
Heat say Jimmy Butler will miss 2 more games before rejoining team next week
Himanta: Four infiltrators held in Assam, sent back to B’deshScrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” 'I'm a travelin' dog and I've made a lot of stops/All over this town...' Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. '...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely...' People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. Neighbor Tammy Murray had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues van toward reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim came to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth. '...If you're ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle...' Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something," she said. "He's doing that, too.” Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” '...and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return...' Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.”
Ludhiana: The Congress on Wednesday night released its second list of candidates for the MC elections, naming only 13 candidates. On Tuesday, the party had released its first list of 63 candidates. The party has so far announced candidates for 76 of the total 95 wards in Ludhiana. Releasing the first list, party leaders had said the second list would be released by Tuesday night itself, but no such announcement was made. The party is now expected to announce its last list on Thursday and name 19 candidates in it. The party is contesting the MC polls in alliance with LIP, which is headed by brothers Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains. tnn We also published the following articles recently Congress may release first list of candidates this week The Delhi Congress is poised to release its first list of assembly election candidates this week, marking an unprecedented move. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is expected to convene and finalize the candidacies, potentially including former ministers and MLAs. This strategic decision aims to give candidates ample preparation time. Delhi assembly elections: AAP releases second list of candidates, fields Manish Sisodia from Jangpura The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Notably, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will contest from Jangpura, while educator-turned-politician Avadh Ojha will run from Sisodia's previous seat, Patparganj. This follows the AAP's first list released on November 21st. UPSC CSE Mains Result 2024: Names of shortlisted candidates released, check direct link here The UPSC has released the Civil Services Mains 2024 results on December 9, 2024. Successful candidates can proceed to the interview stage. The Mains exam, held in September, followed the Preliminary exam in June. A list of shortlisted candidates is available on upsc.gov.in. Check the website for steps to access the results and further details. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
BingoPlus awards historic P154M jackpot prize
Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, 45, recently shared that she’s feeling hurt by Hollywood’s obsession with youth as she ages, but she remains optimistic. Some of her followers on social media accused her of having a facelift to cope with aging. For example, a user wrote: “Is this really you. Look so different.” A fan posted: “I love the face lift but it wasn’t necessary—you’re still so gorgeous and talented.” Another said, “Who did her facelift, eyes, nose, mouth and chin, too!” Still, Hewitt maintains a positive attitude. “Age is age,“ she said. ”I think women really come into this acceptance of themselves and comfortability in their 40s. That is beautiful. “The times that it’s hard for me though ... I feel like fans pick ... this age that they love that they think represents you, and you’re never supposed to grow beyond that.” Social media followers who age-shame celebrities are likely fans who can’t accept inevitable change, according to Chris Hite, a professor at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California, who teaches courses about world cinema history, screenwriting, production, American films, and the Hollywood system. “It means they aren’t fans of Jennifer’s as a person,” Hite told The Epoch Times on Dec. 26. “They are fans of a fictitious character that she played, which they might associate with a meaningful period of their lives or look to as a part of their personal identity.” Hewitt rose to international fame after starring in box office hits in her teens, such as “I Know What You Did Last Summer,“ ”I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,“ “Party of Five,” and “Ghost Whisperer” when she was in her 20s. The actress recently starred in her first Christmas movie, “The Holiday Junkie,” with her husband, Brian Hallisay, 46, who is also an actor. Released on Lifetime on Dec. 14, “The Holiday Junkie” is about a business owner trying to find love while navigating her first Christmas alone after losing her mother. It’s Hewitt’s directorial debut. After marrying in 2013, Hewitt has three kids with Hallisay, who is known for roles in the CW Network series “Privileged,” the Lifetime drama “The Client List,” and the ABC-TV series “Revenge.” While male actors like Hewitt’s husband are often praised for aging gracefully, actresses may feel as if they are being pushed aside, according to Dr. Michael Kane, who specializes in family medicine and psychiatry and is the chief medical officer at the Indiana Center for Recovery in Indiana. “For someone like Jennifer, who’s been in the spotlight since her youth, this shift can feel like losing a piece of her identity,” Kane told The Epoch Times on Dec. 26. “On the bright side, aging can bring opportunities to take on more meaningful and layered roles that reflect life experience. “Aging isn’t the end of the story; it’s simply the next chapter.” Hewitt previously discussed her frustration with the aging process on the podcast “Inside of You” hosted by actor, comedian, and writer Michael Rosenbaum. “Aging in Hollywood is really hard,” Hewitt said. “It’s really hard because you can’t do anything right.” Given the instances in which famous actors and actresses have died young, being an aging working actor is viewed as a privilege by some. “Many would kill to be actors having the problem of getting old working in the film and television industry,” actor and director Scott Hamm Duenas told The Epoch Times on Dec. 26. “The great thing about film and TV is that there will always be a need to cast men and women of all ages, just maybe not roles that call for sexy underwear scenes and high-flying martial arts choreography.” Hewitt did not respond to requests for comment by publication time. “The confidence that comes with age and experience allows veteran actors to deal with the challenges of Hollywood in a more relaxed manner and accept their journey and how they define success in it,” Steve Carleton, licensed clinical social worker at Porch Light Health, told The Epoch Times on Dec. 26.Estes Rockets Partners with SpaceX
Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, poll findsXiaomi has officially announced the launch of its highly anticipated Redmi 14C 5G smartphone on January 6, 2025 . The company revealed the news via a post on X (formerly Twitter) , and the product listing page for the Redmi 14C is already live on the official Xiaomi website, offering a glimpse into its design and key specifications. The upcoming Redmi 14C 5G smartphone will showcase a stunning “ Starlight ” design, inspired by the beauty and power of the cosmos . The teaser image highlights the device in three captivating color options: a light blue shade, classic black, and a striking dual-tone design combining grey and dark blue. Xiaomi has also confirmed that the Redmi 14C will feature dual 5G SIM support , ensuring enhanced connectivity. The smartphone will come equipped with a 50MP primary camera , enhanced with AI-powered imaging features , designed to elevate photography experiences. There are reports suggesting that the Redmi 14C may be a rebranded version of the Redmi 14R , which launched in China in September. If this is the case, the Redmi 14C will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, delivering solid performance and energy efficiency. The device is also expected to sport a 6.88-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate , offering smooth visuals with a 1640×720 resolution . To support all these features, the Redmi 14C will be equipped with a 5160mAh battery , ensuring all-day usage. Additionally, it will support 18W wired fast charging , allowing users to quickly power up their device. Xiaomi continues to push the boundaries of smartphone technology with its Redmi series . The Redmi 14C promises a sleek design, powerful performance, and impressive camera capabilities, all at an affordable price point. With the addition of 5G support and a large battery , this device is expected to cater to the needs of users who prioritize both performance and long-lasting usage. Stay tuned for more updates as January 6, 2025 , approaches for the official launch of the Redmi 14C 5G smartphone!
My love of movie scoundrels has been sorely tested this year. When I was young, I daydreamed of exotic heists, slick con artists and lovable crooks I’d seen on screen. For most of my moviegoing life, I’ve been a sucker for larceny done well. Most of us are, probably. But now it’s late 2024. Mood is wrong. In the real world, in America, it’s scoundrel time all the time. Maybe Charles Dickens was right. In “American Notes for General Circulation” (1842), the English literary superstar chronicled his travels and detected a widespread, peculiarly American “love of ‘smart’ dealing” across the land. In business and in politics, Dickens observed, slavish admiration of the con men among them “gilds over many a swindle and gross breach of trust.” And here we are. It’ll pass, this scoundrel reprieve of mine. In fact it just did. All it took was thinking about the conspicuous, roguish outlier on my best-of-2024 list: “Challengers.” It’s what this year needed and didn’t know it: a tricky story of lying, duplicitous weasels on and off the court. The best films this year showed me things I hadn’t seen, following familiar character dynamics into fresh territory. Some were more visually distinctive than others; all made eloquent cases for how, and where, their stories unfolded. “All We Imagine as Light,” recently at the Gene Siskel Film Center, works like a poem, or a sustained exhalation of breath, in its simply designed narrative of three Mumbai hospital workers. Fluid, subtly political, filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s achievement is very nearly perfect. So is cowriter-director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel “The Nickel Boys,” arriving in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 3, 2025. “Nickel Boys,” the film, loses the “the” in Whitehead’s title but gains an astonishingly realized visual perspective. If Ross never makes another movie, he’ll have an American masterpiece to his credit. The following top 10 movies of 2024 are in alphabetical order. Both a mosaic of urban ebb and flow, and a delicate revelation of character, director and writer Payal Kapadia’s Mumbai story is hypnotic, patient and in its more traditional story progression, a second feature every bit as good as Kapadia’s first, 2021’s “A Night of Knowing Nothing.” Mikey Madison gives one of the year’s funniest, saddest, truest performances as a Brooklyn exotic dancer who takes a shine to the gangly son of a Russian oligarch, and he to her. Their transactional courtship and dizzying Vegas marriage, followed by violently escalating complications, add up to filmmaker Sean Baker’s triumph, capped by an ending full of exquisite mysteries of the human heart. As played by Adrien Brody, the title character is a visionary architect and Hungarian Jewish emigre arriving in America in 1947 after the Holocaust. (That said, the title refers to more than one character.) His patron, and his nemesis, is the Philadelphia blueblood industrialist played by Guy Pearce. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s thrillingly ambitious epic, imperfect but loaded with rewarding risks, was shot mostly in widescreen VistaVision. Worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. Opens in Chicago-area theaters on Jan. 10, 2025. Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play games with each other, on the tennis court and in beds, while director Luca Guadagnino builds to a match-point climax that can’t possibly work, and doesn’t quite — but I saw the thing twice anyway. In Bucharest, production assistant Angela zigzags around the city interviewing people for her employer’s workplace safety video. If that sounds less than promising, even for a deadpan Romanian slice-of-life tragicomedy, go ahead and make the mistake of skipping this one. llinca Manolache is terrific as Angela. Like “Do Not Expect Too Much,” director Agnieszka Holland’s harrowing slice of recent history was a 2023 release, making it to Chicago in early 2024. Set along the densely forested Poland/Belarus border, this is a model of well-dramatized fiction honoring what refugees have always known: the fully justified, ever-present fear of the unknown. A quiet marvel of a feature debut from writer-director Annie Baker, this is a mother/daughter tale rich in ambiguities and wry humor, set in a lovely, slightly forlorn corner of rural Massachusetts. Julianne Nicholson, never better; Zoe Ziegler as young, hawk-eyed Lacy, equally memorable. I love this year’s nicest surprise. The premise: A teenager’s future 39-year-old self appears to her, magically, via a strong dose of mushrooms. The surprise: Writer-director Megan Park gradually deepens her scenario and sticks a powerfully emotional landing. Wonderful work from Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Maria Dizzia and everybody, really. From the horrific true story of a Florida reform school and its decades of abuse, neglect and enraging injustice toward its Black residents, novelist Colson Whitehead’s fictionalized novel makes a remarkable jump to the screen thanks to co-writer/director RaMell Ross’s feature debut. Cousins, not as close as they once were, reunite for a Holocaust heritage tour in Poland and their own search for their late grandmother’s childhood home. They’re the rootless Benji (Kieran Culkin) and tightly sprung David (Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and directed). Small but very sure, this movie’s themes of genocidal trauma and Jewish legacy support the narrative every step of the way. Culkin is marvelous; so is the perpetually undervalued Eisenberg. To the above, I’ll add 10 more runners-up, again in alphabetical order: “Blink Twice,” directed by Zoe Kravitz. “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. “Dune: Part Two ,” directed by Denis Villeneuve. “Good One ,” directed by India Donaldson. “Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater. “Joker: Folie a Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips. “Nosferatu,” directed by Robert Eggers, opens in Chicago-area theaters on Dec. 25. “The Outrun,” directed by Nora Fingscheidt. “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat,” directed by Johan Grimonprez. “Tuesday,” directed by Daina O. Pusić. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.None
OGE Energy Corp. appoints Walworth as chief financial officerOn the outside: A look at some of the 4 Nations roster snubs
UltraTech Cement to enter Northeast with Star trekOn Friday, Buff Nation will get its last opportunity to watch two of the greatest players in program history compete on the Folsom Field turf. It won’t be the last time cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders play in Colorado jerseys, however. Although there is somewhat of a feel of finality around Friday’s matchup with Oklahoma State (10 a.m., ABC), head coach Deion Sanders said he’s not thinking that way. “No, we got a bowl game,” he said. “I’m pretty sure we secured that weeks ago for (super fan Peggy Coppom).” Yes, at 8-3 (6-2 Big 12), the 23rd-ranked Buffaloes will be going to a bowl game in December. In recent years, however, there have been star players around the country who have opted out of bowls to focus on the NFL Draft. Of course, CU still has a shot to get into the Big 12 title game, win that and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Do that, and the star players would certainly suit up and compete for a national title. Yet, even if the Buffs fall short of the CFP, it appears that Shedeur and Hunter will play in a bowl. “(Friday) is not the last time you’re going to see them in a Buff uniform,” Coach Prime said. Friday’s game against OSU (3-8, 0-8) will most likely be the last one for Coach Prime and his sons – Shedeur and safety Shilo Sanders – at Folsom Field, but Coach Prime said he’s not focused on any emotions that could come with that. “I’m focused on winning this last game with my team,” he said. To do that, the Buffs have the turn the page from last Saturday’s 37-21 loss at Kansas – a defeat that may have cost them a spot in the Big 12 title game. Had the Buffs defeated Kansas and then Oklahoma State this week, they would have secured a spot in the Dec. 7 title game. Now, they go into this week needing a win and some help around the conference. “We had an opportunity, we squandered it,” Coach Prime said. “OK, let’s go out here and kick butt and whatever happens happens.” Coach Prime said the Buffs are trying to flush the KU loss and move on, but admitted, “Sometimes it’s little things that creep up on you, you remind yourself of the opportunity you had, and you pray that you still have an opportunity.” All year, Coach Prime has talked about the 2023 season being about instilling hope in the CU program and this year being about expectation. He took over a program that went 1-11 in 2022 and took the Buffs to 4-8 – with several close losses – last year. This year, the Buff raised the bar, which made the loss to Kansas so tough to swallow, but it also provides a spark for this week. “We want to end right,” Coach Prime said. “We have the best fan base, I feel like, in college football, and I’m thankful that they hurt because we’re hurting because they have expectation. ... We instilled hope (last year). Now it’s expectation, and people are frustrated because of the expectation and I like that, and I’m thankful for that. “(Shedeur and Hunter) and all the rest of the seniors have done a wonderful job of getting us to where we are instilling so much expectation in our fan base and expectation in ourselves. So we’re going to fight and try to go out there and kick some butt and end this thing on the right note. And we’re going to go to a bowl game and end this thing on the right note, because our fans deserve the absolute best.”Snap Inc. stock remains steady Tuesday, underperforms market