is responsible for the front shield and thermal protection element of the aeroshell, designed to protect the rover during entry into the Martian atmosphere.

    Although ArianeGroup has not publicly commented on its ExoMars development work, a social media update from French tooling manufacturer Loiretech on 17 July indicated that it had delivered a mock-up of the ExoMars heat shield to the company. According to Loiretech, the mock-up will be used by ArianeGroup for the initial qualification of the heat shield, onto which thermal protection tiles will be installed. Although not explicitly stated, the mock-up will likely be used for fit verification tests, assembly trials, and the assessment of thermal tile mounting procedures.

    Despite supplying the initial mock-up of the heat shield structure, ArianeGroup ExoMars Programme Manager Jérôme Bertrand confirmed in a comment on the Loiretech update that the company will not be responsible for the flight model of the component.

    The ExoMars mission is currently scheduled for launch in 2028. Once on the Martian surface, the rover will deploy a drill developed by Leonardo to extract samples from depths of up to two metres. This depth is critical, as it lies beneath the layer of soil sterilised by surface radiation, offering a better chance of uncovering preserved organic material.








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  • The Hundred: David Warner casts doubt on Joe Root’s Ashes form

    The Hundred: David Warner casts doubt on Joe Root’s Ashes form

    David Warner says Joe Root will need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” if he and England are to succeed in Australia this winter.

    Warner, 38, is in England for a stint with London Spirit in The Hundred and while he is looking forward to calling Lord’s home for a month, he could not resist a gentle dig at former Ashes rivals.

    England face Australia in the Ashes from late November, when they will attempt to win back the urn for the first time in 10 years.

    “The big anchor there is Rooty [England batter Joe Root], who is yet to score a hundred in Australia,” Warner told BBC Sport.

    In reference to a perception that Root gets out lbw a lot, Warner said: “Josh Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.”

    Warner, who retired from international cricket last year, is set to make his Hundred debut in the tournament opener against Oval Invincibles on Tuesday – a game that is live on BBC Two and iPlayer from 18:30 BST.

    He could face Root’s Trent Rockets at Lord’s on 14 August.

    Root is the number one Test batter in the world and crucial to England’s hopes of winning the Ashes but has never scored a century in Australia.

    He has been dismissed 10 times in 18 Tests by Australia seamer Hazlewood – one fewer than the 11 times he has been dismissed by Australia captain Pat Cummins and India bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

    “It all comes down to the bowlers,” Warner said.

    “If the English bowlers can put a dent in the Australia top order then they will come into the contest.”

    Warner could also face another former Ashes rival in The Hundred this year in veteran bowler James Anderson. Anderson was a late pick for Manchester Originals, who the Spirit play on 11 August.

    Asked about the prospect of facing England’s record wicket-taker again, Warner said: “They are 2025 white cricket balls not 2018 red Dukes.

    “It is going to be a bit different.”

    England asked for the 2018 batch of Dukes balls to be used for the 2019 Ashes because they expected them to move more for Anderson and the hosts’ other seamers.

    Anderson was injured four overs into the series which was drawn 2-2, yet Warner has not forgotten.

    “He probably won’t be able to seam it around corners like they normally do,” Warner said.

    When Warner plays on Tuesday it will be the first time he has taken to the field on English soil since the final day of the Ashes in 2023.

    That day, before the ball changes, bail swaps and Stuart Broad’s finale, Warner was applauded off by the crowd at The Oval, despite his troubled history with the England-supporting public.

    “I was touched by that,” Warner said.

    “It is a credit to the supporters of cricket in England, who love the game.

    “We have always had our challenges and battles as nations but what English supporters do is appreciate players who have played for a long time. That did mean a lot.”

    The Spirit reached the Hundred eliminator 2022 but have finished seventh or eighth in the tournament’s other three seasons.

    This year Warner will be reunited with another Australian, the former coach and opener Justin Langer who has replaced Trevor Bayliss as coach.

    “I know Spirit haven’t gone too well in the past few years,” Warner said.

    “For myself to bring some energy and intensity to the group and project that on the field would be awesome.

    “It is about the fans and the young kids that are coming out to see us, not about the player and whether there has been a bit of history or not.

    “It is about supporting the game, making sure we are the ones putting bums on seats and are there for the right reasons.”

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  • Good, mad and ugly: the US economy’s performance under Trump – in charts | US economy

    Good, mad and ugly: the US economy’s performance under Trump – in charts | US economy

    According to Donald Trump’s White House, the US economy is booming, inflation is dead and jobs are surging. A blizzard of economic reports has cast a pall on such claims in recent days.

    This week’s data on Trump’s early economic record was mixed – good, mad and ugly – with jobs numbers so weak he reached for the catchphrase he once used to build himself into a reality TV star: you’re fired.

    The picture is chaotic, with robust headline growth in the world’s largest economy, wild swings in trade, and a remarkable slowdown in the labor market.

    For six months, Trump has staged an extraordinary campaign to overhaul the global economy and extract concessions from Washington’s allies and rivals by threatening and imposing steep tariffs on their US exports.

    But the unpredictable, erratic rollout of this strategy has already had bizarre consequences.

    Resilient-ish growth

    Charts showing GDP growth

    On the surface, at least, this week’s deluge of data opened with good news: the US economy returned to growth in the second quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) – a broad measure of economic health – expanding at a rate not seen since last summer.

    But this followed an unexpected contraction in the first quarter, and underlined some more concerning figures, such as a 15.6% drop in private domestic investment. Businesses have been struggling to keep up with the hour-by-hour jerks and jolts on sweeping economies policies.

    Yes, there was good growth in the last quarter but in the first six months, the US economy grew at a mediocre 1.2%. The Wall Street Journal called it “the weirdest GDP report ever”.

    Imports surge and plunge

    Chart of import growth

    Delve a bit deeper, and you start to see how the US economy is grappling with a series of extraordinary forces as Trump hammers out his trade strategy.

    Firms spent much of the first quarter waiting for the president to reveal his plans for tariffs: which countries would be targeted, at what rates, and when. They stockpiled, triggering an unprecedented surge in imports that pushed growth into the red.

    In the second quarter, however, as Trump started to ramp up his economic attacks, imports tumbled at an equally astonishing pace. Net exports – how much a country exports more than it imports – boosted GDP.

    Interest rates on hold

    Chart of interest rates

    This is Trump’s least favorite chart. Despite his many public demands, threats and attacks, the Federal Reserve has not yet cut interest rates this year.

    Why? Jerome Powell, the central bank’s chair, has repeatedly argued it should wait and see the impact of the president’s trade strategy before moving. Fed officials are worried that inflation – despite Trump’s claims that it has collapsed on his watch – has actually remained stubborn, and might rise as a result of his tariffs.

    This has gone down extremely poorly in the White House, where officials are counting down the weeks until Powell’s term as chair ends next May.

    Jobs growth stalls

    Chart showing job growth over time

    Data released on Friday fundamentally changed the way US policymakers and politicians think about the economy. Until then, many inside the Fed thought everything was broadly ticking over nicely – and Trump administration officials claimed they were overseeing a boom in activity.

    But July’s employment report revealed far fewer jobs were created that month than economists had expected, and revised down estimates for May and June by an astonishing 258,000. Job creation has stalled.

    “Look, this jobs report isn’t ideal,” Stephen Miran, chairman of the White House council of economic advisers, told CNN, before suggesting that fading uncertainty around trade and fiscal policy would lead to significant improvement.

    “It’s all going to get much, much better from here,” he added.

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  • Kajol Roots for Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2, calls it a full-on dhamaka – Mid-day

    1. Kajol Roots for Ajay Devgn’s Son of Sardaar 2, calls it a full-on dhamaka  Mid-day
    2. Son Of Sardaar 2 Movie Review: Ajay Devgn & Ravi Kishan Are Phailao-ing Rishton Ka Raita In A Whacky World Of Sardars & Pakistanis!  Koimoi
    3. “Son Of Sardar 2: Funnier Than Many Of Recent Ostensible Comedies” – A Subhash K Jha Review  BollySpice.com
    4. Son of Sardaar 2 Box Office Collection Day 1: Ajay Devgn’s comedy struggles with Rs 6.75 crore debut amid poor reviews  The Indian Express
    5. Son of Sardaar 2 Release Date, Cast, and What Fans Can Expect Next  Vocal

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  • Avast Named Top Cybersecurity Software by Software Experts

    NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As digital threats evolve and user reliance on personal devices grows, the need for robust, multi-platform cybersecurity solutions has never been more urgent. This month, Software Experts has recognized Avast as the Best Antivirus in its latest evaluation, citing the software’s strong threat detection capabilities, wide platform support, and comprehensive privacy features.

