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Man City problems ‘not about one player’ – Pep Guardiola defends Erling HaalandHELEN Flanagan has revealed her Christmas plans after spending last year alone - and why her kids can't 'split the day' with her ex husband Scott Sinclair. Corrie legend Helen, 34, who shares Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three with the footballer, 35, explained it's not possible for them to share parenting duties as they live in different cities. Instead, the former couple alternate each year to ensure their children enjoy quality celebrations with both parents. Speaking of her upcoming plans, she told Which Bingo : “It’s my turn with the kids this year because he had them last year." Helen went on to explain that while splitting Christmas Day isn’t an option for them, they ensure the holiday is still special. She said: “We can’t do half and half because he’s in Bath and I’m in Manchester, so it’s hard to have those split Christmas days. "We take turns. I think it’s important to be fair when it comes to who gets the children over Christmas.” She added that Christmas celebrations last throughout November and December, so her kids can enjoy quality time with both parents. Helen said: “I don’t think it has to be honed in on one day. We celebrate all through November and December to make sure it’s special for them and they get time with both of us." While spending the festive period with her children, Helen will also enjoy the holiday with her boyfriend Robbie Talbot , 45, who moved in with her in September. The couple have been dating for almost a year - and Robbie has already stepped into a fatherly role, helping with the kids. In November, Helen opened up about her reunion with Scott. After their 2022 split, the soap star revealed that Scott had blocked her on social media , but they’ve since found a healthy dynamic. Recently, they were seen together at the launch of Winter Wonderland in London with Matilda, putting on a united front. Helen shared her thoughts on co-parenting with Scott in another interview with Which Bingo, saying they are both “respectful” of one another. She said: "I've always used my social media. I've always been really open about parts of my life on social media. "But like, if I post, if I posted on anything, like, with my boyfriend, maybe say, with my children, I'm always very respectful to the father of my children. "It works both ways, you know, like each way and stuff." The I'm A Celebrity campmate admitted that she has learned to get on with her former partner. "Me and my ex now, you know we get on fine, like, for our children and stuff. So, so that's good. "And I think it's important for children as well to see their mum and dad be okay with each other. "I think it's good for, you know, their mental health and what have you." HELEN Flanagan has revealed that she is in a new relationship. While appearing on Celebs Go Dating, she confessed that she was already taken - here's everything we know about her boyfriend Robbie Talbot . Helen has opened up about her relationship with former footballer Robbie Talbot . He is a decade older than the actress. Robbie was born in Liverpool on October 31, 1979 which is how he earned his nickname Halloween Hitman in football. He has played for a series of non-league teams such as Burton Albion, Burscough and Morcambe. He then became a coach at Ashton in 2010. Robbie is retired from football. He left his role as Assistant Manager at Ashton due to family and work commitments in 2011. It's unknown what he has done for work since leaving football. Helen admitted that she was dating Robbie while appearing on Celebs Go Dating. In a first for the show, it has been revealed that her relationship had to be written into the series due to requirements that those taking part have to be single. The pair went public at her birthday party on August 10, 2024. She also confessed that their eldest daughter was most affected by the split as she remembers the pair when they were together. "When me and my ex split, Matilda was seven, Delilah was four and Charlie was one," she explained. "So, you know, Matilda really remembers me and her dad together, the other two didn't really know any different, but Matilda was more kind of affected by it. "So I think it was nice that we went to the Winter Wonderland event together. It’s good for them." I'm always very respectful to the father of my children. It works both ways. This was after Helen admitted that she was 'on block' on her ex-boyfriends phone. Speaking on The Mail's The Life of Bryony podcast, she previously said: "No disrespect to the father of my children, you know, I've had three children with him , and I always have a lot of love for him. "We're both good people, but together we were very toxic . "I think a toxic relationship can just damage your mental health a lot, especially when you struggle with your mental health anyway. "I mean, I'm on block at the moment on Scott's phone. I really am. I'm on block."
