The biggest shopping day of the year may still be nearly a week away, but retailers left and right are dropping early like no tomorrow. As a shopping editor (by trade and hobby), I'm thrilled. One said sale? The . While it's easy to get distracted by flashy tech and vacuum deals, I immediately pop over to the , which is rife with sneaky deals on, well, everything. If you take just one look at the fashion deals, you'll see that there is an unreal number of items on sale — and it's pretty overwhelming. Don't stress, though, (that's what is for)! I did the dirty work for you to figure out what's actually worth the money and what you can leave behind. I mean, where else can you find a for just $69? You can also save $100 on a pair of (down to $18) and cuddle up in a for only $23. Obviously, that's just a quick preview of my expert-approved fashion markdowns hiding at the right now. You wouldn't want me to spoil the ending, right? Scroll below to shop a handful of picks, starting at just $10. Fantaslook Plaid Flannel Shirt Time and Tru Crewneck Sweatshirt Scoop Satin Midi Tank Dress Uvn Tracksuit, 2-Piece Folunsi Lightweight Knit Cardigan Big Chill Chevron Quilted Puffer Jacket Jason Maxwell Quilted Jacket with Faux Shearling Time and Tru Genuine Suede Cozy Boots Beranmey Cozy Platform Fuzzy Slippers No Boundaries Knit Chelsea Ankle Boots Michael Kors Trisha Shoulder Tote Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Dome Crossbody Bag JeenMata White Flower Pendant Necklace Cshidworld Weekender Bags Cate & Chloe Bianca 18-Karat Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings This toasty flannel shirt has "shacket" written all over it — and a price tag that's been reduced by over 80 percent. As we knew back in the '90s, a flannel shirt is all about warmth, comfort, and versatility. Pass it onto a younger generation this holiday season. And while you're at it, pick one up for yourself — it comes in 15 colors. A fan called it "the incredibly silky, ideal material for layering continues to look fantastic even after multiple laundering," The "velvety" texture of this billowy piece is enough to make it a creature comfort deserving of a spot in your top drawer, but the colors that are "rich looking and right on trend" really seal the deal — especially this gorgeous green hue. We can't complain about the price either. It's just $10! In addition to its added length in the back, the Time and Tru top has a forgiving split hem that flatters a fuller hip and won't bunch up on any kind of figure. A simple tank dress is always a good idea, especially in the colder months with the right layers and accessories. But a simple tank dress with fun and colorful pattern is an even better idea. The whimsical design combines the bright color trend with the fun pattern trend for a look that's anything but boring. And, yes, you can absolutely pull off this dress. Grab it in for a sleek high-fashion look (like ), or keep the party going with a or a seasonal . This "exceedingly soft" tracksuit raises the bar when it comes to affordable two-piece sets. It's also inspired by the pricier , a collection coveted for both its comfort and style. That explains why it looks high-end, and also why one customer called it "an exact replica" of the name-brand version. Choose from seven colors or scoop it up in multiple hues. Trust me, you may want to wear this one every single day. Anytime I see "lightweight" in the name of the sweater, I hear an angel singing. This open-front cardigan is the definition of perfection — and you can easily throw it over any outfit. Oh, and did I mention it has pockets? Well, it does. It's also insanely soft. It must be, because it's made of viscose, a kind of fabric derived from trees like eucalyptus, beech, and pine. Customers called the feel of the cardigan "luxurious" and "perfect." Trends come and go, but a classic puffer jacket will always stick around. This simple pick — just $23— features the most flattering quilted chevron pattern and is topped off with a cozy faux sherpa-lined collar. It's also water-resistant to keep you dry in all weather conditions. Snag it in sizes S to 3X. Wam and chic is the name of the game with this bold coat. It has all of the hallmarks of a classic with added shearling at the waist, collar and arms (and a more affordable price tag). How cute is the seasonally appropriate forest green? And the muted black and rustic brown are just as stylish. Plus, the two front patch pockets make it so easy to just slip your hands in and warm 'em up. Slipping into a pair of faux-shearling boots on a chilly day is one of life's little luxuries. Now, slipping into a pair that's a fraction of the price of Uggs? Even better. Choose from black, cognac and a trendy olive green. And at this price, why not grab a few and get your holiday shopping done early? Slippers are essential winter footwear (and also make a great holiday gift) — and these babies are super similar to everyone's favorite . Instead of paying $110, these cost the price of a movie ticket. All four colors are on sale, including a deep black and light cream. There's also an anti-slip sole for the days you want to wear them of the house. Utility chic is a huge trend this season and these knit booties fit the bill. The durable rubber soles will keep you moving all day and the chunky heel gives it staying power for years to come. Not a fan of the olive hue? They also come in black and a pinkish nude. Said a shopper: "I wore them for the first time yesterday at work and got so many compliments! ... They look high-end designer and very fashion forward. Love, love, love them." A major rule of mine when it comes to sale shopping? Always hit up the designer totes section. Another rule? Tote bags don't have to be boring black or cream — they can be bright red like this fun Michael Kors one. (For what it's worth, it's also available in light blue and gray). With a top snap closure and five different pockets, this bag can fit everything from your water bottle, wallet, keys, 82 crumpled receipts and your laptop. Think of it like your new best friend. What's better than one Michael Kors deal? Two! This crossbody bag — now 75% off — holds all the essentials and is a compliment magnet in Michael Kors' signature logo pattern. And yes, it has compartments. Two pockets built into the purse's inner lining let you securely stash stuff like your phone and