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CBC resurrects live New Year's Eve broadcast special with coast-to-coast show1. A set of wireless waterproof Bluetooth earbuds with adjustable silicone tips so they'll fit perfectly without constantly falling out no matter who's wearing them. The buzz on these babies is that not only are they affordable, but they are *super* comfortable, too — just take a look at 185,000+ 5-star reviews! These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four+ hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof so you can use them during workouts or runs, (even in the shower!), and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Promising review: "Professional dog walker here. I've had these for a week and I am extremely pleased with this impulse buy. The sound quality is good. Great for the price. I like how you can use either separately if you've synced properly. I didn't read the description very well before I ordered, just reviews, and was surprised t hey are waterproof, and come with a cordless charging box . The box is awesome, too." — Jimpame2 "[These earbuds] looked cool, were in my price range, and had received a lot of great reviews so I bought them. I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't really read much about them before I purchased them. Just another one of my many impulse buys. LOL! When I received the buds and started reading about them I was floored. They're WATERPROOF! That's great!...The carrying case is very solid and it needs to be because its' also the charger for the ear buds. You DO have to keep the case charged with a USB but when you need the buds charged you simply place them back in the case and whamo. Way cool! I've not had any problems with the buds moving around or falling out of my ears . Just follow their advice on sizing. Also, way cool! But the best feature is THEY SOUND AWESOME! I'm not an expert on stereo or sound equipment but I know what I like and I LOVE these. Buy them! You won't be sorry." — Trader by the Sea Get it from Amazon $25.99 (available in six colors). 2. A vintage-looking dimmable candle warmer perfect for the candle-loving giftee that probably doesn't have room for more (I mean, same here). This warmer will evenly melt their candles — no flame necessary. 🎶 It's me, hi. I'm the impulsive buyer, it's me 🎶 After seeing this gooorgeous candle warmer online time and time again (and trying to ignore the urge to buy what I absolutely didn't need)...I finally did it, and WOW am I glad I did. This lamp looks even better in person, it's warms all of my candles evenly , and after moving it to my desk, I figured out it can be used as the cutest mug warmer, too! It comes with two compatible 50-watt warming bulbs that melt candles from top to bottom. The dimming feature is also really convenient for both the brightness of the light and for how fast or slow you want your candle to melt! This would definitely be a 12/10 gift. Get it from Amazon for $32.99 . 3. The cult-favorite Reverse Coloring Book , where instead of coloring things in, they add linework to the images! It's the *perfect* mindless activity to do if they're tired of watching reruns of the same show. Just throw on some music and let your creativity flow. Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for you to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if you want a jumping-off point. B onus: the pages are perforated, so you can easily tear them out and frame them! Check out a TikTok of the Reverse Coloring Book in action. And if you've already tried this copy, there are newer Reverse Coloring Books from the same creator to try! Promising review: "I am most impressed by the quality of the paper. It is fantastic for drawing! I'm blown away by both the heft of the book and the amount of pages that I can draw on. This is a high quality print piece, and I'm already having fun doodling. I am not an impulsive buyer, but this was definitely an impulsive purchase that I will never regret ." — Elise Get it from Amazon for $9.90 . 4. A mini wireless Bluetooth speaker perfect for playing their jams while cleaning the house, spontaneous dance parties alone, and hosting a slew of people on a Saturday night. This little guy may be small, but reviewers say the sound and the quality are powerful! It comes with its own carrying case, too! Promising review: "This thing is amazing! I sincerely wasn't expecting it to be this awesome, especially for the price I paid since it was on lightning deal. It's the perfect size and the sound quality seriously wows me. Buy it. Even if it's not on deal, buy it. I'm super happy with this impulse buy. " — Misty Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in four colors). 5. A pair cozy fur-lined Crocs OR classic Crocs — because both styles have impulse buyers singing their praises. Depending on your giftee's style and preference, they may want something just a little more warm 'n' cozy than the OG unlined clogs. Either way, they will be pleasantly surprised with these! (And yes, even the Croc-haters will morph into 24/7 Croc-rockers after trying them out.) Promising review (fur-lined): "Buy them. I was not a Crocs person at all. I bought two pairs on a whim and omg I love them so much. These are the only shoes I wear right now. Super worth the cost." — Nani Promising review (classic): "We all know Crocs are silly. I bought these sort of on a whim as a joke. But now that I work from home a lot, I wear them every day. Good indoor shoes, good outdoor shoes. And they are very comfortable. When they wear out, I'll probably buy some more." — C Get them both from Amazon: the fur-lined Crocs for $44.95+ (available in women's sizes 4–15 and in 20 colors) and the Classic Crocs for $37.49+ (available in women's sizes 4–19 and in 72 colors). 6. A five-pack of hydrating vitamin E-infused lip glosses , each with a different it-factor that takes the OG gloss they love to the next level. The rosehip oil gloss is designed to reduce fine lines on lips, while the strawberry, cherry, and bubble gum glosses provide subtle and translucent color, hydration, and a delicious scent. Each provides an ultra-glossy finish that'll make their lips ✨pop✨. Promising reviews: " I honestly bought this just for fun on a whim, but seriously, I have fallen in love with this lip gloss. It has a great thick consistency to last a long time even on dry lips. It doesn't taste bad and smells amazing. Definitely recommend especially for the price." — aslynn " Better than Fenty lipgloss. Not only [at a] great price, but these beautiful lipgloss shades smell like fruit and feel so darn great and smooth on my lips...I recommend these to [anyone] who has dry, chapped lips and wants shiny, thick not so sticky lipgloss! This is definitely a treatment for my lips! I 100% recommend! I will be buying again!" — Alia Get a five-pack from Amazon for $6.15 . 7. A rattan plant stand so their plant collection isn't full of the same ole boring pots. This stand would look adorable just about anywhere and may encourage a new plant purchase, too! This was another impulse purchase of my own doing and it was so worth it! I got the medium size for myself and it's tall, durable, and fills up an empty corner very very nicely . The plant holder is really well made and holds my humongous Birds of Paradise without a budge, so it's definitely worth the price. And multiple years in and two moves later, it's still holding strong! Kouboo is a family-owned small biz that produces unique home decor items, all made from natural materials sourced around the world. Promising review: "I absolutely ADORE this plant stand! It is unbelievably gorgeous, the perfect size, wonderfully sturdy and stable (level feet to the floor) and is solidly built. Color is true to advertised photos. Arrived in excellent condition (was very securely packaged). While I found it a bit pricey, it absolutely delivers in style, function, and quality. Desperately wanting a second one!!! 🤞🏼" — N.M. Get it from Amazon for $74.50+ (available in three sizes). 8. A dog DNA kit because there's no doubt they'd LOVE to know what kind of pup their dog *really* is? If they've got a rescue mutt, this is a must! Promising review (long but worth the read!): "We rescued this adorable dog a few months ago...Her paperwork had her listed as a Shepard mix and we thought that wasn't right and different paperwork suggested she was a labradoodle which we thought most likely but due to her smaller size we didn't think that was quite right either... When we saw the sale it was impulse to buy it. Got the test in quickly (thanks Amazon) and taking the sample was pretty easy and straightforward. Sent it off and it took a while but just short of a month later we got our results. Before getting our results we did get updates along the way each step. When they received the sample, and a few other times explaining the process which was so neat to learn about. We got out health back a day or two before the breed. It was good to see our dog was healthy and didn't carry a whole host of genetic markers. Then we got the breed information back and we were stunned to find out our dog was part poodle which is what we suspected and her other half was Siberian husky which we did not suspect at all!!... It takes away the mystery and now when people ask what she is we can tell them!... I would 100% do it again! What a blast! — FamilyLife Get it from Amazon for $134 . 9. A sunset projection lamp for gorgeous end-of-day vibes whenever they want them. This lamp can rotate 180 degrees, and provides a light that can go as big or as little as they'd like depending on its position. How can they not see the joy in that? Promising review : " Really great impulse purchase. I really like how the light calms me down. I turn it on when I feel stressed from work or school and I feel some of the tension ease away. I really recommend it and plus it looks cool in your room against a plain wall or posters/paintings!" — Laila T C Get it from Amazon $14.99+ (available in three colors). 