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TAT Technologies Signs a 5-Year, $17 Million MRO Agreement with Major North American Cargo Carrier“Do we really have to spend all Thanksgiving day with grandma, grandpa and all our relatives? It is so noisy over there, can’t we just stay home?” said the teenager. “I know it can be a bit chaotic there, but we rarely get to see everyone and having that time with them is something we will cherish later on,” replied her mother. Gratitude is something that does not come naturally to children. Typically it needs to be nurtured by parents in order to blossom. As we start to get together for Thanksgiving and the holidays, there will be several opportunities to note things to be grateful for like getting together with family, eating delicious food or receiving presents. When children and adolescents start becoming more grateful, there are a host of positive effects. Sleep improves, blood pressure is lowered, and depression is reduced. Children enhance their emotional health along with their relations with others. Adolescents have higher life satisfaction and greater motivation to improve themselves. Gratitude is a gift that keeps giving throughout one’s life. Young children can start learning about gratitude when their parents talk to them about small moments of joy that occur. This could be on the beauty of a blooming flower or how delicious the chocolate chip cookie tastes. This awareness of being grateful for experiences that bring joy will develop into verbalizing gratitude later on. As children get older, parents can ask them how they feel when they receive something special. This should be done by asking them open-ended questions and not trying to tell them how they should feel. This may make parents realize that some children are not even aware they have experienced or received something that they should be grateful for. Parents who model gratitude themselves tend to raise grateful children. When children demonstrate thoughtfulness or gratitude, parents should recognize it and make it a big deal. This could be when a child gives their sibling a hug when they are down or draws a picture as a present for their parent. By modeling gratitude for children’s actions, parents are helping children develop social and moral awareness. While parents can give children many opportunities to observe and practice gratitude, their children can still appear ungrateful at times. Often this is due to children being caught up in other issues that are more important to them in the moment and they are overlooking the positive experience before them. Rather than be frustrated, parents can ask what might be going on with them which can lead them to what is distracting them from being grateful. It is possible to focus too much on gratitude, which can dilute the meaning behind gratitude or bore children. Parents will need to find the right balance and be flexible in the ways their children exhibit gratitude. Writing thank you notes for presents may be parents’ way of showing gratitude, but children may want to make a TikTok video instead. Gratitude can come in many forms and letting children find their own ways to express themselves makes it more likely to stick as they get older. Thanksgiving launches the holiday season and opportunities to get together with friends and family. It is a great time to start nurturing gratitude in children. This can start with small observations of joy and by asking questions regarding how children feel when they receive a gift. Parents can model gratitude and make sure children receive expressions of gratitude so they can see how it feels to receive it. Gratitude develops slowly and each child will come to it differently. Parents should try not to overdo it and be flexible when children express their gratitude in different ways. In the end, grateful children will experience a host of benefits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Dan Florell, Ph.D., is a professor at Eastern Kentucky University and has a private practice, MindPsi (www.mindpsi.net). Praveena Salins, M.D., is a pediatrician at Madison Pediatric Associates (www.madisonpeds.com).
Winter jackets are one of those fashion items that, in our professional opinion, are worthy of a financial investment. and extreme cold are part of the package deal that comes with living in Canada, so anything that will protect you from the elements — especially those that can last for months on end — shouldn't be spared. If you found last year's coat lacking, there are plenty of great new options to . And since there's nothing like word of mouth to instill confidence, we've gone door-to-door (by that, we mean pinged our work Slack chat) to find out what the team is wearing this winter. To see — including puffer packets, sherpa coats, parkas and vests — in 2024-2025, check out our picks below. Quick shop: Best women's winter jackets in 2024-25 Bala Parka Lolë Boreal Down Jacket Knee-Length Parka with Removable Faux-Fur Hood Down Short Puffer Jacket The Long Puffer Shop the Canada Goose Bala Parka in black and white. Is Canada Goose's Bala Parka expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Undoubtedly. If you are looking for a wear-everywhere jacket that combines style with extreme warmth, this is it. Simply put, it's one of the best