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston’s performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world’s largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team’s ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski’s job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson’s future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he’s even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It’s also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson’s backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland’s full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What’s not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he’s made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn’t: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He’s the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” What’s working Winston has done something else Watson couldn’t: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski’s system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. What needs help The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb’s go-ahead TD run. Stock up RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh’s edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Stock down Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. Injuries WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. Key numbers 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. What’s next An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. ___ AP NFL:
That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. "Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things," Petersen said. "But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win." Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. "They just needed consistency of leadership," said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. "This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level." But Koetter referred to "an unfortunate chain of events" that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. "One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program," Koetter said. "Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here." But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. "As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they've pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint," Koetter said. "So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure." Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. "I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada," Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. "That team would've done some damage." There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal. Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship. Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal. Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. "Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here," Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It's because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven't been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, 'We're going to get that done.' They went to work." As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. "It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, 'Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,'" Petersen said.Multiplicity is a software KVM for Windows 10 and 11 built with robust functionality and modern encryption to support enterprise workloads. , /PRNewswire/ -- Stardock released 1.0 today, a powerful application that allows you to control multiple PCs with a single mouse and keyboard. Known as a software KVM, Multiplicity 4's innovative new features to let you use any Windows laptop as a native secondary display, stream multiple monitors at the same time, and introduces support for ARM devices. Powered by our proprietary ControlStreamTM v4 technology, Multiplicity 4 can stream multi-monitor configurations to the primary device within a single viewing window. And with the advanced compression technology that can easily be configured, Multiplicity 4 is designed to provide a full fidelity experience but can also be optimized to preserve bandwidth with a single setting. New with Multiplicity 4 is Seamless DisplayTM, a feature that makes it simple to use a laptop or other Windows PC as a native secondary display with Windows. With this feature, you can make a laptop, tablet, or other Windows PC act as a secondary monitor that functions as a native display – this enables the ability to drag apps and windows to the secondary device as if it was plugged directly into your computer. Seamless, a powerful feature that lets you move effortlessly between multiple devices, has been enhanced to support resolution-aware monitor placement to improve movement across multiple devices and displays with improved precision. "Multiplicity is trusted by emergency call centers around the globe and is used extensively by our manufacturing partners," said , General Manager of Stardock Software. "With this release, Multiplicity 4 will help our partners use a single solution for all of their KVM and remote desktop needs for the modern workplace." With the 1.0 release, Multiplicity 4 is now ready for corporate deployments and takes advantage of Stardock's deployment tooling and the license key management portal. is available today starting at and is also included as part of , the award-winning suite of applications from Stardock that includes productivity and personalization applications. Please contact for all media inquiries. is the world's leading developer of desktop enhancements. For over 30 years, Stardock has developed software including Fences , Start11TM, WindowBlinds , Groupy , DeskScapes , Multiplicity , and more. View original content: SOURCE Stardock SoftwareWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz , withdrew his name from consideration. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. She's been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he looks “forward to continuing the fight to save our country,” adding, “Just maybe from a different post.” Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Last week, Trump named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible attorney general contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Bondi, too, is a longtime loyalist. She has been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump as well as Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Trump in two federal cases. In one radio appearance, she blasted Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump as “horrible” people she said were trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.” If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would instantly become one of the most closely watched members of Trump’s Cabinet given the Republican’s threat to pursue retribution against perceived adversaries and concern among Democrats that he will look to bend the Justice Department to his will. A recent Supreme Court opinion not only conferred broad immunity on former presidents but also affirmed a president’s exclusive authority over the Justice Department’s investigative functions. Bondi would inherit a Justice Department expected to pivot sharply on civil rights, corporate enforcement and the prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol — defendants whom Trump has pledged to pardon . It’s unlikely that Bondi would be confirmed in time to overlap with Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Trump that are both expected to wind down before the incoming president takes office. Special counsels are expected to produce reports on their work that historically are made public, but it remains unclear when such a document might be released. In 2013, while serving as Florida attorney general, Bondi publicly apologized for asking that the execution of a man convicted of murder be delayed because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. Bondi said she was wrong and sorry for requesting then-Gov. Rick Scott push back the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks. Before she ran for state attorney general in 2010, Bondi worked for the Hillsborough County state attorney. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.
Mike McCarthy presumably has no idea what his future holds as he is in the final year of his contract with the Cowboys. Do the Cowboys want him back? Does he want to come back? Owner Jerry Jones has offered effusive praise for the job McCarthy has done in winning four of the past five games. The Cowboys knew they were out of playoff contention Sunday when they beat the Bucs 26-24. On Tuesday, Jones intimated that he wants McCarthy back. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, the way that the leadership on this team, and really proud of these young players,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds. [It] makes me think we’ve got and outstanding future ahead of us.” McCarthy was asked later in the day if he was eager to have a resolution on his status. “I do believe in time and place, and this is not the time or the place for me to speak on it,” McCarthy said, via Ed Werder of ESPN. “Really, my focus is more about the staff. Their concern is higher for me, because change is something that happens in our league all the time. It’s part of this industry. And I understand it. I am at a different point in my life. I’m more focused on them, and I know that the best way to help everybody is to take care of what’s in front of us. And that’s why the commitment, the pride. . . . I think it benefits everybody for me just to stay on course.” The Cowboys close out the season against the Eagles and Commanders.DENVER — Bo Nix's escape from football over the bye week naturally involved more football. The Denver Broncos rookie quarterback watched his father coach in the Alabama state title game and his brothers (Caleb Nix at Clemson, Tez Johnson at Oregon) win conference championship games within moments of each other. Now, it's back to the task at hand — helping the Broncos (8-5) end a long playoff drought. They can take a big step toward that goal with a win over Indianapolis (6-7) on Sunday. Entering Week 15, Denver is in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC, with the Colts right behind. Should the Broncos emerge victorious, they have an 89% probability of making the postseason for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Should they lose, it dips to 47%. "It's a group that I think understands that," said Broncos coach Sean Payton, whose team has a chance to clinch a winning season for the first time since 2016. This is desperate times for the Colts, too, who would see their playoff probability drop to 7% with a loss Sunday. "This is the exact place I want to be at, at this point in the season," Indy linebacker Zaire Franklin said. "We're in December, playing a game that means something against an opponent that matters. The way I look at it, what will the narrative be after we win? What's that moment going to feel like after you overcome such a challenge? "Obviously, cameras, great team, playing great football right now and the bonus is it's a great opportunity." Franklin and the Colts defense will be looking to corral Nix, who leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17). Nix stressed that his team is locked in for the stretch run. "Everybody's into it," Nix said of the playoff push. "Everybody's excited to make this run here the last four games of the regular season. I think that's a good sign of a good team when you have that edge to you. You don't really need guys telling you to lock (in). You just kind of have that mindset. (We are a) very mature, focused and competitive team right now." His QB counterpart, Anthony Richardson, is locked in, too. He's going against a formidable Broncos defense led by Pat Surtain II and pass rusher Nik Bonitto. Denver's looking for a bounce-back performance after allowing Jameis Winston to throw for a Browns-record 497 yards passing and former Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy to go for a career-best 235 yards receiving in Denver's 41-32 win just before the bye. "It's our game we have to play," Richardson said. "Go out there and execute each and every play, and just play our game." Indy has been mixing and matching its offensive line starters ever since Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly went down with a knee injury in early October. That's not expected to change this week, even if Kelly returns to the lineup. Kelly was designated for return from injured reserve Wednesday and could play Sunday. If not, rookie Tanor Bortolini, who has been cleared from the concussion protocol, could start at center. Undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker has replaced injured right guard Will Fries in the lineup, and rookie Matt Goncalves could fill in for right tackle Braden Smith, who is expected to miss his second straight game because of a personal matter. The Colts and Broncos both took last weekend off after being given the latest possible byes on the schedule. While Colts coach Shane Steichen wasn't sure about the impact of a Week 14 bye, he's found some significant benefit to a short December break. "You always wonder about it (a late bye)," he said before Wednesday's practice. "But it gives us an opportunity to get healthy. Like I said, playing football in December is huge for us and getting those guys back when you have such a late bye helps." Franklin has had a league-high 480 tackles over the past three seasons, but this week the team captain is playing a different role off the field — adviser. Franklin's experience playing in Denver — he played there in a 12-9 overtime win in 2022 — has prompted teammates to ask about the one inescapable fact of the Mile High City — the elevation. "I've given them a couple of tips here and there," Franklin said. "But everybody's body is different. Some guys may get sick. You almost don't really know how your body's going to react to it." Surtain took tremendous pride in recently being named the AFC defensive player of the month. He's the first Broncos cornerback to earn the award since Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey in October 2006. Surtain had quite a month of November, playing 140 total coverage snaps and allowing just nine receptions for 55 yards, according to NextGen Stats. "It shows the work I put in prior to that month," Surtain said. "It's something that I took a huge account in for sure." The Broncos have their hands full trying to stop Richardson's designed runs and tailback Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed for 804 yards this season. "There are a number of things that can stress you," Payton said. "It presents a completely ... different challenge than weeks prior."