10. A set of LED light saber chopsticks perfect for anyone who's the Chewbacca to your Han Solo (and for the BFF who's always asking you out to sushi). Promising review: "Absolutely amazing. This was a total impulse purchase, but it was 100% worth it. " — FuzzyNoodles Get two pairs from Amazon for $12.97 . 11. A mini waffle maker that'll have them falling in love with making breakfast all over again. It comes in a bunch of various designs, plus this compact beaut stores away easily, too. Promising reviews: " This was the best 100% impulsive purchases I’ve ever made! So easy to use and have yet to burn a waffle. I use this so much!...I scoop the mix and pour a lil bit in, close the lid, and just stare at the steam coming from the sides while half dressed in my pajamas. It truly is a vibe." — Dray Marrow "At first I thought I was silly for buying it... then I made some waffles and am grinning from ear-to-ear! This was an impulse purchase. I was craving waffles one day and this thing popped up in my search. I'm SO glad that it did! It's super easy to use. It's perfect for one person and doesn't take up huge space. In fact the footprint is about the same size as a large coffee cup... This little thing simply does its job and does it well. If you want something that stirs the batter for you, this isn't for you. However, if you just want a nice toasty waffle, buy this! You won't regret it!" — Mahealani Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in 20 colors/styles). 12. An 18-piece set of 🌟top-rated🌟 fine-point pens specifically designed for planners and journals, so they can color code to their heart's desire. These babies are designed not to bleed through thin pages! Promising reviews: " These are the smoothest writing pens I think I have ever used! I love them! They came packaged separately in their own case. I usually like bold point, but ordered these on impulse and am so glad I did. Very good quality, ink doesn't bleed through. Will purchase again!" — Kasey Taylor "I'm kind of obsessed with these markers. This was an impulse buy. I bought them because they were not super expensive. I read a glowing review somewhere, and I am always looking for good fine-line markers. I was not expecting to like them as much as I do. The colors are good, they write smoothly, and they do not bleed! If you are looking for fine line markers/pens these are a solid choice." — Ally Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three different color-packs). 13. A gentle-pressure sleep mask because it's basically like a weighted blanket for their eyes. It's made of soft fabric and weighted, scent-free compression that blocks out light, relieves sinus pains, and reduces puffy eyes. Promising review: "This product is amazing. Probably the best impulsive purchase I've ever made! I often have to sleep during daylight hours and this product not only blocks out all of the light, but is incredibly comfortable ! The microbeads conform to your face and create a wonderful relaxing compression that helps me fall right to sleep. It also helps relieve sinus pressure from my seasonal allergies. LOVE IT! (I will be purchasing more for my friends and family!)" — Flipperchick21 Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 14. A cosmic moon phase garland sure to become their new favorite decor piece. Trust me, they'll be over the ~moon~ when they unwrap this gift! Base Roots is a Nevada-based small business that sells lots of modern and vibrant home decor. Promising review: "Anyone else making a bunch of impulse buys (cough, thanks BuzzFeed, cough)? Just me? This purchase stood out. Arrived quickly, packed in a little box and bag. I literally squealed "Oh, I LOVE it!" to my cat and otherwise empty apartment. My only difficulty is in figuring out where to hang it. Looks good near the bed, over the TV, strung across a doorway. Best impulse buy I've made in like a year. " — Jamie Sunn Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two styles and two colors). 15. A luxe Oak + Fort tote that'll beautifully hold all of their essentials (literally ALL. It's so roomy!) — whether they're headed to work, school, or to the Target down the street. This was an impulse buy of mine back in 2018 and it's still in the top five of best impulse purchases ever. This was my everyday purse when five days a week in the office was still my norm, and it's still my go-to when I know a heavy-duty shopping day is ahead. It's really comfortable and lightweight , the strap is the perfect length, it's *stunning* in person, and the inside is extra extra roomy (which is what I love the most). There's enough room for my 13" laptop, notebooks, a small makeup bag, and there's still room to spare. The two front pockets are perfect for things like phone, keys, etc. I love it! Shipping info : Parcels are shipped with FedEx and take 2–5 business days. Get it from Oak + Fort for $48 (available in seven colors). 16. A plush double-sided shaggy duvet set they'll absolutely love snuggling up in at night. Reviewers say it's thick enough to use as a blanket on its own, but the best part about a duvet is that they can easily switch it out to fit your ever-changing taste! One side is faux-fur and the other side is plush velvet; the twin set comes with one pillow sham, and other size sets include two. Promising review: "Best things I've ever purchased. I’m obsessed with this blanket. It’s seriously one of the best decisions I’ve ever impulsively made. Pair it with the lux satin sheets . Add a little puppy and live like the Sultan you deserve."— Kathryn Cottam Get it from Amazon for $47.99+ (available in sizes Twin, Queen, & King and in 29 colors). 17. A wearable blanket as seen on Shark Tank ! It looks like a giant hoodie but feels like the most warm and comfortable blanket ever. It's even lined with fluffy sherpa to keep in the extra warmth when they're lounging at home or out and about. This wearable blanket comes from The Comfy Store , a small biz that was featured on Shark Tank ! Promising reviews: " Purchased for myself as a quarantine impulse buy. To be frank, the answer is yes. Super comfortable. The only problems I have had are 1. My partner keeps stealing it and 2. I purchased it right before the weather got warm and did not get to use it until recently. I absolutely love it." — Kayla " Best impulse buy and honestly the best Amazon purchase of the year. I bought this camping one night and it is the best thing I own for cold camping weekends." — Warren K Escoe Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in one size, 28 colors/prints, and in quarter zip). 18. Silicone face mask brushes — a great stocking stuffer that'll make their self care routine SO much easier to get through, creating a more even product application and a much simpler clean-up. With these in hand, they'll no longer need to get their hands dirty to get those pores clean! Promising review: "Absolutely love these! I got these out of random impulse just because I liked the concept of them . They help evenly distribute the product. Somewhat like one of those silicone spatulas used to ice a cake. The silicone tip made clean up such a breeze after the mask application. I must say it’s a bit awkward once I got to my nose but overall it was a pleasant experience. Also since I have acrylic nails (tips) it helped in not getting the mask under my nails." — Amanda Lopez Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.38 . 19. AND a wearable nail polish holder to easily get the perfect at-home manicure. No more risk of spilling polish all over the carpet, all thanks to you! P.S. reviewers say it's great for crafters too! Tweexy is a small biz based in Sullivans Island, South Carolina. Promising review: "This weird little ring-pop looking contraption is the BEST. Can't tell you how many times I've spilled my nail polish tried to hold it between my knees or balancing it on something while trying to do my nails. I don't need a flat surface anymore, I can sit wherever. I even made my kids come see (they rolled their eyes) but anyone who does their nails will love it. I have various shaped nail polish bottles and so far they have all fit. Best impulse buy this year 💅. If i was making a little nail-polish gift basket for someone I would definitely throw one of these in there." — SWD Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 10 colors). 20. A leak-proof time-marked water bottle for the person you have to ~always~ remind to drink water. This is the perfect (and most stylish!) way for them to stay hydrated. Reviewers say this bottle is super lightweight, sleek, and motivational. Plus, seeing your progress throughout the day is always fun! Promising review: "Like so many others, I saw these water bottles all over TikTok but sheesh the price for some of the ones they had were atrocious! So when I saw Arc had one PRETTIER and MORE glam feeling for a cheaper price I had to grab it, being the money wise but impulsive shopper that I am :) LISTENNNNN!! I have a hundred other water bottles, this is by far my favorite!! It’s soooo easy to clean , I KEEP Vaseline on my hands and this has yet to fall (so duh it’s easy to hold), but it has fallen a ton because I’m clumsy and it still looks brand new! The minimalist frosted look with the aesthetic times and gold top! Girl, bye you cannot tell me I’m not a rich b**** when I carry my best friend! I love it so much that my little cousins have all asked me to buy them one!!" — I Am Tonya Maria Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in three colors and two sizes). 21. A foldable *and* adjustable laptop tray desk ideal for those who love to WFB (work from bed), need an easy way to convert to a standing desk, and even artists who HATE being hunched over while drawing or painting! Along with its adjustable height and angle, the desk features a non-slip leather desktop, a storage drawer, a removable book stand, AND a notebook slip, too. Promising review: "Unexpectedly awesome! This thing is the best impulse/desperation purchase I’ve made. Great for bed, sofas, and even as a low table on the floor. Sturdy. It just makes sense. — Tyler Stratton Get it from Amazon for $92.99 (available in three colors). 