jackets I have ever owned or worn. It's rated between -15°C to -25°C and having worn it on a -20°C day with only a T-shirt underneath, I can promise you, it lives up to its claims. It has a flattering belted A-line silhouette and its collar reaches high enough to keep the lower half of your face warm and out of the wind. The Bala Parka features generously long rib-knit cuffs that lock in heat should you lack gloves and is designed with two well-sized exterior pockets and a roomy interior pocket that can fit your keys, wallet and phone. It's an A++ coat — if you only want one winter jacket, this is it. My only critique of the Bala Parka is I find the zipper can be quite sticky. You might need to play around with it to zip it up or down, which can be inconvenient Shop the Boreal Down Jacket in five colours. Lolë's Boreal Down Jacket checks all of my winter coat boxes — let me tell you why. First (and most important!): it's warm! The coat is rated for temperatures between -10 to -20°C, so unless you reside in one of our country's northernmost cities, it should keep you warm. Second: it's colourful. Now, there is a black option for this jacket, but I am a big fan of wearing colour, especially in the winter. IMO, nothing is more depressing than a sea of black jackets on a gloomy day. If you feel the same, I think the ombre purple style is too cute to boot. Third: it has all the features you want in a winter coat. There are zippered pockets, an adjustable hood, a hidden ski pass zipper and it's waterproof — a win-win! While the Lolë Boreal Down Jacket is warm, I don't know if it's -20°C-warm — at least without some serious layering underneath. That said, I feel the same way about most winter jackets, so if you don't run as ice-cold as I do, you may feel differently. Shop this knee-length coat in two colours: rosin (pictured) and black. I genuinely hate being outside in the winter, but this knee-length parka makes everything a little more bearable. It keeps me extremely toasty on the most bitterly cold days, and I love that it has storm cuffs that prevent chilly air from sneaking up my sleeves. One of my favourite things about the coat is that it has snaps on the sides around the thigh area. I drive a lot, so being able to unsnap them lets me sit comfortably and not feel constricted. My only complaint about this parka is the hood. When I have it on, it comes down past my eyes, which is very annoying. That being said, the hood is detachable, so I usually just keep it off. One thing to note: the jacket is meant to be knee-length. I'm 5'2" and it goes past my knees which isn't a problem for me, but something to keep in mind if you are looking for a certain length! RW&CO reviewers call the mid-length sherpa coat "super warm and stylish." I would file RW&CO's Sherpa Coat in the category of: "chic winter jackets to wear in mild weather." I love the look and fuzzy texture of the sherpa jacket, especially if you want a break from a classic puffer or parka style. The coat has a nice weight to it, so it's a stylish (and practical!) pick for evenings out, going to the office and any mild-weathered festivities. While the sherpa coat is a stylish pick for mild weather, I wouldn't recommend it for ultra-cold or windy days. The three toggles are the only way to close the coat, so the cold can easily sneak in between the toggles or the long stretch of fabric at the bottom. If you drive everywhere or don't spend a lot of time outside, it's nice to have on hand, but I wouldn't count on it for anything colder than -10°C. The Roots Down Short Puffer Jacket will keep you warm in style. If you're like me, you're probably sick of seeing a steady stream of black and navy parkas every winter. This year, I wanted something a bit more fun, and this floral puffer fits the bill. This puffer is extremely lightweight but super cozy, and details like fleece-lined pockets, an adjustable corded bottom and a removable hood make it as functional as it is stylish. Roots says this parka can withstand temperatures up to -25°C — and while I haven't yet been able to test it in that temperature (phew!), it's been more than warm enough for early December in Toronto. My current puffer colourway is out of stock, but Roots has some updated colours (which just so happen to be on sale) for 2024. While I love the shorter length of this jacket, it's not for everyone — if you're looking for a bum-covering coat, this isn't it. That said, I've got my eyes on this . This stylish packable puffer doubles as a travel pillow. If you live in a warmer climate, like Toronto or Vancouver, this is a great option for days between 0-10°C, especially if you're travelling during the holidays. I recently went on a and this lightweight, packable puffer was an absolute lifesaver when biking 40-50 kilometres a day in 7-8 degree rainy weather. It's insulated with 100 per cent recycled PET bottles and folds into a travel pillow that or fits over your suitcase handles. I ended up wearing it at least 12 of the 14 days I travelled, and the travel pillow came in handy for the long-haul flight. This jacket is quite a bit more pricey than some packable puffer alternatives, so if it's out of your price range, — and both sell that ring in under $100. And since it's only suited for temperatures above 0°C, I definitely wouldn't recommend it for