keys, then easily retrieve them without the dreaded rummaging. If you know someone who loves Kendra Scott jewelry, they'll adore receiving this elegant, gold-plated pendant, which comes in several jewel tones, including Mother of Pearl, sapphire and emerald. The necklace is available online only and has been drastically reduced in price — you save 75%. Did somebody say "stocking stuffer"? Just going away for a long weekend jaunt? This overnight bag is the perfect travel companion, able to fit several changes of clothes along with your chargers, toiletries, Kindle... well, you get the point. It even comes with a waterproof PVC-lined pocket for wet or dirty clothes and multiple internal compartments for all your organizational needs. While I'm a fan of the pink, it also comes in black, light blue and navy. Made with Swarovski crystals, these gorgeous hoop earrings sparkle and shimmer from every angle. I love a good yellow gold pavé moment, but the hoops also come in white gold and rose gold if that's more your thing. Wear them on a regular day to dress up a simple outfit or reserve them for a formal occasion where you want to really wow. Important reminder: It's never too early to be thinking about holiday gifts — grab these stunners for someone in your life while they're on sale for less than $20. Want to save even more? Make sure you’re signed up for . It’s easy to . You’ll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals, and more. Plus, through December 2, you can — that's 50% off — and score early access to Walmart's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. (And by the way, those without Walmart+ still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) See all of . Shop the best expert-picked on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for . And find to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.LIVE | Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Election Results 2024: 'Kaante Ki Takkar' In Seven Seats, Prestige Fight Awaits Shinde, Thackeray And Fadnavis
Japan's famous sake joins UNESCO's cultural heritage list, a boost to brewers and enthusiastsHow to Turn Off Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 (and Why You Should)Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: A Closer Look at Symptoms, Diagnosis and Clinical Research UnderwayBluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner’s support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter’s core mechanic. That’s unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky’s growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil. “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users, such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta’s platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who’ve grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots’ messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won’t be Bluesky’s only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they’re “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren’t — see Meta’s platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news. Related Articles
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With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, there are a number of gift ideas that any outdoorsman will enjoy ranging from extravagant to a lower priced item for the Christmas stocking. Mike Hitt of Mike’s Outdoors in Muskogee said the new Jason Christie fishing reel is extremely popular right now. “Big swimbaits and glide baits are another item we’ve been selling a lot of lately,” said Hitt. “If you’re unsure what to buy that special person, you can never go wrong with a gift certificate.” For the avid hunter and fisherman, an Oklahoma lifetime hunting and fishing license is an option that any sportsman would enjoy. I bought one in my early 30’s and have used it every year. Now, the Oklahoma lifetime combo and fishing license is $1,024. Are you a senior citizen? If you will turn age 65 soon, it is just $60. The lifetime fishing only license is $375. The senior citizen version is $30. The lifetime hunting only license has been discontinued as of last July. The Thanksgiving holiday offered a perfect blend of reflection and outdoor pursuits here in Oklahoma. Between cozy family time and brisk mornings in the deer blind, the season reminds us of the importance of gratitude and the simple joys of life in the outdoors. Even as the air turns colder, the thrill of a hunt remains irresistible. Rolling out of bed early, bundling up in gear that fits a little tighter after holiday feasts, and stepping into the frosty air is a ritual many of us hold dear. Meanwhile, the Black Friday buzz has evolved, with holiday shopping just a click away, though the pursuit for the perfect gift can feel as elusive as a record buck. If there’s an outdoor enthusiast on your Christmas list, thoughtful gear gifts can elevate their next adventure. Practical, durable, and user-friendly items make for gifts that keep on giving. Here are a few ideas for the hunters and anglers in your life. Jace Bauserman shared a few of these in his ‘What’s New’ column for North American Whitetail Magazine this month: — Light or Medium Weight Wool Socks- These are a stocking essential and light to medium weight socks are the way to go for the hunter or angler. Redhead, North Face, or Carhartt are always trustworthy brands, and you can always find a pair in your price range. — Kenetreck, Lacrosse or Crispi Boots: Kenetrek, Lacrosse and Crispi are quickly becoming go-to boots in winter. Perfect for long hours outdoors. — Heater Body Suit: A hunter’s best friend in winter, a full body camo suit is renowned for warmth, waterproofing, and comfort. They’re worth the investment at $389 for late-season success. Remember, beyond the gifts, this season is about savoring time with family and friends, making memories that outlast the hunt or holiday rush. It’s a reminder to pause, count blessings, and embrace the spirit of giving. Whether you’re braving the cold for one last hunt or hunkering down with loved ones, remember the true meaning of this season. Cherish your time outdoors and the connections that make this season special. Reach Kilgore at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com .
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ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl