Latest news with #Les
LeMonde
a day ago
- General
- LeMonde
Pierre Nora, historian who shaped intellectual life in France, dies at 93
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in Paris's Left Bank, was his domain. Living at the corner of Place de Furstenberg, Pierre Nora was a few steps away from the Quai Conti, home to the Académie Française, of which he was a member, and from the headquarters of the prestigious Gallimard publishing house, where he oversaw collections in the social sciences and humanities. From this triangle, the founder of the journal Le Débat was a central figure in shaping intellectual life and debates in France. His elegant silhouette will no longer be seen crisscrossing these streets. Nora died on Monday, June 2, in Paris, at the age of 93, his family told Agence France-Presse. He had become an essential "public historian" whom journalists called upon for analysis of the evolution of national sentiment or the meaning of commemorations and national symbols. His name will remain above all associated with one of the most innovative historiographical undertakings of the past 40 years: Les Lieux de Mémoire, translated as Realms of Memory and Rethinking France, a monumental seven-volume project published between 1984 and 1993. As its director, he brought together 130 historians, including Raoul Girardet, Maurice Agulhon, Antoine Prost and Pascal Ory, notably to decipher the symbols of the French Republic (the tricolor flag, the Republican calendar, La Marseillaise) and its monuments (the Panthéon, town halls, war memorials).
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Super Rugby: Flook to return for Reds against Fijian Drua
Wallabies centre Josh Flook will make a timely return from injury on Saturday night for a Queensland Reds side desperate to find winning form ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific finals series. The Reds will be desperate to avoid a third straight defeat when they meet Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium in the final round of the regular season. Regardless of the result, the fifth-placed Queenslanders will finish in the top-six due a massive for and against advantage of 96 over sixth-placed Moana Pasifika. However, depending on the result of Saturday's earlier game between the Hurricanes and Pasifika, a Reds win could left them to fourth spot, which could be crucial after the first week of the finals, with a 'lucky loser' to progress to the week two of the playoffs. That aside, the Queenslanders are intent on returning to winning ways this weekend, with Flook's sooner-than-expected inclusion for the first time since injuring his hamstring on March 1 against Western Force a huge boost. 'I'll just be loving every moment out there,' he said. 'I've rehabbed it really well and can't speak highly enough of the rehab staff at the Reds. I'm back three or four weeks earlier than we were initially thinking. 'I ticked some boxes speed-wise last week and progressed from there. 'I was devastated when the injury first happened. It's been a long process to get back but a good one. 'I've loved watching the boys this year. It's been difficult, but they've played some really good footy.' Reds coach Les Kiss said Flook added a 'calm and controlled voice in that crucial outside centre channel'. 'We welcome back 'Flooky' and his partnership in the centres with Hunter (Paisami),' Kiss said. 'It has always been a strong point for us,' Kiss said. Flook replaces Dre Pakeho, while winger Tim Ryan has been recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Filipo Daugunu, who drops to the bench. Meanwhile, Wallabies forward Seru Uru has signed a new deal with the Reds for the 2026 campaign. 'I'm really happy to be sticking around at the Reds,' said Uru, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury. 'I started my professional rugby journey here and I've always called Ballymore home. 'It's a such a special moment for me when I come into Ballymore each day and see my name on the locker in our dressing room. 'I see the names there of players I have great friendships with now, and players who have moved on but are still important.' Reds: Sef Fa'agase, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Josh Canham, Ryan Smith, Joe Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), Tom Lynagh, Tim Ryan, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell. Bench: Josh Nasser, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Nick Bloomfield, Angus Blyth, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu. Read related topics: Brisbane
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'The calm voice on the other end': Remembering Major Leslie Letherman's legacy of service
LONDON — A hero was laid to rest on Memorial Day, with community members lining London's Main Street to pay tribute as the funeral process passed by. Major Leslie Leatherman spent a lifetime answering the call of public service. Whether through firefighting (39 years with Laurel County Fire Department), emergency medical response, or dispatching, he was known throughout the area of southeastern Kentucky for his steady presence and unwavering dedication. Leatherman lost his life during the deadly storms that devastated London and Laurel County throughout the night of Friday, May 16, and early Saturday morning of May 17. As severe weather tore through the area, Leatherman died protecting his wife, Michelle, who survived the storm. His final act was one of courage — shielding another from harm, just as he had done his entire career. 'Les has spent his adult life dedicated to public service,' stated Brandon Prewitt, Whitley County Police Chief and E-911 Director. 'From his fire training, his time in an ambulance, or most of his time behind the radio for the first responders — if you were out in the field, no matter if it was police, fire, or EMS, Les is the one you would want to be sitting in the chair behind the radio.' Those who worked alongside Leatherman saw his compassion firsthand. He was the kind of colleague who didn't wait to be asked−he showed up, stepped in, and supported his fellow responders in every way possible. Prewitt continued by expressing how great Leatherman truly was at his job, and how his dedication and heartfelt attitude would never leave the dispatch. 'Les's heart was and will always be in the radio room of a dispatch center, and you could sure tell it,' Prewitt stated. 'He was the best example of a great dispatch.' Whitley County Judge Executive Pat White Jr. called Leatherman a 'devoted and knowledgeable dispatcher and Assistant Director,' and said he was remembered by many as 'the calm voice on the other end of the phone.' 'Les spent his life in public service. He dedicated nearly all of his adult life to serving others,' White said. 'He was a tremendous asset to Whitley County E-911. Les was instrumental in training our employees at the dispatch center and was a fine person who will be very missed.' Through every call answered and every life helped, Maj. Leslie Leatherman left a mark on his community that will certainly not be forgotten. The impact of his service remains woven into the fabric of southeastern Kentucky's emergency response system. The echo of his calm voice mentioned by White, the memory of his bravery touched on by Prewitt−these examples he set will continue to guide and inspire those who serve after him. As the region mourns his loss, Maj. Leatherman will be honored not only for how he served, but for the way he lived — with courage, humility, and an enduring commitment to protecting others.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Is it a superpower? Woman's nose detected a disease 12 years before doctors could. Know the science behind it
A retired nurse from Scotland, Joy Milne, has played a crucial role in advancing research on Parkinson's disease diagnosis, thanks to her extraordinary sense of smell. Milne noticed an unusual change in her husband Les's body odor more than a decade before he was formally diagnosed with Parkinson's. What initially seemed like a personal quirk has since become the foundation for a new medical test that could potentially identify Parkinson's years before symptoms appear. Milne first detected the distinctive scent in 1982, shortly before Les turned 32. Recalling the moment to The Guardian, she said it was a 'musky, dank odour' that wasn't part of his usual scent. At the time, she attributed it to his job in the operating theatre and even encouraged him to shower more frequently, which led to disagreements between the couple. However, the odor persisted. It wasn't until years later, when Les was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's, that Milne realized the connection. During a visit to a Parkinson's support group, she noticed the same smell emanating from other patients. That moment confirmed her suspicion that the scent might be linked to the disease. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like OMEA Award for Indian Manufacturers ansoim Learn More Undo Turning a Personal Loss into Medical Breakthrough After Les passed away in 2015, Milne committed to helping researchers develop a method to harness her ability. She began collaborating with scientists at the University of Manchester, offering her assistance in identifying the smell through swabs and clothing samples from Parkinson's patients. 'Les and I should have been enjoying retirement, but Parkinson's had stolen our lives,' she said. 'We became determined that others wouldn't suffer the same way. When Les died... he made me promise I'd carry on.' Milne's involvement has directly influenced a new diagnostic method that uses a simple cotton swab to detect Parkinson's. The swab is rubbed along the back of a person's neck—an area with consistent sebum production—and analyzed for specific compounds. The Science Behind the Scent Researchers discovered that sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin, contains unique chemical markers in people with Parkinson's. By using mass spectrometry, the team analyzed samples from 79 Parkinson's patients and 71 healthy individuals. Out of approximately 4,000 compounds, 500 showed significant differences between the two groups. Professor Perdita Barran, who led the study, said the current version of the test is 95 percent accurate under laboratory conditions. The next phase involves adapting the test for clinical settings, with hopes of rolling it out in the NHS in the near future. 'At the moment we have developed it in a research lab and we are now working with colleagues in hospital analytical labs,' Barran said. 'We are hoping within two years to be able to start to test people in the Manchester area.' A Test with Life-Changing Potential Milne has often reflected on how an earlier diagnosis could have changed her family's life. 'We would have spent more time with family. We would have travelled more,' she said. She also believes an earlier understanding might have clarified behavioral changes in Les, including mood swings and depression. The test, still in development, represents a major step toward early detection of Parkinson's—a condition currently diagnosed only through clinical evaluation of symptoms and medical history. Thanks to one woman's rare sensitivity, the path to earlier diagnosis—and potentially improved outcomes—is becoming more attainable.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
We were born to run outside to escape from Highway 29
The tea towel, the glistening pint glass and the hands holding both fell still. Hannah's attention was fixed on the table in the corner, and the rising volume of the quarrel that had just erupted. Two old mates, pub regulars, looked ready to trade blows. Not good. Suddenly, both men were on their feet. Hannah strode towards them. "Laurie! Les! What the hell?" But Laurie was already threading his way through the tables, making for the door. His face set hard in the rigour of wrath. Les watched him go. "Don't just stand there you old fool — go after him. You guys have been mates since before I was born. Get out there and set this right." Les scowled, gulping down what was left of his ale. "I've had it with that right-wing prick," he hissed, reaching for his cap — "had it up to here". "No you haven't, Les", Hannah said softly. "I know how much you two look forward to your bouts of political jousting. So don't you try and tell me this is about politics. "Get out there and find out what's really upsetting the two of you. Go on." Les's shoulders slumped. He sniffed. "All right, all right. Just bring us out another couple of ales, will you." The ageing Boomer breathed deep and followed his friend out on to the wet wooden deck. Laurie was standing at the rail, staring blankly into a landscape made indistinct by autumnal rain. The day's palette of sombre greys, thin blues and deep greens matched the men's now flattened emotions. "Sorry, mate," Les stood woodenly at Laurie's side, his eyes locked, like his friend's, on the middle-distance — a blurred composition of hills and trees. "That was uncalled for. I don't know why I said it. It isn't true." Laurie nodded imperceptibly. "Apology accepted, old friend, but unnecessary. I'd been needling you all afternoon." "Yeah," Les's voice was without rancour. "It's in the air, mate. Anger, cruelty, bitter rage. We're taking it in with every breath, like some colourless, odourless, poisonous gas. But where's it coming from? Whose making it? And how the hell do we turn it off? Because it's killing us?" "You don't blame the internet?" "Of course I blame the bloody internet. Everybody blames the bloody internet. But that's too easy — isn't it? Sure, it carries our rage far and wide — but does it make our rage?" Les turned to take the glasses of ale Hannah had carried out to them on a tray. Acknowledging her approving expression with a wan smile. "Some say that it does, by using algorithms, whatever they are. They reckon social media software somehow reads our emotional state and amplifies it. "Apparently, a rarked-up audience is more profitable to these tech billionaires than a placid one." Laurie shook his head. "How can that be true, Les? Every ruler throughout history has preferred placid subjects to angry ones." "Maybe. But, it's also true that those in charge would rather have the masses at each other's throats than clamouring for their heads. Maybe the anger and division encouraged by social media is a feature — not a bug?" "Perhaps. But I think the rage was there long before the internet. Long before social media. Long before smartphones." He paused. "You're a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, right?" Les asked. "Huge fan." "Do you recall his song Highway 29 , about a pair of doomed lovers, and a bank robbery that goes horribly wrong? That last verse, when the guy says something like: 'I told myself it was something in her. But I knew it was something in me. Something that had been coming for a long, long time. Something that was with me now on Highway 29'." "Yeah, I do. It's off The Ghost of Tom Joad — one of his best albums." "Yes, that's right, and I agree, one of his best. And you know, Les, when I look at our country today, I think about those words. We are all so keen to put the blame on those who are travelling with us. Those who aren't responsible for our crimes. But we're wrong to do that. Because what's emerging now has been working its way out of us for a long, long, time." Laurie sighed, and put down his glass. "Les, I've got an awful feeling we're on Highway 29." ■Chris Trotter is an Auckland writer and commentator.