those bone-chilling winter days. Shop the Garnet Cropped Puffer in four colours. Canada Goose's Garnet Cropped Puffer is suited for wear between 0°C to -15°C, making it perfect for late fall and early winter. I live in southern Ontario, so it's an excellent choice for the milder weather we (usually) have. Plus, I love, love, love that it has a high collar! Aesthetically speaking, I am team scarf, but in reality, I prefer to walk out the door without an armful of winter accessories. Another bonus: the puffer has zippered pockets, which I always appreciate. I only have two real qualms with the cropped puffer, the first being that, while I think the cropped style is cute, it does let in quite a bit of wind in the back. The second: it doesn't have a hood, so you always need to bring a toque when it's nippy outside. My Columbia jacket is my absolute favourite any time temperatures drop below 10°C. : I have a previous version of the Arch Rock Double Wall jacket, but even after a couple years of use it's still my most-worn jacket between the months of November and April. It's the perfect weight to wear outdoors once temperatures start to fall below 10°C, and it does a great job protecting against wind, rain and snow. My favourite things about this jacket are the lightweight insulation that adds warmth without bulk, and the longer rear hemline that covers your bum — even while sitting. : While I love this jacket for fall and early spring weather, it's not the best option for temperatures below -5°C in my opinion. For spending really cold days outdoors, I'll reach for a heavy full-length puffer jacket instead. The Long Puffer also pairs well with novelty hammers. This puffer has been a workhorse in my winter wardrobe for 4 years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. While this is the "long" version of Everlane's sustainable puffer, it hits more mid-thigh which makes it easy to pair with everything from jeans to dresses. It's toasty — I wear it most days during December to February — and also features large front pockets which give it a functional edge. Another great functional feature? The front zipper doesn't go all the way to the bottom, which means you can sit comfortably even when zipped up. I sized down from my usual size and can still comfortably wear a sweater underneath. If you don't like an oversized style, this isn't the coat for you. One other downside? I hate this coat's hood — it's too small, IMO. If you're known to go sans toque in the winter you'd probably be fine, but getting the hood to fit over a hat is a struggle for me. The Rhoda Hooded Vest is my pick for a stylish yet functional vest this winter. : As all Canadians know, winter weather can be unpredictable here. That's why in addition to a lightweight coat and a heavy puffer, I'd been eyeing a vest to complete my winter wardrobe. This one from Canada Goose fits the bill as it offers plenty of warmth thanks to 750 Fill Power duck down, but more mobility than a heavy winter coat — ideal for winter driving. The oversized fit and wrap neckline also add an unexpected style element that you don't often see in outerwear. : Unsurprisingly, the cost of this Canada Goose vest is its biggest negative. However, if you're on the fence about whether or not to invest in the brand's outerwear, a protects against defects in materials and workmanship for years to come. This MEC jacket features a cozy insulated hood and high collar — does not feature various bathroom renovation items pictured. I received this jacket for Christmas last year after dropping numerous hints that I wanted a sportier winter coat. I've worn this for everything from snowshoeing to weekend dog walks, and it's also stood up well during some serious snowfall. The insulated hood and high collar, as well as elasticized sleeves and shock cord hem, keep the heat locked in even on the most blustery days. Last year's blue version that I have is sold out, but I'm eyeing this year's Wild Berry purple, which is currently on sale. Honestly, I'm pretty hard-pressed to find something negative to say about this jacket, but my one complaint is that I find the storm flaps get caught in the zipper pull more often than I'd like them to, especially on the pockets. But it's a good excuse to keep my phone tucked away and enjoy whatever I'm doing. The Wunder Puff Long Jacket comes in three colourways. For the past 10 years, I've turned to a for the most bone-chilling winter days. While it still gets the job done, it was starting to look a bit worse for wear, so I decided it was time for something new. I wanted a long puffer that would keep my legs warm, and this doesn't disappoint. While I haven't had a chance to wear it in truly frigid temperatures yet, I have a feeling it'll become my go-to for cold, snowy days. I have the classic black colourway, but if I was buying again I think I'd snap up the jacket in this stunning . I've lovingly dubbed this my "sleeping bag jacket" — and while it's definitely the most stylish sleeping bag I've ever seen, it's worth keeping in mind that this coat is . I'm around 5'4" and it hits mid-calf on me. While this is exactly what I wanted, it might not be what you're looking for — and I wouldn't recommend if you're under 5'2". For a more in-depth look at the Lululemon Wunder Puff, check out our honest review .
