NEWARK, N.J. — Connor Bedard makes it sound so easy, so casual, so obvious. The toe drag? Well, yeah, there were two guys in his way. The shot that seemed to so flagrantly defy the laws of physics? Hey, man, goalies are good; gotta get creative. To hear Bedard break down his spectacular goal in the first period of Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders is to hear an accountant detail how they wrote off that printer the company purchased, or a house cleaner describe how they got that discoloration out of the shower floor. Advertisement Bedard had a job to do. He did it. What’s the big deal? Now that's a patented Connor Bedard wrister TM️ pic.twitter.com/R50Kuhrlqv — NHL (@NHL) December 13, 2024 “I get it in the middle and there’s two guys right there, so I know I’m not going to shoot it right away,” he said of the toe drag. “Just try to get it into a spot, and I’ve practiced shooting the puck a lot from different areas.” So you actually practice shots like that?, the clueless reporter asks. “Yeah, it’s pretty easy to do,” Bedard said with a shrug. “For a goalie, it might be tough when you’re going one way and shooting the other. Goalies are so good, you have to try to make it as hard as possible on them. I was able to hit my spot on that one and it went in or whatever.” Or whatever. Ho-hum, right? There’s no disrespect in his voice when he says this. No tone of arrogance, either. It’s just the way Bedard processes the game. He’s able to do things on instinct that most players wouldn’t be able to do with forethought and careful planning. At least, he’s able to do those things when he’s on his game, when he’s feeling himself, when he’s got that belief in his brain and that swagger on his stick. And after the first prolonged slump of his NHL career — probably his life, if we’re being honest — it appears that, yes, Bedard is back. You can see it in the way he’s dangling his way through the neutral zone, the way he’s breaking ankles as he crosses the blue line, and in that shot — both the selection and execution — on Long Island. He has a goal and four assists in the three games since Anders Sorensen took over for Luke Richardson behind the bench, and has three goals and six assists in his last eight games. He’s still behind expectations overall, with six goals and 18 assists in 29 games, but he’s looking more and more like himself lately. Advertisement “I felt great the first 10 games, and then had a little stretch where I didn’t feel great,” Bedard said. “But when I’m getting the puck — and for me, that’s putting myself in good areas to get the puck, not cheating things — then I’m able to make plays and let my creativity take over. (Against the Islanders), I got the puck a lot in really good spots. That’s the main thing for me.” Bedard had four shots on goal in the first period alone against the Islanders. Over the previous month, he had four games in which he didn’t record a single shot, and five more in which he had just one. Blackhawks assistant coach Derek King, who once scored 108 goals in a three-year span with the Islanders and is the primary offensive voice on the staff, has been hounding Bedard to shoot more all season. When you see him fire off one of those filthy drag-and-drive wristers, you can understand why. If you can shoot like that, why don’t you just always shoot?, the oversimplifying reporter asks. “It’s funny, people say that, but you can’t just shoot all the time,” Bedard said. The Carolina Hurricanes do , the snarky reporter retorts. “Yeah, I’m not Brent Burns taking 1Ts (one-timers) up top,” Bedard said with a laugh. “If I don’t get myself in a spot where I can shoot, I’m not going to shoot. That’s the thing. It’s not ‘shoot the puck all the time.’ It’s ‘get yourself in a spot where you can shoot.’ And I will shoot. I don’t want to have zero shots at the end of any games. But I’m not going to force anything just to have a SOG (shot on goal) at the end of the game. I’m going to try to make plays.” Connor Bedard is getting his swagger back. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/h5x8fuOeXO — Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) December 13, 2024 That’s what he was doing Thursday night, making plays. That’s when he’s at his most dangerous. And that’s what he wasn’t doing during his goal drought. Bedard credited Sorensen for promoting a more aggressive style of play, with defensemen providing more support by jumping in the rush more often, and Sorensen in turn said Bedard has been “excellent” the last two games, holding on to pucks and getting to the middle of the ice. Advertisement But another former interim Blackhawks head coach has helped, too. King, as he showed during his tenure as bench boss during the 2021-22 season, has a knack for knowing when players need a pep talk and when they need to be left alone. And when Bedard’s confidence was at its nadir last month, King didn’t take him into the video room to break down his game. He simply had a series of “casual conversations” to get Bedard’s head back in the game. “It’s like riding a bike,” King said he told Bedard. “You’re a skilled player, you don’t lose that. So don’t overthink it. Focus on little things, whether it’s a good backcheck, or you laid a puck deep, or you blocked a shot, whatever it is for you. ... Just go play. Don’t think about all the other things. You make a mistake — who cares? You come back to the bench, I’ll yap at you, I’ll tell you and I’ll help you. But he’s done a good job. He’s starting to get his little groove back again and feeling it. Every player goes through it, I don’t care how good you are.” Does this mean that Bedard is going to score highlight-reel goals every night from now on? Of course not. But a confident Bedard is a dangerous Bedard, a weaponized Bedard. He’ll find the puck. He’ll find the time and space. And he’ll take the shot. And good luck to any goalie trying to anticipate where it’ll go. Must feel pretty cool to score a goal like that one , the spectacularly uncool reporter notes. “I don’t know, I expect it from myself,” Bedard said. “Not necessarily the toe drag or whatever, but I expect to make plays and get myself into spots where I have the ability to get a shot off and score. It feels good to score, for sure. But I don’t want to be surprised if I make a nice play. I expect to make nice plays.” (Photo: Mike Stobe / NHLI via Getty Images)The chairs of an annual science and technology conference say Nobel Prize recipient Geoffrey Hinton is donating some of his winnings to create a new award. They say of the Neural Information Processing Systems conference say the US$10,000 award will be handed out at the event each year. It will be given to teams of two or more researchers under the age of 40 who write a paper proposing a novel theory of how the brain works. The award will be named the Sejnowski-Hinton Prize after computational neurobiologist Terry Sejnowski and AI pioneer Hinton. Hinton received the Nobel for physics along with computer scientist John Hopfield earlier this week in Stockholm. Hinton has said he will also donate a portion of the 11 million Swedish kronor—about $1.4 million Canadian dollars—prize money he and Hopfield will split to Water First, an organization working to boost indigenous access to water.
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Speaker Ashoka Ranwala yesterday said that he has decided to step down from his post following allegations regarding the authenticity of his educational qualifications. In his statement, the Speaker assured the public that he had never made any false claims about his qualifications. But said he does not possess certain documents required to validate his educational credentials at this moment. He stated that while he has requested the necessary documents from the relevant institutions, it is challenging to produce them urgently. He further noted that the relevant documentation can be obtained from the research institution affiliated with Japan’s Waseda University, which had awarded him a doctorate, and he intends to present them as soon as possible. “However, considering the prevailing situation and to avoid inconveniencing the government and the people who placed their trust in us, I have decided to resign from the position of Speaker,” he said. The controversy surrounding Ranwala’s doctorate recently gained traction on social media, leading to the Sri Lanka Parliament’s website removing the title “Dr.” from his profile in the members’ directory. Opposition parties have also called for clarity on whether he genuinely holds a doctorate, urging the government to address growing public suspicion.