    Best Antivirus

    • Avast – a leading global provider of digital security software, known for protecting consumers and businesses across multiple devices through real-time antivirus, privacy, and performance solutions.

    The evaluation by Software Experts highlights Avast’s consistent performance in independent testing and its ability to address the realities of modern cyber risks. While Windows has traditionally been the primary target for malware and remote attacks, macOS and mobile platforms have seen a steady rise in threat activity. In today’s digital environment, security tools must deliver cross-platform protection, real-time monitoring, and adaptive safeguards against phishing, ransomware, and spyware.

    Avast Premium Security, for instance, includes malware detection, phishing protection, ransomware shields, and web threat prevention. It is available in two plan options: a single-device subscription and a multi-device plan that supports up to 10 devices across desktop and mobile platforms. The multi-device version is suited for individuals and families managing a mix of personal and work devices.

    Driven by a commitment to strengthen scam protection for today’s users, Avast has introduced Scam Guardian Pro, an AI-powered feature now included in Avast Premium Security. Scam Guardian Pro offers a multi-layered defense against online scams through three key tools: Avast Assistant, which provides 24/7 real-time guidance on suspicious websites, messages, emails, and links using natural language interaction; Web Guard, which continuously scans website content and code to detect hidden threats; and Email Guard, which uses contextual AI to flag potentially dangerous emails before they’re opened.

    Avast Ultimate extends this offering through a bundled suite that includes Premium Security along with SecureLine VPN, AntiTrack, and Cleanup Premium. The suite is designed to provide a complete solution across protection, privacy, and performance. Users can install and activate the apps together or use them independently, depending on their device and preference.

    SecureLine VPN offers encryption to support secure internet use on public Wi-Fi networks. AntiTrack helps prevent online tracking by websites and advertisers. Cleanup Premium removes unnecessary files and applications, helping improve device performance and system efficiency.

    Avast’s recognition by Software Experts follows a series of third-party certifications that underscore the product’s reliability and performance.

    In 2024, AV-Test awarded Avast the Best MacOS Security Award for Consumer Users, noting that “one of the best products for protecting macOS is definitely Avast Security.” The same year, Avast earned a perfect score of 30 out of 30 in protection, performance, and usability, blocking 100 percent of real-world threats.

    In 2023, AV-Comparatives named Avast a Top-Rated Product, achieving Advanced+ in six out of seven categories and earning Gold awards in both Real-World and Malware Protection tests. The platform was praised for its usability, interface, and threat detection.

    Virus Bulletin gave Avast an A+ grade, citing a 99.69 percent malware detection rate with no false positives. In the AVLab Internet Banking Protection Test, Avast was rated Approved for its dedicated banking mode, which uses a virtual desktop to isolate sensitive sessions and limit exposure to malware.

    As digital usage continues to expand across personal, professional, and financial domains, antivirus software has taken on a broader role in managing not only security but privacy and performance. Devices operating on macOS, once considered inherently safer, are increasingly vulnerable to targeted exploits. Mobile devices, especially those used for banking, messaging, and authentication, are also key points of risk. In this environment, a platform-agnostic solution that addresses multiple dimensions of cybersecurity is increasingly necessary.

    Avast’s software is available worldwide and supports more than 435 million users. Its technologies are certified by leading independent labs, including AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, Virus Bulletin, ICSA Labs, OPSWAT, and VB100.

    Software Experts notes that Avast’s combination of platform compatibility, consistent test performance, and built-in privacy tools makes it well suited for current cybersecurity demands. The recognition reflects both product capability and alignment with the growing expectations of users who need to stay secure across devices and networks.

    To read the full review and evaluation, visit Software Experts.

    About Avast

    Avast is a leader in digital security and privacy, and part of Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. Avast protects hundreds of millions of users from online threats, for Mobile, PC or Mac, and is top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Learn more at Avast.com.

    About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

    SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

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  • Full-Body MRIs: Can They Save Your Life or Are They a Waste of Money?

    Full-Body MRIs: Can They Save Your Life or Are They a Waste of Money?

    Doctors have been arguing over the utility of preventive full-body MRI scans for decades. In 2004, it became a central plot point on an episode of the TV show “Scrubs.”

    “I am considering offering full-body scans here at Sacred Heart. What do you think?” Dr. Bob Kelso, chief of medicine at the hospital in fictional San DiFrangeles, asks.

    “I think showing perfectly healthy people every harmless imperfection in their body just to scare them into taking invasive and often pointless tests is an unholy sin,” Dr. Perry Cox responds, echoing a sentiment many real doctors have toward high-end preventive scans.


    kelso

    In the TV show “Scrubs,” Dr. Kelso (pictured) wants to start offering full-body scans to patients.

    Mitch Haaseth/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images



    It’s been more than 20 years since that Scrubs episode first aired, and yet real doctors are no closer to settling their big debate about full-body MRIs.

    Preventive full-body MRIs are now used in high-end longevity clinics and are available through a growing suite of direct-to-consumer offerings. Prices range from $2,500 or more for a one-hour scan to new AI-assisted offerings that cost $500 and only take about 20 minutes.


    kim k

    Kim Kardashian promoted Prenuvo’s scan on Instagram in 2023, calling it a “lifesaving machine.”

    Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images



    Stars and longevity fiends, including Kim Kardashian, tout these scans on social media, and everyday patients share real success stories, gripping testimonials of lifesaving insights they’ve gleaned from scanning their entire bodies for signs of danger.

    Genetic sequencing pioneer Craig Venter previously told Business Insider that he diagnosed his own prostate cancer “that was about to metastasize” with a high-end MRI “after being told by the best medical system that I didn’t have prostate cancer.”

    Full-body MRIs can detect cancer early. But they can also have you parting with thousands of dollars, scheduling numerous follow up appointments to chase little dots on your scans, and in the end revealing nothing.

    A full-body MRI is like a security camera for your innards

    The promise of a full-body MRI is that it can uncover dangerous things happening inside you that aren’t bad enough — yet — to get picked up on other tests.

    Danielle Hoeg is a perfect example of how this can work. A non-smoker in her early 40s and mom of three, she told Business Insider she decided to do a Prenuvo scan after some “wonky” blood work was taken at her doctor’s office, which suggested something might be wrong.

    She signed up for a $2,500 Prenuvo scan (not covered by insurance), which took about an hour. The scan highlighted a few things: some moderate spinal degeneration and a lingering sinus infection. It also flagged a “minor” white cloud on her lung, an “indeterminate lesion” that “appears at low risk of becoming problematic,” her Prenuvo report found.

    A blood test for lung cancer came back negative, but a CT scan her doctor ordered showed that, sure enough, that lung spot was likely cancer. She eventually had a stage 1 tumor removed, just three months after her Prenuvo scan.

    Hoeg was in shock. She was a 43-year-old, healthy non-smoker with lung cancer. How could this be?

    “I’m not out there smoking, asking for lung cancer, I’m not working in a coal mine,” she told Business Insider.

    Since she caught this cancer early, she didn’t have to undergo any aggressive radiation or chemotherapy treatments. She tells everyone she can about her experience with Prenuvo.

    “I have a little bit less lung, I have some scars, but I’m OK, and I’m here, and I’m with my kids, and swimming and running,” she said.

    Emi Gal, founder of Prenuvo competitor Ezra, recently acquired by Function Health, says this is exactly what full-body scans are meant for. They’re helping find cancer that either can’t be screened for or won’t get picked up on regular screening tests because it’s not big enough yet.

    “My mother passed away from cancer because she found cancer late,” Gal told BI. “I’ve dedicated my career and my life really to helping everyone in the world detect cancer early.”


    emi gal

    Ezra founder Emi Gal.

    Ezra/Function Health



    The scans can also pick up back and spine problems, aneurysms, liver disease, and cysts.

    Inevitably, they will also flag many things as worrisome that people don’t need to worry about at all, like benign scar tissue or inflammation lingering from a recent illness or injury. The scan can’t tell you definitively, “hey, this is trouble.” It just shows you when something’s there.

    Are ultrasounds the real untapped medical tool of the future?


    full body scan

    What is in there? Everything.

    Getty Images



    As the fictional Dr. Cox presciently said on Scrubs, “If you get this scan, the next year of your life is going to be a series of endless tests.”

    Prenuvo says that nearly half of its patients “find something to keep an eye on,” but doctors want to know: Are they saving lives?

    For now, you won’t find major medical boards or cancer advocacy organizations recommending full-body MRIs. There isn’t the hard evidence they’d need to back up a medical recommendation.

    “Your end goal is saving years of life, helping people live longer,” Dr. Samir Abboud, the chief of emergency radiology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, told BI.

    If annual scans are overkill, our annual check-ups are often not enough. Independent reviews consistently show that yearly health checks have little to no effect on preventing deadly diseases.

    Dr. Tim Arling, who runs a concierge medicine practice focused on longevity, says he only occasionally recommends full-body MRIs to his patients. What he’s started doing more often is spending a few extra minutes waving a little medical wand over parts of a patient’s body as a preliminary scan for trouble.

    He’s using a portable ultrasound machine, the same device doctors use to look at a fetus as it’s developing in utero. The technique is common in Japan, where doctors often glide ultrasound wands over a person’s thyroid, as an initial screen for cancer.


    A technician performs an ultrasound on an Achilles tendon.

    A technician performs an ultrasound on an Achilles tendon.

    Pyrosky



    In addition to the thyroid gland, Arling sometimes glides his ultrasound over a patient’s liver, kidneys, or aorta, “as a little extension of the physical exam.”

    “If I see something, I’ll have a discussion with the patient, we’ll decide if we want to do something in real time,” he said.

    The move costs nothing extra to the patient and takes just a few extra minutes. Critically, it also includes the doctor in the discussion from the get-go.

    Hoeg’s stage 1 cancer was graded as a “minor” finding by Prenuvo. If Abboud, who’s both a doctor and a friend, hadn’t said she should get it looked at ASAP, would she have known to take the finding so seriously?


    prenuvo scan

    Hoeg shared this image of her lung. The “minor” finding ended up being stage 1 lung cancer.

    courtesy of Danielle Hoeg



    Arling said he went through a “very bizarre three-week period” last year where he ended up flagging a case of early-stage liver cancer, plus another case of early-stage kidney cancer using ultrasounds.

    “If primary care is trying to catch things earlier, the question comes down to how can we do it in a way that doesn’t necessarily add a whole bunch of extra cost or a whole bunch of extra waste?”

    Maybe “we can start just sort of waving wands over people and getting a little more information,” he said.

    How to decide if you should get a full-body scan: 5 questions to ask


    MRI radiologists or technologists working

    A full-body MRI can take upward of an hour.

    simonkr/Getty Images



    For some people, doctors are already in agreement that full-body cancer scans are a good thing. If you have a rare condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which puts you at greater risk of developing all sorts of cancer, annual full-body scans are a go-to, and they’re covered by insurance.

    For everybody else, the jury — a jury full of practicing physicians — is still out.

    If you’re interested in a full-body scan, Dr. Arling recommends weighing a few key factors:

    1. What’s your family history?

    You might want to consider a full-body MRI if you’ve got a family history of cancer.

    But that scan should be in addition to other recommended cancer screenings you’re already doing, Arling said: “paps, mammos, PSAs, colonoscopies, the standard stuff.”

    Another option is a cancer blood test like Galleri. It costs $950.

    2. What’s your medical anxiety level?

    If you are anxious about medical care or testing, full-body scans may not be for you.

    “If you already have that health-anxious person, I’m not super enthusiastic about recommending this test, because they’re going to find something,” Arling said.

    3. What’s your level of concern?

    On the other hand, full-body scans are good at “looking for trouble,” Arling said.

    “If you’re really trying to find the thing, not rule out the thing, then the MRI is going to have better data. It has higher sensitivity,” he said.

    It’ll be more sensitive than a Galleri test, for example.

    4. What’s your budget?

    Is this the best use of a few hundred to a few thousand bucks of your cash?

    Might you derive more health benefits from putting those dollars into things we know will improve healthy aging, like more exercise, some personal training, better nutrition, or less stress (a nice vacation, perhaps?)

    “If it gets people being healthy, great, but if it’s just a thing that rich people do to flaunt that they’re healthier than you, it doesn’t quite achieve the goal,” Arling said.

    5. Is there metal in your body?

    Finally, full-body MRIs may not be for you if you have metal in your body (sorry).

    That’s because they work by harnessing the power of magnets. There’s no harmful radiation involved, but you generally can’t wear anything metal, inside or out. (Discuss this with your doctor, though — many surgical implants are designed to be MRI-safe).

    “A typical three tesla MRI is 60,000 times the strength of the magnetic pull of Earth,” Gal said.


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  • How do frogs breathe and drink through their skin?

    How do frogs breathe and drink through their skin?

    Unlike humans, frogs and other amphibians don’t need to rely on their lungs to breathe; their unique skin helps them exchange oxygen and drink. But how do frogs breathe and drink through their skin?

    Frog skin is complex: It’s thin, covered in glands that produce mucus to keep the skin moist, and porous enough to allow air molecules to permeate.

