Ryan Seacrest is only on his first season as the new host of Wheel of Fortune , but he is already skating on thin ice with some fans of the game show. Seacrest , 49, is taking some heat after an incident that occurred during the Tuesday, November 26 episode of Wheel . Oleh Voloshyn, a contestant who could have easily won, ended up losing the game, and some fans believe that it's all because of Seacrest's lack of experience. The debacle took place during the "Final Spin" puzzle in which the wheel landed on $5,000. This meant that the three-word "Event" puzzle would likely decide the winner of the game, as each consonant was worth $6,000. After a few guesses from each player, the puzzle read, "TOUR_NG 'A' '_ _ _ N_R_'." Instead of choosing another consonant and adding $6,000 to his $12,000, winning the game with $18,000, Oleh decided to solve the puzzle correctly as "TOURING A WINERY." This left Oleh with $14,000 total, which was $176 short of his opponent's $14,176 total. Fans of the game show took to social media to share their thoughts on Oleh's loss. "If I'm Oleh, I'm upset at myself for not realizing the situation... I'm also angry at Ryan for not doing something that Pat always made a point to do in this exact situation. It's not the host's job to point those types of things out but Pat [Sajak] always tried so now we expect it," wrote one user on Reddit , referring to the show's former host of over 40 years. A second user agreed and noted, "Pat would have reminded him to guess a letter before solving," implying that Seacrest lacks the former host's experience. "Didn't Pat used to say 'do you want to guess a letter first?'," asked a third Redditor while another added, "Ryan needs to start doing this." Despite receiving some grief from fans of late, many have been vocal about their support for the new host , one even praised him for his off-camera hosting abilities. Seacrest started his tenure as host of the beloved game show in September following Sajak's exit.City Friends Club expands environmental efforts in Larnaca and PaphosBY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where the shipping industry is wrestling with its environmental impact, a French startup called TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport) is presenting a solution that is both novel and rooted in centuries-old technology: wind. TOWT’s wind-powered cargo ship, Anemos , completed its first transatlantic voyage last month, delivering pallets of champagne, wine, and cognac from France to New York. For the first time in over a century, a major cargo vessel crossed the Atlantic virtually exclusively powered by wind . “We know the wind is abundant, and we’ve known it for centuries,” says Guillaume Le Grand, TOWT’s cofounder and president. The organization can capture wind in methods that are both reliable and commercially viable due to recent advances in meteorological modeling, satellite communications, and routing technologies. Le Grand affirms: “The technology we have today makes wind a reliable source of propulsion.” Not your average sailing ship Humans have indeed powered their boats with wind for generations, however, Anemos is not your typical sailing ship. It is inspired by high-tech racing boats, with carbon fiber masts that are substantially lighter and taller than the wooden masts of traditional ships. This permits the sails to be twice as large and catch more wind, resulting in maximum propulsion. Anemos ‘ most notable feature is its mechanical sail deployment system. Unlike conventional ships, which need teams of sailors to manage the rigging, Anemos can control all seven sails with a single remote. “You could actually handle the whole rigging—the seven sails on board, and 3,000 square meters of sail—with just one remote control,” Le Grand says. The ship is approximately 265 feet long, slightly larger than the famed Cutty Sark clipper ship, but with a considerably smaller crew—only seven sailors. Anemos uses unique routing software to optimize wind power on its journeys. It has diesel-electric engines as a backup, yet it can sail completely on wind power for roughly 95 percent of the time. During her inaugural journey, the ship experienced significant delays and had to rely on fuel before departing France, but the final ten days of the voyage were totally powered by sails. Furthermore, when the ship is traveling at a high enough speed, its propellers can spin in reverse, generating energy from the water’s wake to power onboard electronics. From the kitchen to the ventilation systems, the ship’s operations become more sustainable. A climate-conscious shipping solution While the capacity of Anemos —1,000 tons of cargo on pallets—is little in comparison to the 20,000-container capacity of current container ships, its function extends beyond sheer volume. Brands that use the ship’s service are motivated by more than just logistics; they see it as a method to achieve climate goals. According to Le Grand, buyers are willing to pay slightly higher transportation costs to reduce their carbon