Everyday activities rely on your body’s ability to maintain stability, making these exercises essential.
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Injecting a bit of competition into your routine can be highly advantageous, as research indicates. Engaging in competitive games and physical challenges has been shown to enhance both attention and memory, proving that a touch of rivalry can make a significant difference.
Ever pondered your level of physical fitness? A simple home-based challenge, introduced by Domenic Angelino, MS, MPH, CSCS, CPT, Chief Exercise Scientist at FitCraft, can provide an answer. Successfully performing these five standing exercises at the age of 65 means you’re in better shape than many 50-year-olds.
“Different standing exercises impose varied requirements on your body,” explains Angelino. “Some focus on stabilizing your lower back, while others engage your abdominal muscles. Including a mix of standing exercises in your routine is beneficial. In everyday life, physical activities heavily rely on body stabilization. For instance, walking demands your lower back muscles to support your torso from collapsing forward. Even when seated at a gym machine, these muscles are active, albeit with reduced effort thanks to the seat’s support.”
To enhance functional strength and overall fitness, it’s essential to integrate these standing exercises into your workout regimen.
Goblet Squat
“Squatting like this is a great way to build functional fitness because you’re doing something with your lower body, core, and upper body at the same time,” Angelino tells us.
- Stand tall with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width.
- Grasp a dumbbell or kettlebell with both hands, holding the weight in front of your chest with your elbows pointing down and tucked in.
- Hinge at the hips and bend your knees to squat, keeping the weight in place.
- Squat as far as you can with a straight back.
- Push through your heels to return to the starting position.
Push Press
“The push press is an explosive exercise, meaning that it’s something that has to be done quickly. Explosive exercises help you build muscular power. And, the push press involves being explosive in both your upper and lower body. You also have to coordinate your upper and lower body muscles so that they work together to lift the weight both quickly and safely,” Angelino explains.
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- Begin by standing tall with your feet hip-distance apart.
- Hold a dumbbell in one hand at shoulder level with your palm facing forward or inward.
- Activate your core, maintain a tall chest, and have a slight bend in your knees.
- Drive through your legs as you explode in an upward motion, pressing the weight overhead until your arm is completely extended.
- Use control to lower the dumbbell to shoulder height.
Bent-Over Row
- Stand tall, feet hip-width apart, with a dumbbell in each hand in front of you.
- Hinge at the hips until your torso is parallel to the ground.
- Maintain a flat back and soft knees.
- Allow the weights to lower with your arms completely extended.
- Row the dumbbells up toward your torso.
- Hold for 1 second.
- Lower to the start position with control.
Sumo Deadlifts
“Deadlifts are highly functional because they involve many muscles in your body working together in a complicated way to produce a large amount of force. Some muscles are working to lift the weight, like your quads and glutes. Other muscles are working to keep your body stable while you lift, like your transverse abdominis and trapezius,” Angelino explains.
- Stand tall with your feet just outside shoulder-width in a squat position.
- Hold a dumbbell or kettlebell, and stand with your chest tall and back flat.
- Control the movement back down to the start position, maintaining the same posture.
Heroic 23-Year-Old Pilot Swims to Safety After Daring Emergency Landing in Florida Waters
WATCH: Small plane PLUNGES into ocean
In a dramatic turn of events, a small plane crash-landed into the ocean just off a Boca Raton beach, prompting a swift rescue. With commendable speed, a lifeguard dashed into the water to ensure the pilot reached safety. Police confirmed that the pilot, the sole occupant of this single-engine aircraft, escaped without injuries.
Captured on camera by a beach visitor, the young pilot from Florida skillfully managed to swim away after this tense landing in the Atlantic Ocean near Boca Raton on a recent Saturday.
Faith Tenkley, a 23-year-old pilot with four years of flying experience, expertly navigated her family’s twin-engine Piper, skillfully avoiding obstacles as she neared the shore. After steering clear of buildings and paddleboarders, she found a safe open patch of water to land beside the beach, as she recounted to Gulf Coast News. The plane gently touched down on the water at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time.
In a matter of seconds, a lifeguard was by Tenkley’s side after the plane made its descent near 250 South Ocean Blvd. A rescue boat from Boca Raton Ocean Rescue followed closely behind, confirmed local authorities.
A video showed the tail of the plane protruding from the ocean, a testament to the dramatic landing. (SCHD STAN/Craig Sutton via Storyful)
Video captured the dramatic moments of the water landing, the quick rescue and the aftermath of a shaken Tenkley sitting on the beach, looking out to the sinking plane fully intact.
Tenkley, who News Media has reached out to for comment, has declined media interviews outside of Gulf Coast News’ Peter Busch. He reported she wanted to clear up misinformation that it was a male pilot rescued by a female surfer instead of vice versa.
“One of the reasons Faith wanted to talk to me was to clear up misinformation she saw online about the pilot being a guy and a ‘surfer girl’ rescuing him,” Busch wrote on Facebook, detailing the conversation shortly after the water landing.
“Faith was wearing a long skirt over a bikini. She took off the skirt to swim to shore. People on the beach saw a woman in a bikini and assumed she was a surfer helping the male pilot.”
The plane was spotted flying low before crashing into the water. (SCHD STAN/Craig Sutton via Storyful)
Tenkley, who was the only person on board, had departed Page Field in Fort Myers and was headed to Bimini in the Bahamas to pick up her parents, she told Gulf Coast News.
She was taken to a hospital as a precaution and no injuries were reported, according to Boca Raton police.
About 15 miles west of Boca Raton, Tenkley began experiencing mechanical issues and initially planned to divert to Boca Raton Airport. But the landing gear then malfunctioned, and she feared a hard runway landing could ignite the recently refueled aircraft.
The pilot of the plane was rescued shortly after plunging into the ocean. (SCHD STAN/Craig Sutton via Storyful)
By that point, the plane’s right engine had also failed, leaving Tenkley to make a rapid decision to ditch the aircraft in the ocean rather than risk a landing on land.
Witnesses watched the low-flying plane descend over the busy beach before it landed in the water.
“One second I’m spraying sunscreen on my kid. The next I’m looking up and saying, ‘Is that supposed to be happening?’” beachgoer Maria Marks told WPBF.
Another witness, Alexis Arizzi, told the New York Post the aircraft made a slow descent and “delicately landed” on the water. A pilot at the beach praised Tenkley’s handling of the emergency, noting the plane remained in one piece.
FlightAware lost track of the flight over land, but the safe water landing was chronicled in the onlooker’s video.
Dr. Mehmet Oz Confirms MMR Vaccine Safety Amid Presidential Controversy
WASHINGTON — Dr. Mehmet Oz stepped forward on Sunday to clear the air about the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. His remarks came in response to President Trump’s recent executive order, which suggested separating the combined vaccine into individual shots could be safer.
In his role as the head of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz assured that there is no risk of death associated with the MMR vaccine. He supported the President’s decision, emphasizing that it empowers parents to manage their children’s vaccination timelines more flexibly.
Speaking to CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Oz stated unequivocally, “The MMR vaccine is not a deadly option, and it is safely used in many countries globally.” His comments aimed to reassure the public amid the swirling debate.
President Trump stirred discussion on August 10 when he advocated for splitting the MMR vaccine into its three components, citing potential safety concerns during a signing of the executive order.
At that event, Trump remarked, “When administered as three separate vaccinations at different times, they appear not to be lethal at all but instead very effective. Therefore, we prefer to have them given separately, on different visits and schedules.”
Critics have argued that it will take time for the Food and Drug Administration to approve separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella.
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Other detractors, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), also raised concerns that separating the vaccines could create complications for parents who might have to take more time out of work.
“We’re going to pay for the vaccines no matter what,” Oz said, referring to CMS. “This comes back to a much more fundamental issue. Do parents have the right to ask questions?”
Oz explained that while it’s ultimately up to the states to determine MMR vaccine requirements for children, Trump’s executive order is to push the states to “offer parents either eligibility because of religious beliefs or other reasons why they may not want to have their kids take all the vaccines in order.”
The two-shot MMR vaccine has been the recommended standard in the US since 1989. Most major developed countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, have similar MMR recommendations.
During his wide-ranging interview, Oz also addressed concerns about projections that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will go insolvent in about seven years, triggering an automatic benefits cut of about 11%, per the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
“The plan is the Great American Health Act, and that is going to include codifying the Most-Favored-Nation Drug Pricing, which helps,” Oz said of the administration’s response. “The fraud, waste, and abuse issue is important.”
“I’ll just put it in the context of what you just gave me: the insolvency of the Medicare trust fund, which is going to happen in six to seven years, it’ll last twice as long.”
AI Clones Lead $699 Startup Course by Harvard Professors
In an innovative blend of education and technology, Harvard University now offers a groundbreaking $699 entrepreneurship course, enhanced with AI agents — some mirroring the very professors who guide the learning experience.