Syria latest: Syrians celebrate in the streets as Russian media says Assad has arrived in MoscowRay'Sean Taylor, Ring Malith lead SIU Edwardsville over Ball State 82-69
Exclusive-Five9 nears settlement with Anson Funds under activist pressureNFL Thanksgiving Games: Randy Moss Breaks Down His Epic 3-TD Turkey Day Performance in 1998With two-way star Travis Hunter of Colorado and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty leading the field, these certainly aren't your typical Heisman Trophy contenders. Sure, veteran quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel from top-ranked Oregon and Cam Ward of No. 15 Miami are finalists for college football's most prestigious award as well, but the 90th annual ceremony coming up Saturday night at Lincoln Center in New York City offers a fresh flavor this year. To start with, none of the four are from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which has produced four of the past five Heisman winners — two each from Alabama and LSU. Jeanty, who played his home games for a Group of Five team on that peculiar blue turf in Idaho more than 2,100 miles from Manhattan, is the first running back even invited to the Heisman party since 2017. After leading the country with 2,497 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, he joined quarterback Kellen Moore (2010) as the only Boise State players to be named a finalist. “The running back position has been overlooked for a while now," said Jeanty, who plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft. "There's been a lot of great running backs before me that should have been here in New York, so to kind of carry on the legacy of the running back position I think is great. ... I feel as if I'm representing the whole position.” With the votes already in, all four finalists spent Friday conducting interviews and sightseeing in the Big Apple. They were given custom, commemorative watches to mark their achievement. “I'm not a watch guy, but I like it,” said Hunter, flashing a smile. The players also took photos beneath the massive billboards in Times Square and later posed with the famous Heisman Trophy, handed out since 1935 to the nation's most outstanding performer. Hunter, the heavy favorite, made sure not to touch it yet. A dominant player on both offense and defense who rarely comes off the field, the wide receiver/cornerback is a throwback to generations gone by and the first full-time, true two-way star in decades. On offense, he had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season to help the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) earn their first bowl bid in four years. On defense, he made four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced a critical fumble that secured an overtime victory against Baylor. Hunter played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the only Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Call him college football’s answer to baseball unicorn Shohei Ohtani. “I think I laid the ground for more people to come in and go two ways,” Hunter said. “It starts with your mindset. If you believe you can do it, then you'll be able to do it. And also, I do a lot of treatment. I keep up with my body. I get a lot of recovery.” Hunter is Colorado's first Heisman finalist in 30 years. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, followed flashy coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering combination of accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. Hunter also won the Walter Camp Award as national player of the year, along with the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player and the Biletnikoff Award for best wide receiver. “It just goes to show that I did what I had to do,” Hunter said. Next, he'd like to polish off his impressive hardware collection by becoming the second Heisman Trophy recipient in Buffaloes history, after late running back Rashaan Salaam in 1994. “I worked so hard for this moment, so securing the Heisman definitely would set my legacy in college football,” Hunter said. “Being here now is like a dream come true.” Jeanty carried No. 8 Boise State (12-1) to a Mountain West Conference championship that landed the Broncos the third seed in this year's College Football Playoff. They have a first-round bye before facing the SMU-Penn State winner in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior from Jacksonville, Florida, won the Maxwell Award as college football’s top player and the Doak Walker Award for best running back. Jeanty has five touchdown runs of at least 70 yards and has rushed for the fourth-most yards in a season in FBS history — topping the total of 115 teams this year. He needs 132 yards to break the FBS record set by Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State in 1988. In a pass-happy era, however, Jeanty is trying to become the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since Derrick Henry for Alabama nine years ago. In fact, quarterbacks have snagged the prize all but four times this century. Gabriel, an Oklahoma transfer, led Oregon (13-0) to a Big Ten title in its first season in the league and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The steady senior from Hawaii passed for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns with six interceptions. His 73.2% completion rate ranks second in the nation, and he's attempting to join quarterback Marcus Mariota (2014) as Ducks players to win the Heisman Trophy. “I think all the memories start to roll back in your mind,” Gabriel said. Ward threw for 4,123 yards and led the nation with a school-record 36 touchdown passes for the high-scoring Hurricanes (10-2) after transferring from Washington State. The senior from West Columbia, Texas, won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year award and is looking to join QBs Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992) as Miami players to go home with the Heisman. “I just think there's a recklessness that you have to play with at the quarterback position,” Ward said.
The U.S. stock market faces a key moment as investors turn their focus to the Federal Reserve's meeting this week. The central bank's guidance on interest rate cuts could significantly influence market dynamics. Recently, the Nasdaq Composite surpassed the 20,000 mark, showcasing a year where it has surged 32%, while the S&P 500 has climbed 27%. The expectation of Fed rate cuts has been a critical driver of these gains. However, with robust economic growth and stubborn inflation, the Federal Reserve's approach to monetary easing in 2024 remains in question. Bond yields have experienced upward pressure, reaching a three-week high for the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, posing potential challenges to equity markets. As the central bank's decision approaches, investors and analysts are keenly assessing the implications for stocks and the broader economic landscape. (With inputs from agencies.)
As a smooth-talking media and political pundit, Colman Domingo ’s Muncie Daniels is used to commenting on politics and the news — not becoming the news — in The Madness . However, his fate will quickly change for the worse when we meet him in the new series. When the CNN personality discovers the dead body of a white supremacist in the woods near where he’s staying in the Poconos, he winds up in the crosshairs of law enforcement and possibly framed for murder — and even his lawyer friend Kwesi (Deon Cole) warns the silver-tongued Muncie, “You’re not going to be able to talk your way out of this.... They are going to pin all this on you.” In this paranoia-inducing Netflix thriller, Daniels finds himself in the middle of a sprawling conspiracy that delves into the darkest corners of society and explores the intersections between the wealthy and powerful, the alt-right, and other fringe movements. “[The series] is examining the climate we’re in right now,” Domingo teased to TV Insider. “Who sows those seeds of disinformation? Who’s puppeteering all of this?” To clear his name, Muncie must figure out whether to trust FBI agent Franco Quiñones (John Ortiz) and reconnect with his working-class, activist roots in Philadelphia while reuniting with his family, which includes teenage son Demetrius (Thaddeus J. Mixson), estranged wife Elena (Marsha Stephanie Blake), and daughter Kallie (Gabrielle Graham) from a previous relationship. “He’s trying to solve a crime,” creator Stephen Belber previews, “but at the same time he’s trying to solve something inside of himself.” To find out what else we should know about the new thrill ride, we spoke to The Color Purple and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Colman Domingo — who played Victor Strand on Fear the Walking Dead for eight seasons, won an Emmy for Euphoria , and was nominated for a 2024 Oscar for the civil rights drama Rustin — about the bind in which Muncie finds himself in The Madness , the similarities he shares with the character, and the resonance of a story that speaks to our age of online disinformation and conspiracy theories. Why were you drawn to this series and this character? What about it made you say yes to it? Colman Domingo: There’s so much about it that is raising questions about who are we in America right now. What do you believe in? And what are you believing? What’s being fed to you? These are questions that I have deep in my heart, and the series is bringing out those thoughts I have in the back of my head. Like who is manipulating all of us? I do believe there’s people feeding the public misinformation, but it benefits people with money, power, and position. Are there similarities you share with Muncie? Wildly enough, he’s from my neighborhood, from West Philly. He’s a college professor. So am I. There’s a lot of similarities. He’s a public-facing person. Even some of his ideology, where he believes that if you just get people at the table to sit and have a civil conversation, things will get better. I do believe that. I actively do that in my life. And I thought, “Oh, I understand Muncie. I understand what he’s trying to do.” But then the series takes him on another journey to actually go more full-throttle and understand all the dynamics he’s been espousing but not really having to get in the mud with. Is Muncie’s journey in the series a metaphor for how we’re all trying to make sense of this firehose of facts and information, along with disinformation, conspiracy-mongering, and lies that are coming at us 24/7? Yeah. It’s your modern-day North By Northwest, your modern-day Three Days of the Condor. He’s an everyman who has to go on this journey that he’s not ready to go on. He didn’t even know he’s been preparing for it. He was just living his best life, has a great position at CNN, and has been studying jujitsu for his own health. But he didn’t know that he’d need all that to go down the rabbit hole for real. What’s Muncie’s relationship like with his estranged wife, son Demetrius, and his older daughter Kallie from another relationship? All of it is precarious. What’s going on between he and his wife, we made it a gray area. Maybe they both started out as young activists, and the other one moved into celebrity, and the other one is a college professor, and they’re just not meeting [each other] where they used to be. It was more about having a crisis of faith in each other. Then with his daughter [Kallie], he made choices when he was younger, in a relationship he was in before he went to an Ivy League school. So he’s sort of been a deadbeat dad in that way. Then with his younger son, he’s sort of an absentee father. He believes he’s doing the best that he can by providing financially and showing up when he can. But I think he’s been a bit selfish. So this whole crisis is helping him examine not only who he is, but who has he been—and not been—to his family. Now he’s got to do some relationship repair; at the same time, he’s trying to advocate and save his own life and protect his family. Has he lost himself a bit over the years in pursuit of success and ambition? I think so. But I think if you asked Muncie, he wouldn’t say that. I think he believed, no, it’s okay to change. It’s OK to have access and agency. But I think at some point he didn’t realize even in the position that he had, he was just all talk. He was just a talking head. He wasn’t actually doing anything but adding to the noise of the media circuit business. In the crisis that he goes through, how does his family help him to survive? I think he didn’t realize how much he needed them. When we meet him, he’s in a place of stasis. He’s been trying to write this book for years. So he decided to go to the Pocono mountains to try and start writing something. Then he goes on this journey. I think it’s a beautiful hero’s journey. He didn’t know he needed all these things. He didn’t know he needed a heart. He didn’t know he needed a brain...It is ‘no place like home.’ But he realized that his home was attached to other things like celebrity, clothing, and having access. But all of that became more superficial than he even imagined. Amanda Matlovich / Netflix Muncie was a housing activist in his youth, and he reconnects with his West Philly roots and the people in his life from that time. How does he change during the course of the series? I think it’s about helping him to bridge the two parts of himself. It’s one of the first arguments that my character has with the fantastic Eisa Davis, who plays Renee, while hosting a show on CNN. And it’s at the core of the problem. For me, it’s a question of, “What’s the best way?” He’s like, “I am Black and I don’t have to actually be out on the streets anymore. I have more access here on television where I can affect a lot of more people.” And so for me, it’s raising the question of, “Is that right or is that wrong? Or is there a balance of both?” How do race and systemic racism factor into the story of a Black man who gets blamed for the death of a white supremacist? How do you think that will be eye-opening for some viewers? Race plays into it a great deal. Muncie is someone who is probably very adept at code-switching [adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, and expression to conform to a given community and reduce the potential for discrimination]. When you have celebrity and access, you live more in a bubble where you’re probably not perceived in certain ways. But when all of that goes away, once Muncie has to let go of his Range Rover, his Tom Ford suits, and his position at CNN, he’s perceived as just another ordinary Black man on the street. So even when he goes into that New York shop and changes into a T-shirt, baseball cap, and hoodie [to disguise himself], he’s trying to normalize. Before, he believed was a bit more elevated in some way. I love the question that [his estranged wife] Elena asked him: “What were you doing going over to this white man’s house out in the woods? You felt like you had the privilege to do that? You have to always be careful. You don’t know what’s on the other side. You’re a Black man in America.” He forgot for a moment. What does the title, The Madness , refer to? I think it’s about the madness that we’re all living in when it comes to the 24-hour news cycle and trying to download and sift through information. It’s maddening! And also, I think the madness is also internal, that internal struggle of like, “Who are you, and what do you believe in? Who is real, and who is not?” I think that’s the madness. The Madness , Series Premiere, Thursday, November 28, Netflix More Headlines:
Strictly Come Dancing exit - star says 'I've tried my best' as they're axed from show and miss out on finalIndiana coach Mike Woodson is happy that his team has won three straight games but concerned that it's committing too many turnovers. Limiting miscues is at the top of his wish list for Monday night's Big Ten Conference opener against visiting Minnesota in Bloomington, Ind. While the Hoosiers (7-2) shot 53.8 percent and dominated Miami (Ohio) 46-29 on the glass during a 76-57 win at home Friday night, they also had more turnovers (16) than assists (15). Having played for Bob Knight at Indiana, Woodson is fanatical about his team executing its offense without making mistakes. "We were taking chances on passes that weren't there," Woodson said. "We have to fix it. If we start Big Ten play like that, it puts you in a hole." In between careless mistakes, the Hoosiers got a huge game out of Oumar Ballo, the Arizona transfer who had 14 points, 18 rebounds and six assists. It was his 35th career double-double but his first at Indiana. Ballo (12.7 points per game, 9.3 rebounds) is one of four players averaging double figures for the Hoosiers. They're led by Malik Reneau, who's hitting for 15.4 ppg on 58.9 percent shooting. While Indiana tries to fine-tune its game, the Golden Gophers (6-4, 0-1 Big Ten) aim to get to the .500 mark in conference play after absorbing a 90-72 beating Wednesday night against visiting Michigan State. There was good news for Minnesota in that game. Mike Mitchell Jr. returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a high ankle sprain and drilled 5 of 9 3-pointers in a 17-point performance. Mitchell's shooting should aid an attack that ranks 311th in Division I in 3-point percentage at 29.7 percent as of Sunday. "He's a difference-maker in terms of being able to space the floor," Gophers coach Ben Johnson said of Mitchell. "He provides offensive firepower and a guy who can make shots and take pressure off our offense." Dawson Garcia leads the team at 19 ppg, while Lu'Cye Patterson and Mitchell are scoring 10 ppg. The Hoosiers own a 109-69 lead in the all-time series. --Field Level Media
Trump calls for end to 'spring forward, fall back' clock changes
The news about academic cheating has gone from worrying to post mortem. Colleges apparently can’t manage cheating on any level. As usual, a lot of handwringing and total lack of answers produce a sort of techno-manga doomscape. Those headlines create a bizarre set of situations from “ AI is an existential threat to colleges” from the Washington Post (paywall) to the truly alarming penalizing of a student for proofreading using Grammarly. The AI outscores the humans relentlessly at about 83%, according to Forbes . As usual, honesty gets you nowhere. See that quaint little rustic waste of time called the USA for details. Strangely, people aren’t happy with this 100% true-to-Western-cultural breakthrough into institutional incompetence and corruption. Despite the decades of noble roles of mainstream media and so many utterly futile public figures, people who can’t do their jobs aren’t much in demand. “Why not?” you enquire, grimly bolting yourself to the ridiculous shriveled lettuce of a society. Well, ‘cause: Education has become a stagnant backwater of regressive politics. They’re either scared of it or actively trying to prevent it. See Oklahoma for details. Defunding public education is actually a stated policy in the USA. If they seriously think everyone can afford private education, you can see the level of intellect in the mix. Past idiocies sabotaged education decades ago. The blame isn’t all one-way. Imbecile ideas like not teaching phonics (structuring basic words and concepts) did a lot of damage. Many people in multiple generations are functionally illiterate. The illiteracy of the system itself doesn’t exactly help in managing AI issues. Literacy isn’t just being able to read. It’s being able to understand what you read. It’s essential to critical thinking, of which we have so little lately. The future isn’t looking at all good for the skills bases required to manage new tech and things like human reality. Let’s get down to basics: 1, AI cannot replace humans. If you replace people with AI, you have to check absolutely everything. It’s actually more work. 2, AI doesn’t give you actual skills. You still need to learn and understand to know your stuff. Your overpriced education is utterly meaningless and useless if you can’t do the jobs. 3. It’s pretty easy to prove who can really do a job and who can’t. All you need is a simple competence test. See if the useless smug little brats can function. 4, Force AI providers to include AI detection capacity in their products by law. This “free lunch for fakes” stuff has to stop somewhere. Bear in mind that the present capacity is nothing like up to this task. According to the Forbes article above, the current 6% detection rate of AI is an overestimate. (Might help with scientific fraud and deranged social media bots, too.) This isn’t “artificial intelligence” yet. It’s “artificial idiocy”. It’s fixable. _________________________________________________ Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members. Editor-at-Large based in Sydney, Australia.Tom Purcell: Sign me up for cursive
Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case
What you need to know about the reported Omnicom-Interpublic merger
Manchin, Sinema prevent Democrats from locking in majority on labor board through 2026 WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats failed in their bid to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after the Senate rejected a razor-thin vote that hinged on the pivotal rejections of independent Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. If the nomination had been successful, the board would have had a Democratic majority until 2026. President-elect Donald Trump will now have a chance to nominate a replacement. The NLRB is a government agency that handles labor relations and unionization in the workplace. It also has the power to investigate potential unfair labor practices, meaning its leadership is highly scrutinized by business interests and labor groups. The failed vote is another blow to Senate Democrats and outgoing President Joe Biden's agenda. Arizona AG sues Saudi firm over 'excessive' groundwater pumping, saying it's a public nuisance PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she is suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness over what she calls “excessive pumping” of groundwater. She alleges that the Fondomonte alfalfa farm in western Arizona is violating a public nuisance law even though the area has no groundwater pumping regulations. Mayes said Wednesday that Fondomonte's use of groundwater threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in rural La Paz County. It's Arizona's latest action against foreign companies that use huge amounts of groundwater to grow thirsty forage crops for export. The Associated Press emailed Fondomonte seeking a response to the lawsuit. US inflation ticked up last month as some price pressures remain persistent WASHINGTON (AP) — Fueled by pricier used cars, hotel rooms and groceries, inflation in the United States moved slightly higher last month in the latest sign that some price pressures remain elevated. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, up from a yearly figure of 2.6% in October. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices increased 3.3%. Measured month to month, prices climbed 0.3% from October to November, the biggest such increase since April. Wednesday’s inflation figures are the final major piece of data Federal Reserve officials will consider before they meet next week to decide on interest rates. The November increase won’t likely be enough to discourage the officials from cutting their key rate by a quarter-point. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the Year NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and be named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Thursday's events will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who has long seen praise from the business world and media as a sign of success. Four people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press that Trump was expected to be on Wall Street on Thursday to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, while a person familiar with the selection confirmed that Trump had been selected as Time's Person of the Year. Supreme Court allows investors' class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nvidia of misleading investors about its past dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency to proceed. The court’s decision Wednesday comes the same week that China said it is investigating the the microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. The justices heard arguments four weeks ago in Nvidia’s bid to shut down the lawsuit, then decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. They dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Apple's latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season. It comes in the form of a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds. The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October. The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis,” Apple’s description of emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. EU targets Russia's ghost fleet shipping oil in a new round of sanctions BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union envoys have agreed a new raft of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine. The EU's Hungarian presidency said Wednesday that the measures will target in particular a vast shadow fleet of ships that Moscow is exploiting to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and fuel. The sanctions are aimed at about 50 of what are routinely decrepit ships. The sanctions will hit more officials and entities alleged to be helping Russia to improve its military technology by evading export restrictions. EU foreign ministers are set to formally adopt the sanctions package on Monday. Can ordinary citizens solve our toughest problems? BEND, OREGON (AP) — Research shows Americans are frustrated with what they perceive as aloofness and gridlock within civic institutions. Citizen assemblies may be able to help. The groups which have direct involvement in decision-making can help “overcome polarization and strengthen societal cohesion,” says Claudia Chwalisz, founder of DemocracyNext. Her nonprofit, launched in Paris in 2022, champions such assemblies worldwide, hoping they can “create the democratic spaces for everyday people to grapple with the complexity of policy issues, listen to one another, and find common ground.” In Europe, examples of such changes abound. In the United States, results are spottier. Making a $1B investment in the US? Trump pledges expedited permits — but there are hurdles WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising expedited federal permits for energy projects and other construction worth more than $1 billion. But like other Trump plans, the idea is likely to run into regulatory and legislative hurdles, including