footprint . TOWT sweetens the bargain by providing long-term contracts with fixed prices, which eliminates the wild fluctuations associated with diesel and fuel oil costs. “We offer a predictable price without the swings of fossil fuels,” Le Grand informs me. Furthermore, the green marketing potential is enormous: manufacturers may attach a QR code to their products, which leads to data regarding CO2 savings on each voyage. This transparency is an important selling factor in a market where consumers are becoming more concerned about their environmental impact. It is not enough to just ship items; it is also necessary to ship them sustainably. Wind power versus greenwashing As companies scramble to decarbonize, many are looking at other fuels, but Le Grand feels wind power is a better option. “The shipping industry, even though they seem to be willing to decarbonize, is sort of kicking the can down the road,” he points out. Many people are waiting for what he calls the “Santa” of decarbonized fuels, hoping that a low-cost, dependable alternative will arrive soon. However, Le Grand is wary of several proposed alternatives, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has the potential to cause severe pollution through methane leakage . Wind, on the other hand, is free, abundant, and ready for use right now. TOWT’s ships provide an immediate solution rather than waiting for technological improvements in alternative fuel sources. Expanding the fleet and preparing the next generation of sailors TOWT’s ambitious aspirations do not end with Anemos . The business has already built a second ship and plans to commence monthly transatlantic journeys. After carrying wine and spirits to the United States, the ships will travel to South America to return coffee to Europe. The company has also ordered six additional vessels, which will begin operating in 2026, with the long-term intention of deploying hundreds of wind-powered ships. TOWT is not only expanding its fleet but also training a new generation of sailors. “We want to formalize and create a proper training for a modern sailing cargo captain, which doesn’t exist,” Le Grand explains. TOWT hopes that by teaching experienced sailors about this burgeoning business, it may create the groundwork for a larger shift in global shipping practices. The winds of change are here As the maritime industry faces increasing demand to decrease emissions, TOWT’s wind-powered vessels provide a realistic, modern alternative. With current technology making wind power more reliable than ever, and consumers keen to reduce their carbon footprints, the tide of change may be turning in favor of sustainable shipping. TOWT’s concept of a fleet of wind-powered ships sailing the world’s oceans might represent a dramatic transition away from fossil fuel-based shipping. And, with firms willing to pay a premium for sustainability, it’s apparent that wind power isn’t a thing of the past—it’s the future of marine transportation. Today on our “Best Of” series, we focus on the top Business solutions of 2024. These stories celebrate creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of sustainable success in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
We are one week away from the fantasy football playoffs. Odds are, not every spot in your league's postseason has been secured just yet. Positioning, potential first-round byes and playoff berths are still up for grabs, making Week 14 yet another pivotal week where knowing who to start and who to sit could be the difference between a shot at a championship or missing out on your league's winnings. Week 13 included myriad of fantastic performances. Jonnu Smith continued his reign of terror on the rest of the league. Bucky Irving was a monster, and probably the only reason the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't lose to the Carolina Panthers . Rookie tight end Brock Bowers also put up a 30 burger in PPR leagues. However, the key to fantasy greatness is finding value in players that others wouldn't consider starting. That's what we're here to do. Here are eight players to start and eight more to sit in Week 14. NFL playoff picture: Bills clinch 2024 season's first division title by bludgeoning 49ers in snow Players to start in Week 14: Quarterbacks: NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more. While the Las Vegas Raiders have been solid against the run as of late, they've been less productive against the pass. Mayfield and the Bucs were nearly embarrassed by the Panthers in Week 13. They'll look to bounce back in a big way against the Raiders in what should be (but probably won't be) an easy win. While Justin Herbert did not have a great week against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13, every other quarterback to play Atlanta recently has. Bo Nix had 36 points. Derek Carr had 23. Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush had 26. Baker Mayfield had 28. Geno Smith had 21. You get the point. Atlanta is a terrific matchup for any quarterback, and Darnold's ceiling is lifted substantially against them this weekend. Running Backs: While Devin Singletary did get a decent workload in Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans Saints' run defense has been bad enough to warrant starting Tracy regardless of how much work Singletary gets. Tracy still got the important carries and wound up in the end zone. That's all that matters in fantasy. Oh, he also got the only receiving work out of the backfield. With the 49ers all out of whack and Nick Bosa hobbled, the 49ers' run defense has been atrocious. They've now surrendered the fifth-most non-PPR points per game to halfbacks on the season. Swift will be the biggest benefactor of San Francisco's collapse this week. Wide Receivers: Look. Volume may be the most important thing to consider in fantasy, but Westbrook-Ikhine's production speaks for itself. He has caught at least one touchdown in seven of his past eight games. That alone makes him fantasy relevant, but his odds increase this week as the Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Cincinnati Bengals' defense is filled with more holes than the plot of a J.J. Abrams movie, and Cooks – despite hauling in only three passes in his first game back from injury – did earn seven targets and score a touchdown. He'll be heavily involved in Dallas' offensive game plan moving forward. Tight Ends: Don't look now, but the Raiders have been fairly solid against the run the last few weeks, having given up less than 65 rushing yards in two consecutive games. The Bucs will need to pass to get their offense going, and the Raiders have given up the third-most non-PPR points per game to the tight end position. The Bengals just allowed Pat Freiermuth to go off for seven catches, 68 yards, and a touchdown. They've given up a score to opposing tight ends in four consecutive games and have surrendered eight touchdowns to tight ends over the past eight weeks. Players to sit in Week 14: Quarterbacks: The Green Bay Packers have been terrific against quarterbacks all year. While Goff's efficiency can often counter elite defenses, the Packers have been just mediocre against running backs. It's likely the Lions will lean heavily on their halfbacks, as they normally do, attacking Green Bay's weaknesses. While Goff's floor should be incredibly high, his ceiling will be low in this divisional matchup. The Buffalo Bills have been menaces to opposing quarterbacks all season. They've only allowed 20 points to quarterbacks four times this year. Two of those were divisional games, which are often outliers in these types of statistics. The other two were Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Don't count on a big performance from Stafford. Running Backs: In his first game back from injury, Pacheco was still used in a timeshare with Kareem Hunt. While Pacheco should get more work as the season winds down, he's not in line this week to return to his workhorse role from the start of the season. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Chargers have only surrendered three rushing touchdowns all year. Even with J.K. Dobbins out, Edwards has been unable to secure the top spot in Los Angeles' backfield. He's been inconsistent, inefficient and hasn't been much of a pass-catcher, either. That alone would be enough to warrant benching him, but he will also be facing the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. All around, not a great outlook. Wide Receivers: The 49ers' offense is not good. It hasn't been good for some time, and while Samuel is the type of player that can go off at any moment, he hasn't tallied 10 PPR points in three in a row and four of his past six games. The Chicago Bears are one of the best teams in the league at stopping opposing wideouts, and Week 14 should be no different. Don't let his Week 13 stat line fool you. Hill would've had five receptions for 73 yards in Week 13 had it not been for a weird ricochet ball that landed in his hands for a touchdown. Hill is not getting designed looks in Miami's offense like he'd been getting in years past. Now, facing the New York Jets' secondary, Hill will be in for a rough outing. Tight Ends: No team in the NFL is better at shutting down opposing tight ends than the Detroit Lions. This will likely be a game where Green Bay leans on its wideouts, as Detroit's defense is built for stopping running backs and tight ends. With Trevor Lawrence going through concussion protocol, there's a chance that Mac Jones takes the reigns of the Jaguars' offense again in Week 14. In his time under center in Week 13, Jones displayed a connection with wideout Parker Washington, throwing his way 12 times, the most on the team. Should that connection maintain in Week 14, Engram could very well wind up the third option in Jacksonville's lackluster passing attack. That's not a great combo for fantasy production. Furthermore, the Tennessee Titans have surrendered the fifth-fewest non-PPR points per game to opposing tight ends. NFL News: Kirk Cousins' meltdown flings open door to questions on Falcons' QB plan