Latest news with #Rippon
Perth Now
a day ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Stingers' plan to back up their Olympic silver medal
The Australian women's water polo team are looking to continue their impressive Olympic form and land their first world championship medal in six years in Singapore next month. The Stingers claimed silver at the 2024 Paris Games, falling 11-9 to Spain in the final, and hope to springboard from that to a medal at the world aquatic championships, also featuring swimming and diving, which run from July 11-24. The Australian women haven't won a world championship medal since 2019 in South Korea, when they downed Hungary to win bronze. They just missed out in Fukuoka, Japan in 2023, losing the bronze medal play-off against Italy, while they placed sixth in 2024. Water Polo Australia on Monday named a world championship squad that features 10 players who were part of the Paris campaign, expecting the team to capitalise on that Olympic experience. Almost one year on, coach Bec Rippon said it was great to have the majority of the team back together, although veteran skipper Zoe Arancini was a notable omission. "It is nice having some of the Paris group back and to now see how they connect with the newer players that have been working hard in Australia and overseas," Rippon said. "They bring with them some great experience and energy, as we approach the new Olympic cycle," she said. Currently in camp on the Gold Coast for three weeks, the Stingers next head to Perth, where they will host the USA, who are reigning world champions, and Italy for a training camp and official Test matches. "It's going to be a great opportunity to trial some new things that we've been working on, and to try things without being under the same pressure of being at a world championships," Rippon said. "We will play the Italians at the world championships, so it will be a really good chance to check in and measure up against each other before Singapore." Stingers: Abby Andrews (QLD), Charlize Andrews (QLD), Hayley Ballesty (NSW), Tenealle Fasala (QLD), Sienna Green (NSW), Bronte Halligan (NSW), Sienna Hearn (NSW), Danijela Jackovich (NSW), Tilly Kearns (NSW), Alexie Lambert (NSW),Genevieve Longman (NSW), Olivia Mitchell (NSW), Gabi Palm (QLD), Pippa Pedley (WA), Alice Williams (QLD). Reserves: Claire Durston (NSW), Jessica Emerson (QLD), Nioka Thomas (NSW).
West Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Stingers' plan to back up their Olympic silver medal
The Australian women's water polo team are looking to continue their impressive Olympic form and land their first world championship medal in six years in Singapore next month. The Stingers claimed silver at the 2024 Paris Games, falling 11-9 to Spain in the final, and hope to springboard from that to a medal at the world aquatic championships, also featuring swimming and diving, which run from July 11-24. The Australian women haven't won a world championship medal since 2019 in South Korea, when they downed Hungary to win bronze. They just missed out in Fukuoka, Japan in 2023, losing the bronze medal play-off against Italy, while they placed sixth in 2024. Water Polo Australia on Monday named a world championship squad that features 10 players who were part of the Paris campaign, expecting the team to capitalise on that Olympic experience. Almost one year on, coach Bec Rippon said it was great to have the majority of the team back together, although veteran skipper Zoe Arancini was a notable omission. "It is nice having some of the Paris group back and to now see how they connect with the newer players that have been working hard in Australia and overseas," Rippon said. "They bring with them some great experience and energy, as we approach the new Olympic cycle," she said. Currently in camp on the Gold Coast for three weeks, the Stingers next head to Perth, where they will host the USA, who are reigning world champions, and Italy for a training camp and official Test matches. "It's going to be a great opportunity to trial some new things that we've been working on, and to try things without being under the same pressure of being at a world championships," Rippon said. "We will play the Italians at the world championships, so it will be a really good chance to check in and measure up against each other before Singapore." Stingers: Abby Andrews (QLD), Charlize Andrews (QLD), Hayley Ballesty (NSW), Tenealle Fasala (QLD), Sienna Green (NSW), Bronte Halligan (NSW), Sienna Hearn (NSW), Danijela Jackovich (NSW), Tilly Kearns (NSW), Alexie Lambert (NSW),Genevieve Longman (NSW), Olivia Mitchell (NSW), Gabi Palm (QLD), Pippa Pedley (WA), Alice Williams (QLD). Reserves: Claire Durston (NSW), Jessica Emerson (QLD), Nioka Thomas (NSW).