Columbia, a perennial football loser, wins Ivy League title for first time since 1961Remember Google Glass? That futuristic eyewear that promised to revolutionize how we interact with technology? It flopped, spectacularly. But Google hasn’t given up on the dream of smart glasses. In fact, Google’s Android president, Hiroshi Lockheimer, recently told CNET that he believes “this time, it’s going to work.” This bold claim has re-ignited interest in the potential of smart glasses. But why is Google so confident? What’s changed since the Google Glass debacle? And what can we expect from this new generation of smart glasses? This article dives deep into the world of smart glasses, exploring Google’s renewed push into the market, the technological advancements driving this resurgence, and the potential impact on our lives. We’ll also examine the challenges that lie ahead and why this time might truly be different. The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Smart Glasses The concept of smart glasses isn’t new. Science fiction has teased us with the idea for decades. Google Glass, launched in 2013, was one of the first real attempts to bring this technology to the masses. However, it was plagued by issues: high cost, privacy concerns, limited functionality, and let’s be honest, they looked a bit dorky. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), battery technology, and miniaturization have paved the way for a new generation of smart glasses that are more powerful, versatile, and stylish than their predecessors. Why Google Believes “This Time It’s Going to Work” Lockheimer’s confidence stems from several key factors: Google’s New Approach: A Focus on Partnerships and Real-World Applications Google is taking a different tack this time around. Instead of trying to go it alone, they are focusing on partnerships and real-world applications. This focused approach allows Google to refine its technology and build a strong foundation before expanding into broader consumer markets. The Potential of Smart Glasses: A Glimpse into the Future Imagine a world where: This is the potential of smart glasses. They could fundamentally change how we interact with the world around us, blurring the lines between the physical and digital realms. Challenges and Concerns: Privacy, Social Acceptance, and More While the future of smart glasses looks promising, there are still challenges to overcome: My Personal Take: Cautious Optimism As someone who has followed the evolution of technology for years, I’m cautiously optimistic about the future of smart glasses. I believe the technological advancements and Google’s strategic approach have increased the likelihood of success this time around. However, I also recognize the challenges. Privacy concerns, social acceptance, and ethical considerations need to be addressed thoughtfully. It’s crucial that we develop these technologies responsibly, ensuring they benefit humanity as a whole. Looking Ahead: The Future is Within Sight The journey of smart glasses has been a rollercoaster ride. From the initial hype of Google Glass to the current resurgence, we’ve seen both excitement and disappointment. But this time feels different. The technology is more mature, the applications are more focused, and the lessons from the past have been learned. Whether smart glasses will truly revolutionize our lives remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the future is within sight, and it’s looking more interesting than ever. SEO Meta Description: Google’s Android president believes smart glasses will succeed “this time.” Explore the tech advancements, applications, and challenges shaping the future of this exciting technology.