Dubbed the Harvard Business School Foundry, this pioneering eight-week program leverages artificial intelligence to empower budding entrepreneurs around the clock. Importantly, it extends beyond the confines of the university’s storied halls, inviting all aspiring founders to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
“Foundry uniquely marries the esteemed Harvard Business School’s educational approach with AI that tailors itself to your personal startup journey,” the course’s website proudly declares, highlighting its bespoke support in steering startups from conception to growth.
As reported by the New York Times, since its launch in April, the program has sought to democratize Harvard’s excellence in entrepreneurship education beyond the 900 fortunate MBA candidates welcomed each year.
Interestingly, a few AI agents in the program are clones of Harvard faculty, offering insights reminiscent of seasoned educators like Jeff Bussgang, ensuring that digital guidance remains rich with human expertise.
The AI avatars were trained on the teachings and materials of Harvard faculty, but they can also draw on broader information when necessary.
The AI clones were developed in partnership with AI avatar company HeyGen, and Harvard officials said they were surprised by how positively the program was received by participants.
‘It was just so clear from what the users were telling us and what the numbers were saying,’ Katharina Rings, Foundry’s project director, told the Times.
Harvard University is offering students a $699 entrepreneurship course that uses AI avatars of professors such as, Jeff Bussgang (pictured) to help students build start-ups
The course is offered to aspiring founders beyond the university’s student body and last eight weeks
‘It seems like people actually much prefer the AIs, and they actually trust more, if it is based on one specific person’s input.’
Bussgang, a senior lecturer at HBS, told the Times that he was one of several professors who volunteered to help create AI versions of themselves, though he still finds the technology somewhat ‘creepy.’
Sarah Kessler, a reporter for the outlet, tested the course and described how Bussgang’s AI clone appeared calm and maintained an unwavering smile throughout their interaction.
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Kessler noted that the shadows on the AI avatar’s shirt did not move naturally, while its shoulders hovered back and forth in a repetitive manner.
Despite the dystopian nature of the technology, Bussgang said his students ‘love it.’
In addition to the AI resources, experienced speakers, investors and HBS faculty lead weekly live sessions.
Tom Eisenmann, a faculty co-chair for Foundry, told The Times that while students are embracing the avatars, online forums with peers have proven just as popular.
‘They love the AI They’re using the AI, they’re learning a lot,’ he said.
Bussgang told the New York Times that while he admits the avatar is a little ‘creepy,’ his students love the technology
The AI avatars were trained on the teachings and materials of Harvard faculty, but they can also draw on broader information when necessary (Stock Image)
‘But it keeps coming back to humanity.’
According to the outlet, about 45 percent of participants in the summer sessions paid for the program themselves, while the remainder were sponsored by universities.
Several users on LinkedIn expressed how they thoroughly enjoyed the Foundry course or were at least interested in the opportunity to try the AI aspects.
‘Absolutely loved my HBS Foundry experience (July cohort) — genuinely one of the best learning experiences I’ve had. Such a great resource for Founders,’ wrote one user.
‘You and your colleagues rock Jeffrey Bussgang, I have participated in them via Harvard Business School Foundry,’ added another.
‘This is really funny, I saw it and I thought I would just take the classes just to see the AI clones,’ a third said.
Texas Data Centers Face Criticism from Governor Abbott
On Sunday’s episode of ABC’s “This Week,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott shared his critical views on AI data centers, accusing them of “digging their own grave” due to their reluctance to collaborate with local government authorities.
Governor Abbott elaborated on his administration’s proactive approach to address the concerns surrounding data centers. He highlighted the extensive measures his government has implemented, stating, “Our focus has been on addressing the issues that have been raised about data centers, ensuring we create an unparalleled framework aimed at resolving these challenges. As governor, I have detailed a plan that is the most comprehensive in the nation, tackling the data center dilemma head-on. To spearhead this initiative, I have halted any new data center projects from commencing operations in Texas.”
Continuing, Abbott explained the criteria data centers must now meet, saying, “During this moratorium, I’ve established stringent guidelines that these facilities must adhere to. Firstly, they are required to declare their water usage explicitly and prove they aren’t drawing from communities in need. Secondly, they are forbidden from tapping into the power supply needed by the Texas power grid. Furthermore, they are mandated to reduce electricity costs for local consumers. Lastly, they must ensure they are not disturbing the peace of neighborhoods or rural areas. These principles are now uniformly enforced across all data centers in Texas.”
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Abbott further commented on the issue, noting, “These centers have been emerging in obscure locations, often unknown to the community until construction begins. Their failure to coordinate with state and local officials has essentially set the stage for their own challenges, resulting in justifiable backlash. Consequently, these new regulations have been instituted to ensure no data center can operate unless it complies with the standards I have established.”
Follow Pam Key on X @pamkeyNEN
Mexican Governor Seeks Leave Amid US Drug Charge Scandal
In a surprising turn of events, Rubén Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, has requested an indefinite leave of absence. His announcement, made on Saturday, follows a mere day after resuming office post a three-month hiatus. This break was initially prompted by charges of drug trafficking brought against him in the United States.
Rocha, who is 77 years old, conveyed his decision publicly through a letter posted on social media. In this letter, he asked for a “temporary leave of an indefinite nature, for more than 30 days” from the gubernatorial role.
Dated August 22 and already marked as received by the Sinaloa State Congress, the communication does not specify when Rocha might return or the reasons behind his decision to step away once more.
In this image, Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya is seen speaking as he exits the inauguration event for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico City on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Jose Luis Torales/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This latest request for leave was announced shortly after Rocha declared his return to office, expressing his commitment to fulfilling the mandate given to him by voters, which extends until October 31, 2027.
“Today, I return to the exercise of my responsibility as Governor of Sinaloa with a clear conscience and head held high, with the strength of truth on our side,” Rocha wrote Friday on X.
Rocha said he spent 112 days away from office while making himself available to Mexican authorities investigating what he called “false accusations” by the U.S. government.
He said he personally appeared before Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office and answered investigators’ questions.
Rocha insisted the investigation had produced no evidence that he committed a crime and accused political opponents in Mexico and abroad of trying to damage both the country’s sovereignty and the left-wing movement he represents.
“I am unrelated to and innocent of the fabrications woven against me,” Rocha wrote.
Rocha’s return Friday did not get a warm reception from Mexico’s ruling Morena party or the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Morena said it had no advance knowledge of Rocha’s decision and distanced itself from the move, according to Reuters. Mexico’s Interior Ministry said returning to office was Rocha’s decision alone and noted that the attorney general’s investigation remained open.
Sheinbaum also posted a pointed message on X.
“No personal interest can ever stand above the interests of the people and the Nation,” she wrote.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Rocha’s return to office on Saturday. (Daniel Cardenas/Getty Images)
“Mexico deserves public servants who understand that positions are temporary, but responsibility to the Nation is eternal,” Sheinbaum added.
U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha and nine other current and former officials in April with drug trafficking and related weapons offenses. The current and former high-ranking government and law enforcement officials are alleged to have partnered with the Sinaloa cartel to distribute massive quantities of narcotics to the United States.
U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha and nine other current and former officials in April with drug trafficking and related weapons offenses linked to the Sinaloa cartel. (Solidago/Getty Images)
Rocha is the first sitting Mexican governor to face charges from the U.S., according to Reuters.
The case has strained relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Sheinbaum has called the charges foreign interference, while Mexico says Washington has not provided enough evidence to justify Rocha’s arrest or extradition.
Celebrity Hotspot Malibu Farmers Market Faces Eviction: Simon Cowell, Cindy Crawford, Hailey Bieber Among Loyal Patrons
The beloved Malibu farmers market frequented by Hollywood’s elite has been swiftly instructed to relocate due to escalating safety concerns.
Having previously set up shop at the Los Angeles County Library parking lot on Civic Center Way, the market has since nestled into the popular Legacy Park.
Its coveted Malibu location regularly attracts high-profile residents. Over the years, it has drawn celebrities like Simon Cowell, Pierce Brosnan, Cindy Crawford, Hailey Bieber, and renowned fashion designer Betsey Johnson.
City representatives have pointed out that Legacy Park was neither designed nor approved for hosting farmers market activities and was never meant to serve as a long-term venue.
“Our goal isn’t to eliminate a cherished community farmers market,” stated City Manager Joe Irvin in a Friday announcement.
Authorities said despite several attempts, the market’s temporary location continues to cause safety issues, parking shortages, blocked access to nearby businesses, and permit violations.
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The Legacy Park cannot safely handle the extra traffic and foot crowds, especially on weekends, city officials said.
Market vendors and booths take up roughly 40% of the Civic Center’s public parking, making it hard for local business customers and visitors to park.
“We have worked to make the current arrangement work, but we also have a responsibility to protect public safety and ensure City requirements are applied fairly,” the city manager added.
While LA County reviews the market’s permanent license, the City has offered a temporary spot right outside City Hall.
High-profile residents have consistently lobbied city officials to keep the market at Legacy Park. In a 2023 Letter to the Editor published by The Malibu Times, designer Betsey Johnson made her stance clear and wrote, “The Malibu Farmers Market has found its true home.”
“The smiling faces of the vendors and customers make the experience even more delightful. I am writing to request that you continue supporting our Malibu Farmers Market and vote unanimously to keep it at Legacy Park,” she wrote.
Liberal MP Explores Remote Regions Beyond Australia’s Comfort Zone on Journey from Northern China
Ted O’Brien’s remarkable journey to Australia’s legislative halls includes a unique chapter rarely experienced by fellow Australians or Westerners: a venture into the enigmatic city of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
Before stepping into the political arena as an MP, Ted O’Brien served as the Opposition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, immersing himself in the diverse cultures and dynamics across Asia.
During his tenure in Beijing, where he resided with his wife, Sophia, who was associated with the International Crisis Group, a rare opportunity presented itself. In 2010, O’Brien joined a select group of fifteen individuals set to explore the hermit kingdom.
The invitation aligned with the 65th anniversary celebrations of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. It was a significant historical moment, marking the end of Kim Jong-il’s era and the ascension of his son, Kim Jong-Un.
“The North Koreans meticulously orchestrated every facet,” O’Brien recounted to SBS News, “yet it’s impossible to conceal every nuance.”
He spent most of the visit in the North Korean capital, arriving by air and leaving by train through northern China.
The Australian government now lists North Korea in the “do not travel” category on its official Smartraveller advice portal.
The access O’Brien had to the secretive nation is rare.
“You’d hop in a bus, you’d go to a school and you’d meet a few parents and school kids. Then you’d go to a small shopping strip, and you’d realise the kids from the school, the same kids at the shopping strip.”
“It’d be like this theatre that would follow us around trying to portray a very different North Korea.”
One encounter with reality came, perhaps ironically, at the sprawling Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the state’s leaders are buried, and it serves as the sacred centre of the North Korean mythos.
O’Brien says the “organisers muddled things up” and his tour ended up sharing a room with a group of workers, the best in each of their factories, given the coveted opportunity to pay their respects.
“This was the moment of their life … wearing their best possible, albeit all the same uniform,” O’Brien recounts.
“That is where you saw their real poverty, and it sounds crude to say it, but you could smell the poverty, you could see the poverty, the eyes completely focusing down.
“And this is people’s most happy day in their life. That will always stay with me of just a human reminder of what an authoritarian regime can mean.”
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After working across Asia, including Taiwan and China, O’Brien was elected to the seat of Fairfax in 2016, and now the Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesperson has been putting his “rusty” Mandarin skills to use, fronting Liberal Party messaging on Chinese language social media, and giving speeches in the language.
“I’m a big believer that there’s nothing more important than national unity,” he explains.
“I think national unity is a critical part of our national security. It is vitally important if we are to withstand coercion as a country.”
While describing English as Australia’s “primary language”, O’Brien says politicians also need to “respect the dignity of the individual”, claiming English as a “far harder” language to learn than Chinese.
“If an individual is still struggling to engage with our national language, well, let me engage with him or her in their language if we can, so they understand that once they become an Australian, they are absolutely part of our family as Aussies.”
The last Liberal Party review was scathing about the party’s struggles to engage with multicultural communities, identifying “the party’s capacity to thoughtlessly offend groups, including the Chinese” as a “widespread problem”, and singling out how Jane Hume’s remarks about “Chinese spies” were successfully weaponised by Labor in the final days of the campaign.
O’Brien argued his in-language approach was driven by a “genuine desire to ensure we have unity in Australia”, saying he’s picked up on concerns among Chinese Australian voters about Beijing’s ethnic unity laws.
“They need to know that their country is absolutely with them, that there’s nothing more important than being an Australian.”
Separately, O’Brien was partially successful in pressuring the government to amend updated foreign arrangements laws to force greater scrutiny of academics’ independent research.
The Coalition had voiced concerns that a loophole in the laws allowed researchers to independently collaborate with institutions from so-called “rogue” states, without Commonwealth oversight.
“If it falls under the auspices of a university, then the Commonwealth knows about it. But if the professor decides to do it on his own without the university banner, the Commonwealth doesn’t know about it. The risk is the same to the Australian people,” he said.
This week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong intervened to shut down an ANU partnership with China’s Shandong University by 2027. It followed a Pentagon call to blacklist the institution over concerns about its research links with the Chinese state.
“What we have to have is risk-aware engagement; that’s the approach we’ve taken, that’s the approach we need,” Wong said.