a landmark law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact before deciding on major projects. Environmental groups called the plan a clear violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The chief policy advocacy officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council says Trump should be careful what he wishes for. She said, "What if someone wants to build a waste incinerator next to Mar-a-Lago or a coal mine next to Bedminster golf course?”An Australian Cabinet minister on Friday rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk's allegation that the government intended to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Musk's criticism was "unsurprising" after the government introduced to Parliament on Thursday legislation that would fine platforms including X up to 150 million Australian dollars ($133 million) if they allow children under age 16 to hold social media accounts. "The idea that Elon Musk is not delighted with our steps to try and protect kids online is not an especially big surprise to us, nor does it trouble us greatly," Chalmers told reporters. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire... Associated Press
Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - December 13, 2024) - Good London Builders, a leading London-based renovation company serving high-net-worth individuals, released a report on 2024 Property Renovation Trends that includes a significant shift in home automation preferences among its luxury clientele, with more customers choosing mainstream connected technologies over traditional bespoke systems. Property renovation by Good London Builders The company, which manages home renovations across London, has observed wealthy homeowners increasingly selecting off-the-shelf connected technologies for audio, lighting, heating, and security, marking a departure from complex custom automation systems that typically cost five to six figures to install. Rory Gordon of Good London Builders , who has managed the home renovations of a number of high-net-worth individuals across London in recent years, noted the trend. He said: "While some clients still want the all singing, all dancing approach, we have seen a noticeable shift towards keeping it simple. From controlling lighting by simple dimmers and off the shelf alarm systems to 'plug and play' AV installations connected by WiFi. The approach works very well and costs very little. The difference between professional grade set ups and the standard offering has shrunk massively and unless you are an absolute aficionado who appreciates the ultimate then it becomes harder to justify." The shift reflects broader changes in home automation technology. While traditional high-end systems offered granular control, modern connected devices provide simpler interfaces through smartphone applications. These consumer-focused solutions offer regular feature updates and easier upgrade paths compared to traditional custom installations. Quality installation remains crucial, even with more accessible technology. While these modern connected devices can be self-installed, professional expertise ensures optimal product selection, placement, and setup for the best possible experience, particularly during renovation projects. Rory added: "We have fitted the best systems money can buy over the years and while there is still a place for this in certain scenarios, the experience on the coal face of the new simple technologies is such that it is hard to argue with this approach." While the market for high-end custom installations continues, Good London Builders reports that most clients, regardless of budget, are increasingly choosing mainstream connected technology solutions for their homes. For more information about Good London Builders, visit . Kitchen renovation by Good London Builders About Good London Builders Good London Builders make the building process simple and easy - from basement conversions to major structural refurbishments. Press Inquiries Good London Builders Rory Gordon ... To view the source version of this press release, please visit SOURCE: Good London Builders MENAFN13122024004218003983ID1108991793 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative. Perfect or 100% fair? Well, nobody ever believed that. The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favor of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult. It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year. It treated underdog Boise State like a favorite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2. It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out. It gave the sport the multiweek tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history. All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites. Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favorite to win it all, put it best when he offered: "Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.” Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it. The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid. Alabama of the SEC didn't play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired. “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We're really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work." The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU's schedule wasn't nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson. “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media. He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time. “That is not good for college football," Byrne said. Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 titlist Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye. All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner. The conference commissioners' idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season. The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round. Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games. No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces ... Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh? No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn't play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces ... Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected. No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces ... Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do? No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State , Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces ... Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballIndiana aims to limit turnovers vs. Minnesota