IEAT eager to unveil Smart Park estateNoneCanadian Pacific Kansas CP has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 1.89% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.82%. Currently, Canadian Pacific Kansas has a market capitalization of $69.81 billion. Buying $1000 In CP: If an investor had bought $1000 of CP stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $7,058.66 today based on a price of $74.80 for CP at the time of writing. Canadian Pacific Kansas's Performance Over Last 15 Years Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time. This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Bayan al-Hinnawi, who spent years behind bars in Bashar al-Assad's Syria, joined crowds in the heartland of the Druze minority on Friday to celebrate the president's fall, "a dream" come true for the former prisoner. Hundreds of people descended on Sweida's main square, singing and clapping in jubilation, just days after Islamist-led rebels took the capital Damascus, sending Assad fleeing. The Druze-majority city in Syria's south has been a focal point of renewed anti-government demonstrations over the past year and a half. On Friday, residents waved Syria's pre-Assad flag of white, green and black with three stars, and raised olive branches in a sign of peace. Some of them have lost family members during the anti-government uprising that began in 2011 and spiralled into civil war. Others, like Hinnawi, had languished in prison under the Assad family's five-decade rule. "It was a dream," said 77-year-old Hinnawi of Assad's ouster. Decades ago, a few years after Hafez al-Assad seized power -- which he later handed over to his son Bashar -- a 23-year-old Hinnawi was jailed. He was released 17 years later. The grey-haired man said he had "dreamed that one day the regime would fall", but did not believe that he would live to see the day. "It's a wonderful sight. Nobody could have imagined that this could happen", he said. But his joy was incomplete, remembering the many who have died in jail. "I wish that those who died when I was imprisoned in Mazzeh or Saydnaya could see this scene," said Hinnawi. Since Assad's fall, rebel forces and residents have broken into both detention centres, freeing political prisoners and searching for long-missing loved ones. Activists and rights groups say the Assad government tortured and abused inmates at both facilities. "I got out when I was 40, I missed out of my whole life," said Hinnawi, who served in the Syrian army before being jailed. Recalling torture behind bars, he said that "no oppressor in history has done what they did to us." Since Sunday, the ousted government's security forces were nowhere to be seen in Sweida, and the office of Assad's Baath party has been abandoned, as have army checkpoints on the road to Damascus. Local armed men are present, but not the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham which spearheaded the rebel offensive against Assad. Siham Zein al-Din, who lost her son in 2014 after he defected from the national army to join rebel fighters, said he had "sacrificed his life... for freedom, for dignity". The family was still searching for Khaldun's remains, said his 60-year-old mother. Like her son, some members of the Druze community took up arms against Assad's forces during the war. The Druze, who also live in Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, make up about three percent of Syria's population, around 700,000 people. Beyond defending themselves from attacks in the areas where they live, Syria's Druze largely stayed on the sidelines of the civil war. Many managed to avoid compulsory conscription since 2011. Residents of Sweida have long complained of discrimination and the lack of basic services. Many buildings in the city are constructed from black volcanic stone that can be found in the area, and its roads have fallen into disrepair. Sheikh Marwan Hussein Rizk, a religious leader, said that "Sweida province has been marginalised" for decades, with most of its residents living in poverty. But, surrounded by the joyful protesters, Rizk said better days may be coming. "Today, we look to the future and ask for a helping hand... Our hand is extended to all Syrians." Next to him, resident Hussein Bondok held up a poster of his brother Nasser, a journalist and opposition activist who was last heard from in 2014 when he was arrested. Bondok, 54, said he believes his brother was likely killed under torture in one of Damascus's prisons. Nasser struggled for freedom, Bondok said. "I want to congratulate him now, because the seeds he had planted with his brothers-in-arms has become a tree." lk/ami/it
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Myles Garrett didn't know he had joined a prestigious list of defensive stars last week until one of his biggest fans pointed it out to him. “My dad was hyped about it,” he said. For good reason. With three sacks last week in Cleveland's 24-19 win in prime time over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Garrett became the seventh player to reach double-digit sacks in seven straight seasons since the stat became official in 1982. The others: Lawrence Taylor (1984-90), Reggie White (1985-93), Bruce Smith (1992-98), John Randle (1992-99), DeMarcus Ware (2006-12) and Jared Allen (2007-13). All of them is in the Hall of Fame except for Allen. “Hall of Famer,” Garrett said in praising the retired Minnesota Vikings edge rusher, who is again on the doorstep of induction as a semifinalist for the fifth straight year. Garrett is on track to get his own bronze bust one day in Canton, but until then, he's humbled to be in such elite company. “Guys I looked up to when I started my journey into this game,” said Garrett, who tries to bolster his resume on Monday night when the Browns (3-8) visit the Denver Broncos (7-5). “It’s absolutely amazing to be amongst those guys, not just looking up at them but looking side to side and standing amongst them. "So I want to continue to find myself on those lists and hopefully stand alone at the end of the day.” He's on his way. The NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year is having another monster season but probably not getting the recognition he deserves as the Browns, upended by continuous quarterback issues, have fallen way short of expectations. Garrett used the national TV platform against the Steelers to remind any detractors of his greatness. He sacked Russell Wilson three times, forced a fumble and outplayed Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, the player to whom he is most often compared. The Garrett vs. Watt debate went to another level in February. On the day Garrett received his DPOY award, second-place finisher Watt seemed to take a shot at the Browns star by posting “Nothing I'm not used to” on social media. Those comments stuck with Garrett, who following the win over Pittsburgh — and Watt being held without a sack — didn't hold back in declaring himself the league's best pass rusher. “I wanted to make it known that I’m the guy, I’m the No. 1 edge defender,” Garrett said. It was an unusual boast from Garrett, who was asked why he felt he needed to express himself. “Because part of my journey of being the best player that I can be is I think I can be the best player that there is currently,” he said. ”So I have to live up to those expectations I have for myself. That’s just on the road to be the player that I want to be.” Garrett's unrelenting drive is what sets him apart. Although he'll enter Monday's game with 98 1/2 sacks and can become just the fifth player to reach 100 in his first eight seasons, joining White, Ware, Allen and Watt, it's not enough. “I still took too long,” said Garrett, who can become the first to do it before turning 29. “It’d have been tough to catch Mr. White, but hopefully this next however many number will come quicker than the first 100. So we’ll go out there and we’ll do what I do and try to take it up a notch.” Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz marvels at Garrett's output despite double- and triple-team blocking. “He just continues to do stuff,” Schwartz said. “His production is so high, even though he’s a marked man, even though every game plan starts with, ‘Don’t let 95 wreck the game,’ and he still finds a way to wreck games.” Schwartz doesn't need to see any lists to know Garrett belongs among the best to ever rush a quarterback. “Yes, he does,” Schwartz said. "I think he’s just starting to hit his prime. I think he still has a lot left in front of him. The sky is the limit as far as he goes. And when it’s all said and done, maybe you’re comparing other people to him. That should probably be a goal for him.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflThe dismissal of the case of a Knoxville, Iowa, man accused of robbing Clinton National Bank in Delmar in March has been denied. A new trial for Jeffrey Brian Bettis, 37, is scheduled to begin Dec. 9. Bettis’s defense attorney, Eric Dale, had motioned to have the case dismissed after Judge Jeffrey McDaniel declared a mistrial on Oct. 14. At the beginning of jury selection, McDaniel mistakenly read aloud language in the charging information that could be viewed as prejudicial — that Bettis is charged with possession of a firearm as a felon as a habitual offender, a Class D felony. McDaniel was appointed as Seventh Judicial District Court Judge by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June. Bettis is also charged with four counts of first-degree robbery and one count of first-degree burglary, each Class B felonies. The defense for Bettis argued for dismissal on the grounds that a retrial would violate Bettis’s Constitutional right against double jeopardy. Documents filed after the Oct. 30 dismissal hearing presided over by McDaniel state that the mistrial occurred during opening remarks to potential jurors. A jury had not yet been questioned, selected or sworn in. McDaniel ruled that double jeopardy did not attach and denied the motion. Bettis was identified by video surveillance as the suspect in the bank robbery after he had entered Clinton National Bank on Western Avenue in Delmar at approximately 12:30 p.m. on March 8. Documents state that with a stocking cap pulled down over his face that had holes cut into it at his eyes and mouth, Bettis pointed a handgun at two female