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chris Kelly Opinion: Bolus kicks off Pride Month with foot in mouth
I gave up on Bob Bolus years ago. From the late '90s to the early aughts, we were friendly adversaries who appreciated each other's opinionated natures and willingness to say things no one wanted to hear. Bob was wrong about everything, but his ignorance and arrogance were unquestionably authentic. He was a bellicose showboat with a cracked hull, but he disrupted local government meetings with a pigheaded glee I found adorable. It was fun. For a while. Bob was a handy foil for mocking whatever crackpot cause he was hawking at the moment, and he loved the ink and attention his tedious tirades generated. He was cartoonishly obnoxious, but rarely sniped at anyone who wasn't an elected official, a candidate for office, or me. That changed in 2018, when Clarks Summit native Adam Rippon became the first openly gay athlete to qualify for the U.S. Winter Olympics Team. Rippon won a bronze medal in men's figure skating and brought positive international attention to Northeast Pennsylvania. Bob was not on board. Seated next to me on a panel discussion of politics in the Trump era at Keystone College (my alma mater), he said 'no one would care' about Rippon 'if he wasn't gay.' He said 'real Americans' don't want to be 'represented by a gay.' Homophobia was a new part of Bob's act. There was nothing funny about it. Loony, loud and ludicrous were replaced with unhinged, hissy and hateful. The next year, Bob debuted his new material on televised Scranton City Council meetings. The region's most cringeworthy 'Cro-MAGA Man' waged a quixotic campaign against Jessica Rothchild, then a candidate for council. As I opined at the time, Rothchild became the first openly gay member of council thanks in large part to the bigoted bilge Bob spewed from the public podium. The married mother of two is now serving her second term. She was on the dais Tuesday when Bob came to share his rancid thoughts on Pride Month and trash a young woman for daring to make a veiled reference to a truth about himself Bob refuses to accept. Here it is, for the umpteenth time: A past felony conviction disqualifies Bob from holding public office. If by some inconceivable quirk of the universe a majority of Scranton voters said, 'To hell with everything' and elected him mayor, he would be ineligible to serve. Bob has railed against this reality for years, but it remains resolute. Bob claimed he was triggered by Angel Ramone, who recently moved to Scranton and routinely advocates for marginalized minorities at the public podium. She didn't say his name, but noted the futility of 'a candidate' who isn't eligible to serve. Bob was also triggered by the sight of a Pride flag flying over City Hall. (If it was a pro-Trump or 'Bleep Joe Biden' banner, he'd salute it 24 hours a day with a lump in his throat and reverent tears streaming down his cheeks.) He also slandered the Pride flag as an affront to military veterans, as if no LGBTQ+ patriots have sacrificed life and limb in defense of Our Republic. That's an ugly, obvious lie, which Bob ironically capped by saying, 'Respect is earned, not demanded. They (LGBTQ+) didn't earn the respect they demand.' Bob earned no respect as he deliberately misgendered Ramone several times, called her 'sweetheart' and threatened legal retribution if she continued to trigger him by telling the truth in a public forum. I loathe giving Bob the ink and attention he craves, but he delivered an encore performance at Wednesday's Lackawanna County commissioners' meeting and our LGBTQ+ neighbors deserve to be heard and defended. Neighbors like Jessica McGuigan, 40, a mental health therapist who works primarily with the transgender community. Watching Bob's rant, she was most disappointed by council President Gerald Smurl's failure to step in and stop the nasty personal attack. 'Listen, I think people deserve the right to speak and to be heard,' McGuigan said. 'That's what these forums exist for, as long as it doesn't get to a place where it's inciting hatred, violence or hurt towards marginalized people.' Council's rules for public comment, created in response to blowhards like Bob, are not vague: 'No person, including members of council, shall use their time during Citizens' Participation to personally insult or attack any individual. Name-calling, profanity, racial or ethnic slurs, discriminatory remarks based on race, color, religion, national origin … sex, gender identity, sexual orientation … shall not be permitted.' Those who violate the rules 'shall be ruled out of order' and 'may be removed' by a police officer at the president's request. Bob clearly violated the rules and was rightly condemned by members of council and sane, decent citizens who followed him at the podium. Smurl chose not to intervene while Bob trolled one of the city's most vulnerable constituencies and made a mockery of productive public participation in government. 'The other thing that really pushed every button that I have was at the end, when the council member (Smurl) thanked him for his remarks,' McGuigan said. 