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  • Actor Su Pollard: ‘Freddie Mercury asked for my autograph’ | Life and style

    Actor Su Pollard: ‘Freddie Mercury asked for my autograph’ | Life and style

    Born in Nottingham, Su Pollard, 75, began singing in pubs and working men’s clubs at the age of 16 and appeared on Opportunity Knocks in 1974. She went on to play Peggy in the BBC television sitcom Hi-de-Hi! from 1980 to 1988. In 1986 she had a UK hit single with Starting Together. She has appeared in more than 35 stage plays and musicals and, in 2023, received the UK Pantomime Association’s outstanding achievement award. Her Still Fully Charged tour returns next month. She lives in London.

    When were you happiest?
    Getting my full Equity card as a professional performer.

    What is your greatest fear?
    Dying too young, and spiders.

    What is your earliest memory?
    Five years old, sitting on a tree stump, being kissed on the lips by this young boy on our estate. It was fantastic.

    What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
    I don’t say that I’m perfect but there’s nothing that I deplore.

    What is the trait you most deplore in others?
    People who aren’t kind enough.

    What was your most embarrassing moment?
    Gloria Hunniford’s wedding at Hever Castle 20-odd years ago. We had a lovely buffet and a few drinks and then I had to get a cab back to the train station. I said to the driver: “I’m ever so sorry, but I’m not going to be able to hang on till I get to the train. Could you possibly take me down this alleyway?” He said: “Yes, of course.” As I prepared myself to go “to the ladies”, this police car came along and the policeman said: “Hi-de-Hi!”

    Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
    A hand-painted beaded dress from New York. It weighs about 16lb and cost me £4,000, 30 years ago.

    Describe yourself in three words
    Kind, fun and professional.

    What would your superpower be?
    Making people who are running their country understand that power is not everything.

    What do you most dislike about your appearance?
    My hair’s too thin.

    What is your most unappealing habit?
    Always losing pens.

    Who is your celebrity crush?
    Freddie Mercury. I met him in the Copacabana club in Earl’s Court, London. He asked me for my autograph and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

    Would you choose fame or anonymity?
    Fame.

    What or who is the greatest love of your life?
    Work. Work enlivens me every day.

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    What does love feel like?
    Like you’ve got no other thought in your head.

    Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
    It was a nightmare!

    How often do you have sex?
    In my head, every day.

    What has been your closest brush with the law?
    Sixty years ago, a policeman on the beat at about 2am saw me pinching two bottles of milk off somebody’s doorstep. He said: “That’s a bit naughty.” I said: “I won’t go to prison, will I?” He said: “I’ll let you off this time.”

    How would you like to be remembered?
    For bringing positivity to people.

    What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
    Stay out of other people’s business.

    What happens when we die?
    We drift off to a beautiful place where we live a better, fuller life than what we’ve left.

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  • Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro

    Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro

    TL;DR: Thousands of retro games, 4K visuals, and dual OS magic — this nostalgia-packed retro gaming console is just $89.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping through September 7.


    If your ideal weekend includes mashing buttons, pixelated dragons, and yelling “Hadouken!” at your screen, this one’s for you. The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro is a plug-and-play nostalgia machine loaded with thousands of retro and 3D games. And it’s only $89.97 at the moment (reg. $159.99). No monthly subscriptions, no in-app nonsense. Just pure gaming joy, straight out of the box.

    What makes this console such a homerun? The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro takes your favorite childhood gaming memories, upgrades the graphics, adds Wi-Fi, and packs it all into a sleek, plug-and-play system that costs less than a new controller.

    You’re getting two powerful systems in one: Android 9.0 for apps and streaming, plus EmuELEC 4.6 for all your retro gaming needs. It supports 4K UHD video output, and the included dual wireless controllers mean you and a buddy can dive into head-to-head battles or co-op sessions without fuss.

    The X2 Pro comes pre-loaded with classics across platforms — think Zelda, Final Fantasy VII, Sonic, Street Fighter II, and thousands more — plus you can download even more 3D games for free. Whether you’re revisiting your childhood favorites or introducing younger family members to the golden age of gaming, this console brings all the magic back.

    Add in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, two operating systems, and compatibility with TVs, projectors, or even your laptop, and this little gray box turns any screen into an arcade.

    Mashable Deals

    Don’t miss getting the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro while it’s just $89.97 (reg. $159.99) with free shipping through September 7.

    StackSocial prices subject to change.

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