bank tellers, walked behind the counter and demanded money, then told the tellers to give him their car keys. Bettis then exited the bank and drove south in a red 2020 Ford Explorer that belonged to one of the tellers. The vehicle was located unoccupied on Ridge Avenue in Delmar two blocks east of the bank. Clinton County Sheriff’s Office deputies learned from video surveillance footage that Bettis had left the area instead in a 2014 white Ford Escape about which all local law enforcement agencies were notified. The Iowa State Patrol stopped a vehicle matching the description of the Ford Escape with Bettis being the only occupant in the vehicle at about 1:13 p.m. near Eldridge. After Bettis had been taken into custody, a search of the vehicle by law enforcement on March 12 resulted in the recovery of a bag containing $52,710, a 9mm Hi-Point handgun with six rounds of ammunition in the magazine but an empty chamber, and a turquoise stocking cap with eye and mouth holes cut into it. Court documents state that in an interview following his arrest, Bettis admitted to robbing the bank and brandishing a firearm during the robbery to scare the tellers. Bettis, however, then entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony, and was held in Clinton County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. The amount was lessened to $75,000 after a bond review hearing held in June. The hearing to consider the dismissal of the case was held in conjunction with a review of Bettis’s bond. McDaniel declared the bond amount to remain as set. Later in March Bettis was charged with an additional count of first-degree robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon as a habitual offender, a Class D felony. He was then charged in April with two more counts of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, a Class B felony. Bettis pleaded not guilty to the added charges. Documents filed Oct. 3 state Bettis rejected a proposed plea agreement and confirmed the desire to proceed to a trial.
Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Receives Commencement of Delisting Notice from NYSE AmericanJohn McEntee emerged as a key player in shaping the Republican Party through his influence in the Trump White House, where he served as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. As the U.S. looks to a second Trump administration in 2025, McEntee is aptly positioned to make an even bigger impact on the conservative movement. Yet McEntee has found resonance beyond the West Wing on TikTok , an unexpected strategy for the 34-year-old, whose fellow Republicans have fought to ban the platform. But, as McEntee argues, social media is exactly where he, and other emerging voices in right-wing politics, should be. Social media influence shapes public sentiment and action – an adage clearly proven by Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris, thanks to an ingenious social media campaign executed by a scrappy team of young strategists. Through Tiktok, McEntee has a distinct vantage point on the growing Republican voter base, which the election showed is growing formidably as American culture tilts right. He has leveraged the ByteDance-owned app to build a disruptive cultural presence, attracting 3.3 million followers on the platform – and counting. On his @daterightstuff account, McEntee merges humor and political commentary in bite-sized meme jargon to create highly viral content. While the typical conservative might be averse to engaging in the world of TikTok, McEntee has unlocked a golden opportunity to share his vision for the conservative movement, while also receiving real-time feedback from the public. This position gives him unique insight and direct access to the people who will define the next half-century of American politics. With a background in political strategy and media, John McEntee understands the importance of engaging diverse audiences and harnessing the power of media to shift sentiment and drive policy wins. As a passionate advocate for an “America First” agenda, McEntee is committed to addressing pressing issues like immigration, trade, and foreign policy, all while fostering unity within the party. His forward-thinking approach has positioned him as a leader in right-wing politics, ready to guide the Republican party into a new era of conservatism . “We win a lot of elections but don’t actually follow through on the policy piece, and that’s because working in government is hard and bureaucracy is so entrenched,” McEntee said in a recent interview. “We are on a good course, but we need to actually have policy victories when we get in power.” The mood of the country is shifting and voting toward conservatism, McEntee said, attributing the shift to a variety of factors, including dissatisfaction with progressive government, backlash against decades of left-wing dominance in culture and academia, and the ensuing activist movements that exploded on college campuses in 2024. So how does he see Republicans capitalizing on these sentiments to notch more, bigger wins? “When you get a certain politician in a role in the executive branch, you say, ‘Oh, well, this congressman’s really good on this issue, so he should be the head of this agency.’ But when they get into the role, they’re actually not that effective because they don’t really know how to wield power,” McEntee said. “[Policy victories] come down to finding people that can be effective, not just as media surrogates, but as sources of influence and changes. But if the Republican Party can do that, we’ll have tremendous success.” McEntee identifies the immigration crisis, cultural backlash, and political polarization as key policy priorities, or political battlegrounds, for the conservative movement. This chaos, McEntee argues, is what prompted even moderate voters to elect Trump and modify their stance on border security and immigration reform. Then there’s “woke culture.” McEntee believes that progressive media agendas have alienated many Americans, he said, pointing out that excessive political correctness can push people toward conservative viewpoints, as they seek common sense amidst what they perceive as absurdity. “Look at what’s happening on college campuses,” he said. “People that might be a little left-leaning are being pushed to the right.” Such crises and cultural retaliations have led to greater engagement among voters, while simultaneously increasing political polarization. McEntee sees polarization as an opportunity for conservatives to articulate their values more clearly and connect with those who feel disillusioned by mainstream liberal narratives. “The increase in engagement in politics is helpful; when I was growing up, people just didn’t talk about politics this much, but it’s inescapable – which is good,” McEntee said “The more people talk, the more people learn. Then, the truth prevails.” The heart of McEntee’s vision includes three core objectives for the conservative movement during Trump’s second term. The three, which stem from the former President’s 2016 platform, are trade policy, immigration reform, and foreign policy. Advocating for protectionist measures that prioritize American industries and workers, McEntee emphasizes that trade should benefit the Americans, rather than serving global interests. “Republicans for a long time were hard liners on trade. They believed in protecting industry. They weren’t necessarily just free traders. And I think we created the most amazing middle class that’s ever existed through that policy and other policies,” McEntee said. He also calls for a comprehensive examination of both illegal and legal immigration policies, stressing that these should prioritize American citizens’ needs and welfare. Lastly, McEntee champions an “America First” approach, advocating for restraint in international interventions while focusing on protecting American interests abroad. “Republicans were very hawkish in the 2000s, and I think having more restraint actually is a Trumpian view that has been well received,” he said. McEntee’s optimism about recent accomplishments for the conservative party, particularly in media engagement, are a testament to Trump’s 2024 comeback. He notes that conservative voices have gained significant traction across various platforms—television, podcasts, and online news outlets—allowing for more robust discussions around conservative values. “Conservative media is as good as ever. We’re doing great. We have Fox, yes, but we also have the Daily Wire; we have conservative influencers – it’s on a good course,” McEntee said. This media presence not only amplifies conservative messages but also fosters community engagement around shared values . McEntee explains how podcasters and media spokespeople wield considerable influence, even surpassing that of elected officials, when shaping public opinion. Despite the media victories, McEntee is emphatic that cultural victories must translate into tangible policy outcomes – an insight that underscores the need for conservative leaders who not only understand policy but can effectively navigate the intricacies of government to implement change. This translation has come into view recently with Trump’s return to power. “Trump is in a league of his own when it comes to party influence,” McEntee states. “He serves as a rallying point for many Republicans.” This shared loyalty creates a sense of purpose within the party, even amid differing opinions on specific policies, McEntee adds. “Even if you don’t like him, or even if you don’t agree with this or that, we have this thing and this person that’s constantly being attacked, seen as the symbol for our team.” With Trump’s re-election, McEntee’s vision for the conservative movement gains new momentum. His approach, evidenced by his broad appeal among young audiences – long a challenge for the political establishment – symbolizes a new generation of conservatism; one that seeks to unite and engage existing Republicans as well as newcomers. As the political landscape continues to evolve, McEntee’s influence and strategies may play a significant role in shaping the future of the Republican Party and conservative politics in America.TransMedics Appoints Gerardo Hernandez as Chief Financial Officer and Provides Updated 2024 Financial OutlookNone
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