'And then, after he gets off of the microphone, (Bob) proceeds to continue yelling hateful things … 'We're all a part of this community, and we deserve to feel safe in public places. And it particularly hits differently during Pride Month, which is a month that's all about the journey that we've had to get to a place where we have visibility. So for this person to go to a city council meeting and express their views is one thing, but I also feel like it's important to emphasize that there are opinions that can cause harm and could potentially incite violence.' I didn't call Smurl to ask him why he didn't gavel down Bob's diatribe and have him removed if he refused to relent. I don't care why. Smurl had a duty to direct the meeting in compliance with the standards set by council and the higher code of common decency. He failed. Smurl should learn from the experience and do better next time. And there will be a next time. Bob will be back. At the podium and, regrettably, in this column. Sometimes, ignoring him is not an acceptable option. It will pain him to read it, but this isn't about Bob. It's about a once entirely marginalized community who refuses to go back 'into the closet' because bigots are triggered by their mere existence. I stumbled my way through high school in the Reagan '80s. There were no openly gay or transgender students in my class, and no support or advocacy groups for any minority more at risk than the Dungeons and Dragons Club. There was no Pride Month, no rainbow flags flying over government buildings and no safe space for human beings whose chief demand is to be treated like human beings. The LGBTQ+ community and society at large have come a long way since 'gay' was used as a synonym for 'weird' or 'lame' or worse. 'Queer' is no longer an epithet. Words once used as weapons are now signifiers of pride. 'It mirrors a little bit of what people in the brown and Black communities did,' McGuigan said. 'We're reclaiming words and terms that have been hurled and used as vitriol towards us.' Bob gave up on learning anything new years ago. As a show of respect, I used to call him before mocking whatever crackpot cause he was hawking at the moment. We'd trade insults and swear at each other, but hang up peaceably. I didn't bother reaching out this time. I've heard it all before, and nothing he might say could add redeeming context to his dehumanization of people who dare demand to be accepted for who they are. I accept Bob for who he is — a bitter, petty old crank who's mad at a world he won't even try to understand and who will say anything to get attention. Bob would (and likely will) say the same about me, but, as he demonstrates any time he's near a microphone, Bob is wrong about everything. CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, wishes you and yours a happy, peaceful Pride Month. Contact the writer: ckelly@ @cjkink on X; Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune on Facebook.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Conservancy event blends nature, history and science in Union County
LEWISBURG — The Dale-Engle-Walker Property on Saturday was the place to learn about biodiversity, fossils and history. The Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy hosted the Living Landscape Program on the 137-acre property located at 1471 Strawbridge Road, Lewisburg. This event was in coordination with the Bucknell University Humanities Center and the Union County Historical Society. "We're all around nature, but we don't necessarily know exactly what we're looking at," Thom Rippon, of White Springs, said. "It's important to understand that, especially in the farming part of Union County. We're learning today about both the geology and biology of our wonderful land." Rippon, a member of the Conservancy, said he often participates in events like this. "It's all about preserving nature, understanding nature and conserving nature," Rippon said. Rippon and 25 people walked around the property to learn more about the geology, plants and wildlife and history of the land. Guest lecturers from Bucknell University were Dr. Beth Capaldi, Professor of Biology; Claire Campbell, Professor of History, History Department Chair, Affiliated Faculty in Environmental Studies & Sciences; and Dr. Jeff Trop, Professor of Geology. More than 410 million years ago during the Silurian Period, the Dale-Engle-Walker Property was a tropical marine setting with a reef. The nearby limestone quarry is made up of organic debris from this time period, according to Trop. Trop displayed limestone rocks with fossils in them as well as pointed out places in the 1793 house where fossils can also be located. He also explained that a few drops of acid on the limestone rocks can cause it to bubble and produce a sound and smell from the reaction. Letti Graboski, 11, of Danville, said she loves coming to the programs because of the nature walks. "The nature walks are calming," she said. Irmgard Seidl-Adams, of Lewisburg, said she is a frequent visitor to the property. The Dale-Engle-Walker is a "real gem" in Union County, she said. "The geology introduction was really nice, because I had no idea about the geology of this place," she said. "I've walked it many times. I love the plants on the ridge, but I had no idea. I'm happy with what we got." Capaldi said many large trees were part of Pennsylvania until it was forested. Those trees held a lot of communities: insects eating the foilage as well as birds eating them. "When forests are fragmented, it influences biodiversity by reducing it," Capaldi said. "It also changes ecosystem services. The ways that organisms can move naturally through normal, ecological processes of predation and competition are affected." Capaldi said the property has many unique plant communities on the limestone rocks that only grow in habitats like these. "When you go for a walk here, you're walking your dog or you're going to walk birds, there's a lot other things that are happening right behind the scenes, and that's one of the reasons why it's so valuable to us," Capaldi said. Campbell said early settlers in early 18th and 19th century believed that nature needed to be improved by humans. They believed it was "wasted" until humans applied effort, intellect, capital, technology and labor to improve the land from its wild state. She described it as a "sense of colonial entitlement, a sense of possibility of expansiveness and acquisition." Samuel Dale meant for the house to be impressive and a statement of ownership and possession. The Conservancy will host a second part to the Living Landscape Program in the fall. The date is to be determined.
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- NZ Herald
New places to eat and drink in Queenstown, from delectable baked goods to fine dining
Stopping in for lunch, I ate the fennel risotto with feta, saffron and sunflower seeds, the braised pulled merino lamb shoulder with sundried tomato glaze and pickled onion and the potato gratin – all delicious and designed for sharing, but pace yourself as the plates are generously sized. There are also more than 40 wines to choose from on the wine list, mostly Central Otago drops, so cosy up with an indoor table on a cold evening and admire the wine selection, or book in for lunch and enjoy crisp autumn sun and views over the marina. Sunfire Flame Bar & Grill in the Steamer Wharf building is a Queenstown institution; now the same team has opened the doors on Sunfire downstairs. Flame's Lou McDowell and Jonathan Bisley bought bistro Ivy & Lola's, which previously occupied the space, in 2023 and rebuilt it, opening Sunfire last June. It's a great spot to people-watch while you dine, or gaze out at Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. First up are the mushroom parfait and burrata, both served with sourdough. Our server also talks us into ordering the charred cabbage with tahini, walnuts and raisins – surprisingly delicious. The main titled simply 'Duck' is the most popular dish, and as I quickly find out, for good reason – the braised duck leg and roasted breast are tender and flavoursome, paired perfectly with smoked kūmara, mandarin gel, broccolini and jus. For me, the carrot cake dessert is a standout – it's served alongside house-made carrot cake-flavoured ice cream, lemon curd and delicate flower sprinkles a la Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Toast & Oak This European-style wine bar and restaurant opened in June last year, but chances are you've walked past it while browsing the shops on the central Shotover St. Next time, do yourself a favour and head up the black and white chequered stairs to find a sleek dining space, a seasonal menu and nearly 300 wines to choose from. The menu lists key flavours rather than the elements of each dish, cutting through the waffle and heightening the anticipation for each course. The entrees of date and pancetta – think the best flavours on a charcuterie board, deep-fried – beef tartare and tomato stracciatella toasts are paired perfectly with a Rippon riesling, while a Wrekin pinot noir accompanies the kingfish and eye fillet mains. For me, the highlight is the strawberry and kawakawa dessert, served alongside a plate of tiny meringues made with aquafaba and full of unexpected flavour combinations. However, Toast & Oak's menu changes with the seasons, so expect to enjoy new but equally delicious options. Bar hopping: The Irishman, Tommy's Queenstown's newest bar, which opened in the Steamer Wharf building in December, is a nod to the traditional Irish pub. The Irishman's dark timber, stained glass and gilt furnishings make for a cosy interior in which to enjoy Irish beers and ciders – naturally – and hearty pub food, from soda bread to beer and Guinness pies. Or if cocktails are your drink of choice, head to Tommy's Margarita Bar in Queenstown Mall, which opened in May last year. Sip on classic coconut or spicy margaritas or one of their signature drinks, from a limoncello cherry concoction to a smoky piña colada. They also serve up a tapas-style menu, with live DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. The Bakehouse at Ayrburn This one isn't in Queenstown, but it's sure to be a non-negotiable stop on your next visit to the Otago region. The Bakehouse is the newest hospitality offering at the lavish Ayrburn precinct in Arrowtown. Opened last December, it offers all-day dining, from morning coffee, brunch and baked goods galore through to lunch, happy hour and dinner. A mix of seating options caters for all types of diners; whether you prefer to cosy up inside by the fire or sit outside overlooking the stream and lush gardens. If you're planning a visit to Ayrburn, start your day at The Bakehouse with breakfast or pastries – I recommend the pistachio cruffin (a cross between a croissant and a muffin, of course) – before wandering the rest of the estate, then follow it up with ice cream from The Dairy, an afternoon wine tasting at The Manure Room and dinner at The Woolshed.