Wake Forest 67, Detroit 57Ahead of Ohio State's appearance in the College Football Playoff, head coach Ryan Day received a vote of confidence from his athletic director despite the Buckeyes' latest loss to Michigan. Ohio State AD Ross Bjork appeared on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus on Thursday, where a radio host asked him whether Day would be the Buckeyes' coach at the start of next season regardless of how the playoffs shake out. "Absolutely," said Bjork, who came to Ohio State from the same role at Texas A&M in July. "Coach Day and I have just hit it off so well. I've been really, really impressed. Every single time I've talked to him, I've learned something. He's innovative. He recruits at the highest level. He's got a great staff. There's always tweaks. There was tweaks after last year, right? You're always going to tweak things. You're always going to make adjustments. You're always going to make improvements." Bjork continued by addressing the "championship or bust" attitude held by some of the fanbase. "This whole mentality about -- and look, we live it, and we sign up for it -- but if you get fixated on the end result and not have the process fully baked every time, you're going to lose," Bjork said. "The mindset's going to lose because you're only fixated on one thing. And so what we have to do is this whole ‘championship or bust' mentality, you want that as the goal, but it has to be about the process. "To me, we've got to maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to maybe just approach things a little bit differently." Day is 66-10 as Ohio State's coach and led the Buckeyes to one national championship game appearance, a 52-24 loss to Alabama to cap the 2020 season. Ohio State went 10-2 in the regular season but missed out on a place in the Big Ten championship game when rival Michigan defeated the Buckeyes 13-10 on Nov. 30. It was Michigan's fourth straight win in The Game, and Day is now 1-4 as a head coach against the Wolverines. At the time, Bjork released a statement of support for Day, and he doubled down during Thursday's radio hit. "He's great to work with. He totally gets it. He loves being a Buckeye, and so we're going to support him at the highest level throughout," Bjork said. "But here's the thing too, and the reason why we needed to say something after that game is we're still breathing. They're still alive. The season's not over. The book is not closed, right? And so we've got to have confidence. I mean, Ohio State should be confident every single day. We're Ohio State. "But we also have to make sure we stay to our values and we stick to what we believe in. And so to me, it's the process as much as it is about the end result." --Field Level Media
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The day after a judge ruled Hamilton's previous encampment ban wasn't infringing on Charter rights, the mayor says the city is looking to put an end to tents in parks. "What's clear about what our city is doing is trying to get to a place where we no longer have tents in parks," said Mayor Andrea Horwath at a news conference Tuesday. "That's exactly what we're trying to achieve in a compassionate way, a responsible way, but in a way that makes those spaces available to all." Ontario Superior Court Justice James Ramsey dismissed the Charter challenge 14 applicants had filed against the city. The applicants, who've all experienced homelessness, were seeking a total of $445,000 in damages when they were evicted from park encampments between August 2021 and 2023. Their lawyers, on behalf of the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, argued the city's encampment ban — in place until last summer — violated their right to life, liberty and security, and was discriminatory as women, people with disabilities and Indigenous people were disproportionately impacted. Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and general manager Grace Mater held a news conference Dec. 24, 2024, after a judge ruled in the city's favour over its handling of encampments. (Samantha Beattie/CBC) But Ramsey ruled on Monday the city was in its right to keep parks free of tents to uphold public health and safety and social and economic wellbeing of all residents. "I observe that the most vulnerable includes not only the homeless but also the elderly person and the child who want to use a sidewalk or a city park without tiptoeing through used needles and human faeces," he wrote in his decision. Ramsey also determined people hadn't been evicted from encampments overnight, only during the day, which helped the city's case. Applicants reviewing decision The applicants' lawyer Sharon Crowe said in a statement they're disappointed with the decision and currently reviewing it. The decision, however, reaffirms it is against the Charter for municipalities to clear encampments overnight or when shelters are full — similar to two previous Ontario court rulings, Crowe said. "Municipalities must continue to comply with their Charter obligations, which are now beyond doubt," she said. City of Hamilton wins encampment case as judge rules it can enforce tent ban in parks Judge denies Kingston's application to clear encampment This fall and winter, the city is expanding its shelter capacity by 80 per cent, Grace Mate, general manager of healthy and safe communities, told reporters. The city is in the process of adding 272 beds, including 80 at an outdoor shelter, bringing the total to 612. City staff are working on a report for council about what changes can be made to the current encampment protocol, which allows tents in parks if they're set distances away from playgrounds, schools and private property, among other stipulations. "While this [court] decision does not result in immediate changes to how encampments are managed across the city, I want to assure you our staff are working diligently on a set of recommendations," Mater said.ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills love a good reunion. Then again, Micah Hyde never officially cleaned out his locker and neither side ever closed the door on a return. Hyde walked back in the door Wednesday, officially signing to Buffalo’s practice squad. After 12 games, it seemed Hyde wasn’t going to return. He was happy living in San Diego and the Bills didn’t appear to need massive safety help, as Damar Hamlin has played 98% of the defensive snaps and Taylor Rapp has hardly left the field aside from a concussion that caused him to miss 1 1⁄2 games. From general manager Brandon Beane to head coach Sean McDermott to quarterback Josh Allen, all admitted to staying in touch with Hyde throughout the season. . While he wasn’t signed to a team after his contract expired in March, Hyde continued to workout in San Diego with trainers and a Peloton in his garage, while coaching his son’s youth soccer team. But when defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was re-signed Nov. 6, Hyde reached out to congratulate his former teammate. Phillips then asked when Hyde was coming back and their conversation ended with Phillips putting word to Beane that he might like to return. Ultimately Hyde decided to re-sign with Buffalo in the lead-up to last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Hyde also said that he would officially retire at the end of the season. “I just wanted to come back and do anything I could do to help,” Hyde said. “If it's helping young guys understand the NFL on and off the field, older guys helping them with what they got to do on the field, whatever it may be, I'm here to help.I'm an open book, and so I'm excited for this role, and it's a new role for me.” That meant he was going to hang on to jeopardize his health or play at a diminished level to chase a Super Bowl ring. One of the reasons Hyde decided not to return immediately was that he needed time to get healthy physically and mentally. Hyde injured his neck in Week 2 of 2022, missing the remainder of the season following neck surgery. Hyde returned last season, but suffered a stinger against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, causing him to miss the ensuing game. After returning for three games, Hyde sustained another stinger against the Chiefs, forcing him out for two more contests. Healthy again, Hyde has followed the Bills all season. Hyde missed the locker room and seeing the team celebrate wins on social media, but he never felt like it was necessary to return. “I wouldn't say it was hard, because I was extremely happy for everybody here,” Hyde said. “It wasn't like I was like, 'Damn man, I should be there.' Like, none of that. I was happy and I was living my best life in San Diego, so it was giving me time that I've never had and a new experience around my kids and being there 24/7 and all that type of stuff.” The question now centers around when Hyde suits up for a game and what his role will be when that happens. McDermott said he was pleased with his current safeties in the roles they are playing and doesn’t plan to change them. McDermott said Hyde’s role right now is to be on the practice squad and they would take it one day at a time. He also said that when the Bills traded for receiver Amari Cooper earlier in the season. Hamlin is currently second on the team with 70 tackles, while Rapp is fourth with 62. Both players have a pair of interceptions. “I’m very protective of the locker room and not only now, but for sure now, but also any time of year, especially once we’re kind of into the spring and you’re looking to drop a new person in,” McDermott said. “... It’s got to be the right person, the player, yes, but the right person based on where this team currently is, not in terms of record, but in terms of where they’re at with the relationships and different pieces of the puzzle.” McDermott’s views on locker room relationships is a big part of why 16 players have left for another team and returned. Although Hyde didn’t sign with another team, he's the third player — Phillips and Quinton Jefferson — to re-sign with the Bills in less than a month. Some of it is continuity and familiarity with McDermott and the scheme. That’s why 14 players who played for McDermott in Carolina were signed during his early years with the Bills. "Seeing the smiles, and being actually wanted, it's a hell of a drug," Phillips said after re-signing. :You can do a lot for people when it's in the right environment." WR Keon Coleman (wrist), TE Dalton Kincaid (knee), TE Quintin Morris (shoulder/groin) and WR Curtis Samuel (foot) were all limited in Wednesday’s walk-through. ... DT DeWayne Carter (wrist) and OT Tylan Grable (groin) were full participants and are eligible to return from injured reserve.
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Former Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. "Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things," Petersen said. "But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win." Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. "They just needed consistency of leadership," said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. "This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level." But Koetter referred to "an unfortunate chain of events" that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. "One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program," Koetter said. "Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here." But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. "As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they've pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint," Koetter said. "So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure." Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. "I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada," Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. "That team would've done some damage." There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal. Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship. Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal. Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. "Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here," Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It's because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven't been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, 'We're going to get that done.' They went to work." As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. "It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, 'Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,'" Petersen said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-together
AP News Summary at 3:42 p.m. ESTBilly Napier’s Revival: Gainesville Was Ready to Toss Him Into the Swamp