22. A compact under-desk bike they'll be able to use while working and sitting down for hours. It has multiple resistance levels and will give them the chance to be active while answering emails! It works with desks as low as 27 inches. If you're tall or you have long legs, you can still use it while working from the couch. Promising review: "This is one of the best impulse purchases I've ever made. LIKE A DREAM!" — Stuff & Things Get it from Amazon for $189.99 (available in three colors). 23. A HyperChiller beverage cooler if they love iced coffee, and iced coffee *only*. This gadget turns hot coffee into iced coffee in 60 seconds (yes, seconds) flat. All they need to do is fill the container with water and keep it in the freezer so it's always ready when needed. The dishwasher-safe container can also be used to cool chill tea, juice, wine , or whatever else you feel like drinking. No water comes into contact with your beverage, so you don't have to worry about dilution, either. Promising review : " Got it on Prime Day as an impulse buy. Can’t believe this works, and have recommended it to many friends. I primarily use it on white and rose wines — it’s perfect for that good bottle you want to buy and drink immediately, but isn’t kept in the refrigerator at the store, leaving you with the moral quandary of having to decide if you’re going to wait to drink it or commit the sacrilege of adding an ice cube. Two minutes in this easy to assemble contraption (four pieces -—just add water, screw parts together, and freeze overnight) and you’ve a perfectly chilled glass of wine. I usually just give it a quick rinse out and toss it right back in the freezer when done, defrosting and cleaning it periodically between what different kinds of things I’m using it on." — Malariana416 Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in five colors). 24. A soft-serve dessert maker to turn their favorite fruits into a creamy, sorbet treat! It's the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, but especially for that one person who loves ice cream even in the dead of winter. Promising reviews: " Bought this on Prime day as an impulse buy but is now a kitchen staple. My kids LOVE the sorbet that comes out of this just as much as ice cream and it is just 100% ground up fruit...Also it is pretty easy to clean. Just twist off the attachment, unscrew it, and rinse off the blades (not sharp enough to cut me) and gasket. Definitely recommend, even at full price. — N. Whelpley " 100% WORTH IT! Best impulse buy ever!! It is one of my favorite kitchen items I've ever purchased! This thing will pay for itself after you make four bowls of dessert and skip the frozen yogurt place !!...Bananas, berries, pineapple, mango. Boom. FREAKING DELICIOUS AND SO EASY TO MAKE!! THE TEXTURE IS AMAZING. BETTER THAN YOU EXPECT, I SWEAR. it's suuuuper smooth! Not icy like a snow cone, smooth like half melted ice cream. Incredible. I haven't tried the more expensive units but I cannot figure out how they could charge $120. Just buy this model. Worth the money 100%! Such a cool, fun dessert. Easy enough to make one bowl for yourself or a bunch of bowls." — Lamb Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four colors). 25. A string of fairy lights for when they want to bring the starry night sky down to earth. These curtain lights have eight different modes (twinkle, flash, fade, etc.) and can work both in and outdoors. They'll add the perfect ambience and make evening Instagram shoots a thing. If you like vibes of the second photo, you'll want to get some sheer curtains to recreate that hazy glow. Promising review: " Best impulse buy yet!!! Originally bought this for decorating at Christmas but I hung them in my kitchen and put them on a timer so they come on at dusk and off at 10. They make the entire living room and kitchen area feel so welcoming. " — Sarah " One of my favorite impulse buys of 2019. A lot of fun settings that I’ll likely never use but I like having options. The lighting leaves my room feeling more comfortable and relaxed. Would buy again" — Asha Brown Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors). 26. A rechargeable, *compact* ring light to brighten their frame for work meetings or online classes and provide the perfect lighting for selfies. It's small enough to fit in purses and backpacks too! Promising review: "I always wanted a light for the perfect selfies and videos, and I bought this one on a whim. I was NOT disappointed. I charged it when it arrived, and I haven’t had to charge it since (two weeks). [It has] three levels of brightness for your perfect pic! I’ll buy more as gifts!" — Diana Dawn Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 27. A "Cup Cozy Pillow" so they don't have to move from their cozy setup just to grab a snack or dig for the remote that's buried somewhere under their pile of blankets. Cup Cozy Pillow is a small business that specializes in family-friendly snack and drink organizers. Check out a TikTok of the Cup Cozy Deluxe Pillow in action. Promising review: " I bought this on a whim. My apartment is small and we don't have enough room for end tables near the couch, so we always would have snack tables out and then just put them away when we had company over. When I first received this I tried almost every cup and mug I had to see if they would fit. Everything fits! Even my HUGE tea mugs. It has a little cut-out for the handle of a mug to fit in, which is so helpful. It's great for cups, but also is a great caddy for the remotes as well. I haven't tried to wash it yet, but I know the cover is removable and washable which is a plus. So far I have just had to spot clean it and that has worked fine. I would HIGHLY recommend!" — Randi Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in three styles and eight patterns). 28. A convenient desktop dry erase board if you know they'd rather jot something down than use a Post-it. It's perfect for those quick notes and reminders they don't want to forget, fits right in front of a monitor, and even has a storage compartment on the side. It comes with a dry-erase marker, too! Promising review: " I got this as a bit of an impulse buy after seeing this on BuzzFeed. I am one of those who likes to doodle during meetings, so this is a nice addition to my WFH desk ... The writing surface seems to be good quality. A black marker is included, but I also bought the additional Quartet markers to get different colors. Thinking about getting one of these when I return to the office." — LA Girl Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in five colors). 29. A bagel guillotine they can use for muffins, buns, rolls, and of course, bagels. This gadget will give them *perfect* slices every time, is safer than using a regular (and much more boring) knife. Promising reviews: "Not sure why it took me so long to look for this product on Amazon. It was a total impulse buy, but one of the best buys I made in 2020. Can't tell you how many times I've sliced or come close to slicing my fingers trying to get that perfectly even bagel cut...It was super easy to slice - you need to have a good grip on the bottom while simultaneously lifting the blade. Only a little effort required. Still hands-down the best impulse buy ever ." — Brooke " We LOVE this! I bought it as an impulse buy while purchasing a different style of bagel slicer and figured it would not last long in our family. It turns out the "other one" was the waste. T his slicer is easily one of the most used products in our kitchen! It does fine in the dishwasher and is seriously the smartest thing I have bought for the kitchen in a long time! It slices instantly! We have a big family and it has saved me actual measurable time." — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $15.54+ (available in four colors). 30. A pack of Gameboy wall decals that are as easy as peel, stick, and stare in awe. It'll make a fridge or a bedroom door way more fun as it doubles as dry-erase boards, too. If that won't motivate them to write down your grocery list, I don't know what will. Promising review: " I bought this on a whim because I knew my boyfriend would laugh and appreciate the heck out of it...My boyfriend plays video games and has a fair share of Cowboy Bebop figurines, so when I saw it I knew he'd get a kick out of it. 11/10 would buy again just for another chance to see his reaction. And honestly it looks great [and] transformed a boring white fridge we paid no mind to, to a clever and cute conversation piece that ~also~ serves a function. " — Olivia Get a set of six magnets from Amazon for $16.84 . 31. A screaming goat for when they're sitting at work and feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just feeling a little anxious. This little guy will literally shriek whenever they touch it, not only giving them a much needed laugh but also letting out the internal scream *for* them. Promising review: "I saw this on Amazon and it was definitely an impulse purchase. I chuckle every time I hear the scream of the goat. It is just an amusing toy to keep on your desk and let off a little steam , because sometimes you feel like screaming like this goat at work!" — C.C. Get it from Amazon for $7.65 . You, impulse shopping and adding random items to your cart at 2 AM: The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
In the history of presidential pardons, the absolution granted to Hunter Biden by President Joe Biden stands alone. This clemency will register as one of the shameful culminating acts of a good man, and father, now inelegantly exiting the West Wing. The crimes committed by Hunter Biden, the youngest son of Joe Biden, are far from the most heinous ever to elicit the mercy of a U.S. president. Presidents have extended pardons to war criminals. And it’s not historically rare for a president to pardon someone who shares a direct family bloodline — though this is the first time a president has bestowed the extraordinary forgiveness to a direct progeny. What makes the president’s pardon historically consequential is that it’s a pardon Joe Biden said on several occasions he wouldn’t offer. He didn’t equivocate. So now we’re left to question whether Joe Biden simply changed his mind or deliberately misled the American public in the heat of an election campaign from which he had yet to withdraw. When President Biden told the American public he would accept the will of the jury, which convicted Hunter Biden on gun charges earlier this year, he was clear. He vowed to respect the rule of law as our best leaders do. “I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter,” Joe Biden said after the conviction. “He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know. I abide by the jury decision. I will do that, and I will not pardon him.” Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty in June of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally possessing a gun for 11 days. At the time of this pardon, he had yet to be sentenced. Before the pardon, Hunter Biden was also scheduled to face a judge to be sentenced on a felony tax-evasion guilty plea. The false equivalencies have begun in earnest. Shortly after Joe Biden’s grant of clemency was announced Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump wrote the following post on the Truth Social platform: “Does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 (January 6th) hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump wrote. “Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!” A spokesperson for the Trump transition team offered additional perspective in defense of Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn actress in the 2016 campaign. The cases involving Trump and Hunter Biden bear no comparison, but that hasn’t prevented either side from arguing that they are victims of a politicized Department of Justice. “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proved that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Trump’s incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a statement to Fox News. “That system of justice must be fixed, and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people,” Cheung said. It’s a false equivalency. Trump and a group of his supporters attempted to overturn a fair and free election. He branded the Jan. 6 protesters (and associated insurrectionists) as patriots and now may soon use his sweeping constitutional powers to grant them the same courtesy that Joe Biden granted his son. At least Trump has previously said he would consider pardons on a case-by-case basis. Even the sad spectacle of Trump potentially pardoning those who stormed the Capitol won’t completely eclipse one of the final acts of Joe Biden as U.S. president. He chose his son over country. He did so despite his stated intent that he wouldn’t. Morris is the opinion editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune . Get local news delivered to your inbox!The Golden State Valkyries selecting Kate Martin in the expansion draft makes perfect sense
BERKELEY, Calif. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Technology , a mental health technology innovation company, is announcing its participation in Batch 19 of the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for startup acceleration. The company's HereHear AI therapist solution will be the key focus of the program, driven by the vision of revolutionizing mental health with AI-powered virtual solutions. To learn more about HereHear, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngU32WgiWf4 "HereHear is here in the US, and I am truly grateful to the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for recognizing its potential," noted Lynia Huang , Bamboo Technology's CEO. "As important as mental health has become in recent years, there is a shortage of mental health providers and access to support is low — and HereHear is paving the way for AI to bridge that gap as a first line of defense." A growing case for incorporating AI into mental healthcare With data showing that the US is in a mental health crisis, the CDC recently noted a dire need for public health initiatives that create environments centered around mental health. Specific to the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management's Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found that 44% of US employees feel burned out at work. The combination of a shortage of mental health providers in the US with the flourishing capabilities of AI builds a strong case for the technology to be deployed in the form of human-guided mental health solutions. HereHear's YangYang: A personalized 3D virtual therapist As organizations seek out ways to empower team members to take better care of their mental health, AI is increasingly emerging as a solution for on-demand, personalized support. Offering a more engaging interaction than chatbots, HereHear's 3D virtual therapist YangYang was launched in January 2024 and offers: YangYang has already been implemented in several therapy clinics and has helped 70% of users improve stress and depression levels by 25% within 3 months. Taking the form of a sheep further distinguishes her — this functions both to provide a 'cute' aspect lending to the warm, healing emotional support she provides, while also helping users who are struggling emotionally to keep in perspective that their interactions are ultimately not with a human. Bringing success in Taiwan to the US market Bamboo Technology's acceptance into the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program is a major accomplishment as the platform seeks to enter the US market. Batch 19 has only 117 startups out of around 2300 applications, and the program will support HereHear to develop, pilot and launch, as well as to pitch for funding. The company aims to target the app in the human resources space—as a tool for companies to offer staff for on-demand, privacy-first mental health support. Back in Taiwan , the app already has hospitals, mental health clinics, universities, publicly listed companies, and government agencies that use it, similarly spurred by a shortage of mental health workers. About Bamboo Technology Established in November 2018 , the Taipei -based Bamboo Technology is a mental health technology innovation company that focuses on improving public mental health with voice emotion analysis technology. It embraces a belief that a universal, objective, and scientific mental health system can effectively solve the problem of deteriorating mental health in today's society — a core tenet upheld by its many psychologists; social workers; and information management, AI and big data experts. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bamboo-technologys-herehear-virtual-ai-therapist-joins-berkeley-skydeck-ipp-program-302325187.html SOURCE BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY LTD.LOS ANGELES — When Mark Delgado made his MLS debut, he was just 17 and even he acknowledges his approach to soccer was unsophisticated. "Just being a young kid and running around," he said. Fortunately for Delgado, his team, the now-defunct Chivas USA, had a rookie assistant coach named Greg Vanney. And while Vanney could do little for the unfocused teenager in their season together, he remembered Delgado and made him the first player he acquired after taking over as manager of Toronto FC in 2014. Seven years later, after moving to the Galaxy, Vanney spent $500,000 on another reunion with Delgado, who this season notched career highs for games (32), starts (29) and assists (nine, including two in the playoffs). And with playmaker Riqui Puig sidelined because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Delgado figures to play an even bigger role in Saturday's MLS Cup final with the New York Red Bulls at Dignity Health Sports Park. And for that he has the coach to thank — not just for the faith in him, but also for the mentoring Vanney has done along the way, taking Delgado from a talented if wild teenager and molding him into a player and person so stable and disciplined that the coach called him "the great balancer." "To really talk things out with Greg and really study film, I became more of a thinker, right?" said Delgado, 29. "I guess you can say it's gained his trust. Eventually things worked out." Delgado is not the only player who has benefited from a relationship with Vanney. In fact, for all the attention the coach's technical and strategic acumen has received, those personal connections off the field have become an equally important factor in what has been one of the greatest turnarounds in MLS history. After winning just eight games and finishing 13th in a 14-team conference a year ago, the Galaxy will play for their sixth MLS title. After winning just two playoff games in the last eight seasons, the Galaxy have won twice that many in the last six weeks. A franchise even its own fans had given up on 19 months ago is 90 minutes away from being the best in the world's largest first-division league. And Vanney is getting much of the credit for that. "He is the reason why I came here," said forward Dejan Joveljic, who joined the Galaxy halfway through Vanney's first season in L.A. and leads the team with 20 MLS goals this year. "Of course he's a good coach. But first of all, he's a very real gentleman and I appreciate him." "He's really like a father," added winger Joseph Paintsil, who left Belgium for the Galaxy in January. "We don't need a coach who shouts and makes you angry and mad. He always comes to you as his own son to discuss with you patiently and calmly. That has really given me confidence." Vanney said his mother, Jeanette, who taught kindergarten for four decades, instilled those traits in him. "My mom was super nurturing. She was such a loving person," Vanney said. "My dad was super intense. Hard-working athletic director, former college football player. He had a fiery personality. My mom was always just very calm." Yet despite their conflicting personalities, Bill and Jeanette were married for 53 years before Jeanette died at 69, eight months before her son won his first MLS Cup as a coach with Toronto in 2017. "I feel like I have both sides of them," Vanney said. Which is to say he too can be fiery. But it's not his first option, nor his most successful one. "That my-way-or-the-highway [approach] is gone," said Dan Calichman, a teammate of Vanney's on the inaugural Galaxy roster in 1996 and his top assistant for the last decade in Toronto and Los Angeles. "We motivate and we get on these guys, but it's just so much more respectful, it's so much more valuing their knowledge. "When a player feels like he's listened to, you get the buy-in." For Vanney, it's not about coaching players. It's about coaching the holy trinity that makes up each player. "Philosophically, the way I see it, every player is actually three parts," he said, holding up both hands to tick through the traits he finds significant. "There's the person, there's the player and then there's the competitor. If you can connect with a person, they will trust you and you can drive them as much as you need to get the best out of them. If they don't think you're doing it for the right reasons and for their best interest, at some point they cut you out. "If you're a good coach and your vision matters and you care about the person, you can teach them. But I believe the most important part of that is being genuine and connecting with the person. That establishes the trust you need to really coach." That approach has worked for Vanney, whose 141 victories in 9 1/2 seasons tied him for fourth among active coaches at the end of this season. Saturday's MLS Cup final will mark his fourth appearance in the championship game; in the last quarter-century, no coach has been there more often. His 69.6% winning percentage in 23 playoffs games in second to LAFC's Steven Cherundolo, who has managed half as many games, and if the Galaxy win, Vanney will become the fourth coach in league history to win championships with two different teams. But that success wasn't the only thing that brought him back to the Galaxy. After taking Toronto to the MLS Cup final three times in four seasons, winning the only treble in league history in 2017, Vanney started to feel the club, which had a new general manager and new president, had no clear vision for the future. So despite agreeing to a contract extension late in the 2020 season, he asked out of the deal. Conversations quickly began with the Galaxy, who a month earlier had fired Guillermo Barros Schelotto, their fourth coach in as many seasons. For both sides it was a perfect fit: The rudderless Galaxy, once perennial contenders, had made just one playoff appearance in four seasons and needed stability and a proven winner while Vanney would be returning to a club whose culture he understood, having played on the first trophy-winning team in 1998. "I always wanted to come back here," said Vanney, who played three years at UCLA before signing with the Galaxy ahead of the club's inaugural season. "This has always kind of been my club, the club [to which] I felt the most attached." But the team he returned to wasn't the one he started with. In his first six seasons with the Galaxy, the team finished first in the conference four times, won Supporters' Shield, U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League titles and played in three MLS Cup finals. In the four seasons before he came back, the Galaxy lost more games than they won, finished in the bottom half of the league table three times and made the playoffs just once. "I personally have an expectation for what the Galaxy should look like," Vanney said. "It's hard to me to see the Galaxy struggling. That's not where the Galaxy should be." The rebuild, however, was not easy. When Vanney arrived he found the team didn't have much of a sports science staff or scouting department and the academy program had been allowed to wither. Then, at the end of his first season, general manager Dennis te Kloese departed, leaving Vanney to assume his duties as well. It proved to be too much. When Vanney took the job, he had outlined a three-year plan to return the Galaxy to prominence, yet his third season was one of the worst ever, with the team winning a franchise-low eight games and giving up a franchise-high 67 goals. Along the way there was a fan boycott, the team's longtime president was fired and, for the first time, the Galaxy's leading scorer finished with fewer than eight goals. "It was embarrassing," captain Maya Yoshida said. And Yoshida was with the Galaxy for only the final three months of the turmoil. Questions were raised about whether Vanney, who was entering the final year of his contract, was still the right man for the job. So after the season mercifully ended, the coach met with Dan Beckerman, the chief executive and president of AEG, the Galaxy's parent company, and asked for help. "I said I can't do all of these things," Vanney recounted of the conversation. "I really like working with a really good GM. It's two completely different sports when you are signing players and working with agents and getting those players across the finish line and then working with those players and making them fit together on the field. "I want a GM who's challenging me to be better and asking the right questions and giving me ideas to think about. I don't know everything." Beckerman agreed and Will Kuntz, whom Vanney had hired in April as the senior vice president of player personnel, was promoted to general manager in December. When the Galaxy took the field for the first time in February, nine of the 15 players Vanney used in a season-opening draw with Inter Miami had been signed by Kuntz. Both men say the process has been a collaborative one that begins with Vanney settling on the profile of the players he wants and Kuntz and the scouting department Vanney developed scouring the globe to find them. "The dialogue always has to be there, or else you end up with pieces that don't fit," Vanney said. "Will couldn't coach the team. That's not his strength. I couldn't get anyone signed. That's not my strength. The beauty is the collaboration of the different departments. That to me is what a club is." But even after providing Vanney with what he wanted — spending a club-record $20.7 million on transfer fees for Paintsil, Gabriel Pec and Miki Yamane in just seven weeks — Kuntz figured it would take time to turn those players into a team. Instead, the Galaxy matched modern-era club records with 19 wins and 69 goals this season, were unbeaten at Dignity Health Sports Park and became the first team since 2008 to go from eight victories to the MLS Cup final in one season. "I didn't see this coming this soon. And that's all Greg," Kuntz said. "The more pieces you add to a team, the harder it is. The fact that you can do a complete squad transformation and get everyone to jell, it's very rare." Rarer still is the way Vanney had been able to use the nurturing skills his kindergarten-teacher mother taught him to get the most out of those new players. Like Pec, 23, who came to MLS from Brazil's Vasco da Gama, where he played as a wide winger in a rigid system that left little room for improvisation. With the Galaxy, Vanney encouraged him to move closer to the penalty area, take chances and play with the freedom he did on the playground. The result? Sixteen goals and 14 assists, making him the youngest players in club history to record 30 goal contributions in one season. "Everyone was really trusting, believing that I could do it," Pec said through a translator. "That gave me so much joy that I could show who I was. What we are seeing, it's Gabriel when I was a kid. It was inside me but it was asleep. [Vanney] has brought this back and suddenly I'm awake." And so, after seven seasons in hibernation, are the Galaxy. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Athens, Greece, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In today's digital landscape, where competition is fierce and attention spans are limited, figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump demonstrate how strategic marketing—whether for a product or a presidential campaign—can redefine engagement. Albert Valiakhmetov, founder of FlyX Marketing, draws intriguing parallels between these strategies and effective brand advertising. Mirroring the tactics used in marketing to influence, engage, and ultimately, build loyalty. As Valiakhmetov observes, " The news that Donald Trump became president reminds us of how much presidential elections resemble classic marketing campaigns. " Both political and advertising campaigns share the fundamental aim of creating a connection with their audience—whether to win votes or attract loyal customers. https://flyxmarketing.com/ " Political campaigns today, especially those as influential as Trump's recent run, highlight marketing principles at their peak effectiveness, " Valiakhmetov explains. " By implementing similar strategies in business, FlyX Marketing has seen up to 200% growth for clients across various sectors. " Campaign strategies such as precision targeting, cross-platform message consistency, and emotionally resonant content have become crucial in both spheres, emphasizing the power of digital influence. Mastering Modern Influence for Brands Key insights from FlyX Marketing stem from current political campaign techniques that have reshaped their approach: Advanced Social Media Strategy: Like political messaging or Elon Musk's provocative use of platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to engage audiences, brand campaigns thrive on tailored approaches to maximize reach. Precision Demographic Targeting: As political campaigns focus on voter bases, FlyX Marketing connects brands with core demographics, leading to higher engagement. Cross-Platform Message Integration: Ensuring a unified message across digital platforms is as crucial in business as it is in politics. From Ballot Box to Brand Building “ What's compelling about recent political strategies, such as those used in Trump's and Harris's campaigns, is their intelligent use of digital platforms. Similarly, Elon Musk's ability to spark viral conversations demonstrates the value of cross-platform engagement, a principle FlyX Marketing adopts to revolutionize brand connections. ”, Valiakhmetov notes. " In marketing, the goal is to influence purchasing behavior, while political propaganda seeks to steer public opinion, " Valiakhmetov explains, pointing to the similar foundations of both fields. Emotional Connection: Building Brand Loyalty Through Human Insight One of the standout elements of FlyX Marketing's strategy is creating a deep emotional connection with audiences, drawing on the same principles political campaigns use to sway public sentiment. Just as Trump's messaging struck a chord with voters on issues like economic stability, FlyX's campaigns emphasize brand stories that appeal to core human needs, offering customers relatable themes and solutions to everyday challenges. Digital Innovation at Work with FlyX Marketing FlyX Marketing takes inspiration from the efficiency seen in political campaigns by incorporating cutting-edge technology and data analytics to craft campaigns that resonate deeply. It embraces innovation akin to Elon Musk's ventures, utilizing cutting-edge tools like AI-driven analytics and real-time optimization to craft campaigns that deeply resonate with audiences. Key tools include: AI-Driven Analytics: Predictive models track engagement and fine-tune content, ensuring maximum relevance. Real-Time Optimization: Rapid adjustments increase reach and engagement with audiences. Strategic Audience Segmentation: Building personalized experiences ensures each demographic feels addressed. Platform-Specific Messaging: Tailored content for each channel optimizes overall campaign performance. Here are FlyX Marketing’s full suite of services , designed to deliver cutting-edge performance marketing and AI-driven solutions. From advanced data analytics to strategic execution, each service is tailored to maximize growth and drive results. " The recent campaigns by Trump and Harris provide insight into the evolution of digital communication, " observes Valiakhmetov. " These strategies not only shape public opinion but demonstrate best practices in audience engagement for businesses looking to make a real impact." Revolutionizing Marketing with Campaign Insights FlyX Marketing's modern approach combines the following elements, proven to drive substantial results for clients: Viral Content Development: Creating shareable, high-impact content that aligns with brand goals. Data-Driven Strategy: Guiding marketing decisions with real-time data to optimize campaigns. Emotional Connection Building: Connecting on a personal level, similar to political storytelling. Platform-Specific Optimization: Adjusting strategies to maximize impact on each channel. Message Amplification: Reaching larger audiences with clarity and precision. The Future of Marketing in a Politically-Driven Landscape Looking forward, marketing experts can expect to see even greater integration of political strategies within brand advertising and by industry disruptors like Elon Musk, as all these industries increasingly rely on digital and data-driven tools to make impactful decisions. According to Valiakhmetov, the future of branding will likely mirror these trends, further blurring the lines between marketing and political campaigning. Choosing a marketing partner like FlyX Marketing ensures brands are not only prepared for these shifts but are also leading the way. With a proven track record in delivering customized, high-growth campaigns, FlyX continues to set new standards for success, making this era an exciting one for both brands and political strategists alike. More information about services, consultations, and insights can be found on the FlyX Marketing website or by contacting business@flyxmarketing.com . Media Contact Company Name: Flyx Marketing Contact Person: Nick Agamian Email: nickagam@flyxmarketing.com Website: https://flyxmarketing.com/ Disclaimer: This content does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation of any security, product, or service. Furthermore, nothing in this press release should be interpreted as a suggestion to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to participate in any specific investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to assess the suitability of any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction based on your individual objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Please consult your financial advisor, attorney, or tax advisor for guidance on your specific financial, legal, or tax situation. For more information, contact brandnewsproject@gmail.com.Stock indexes closed mixed on Wall Street at the end of a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 ended little changed Friday. The benchmark index reached its latest in a string of records a week ago. It lost ground for the week following three weeks of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%. The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged after raising its revenue forecast. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country’s third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad. The move, reported by pro-government media and an opposition war monitor, was the latest in the stunning advances by opposition fighters over the past week that have so far met little resistance from Assad’s forces. A day earlier, fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have vowed to march to Homs and the capital, Damascus, Assad’s seat of power. Videos circulating online showed a highway jammed with cars full of people fleeing Homs, a city with a large population belonging to Assad’s Alawite sect, seen as his core supporters. If Assad’s military loses Homs, it could be a crippling blow. The city, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Pressure on the government intensified from multiple directions. Opposition protesters stormed security posts and army positions in the southern province of Sweida, opposition activists said. U.S.-backed Kurdish forces who control eastern and northeastern Syria began to encroach on government-held territory. After years of largely being bottled up in a northwest corner of the country, the insurgents burst out a week ago, captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest , and have kept advancing since. Government troops have repeatedly fallen back. The sudden offensive has flipped the tables on a long-entrenched stalemate in Syria’s nearly 14-year-old civil war. Along with HTS, the fighters include forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Turkey has denied backing the offensive , though experts say insurgents would not have launched it without the country's consent. HTS’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that Assad’s government was on the path to falling, propped up only by Russia and Iran. “The seeds of the regime’s defeat have always been within it,” he said. “But the truth remains, this regime is dead.” A key question about Assad’s ability to fight back is how much top ally Russia — whose troops back Assad’s forces — will throw support his way at a time when it is tied up in the war in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he planned to discuss the developments in Syria with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts at a meeting Friday in the Qatari capital, Doha. In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, he said international actors were backing the insurgents’ advances and that he would discuss “the way to cut the channels of financing and arming them.” Meanwhile, Russia’s embassy in Syria issued a notice reminding Russian citizens that they may use commercial flights to leave the country “in view of the difficult military-political situation.” The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria — three close allies — gathered Friday in Baghdad to consult on the rapidly changing war. Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh said the current developments may pose “a serious threat to the security of the region as a whole.” The insurgent fighters on Friday took over the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh, putting them 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. Pro-government Sham FM said the insurgents entered Rastan and Talbiseh without facing any resistance. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military. The Observatory said Syrian troops had left Homs. But the military denied that in comments reported by the state news agency SANA, saying troops were reinforcing their positions in the city and were “ready to repel” any assault. In eastern Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces coalition said it had moved into the government-held half of the city of Deir el-Zour, apparently without resistance. One of the main cities in the east, Deir el-Zour had long been split between the government on the western side of the Euphrates River and the SDF on the eastern side. The SDF also said it took control of further parts of the border with Iraq. That appeared to bring it closer to the government-held Boukamal border crossing. The crossing is a vital for the government because it is the gateway to the corridor to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. At the same time, insurgents seized Syria’s sole crossing to Jordan, according to opposition activists. Jordan announced it was closing its side of the crossing. Lebanon also closed all but one of its border crossings with Syria. The opposition assault has struck a blow to Syria’s already decrepit economy. On Friday, the U.S. dollar was selling on Syria’s parallel market for about 18,000 pounds, a 25% drop from a week ago. When Syria’s conflict erupted in March 2011, a dollar was valued at 47 pounds. The drop further undermines the purchasing power of Syrians at a time when the U.N. has warned that 90% of the population is below the poverty line. Syria’s economy has been hammered for years by the war, Western sanctions, corruption and an economic meltdown in neighboring Lebanon, Syria’s main gate to the outside world. Damascus residents told The Associated Press that people are rushing to markets to buy food, fearing further escalation. The worsening economy could be undermining the ability of Syria’s military to fight, as the value of soldiers’ salaries melts away while the insurgents are flush with cash. Syria’s military has not appeared to put up a cohesive counteroffensive against the opposition advances. SANA on Friday quoted an unnamed military official as saying the Syrian and Russian air forces were striking insurgents in Hama province, killing dozens of fighters. Syria’s defense minister said in a televised statement late Thursday that government forces withdrew from Hama as “a temporary tactical measure” and vowed to gain back lost areas. “We are in a good position on the ground,” Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas said, saying troops remained “at the gates of Hama.” He spoke before the opposition advanced further south toward Homs. He said the insurgents, whom he described as “takfiri” or Muslim extremists, are backed by foreign countries. He did not name the countries but appeared to be referring to Turkey and the United States. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.Get ready for a college football bowl season like you’ve never seen. It’s the first year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff to determine the national champion, with first-round games kicking off Friday, December 20. In the new format, the top four conference champions (Oregon, Georgia, Arizona State and Boise State) receive a first-round bye and automatic entry into the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play in the four-game first round, with matchups held at the home stadiums of the higher-ranked participants. The “New Year’s Six” bowls serve as the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the national championship decided Monday, January 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Of course, there’s still plenty of college football postseason action through early January that doesn’t involve the national championship chase. The parade of bowl games begins Saturday, December 14, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. A great tradition continues in Landover, Maryland, as the Navy Midshipmen take on the Army Black Knights Saturday on CBS at 3/2c. Later on Saturday, the Heisman Trophy is presented to the season’s most outstanding player in a ceremony on ESPN at 8/7c. Finalists are Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (pictured above) and Miami QB Cam Ward. Here’s your complete lineup of College Football Playoff games and other bowl matchups: All times Eastern/Central. CFP First Round Friday, December 20 No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, ABC/ESPN, 8/7c Saturday, December 21 No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon/11a c, TNT/Max No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4/3c, TNT/Max No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8/7c, ABC/ESPN CFP Quarterfinals Tuesday, December 31 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona): TBA vs. No. 3 Boise State, (ESPN) Wednesday, Jan. 1 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta): TBA vs. No. 4 Arizona State, 1/noon c, ESPN Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): TBA vs. No. 1 Oregon, 5/4c, ESPN Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans): TBA vs. No. 2 Georgia, 8:45/7:45c, ESPN CFP Semifinals Thursday, January 9 Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 10 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington, Texas): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN CFP National Championship Game Monday, January 20 National Championship (Atlanta): TBA vs. TBA, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 14 Cricket Celebration Bowl (Atlanta): Jackson State vs. South Carolina State, noon/11a c, ABC IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama): South Alabama vs. Western Michigan, 9/8c, ESPN Tuesday, December 17 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas): Memphis vs. West Virginia, 9/8c, ESPN Wednesday, December 18 Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida): Western Kentucky vs. James Madison, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN Art of Sport LA Bowl (Inglewood, California): Cal vs. UNLV, 9/8c, ESPN More from this section Thursday, December 19 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans): Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston, 7/6c, ESPN2 Friday, December 20 StaffDNA Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Ohio vs. Jacksonville State, noon/11a c, ESPN Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Florida): 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Monday, December 23 Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, South Carolina): Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA, 11a/10a c, ESPN Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho): Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 24 Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu): South Florida vs. San José State, 8/7c, ESPN Thursday, December 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit): Pittsburgh vs. Toledo, 2/1xc, ESPN Rate Bowl (Phoenix): Rutgers vs. Kansas State, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, Alabama): Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green, 9/8c, ESPN Friday, December 27 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas): Oklahoma vs. Navy, noon/11a c, ESPN Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama): Georgia Tech vs. Vanderbilt, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tennessee): Texas Tech vs. Arkansas, 7/6c, ESPN DirecTV Holiday Bowl (San Diego): Syracuse vs. Washington State, 8/7c, Fox SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas): Texas A&M vs. USC, 10:30/9:30c, ESPN Saturday, December 28 Wasabi Fenway Bowl (Boston): UConn vs. North Carolina, 11a/10a c, ESPN Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, New York): Boston College vs. Nebraska, Noon/11a c, ABC Isleta New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico): Louisiana vs. TCU, 2:15/1:15c, ESPN Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, Florida): Iowa State vs. Miami, 3:30/2:30c, ABC Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (Tucson, Arizona): Miami (Ohio) vs. Colorado State, 4:30/3:30c, The CW Go Bowling Military Bowl (Annapolis, Maryland): East Carolina vs. NC State, 5:45/4:45c, ESPN Valero Alamo Bowl (San Antonio): BYU vs. Colorado, 7:30/6:30c, ABC Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana): Marshall vs. Army, 9:15/8:15c, ESPN Monday, December 30 TransPerfect Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tennessee): Iowa vs. Missouri, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN Tuesday, December 31 ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, Florida): Alabama vs. Michigan, noon/11a c, ESPN Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas): Louisville vs. Washington, 2/1c, CBS Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida): South Carolina vs. Illinois, 3/2c, ABC Kinder’s Texas Bowl (Houston): Baylor vs. LSU, 3:30/2:30c, ESPN Thursday, January 2 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida): Duke vs. Ole Miss, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Friday, January 3 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas): North Texas vs. Texas State, 4/3c, ESPN Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, North Carolina): Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech, 7:30/6:30c, ESPN Saturday, January 4 Bahamas Bowl (Nassau, Bahamas): Buffalo vs. Liberty, 11a/10a c, ESPN2 More Headlines: College Football Playoff & Bowl Game TV Schedule 2024 How Will ‘Blue Bloods’ End for Each Character? 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If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.It was a day for children with cancer to forget about the pain, if even for a few hours. The TLC Foundation invited over 200 children from southwestern Ontario to Toys R Us in London, Ont. for a free shopping spree. “I have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or T-cell ALL, it's a type of blood cancer,” said Evan Jones, 14, from Windsor, Ont. Jones, in a wheelchair as he builds his strength back up, said it was nice to have his siblings with him, “It's a decent reward, but I mean I wouldn't go through it again to do this, but it is nice to have something to show for it.” Evan Jones, a 14-year-old cancer patient in remission from Windsor, Ont., shows off a Nerf gun during a shopping spree at Toys R Us which was put on by the TLC Foundation on Dec. 8, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Leo Larizza, who operates Santa’s House in downtown London, uses the funds, donations and sponsorships to help pay for this day. “Santa’s House gives me the ability to raise funds to do things like this, and also granting wishes at the children's hospital on Christmas Eve,” said Larizza. “I love seeing the kids, love seeing their smiles, it's just so fun.” Among those in attendance was the Ward family from St. Thomas. We first introduced you to Felix back in August 2024 when his family surprised him with a party on the rooftop of the garage next to LHSC Children’s Hospital. The Ward family from St. Thomas, Ont. poses for a photo with Leo Larizza of the TLC Foundation during a shopping spree at Toys R Us on Dec. 8, 2024 (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “The good news is that I'm cancer free,” said Felix. “It’s