ALT: Tom Cruise: Show Me The Money!

On this day, 239 years ago, on August 27th 1784, the eccentric Edinburgh character of James Tytler, in his motheaten coat and with a hole in his hat, climbed into a small wicker basket and ascended…

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Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated decisions about adoption should be made by professionals rather than politicians.

YouTube video by Channel 4 Comedy

Soon to be frozen in space and time, this alien-looking vessel is beginning its first mission into drifting ice in the Arctic Ocean. A dozen people won’t leave it for eight months to study how life adapts to extremes in a region highly sensitive to climate change. The winter crew will spend most of that time without seeing the Sun onboard this unique scientific observatory. The long polar night will last 120 days, with average winter temperatures of −25°C. Trapped in Arctic ice for science, this laboratory-observatory developed by the Tara Ocean Foundation shares many of the implacable isolation and environmental conditions of the International Space Station or the Concordia station in Antarctica. Scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) see the Tara Polaris I expedition as a unique opportunity to study human behaviour on a drifting laboratory. The crew consists of scientists, sailors, a media professional and a physician, all of whom underwent the same psychological screening given to teams at the Concordia station, who spend months completely cut off from the rest of the world. “The challenge is extraordinary for this mission, which simulates long-duration spaceflight isolation and confinement. Moving sea ice adds uncertainty and psychological stress compared with a winter-over at the stationary Concordia base,” explains Melike Balk, ESA’s science coordinator for the mission. ESA is contributing questionnaires based on international standards to monitor the crew’s health, including sleep, stress and cognitive performance as they cope with the challenges of the dark and cold winter months. Melike is particularly interested in comparing outcomes between the reduced oxygen and air pressure at Concordia Station, which sits at an altitude of 3223 m above sea level, and the sea-level conditions at the Tara Polar Station. “It will be fascinating to compare the personal experiences of the Tara crew with tales of the Concordia winterers. While Concordia is similar to a habitat on a white Mars, Tara will be more like the spaceship travelling towards it… With the two missions combined, we have a unique chance to gain insights for future deep space exploration,” adds Carmen Possnig, who spent 13 months as a research medical doctor at Concordia station and will be coordinating the experiments taking place during the next winter-over. She is also a member of ESA's astronaut reserve. ESA and the Tara Polaris consortium are also exploring a long-term Earth observation partnership focused on calibrating satellite data. During the first drift, ESA will share the exact times and paths of several satellites flying over the vessel. With that information, the crew onboard can take scientific measurements as the satellites pass overhead and compare their on-ground data with the orbital observations. The missions involved are Copernicus Sentinel-3 and ESA's EarthCare and Cryosat satellites. Tara Polaris I is the first of ten research drifts planned over the next 20 years. The oval-shaped, 27-metre drifting polar base sits in the Arctic to study the biodiversity under the polar pack ice in the world’s fastest-warming region. The crew will finish the first wintering leg of the expedition in April 2027. By the end of next year, the vessel will break through the ice and make its way back to France, passing between the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and Greenland. Credits: Tara Ocean Foundation/Maéva Bardy

A man who claims that nobody had autism “in his day” is reportedly unaware that he both had autism in his day and that the sun has not yet set on his day.  Gavin Monks, 65 - who books his car in for…

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Rakim changed the rap game forever. He’s one half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo, Eric B. and Rakim. And a legendary solo rapper in his own right. Rakim joined us on the show back in 2023.

# Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, United Kingdom ## Our Book Gifting Programme In December 2007, Dolly Parton travelled to London to announce that her Imagination Library was launching in the UK! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in the hearts of children everywhere. With help from our local partners, the first Imagination Library book was gifted in the UK in 2008 and we’ve grown every year since then, reaching more and more children each month. The books are carefully selected, and full of variety. They include traditional stories and rhymes, books by beloved authors and illustrators, non-fiction content, and newly published titles. ### **How It Works** Each month we post a high quality, age appropriate book to children from birth to age five. The books are specially wrapped and addressed to the child, and are delivered at no cost to the family. The Dollywood Foundation works with Local Partners who help bring the Imagination Library to communities across the UK. Download "How It Works Infographic" The Dollywood Foundation funds and provides most of the infrastructure of the core programme including coordinating book selection, wholesale purchasing and managing the secure Book Order System database. Our Local Partners are responsible for enrolling children who live within their area and securing funds to cover the costs of the books, fulfillment, and packing for those children. ### Bring the Imagination Library to your Community Local Partners can be businesses, local authorities, small or large organizations, or simply individuals who share our vision to inspire a love of books and reading. If you’re ready to help support an Imagination Library in your local area you can find out more about becoming a Local Partner by speaking to The Dollywood Foundation’s Regional Directors. To get in touch please submit an enquiry through our “Start a Programme” form. ### **Becoming a Local Imagination Library Program Partner in 3 Steps:** #### Step 1: Figuring out ‘Do I want to do this? ##### I’m interested in starting a program for children in my community. Check to see if the Imagination Library is already offered in your community. * * * ##### The Imagination Library isn’t currently supported in my community. What do I need to consider to get started? 1. **Funding****:** You will need to identify financial support to sustainably cover the cost of books and fulfillment. This is approximately £26 per child per year for 12 books. 2. **Working with partners: ** Is there an organisation already in your community you can partner with to help? You could, for instance, get help from a local charity, children’s centre, library, nursery, church, housing association, or the local authority. * * * ##### How much funding do I need? 1. Decide on the community you think you would like to cover – such as post code(s), school catchment area, town, city or county. 2. Get the 0-5 population from a census or population statistics website, such as the Office of National Statistics (www.ons.gov.uk). We can help with this. 3. Enter the 0-5 population into the Cost Estimator on our website. **Common financial supporters:** * Clubs such as Rotary, Lions, etc. * Local trusts and foundations * Local businesses * Chambers of Commerce * Individual donors * * * #### Step 2: Putting the pieces in place. ##### 1. Contact the DWF Regional Director that covers your area **Contact your local Regional Director:** **Central & Southern England, Wales – Helen Hastle** – [email protected] **Scotland – Helena Barrett-Duncan** – [email protected] **North England and Northern Ireland – Meg Fletcher** – [email protected] * Let them know you are interested in bringing the Imagination Library to your community * Ask any questions * Get our Memorandum of Agreement and Partner Information Sheet – the two documents that we’ll put in place to outline our relationship and capture key information. * * * ##### 2. Begin building a support team. **Key roles you should consider:** * **Chairperson** – a person to coordinate the effort * **Fundraising** – to identify and secure local sustainable funds * **Enrollment** – plan where and how to enrol children, oversee registration brochure distribution (if using) and marketing campaigns * **Database** – entering new registrations, accepting pending online registrations, updating addresses, utilising reports in the Book Order System (BOS) * **Community Outreach** – collaborate with other local organisations and coalitions. Also may collect undeliverable books from local post office * **Family Engagement** – plans efforts to encourage parents to better engage their children through DPIL books and read more often * ***TIP** – Also consider engaging other community partners to build coalitions and collective impact strategies. Ask your Regional Director for help with ideas. * * * ##### 3. Get Fundraising effort underway. * Engage your support team for contacts * Consider putting together an advisory council to assist * Identify potential funding partners and begin meeting with them * ***TIP** – At this point you should have a good plan outlined: an idea of the funds you will need, community details/facts and partners who are willing to help – this will all help make your ask more clear and direct. * * * ##### 4. Complete and Submit Partnership Docs * Return completed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Partner Information Sheet (AIS) to your Regional Director #### Step 3: Make final preparations and launch! ##### LOGIN Receive your Book Order System login information and operations manual. * * * ##### ENROLL You may now enter registrations into the BOS. Email us to switch to Operating status when you are ready to begin accepting registrations and start mailing books! * * * ##### LAUNCH Think about planning a launch event to build awareness and excitement * * * ##### RESOURCES **Utilise available resources:** * Promotional materials * Regional Directors * Imagination Library network ### Annual Reports DOWNLOAD UK IMPACT REPORT DOWNLOAD UK ANNUAL REPORT #### Calling all UK changemakers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland! Click below and help us inspire a love of reading in your community. England Scotland Northern Ireland UNITED KINGDOM CHECK AVAILABILITY #### UNITED KINGDOM * How it Works * Contact Your Local Partner * Choosing Our Books * Book Placement * Book Themes & Concepts * Cost Estimator for the UK * Feedback & Complaints * How To Start A Programme * Partners * Parent Resources * Can I Register My Child? * Find My Programme * Idea Sheets * Parent Login #### Site Search Search for:

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