been a really hard year with all the chemo and being away from family for so long.” His parents say the best gift they could receive was his recent diagnosis but are thrilled to be invited to shop along with his siblings. “Felix missed the summer of being in the hospital so long and coming into a dreary winter, this is a great opportunity for him to get out and be with his brothers and just enjoy what this time of year is about is just kind of the joy and love,” said Brian Ward, Felix’s dad. A year ago, there were about 150 children at this private event. This year there was more on the waiting list, so Larizza decide to invite them all. “Kids that are suffering, we just want to put smiles on their face so the more the merrier,” said Larizza. With 200 kids and their families, Larizza is expecting to spend between $40,000 and $50,000. “Originally, I was going to go for books because I read a lot, but because it's getting paid for, we're going with records and a record player,” said Evelyn Rollo, 14, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was eight years old. Jack Dieleman, 6, from Chatham, picks out a gift during a shopping spree at Toys R Us on Dec. 8, 2024, which was put on by Leo Larizza (right) of the TLC Foundation (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Her mother Chelsea is appreciative of Larizza’s generosity. “For the kids to be able to get that extra special Christmas that we know as being the parents how much they need and require, it’s the best thing,” said Chelsea. “The joy and the happiness that Leo was able to bring to the kids and it’s a relief off us as well. We know they're getting that joy they can’t get when they are stuck in treatment.” Larizza wants people to know when they attend Santa’s House, and make a donation, their money is going directly to these children. “They've gone through hell and some of them are still going through hell,” said Larizza. “Unfortunately, these kids have to suffer, and I hate seeing them suffer, so if we can put smiles on their faces, I think that's part of the treatment. Smiles and hopefully they get better.” Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Calgarians flocking to markets with local vendors for Christmas Shopping As Christmas is on the horizon, Calgarians headed to the markets across the city on Saturday to get some shopping done while also supporting local businesses. Edmonton Drivers face slippery road conditions east of Edmonton into Saskatchewan Freezing rain, snow and plummeting temperatures on Sunday in east-central Alberta are making road conditions slippery. Baby found dead in south Edmonton parking lot: police Police are investigating the death of an infant in south Edmonton. McDavid, Skinner help Oilers beat Blues 4-2 Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist and Leon Draisaitl had two helpers as the Edmonton Oilers won their second game in a row, defeating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday. Regina Sask. RCMP arrest 1 suspect in White Bear First Nation killing, 1 still at large Saskatchewan RCMP have arrested one suspect in connection to the Dec. 3rd death of Talon Lonethunder on White Bear First Nation. The remaining suspect in the killing remains at large. Trudeau says fall of Assad 'ends decades of brutal oppression' for Syria Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a new chapter for Syria can begin that's free of terrorism and suffering for its people. Regina holiday market booming as vendors encourage local shopping amid postal strike The holidays are the busiest time of year for countless businesses, but many Regina vendors are hoping Christmas shoppers will come to them this year amid ongoing job action at Canada Post. Saskatoon Saskatoon under winter storm warning with freezing rain, heavy snow forecasted A winter storm warning has been issued for the city of Saskatoon and parts of west central Saskatchewan by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). No injuries reported following semi rollover on Sask. highway Battlefords RCMP were on the scene of a single semi rollover on Highway 16 between Delmas and North Battleford Sunday afternoon. Sask. RCMP arrest 1 suspect in White Bear First Nation killing, 1 still at large Saskatchewan RCMP have arrested one suspect in connection to the Dec. 3rd death of Talon Lonethunder on White Bear First Nation. The remaining suspect in the killing remains at large. Vancouver End of the Eras Tour, with Taylor Swift to take final bow in Vancouver After 149 shows, an estimated US$2 billion in revenue and countless outfit changes, Taylor Swift takes to the stage tonight in Vancouver for the final show of her record-smashing Eras Tour. Here’s when parking passes are required for Mount Seymour People visiting Mount Seymour Provincial Park during the peak winter season will need to book a parking spot in advance, starting on Dec. 12. Do you recognize these men? RCMP seek Metro Vancouver grandparent scam suspects Mounties in Metro Vancouver have released photos of two men alleged to have been involved in “numerous” so-called grandparent scams earlier this year, hoping the public can help identify them. Vancouver Island B.C. NDP provincial director hospitalized after 'serious medical emergency' The former B.C. NDP MLA for Chilliwack and newly appointed provincial director, Dan Coulter, is in hospital after suffering a “serious medical emergency,” according to the party. Prince George Taylor Swift fans rent car after flight to Vancouver cancelled A diehard Taylor Swift fan who lives in Prince George, B.C., says a flight cancellation forced her and a group of other Swifties to rent a car and make the near 800-kilometre journey to Vancouver to catch the last dates of the Eras Tour. Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction." Stay Connected
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ESPN pundit wants Warriors to trade for LeBron James‘Inappropriate’: NBA Fines Boston Celtics Forward Jaylen Brown $25,000 For Throat-Slash GestureShedeur Sanders trolled Travis Hunter about the possibility of being drafted by the team he dislikes the most
Hunter, Jeanty give Heisman ceremony a different vibeBERKELEY, Calif. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Technology , a mental health technology innovation company, is announcing its participation in Batch 19 of the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for startup acceleration. The company's HereHear AI therapist solution will be the key focus of the program, driven by the vision of revolutionizing mental health with AI-powered virtual solutions. To learn more about HereHear, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngU32WgiWf4 "HereHear is here in the US, and I am truly grateful to the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for recognizing its potential," noted Lynia Huang , Bamboo Technology's CEO. "As important as mental health has become in recent years, there is a shortage of mental health providers and access to support is low — and HereHear is paving the way for AI to bridge that gap as a first line of defense." A growing case for incorporating AI into mental healthcare With data showing that the US is in a mental health crisis, the CDC recently noted a dire need for public health initiatives that create environments centered around mental health. Specific to the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management's Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found that 44% of US employees feel burned out at work. The combination of a shortage of mental health providers in the US with the flourishing capabilities of AI builds a strong case for the technology to be deployed in the form of human-guided mental health solutions. HereHear's YangYang: A personalized 3D virtual therapist As organizations seek out ways to empower team members to take better care of their mental health, AI is increasingly emerging as a solution for on-demand, personalized support. Offering a more engaging interaction than chatbots, HereHear's 3D virtual therapist YangYang was launched in January 2024 and offers: YangYang has already been implemented in several therapy clinics and has helped 70% of users improve stress and depression levels by 25% within 3 months. Taking the form of a sheep further distinguishes her — this functions both to provide a 'cute' aspect lending to the warm, healing emotional support she provides, while also helping users who are struggling emotionally to keep in perspective that their interactions are ultimately not with a human. Bringing success in Taiwan to the US market Bamboo Technology's acceptance into the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program is a major accomplishment as the platform seeks to enter the US market. Batch 19 has only 117 startups out of around 2300 applications, and the program will support HereHear to develop, pilot and launch, as well as to pitch for funding. The company aims to target the app in the human resources space—as a tool for companies to offer staff for on-demand, privacy-first mental health support. Back in Taiwan , the app already has hospitals, mental health clinics, universities, publicly listed companies, and government agencies that use it, similarly spurred by a shortage of mental health workers. About Bamboo Technology Established in November 2018 , the Taipei -based Bamboo Technology is a mental health technology innovation company that focuses on improving public mental health with voice emotion analysis technology. It embraces a belief that a universal, objective, and scientific mental health system can effectively solve the problem of deteriorating mental health in today's society — a core tenet upheld by its many psychologists; social workers; and information management, AI and big data experts. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bamboo-technologys-herehear-virtual-ai-therapist-joins-berkeley-skydeck-ipp-program-302325187.html SOURCE BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY LTD.