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(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, the pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday can stretch budgets a bit too far. Many of today’s shoppers seek advice from their favorite online influencers, sourcing creative hacks, recipes, DIY projects, and tips to keep the holidays magical without overspending. In fact, 69% of consumers say they value and actively seek out influencer recommendations. Now, questions don’t need to get buried in the comments. This December, TextNow is flipping the script on holiday stress by introducing the Holiday Hotline , a free resource to help you navigate the season, with advice a mere text away. Whether it’s finding affordable gifts, creating a festive dinner on a budget, or even learning how to save on your monthly bills, the Holiday Hotline can make things simpler, cheaper, and—perhaps most importantly—more joyful. TextNow Holiday Hotline: Expert Advice at Your Fingertips From December 5–10, TextNow’s Holiday Hotline connects you with relatable experts (aka some of your favorite influencers including social media creator and podcast host Remi Cruz, Kayla Savings, and Melissa Weiss) who will share their go-to tips for a budget-friendly holiday. Here’s what you can expect: • Holiday Budgeting 101: Learn simple ways to stretch every dollar and avoid those dreaded post-holiday bills. • Affordable Gift-Giving Ideas: Thoughtful, creative gifts that won’t break the bank. • Festive Decorating on a Dime: Transform your home into a holiday wonderland with budget-friendly hacks. • Stress-Free Holiday Cooking: Recipes and meal-planning tips to impress your guests. Need more advice? Just text the hotline at 310-299-3584, and you’ll get personalized, practical tips sent straight to your phone. Win $1,000 for Your Holiday Dinner As if free expert advice wasn’t enough, TextNow is also giving you the chance to win big this holiday season. Enter the $1,000 Dinner Giveaway for a shot at a $1,000 gift card to cover your holiday expenses—whether it’s for food, gifts, travel, or whatever else makes your season special. Entering is simple: 1.Head to TextNow’s Instagram . 2.Like the giveaway post. 3.Share your best holiday tip in the comments (bonus: share the post to your story for an extra entry). 4.The giveaway runs from December 5-12, with winners announced from December 13-16. Save More This Holiday Season TextNow is more than just a phone service—it’s a way to take control of your budget, not just during the holidays but year-round. • Free Phone Service: Unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network free. No gimmicks, no contracts. • Free Essential Data: Get free data for such essential apps as maps, rideshare, and email when you activate your SIM card. • Additional Flexible Data Plans: Add extra data only when you need it, with hourly, daily, or monthly passes. Getting started with TextNow is easy. Download the app to call and text for free over Wi-Fi or unlock free cellular service with a $4.99 SIM card. Learn More For more details, visit www.TextNow.com . Word Count: 491
‘Breaking of gridlock’ between Quebec, N.L. is the envy of former premiersOur nation celebrates Thanksgiving in late November, as a nation, because of an October 1863 proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Prior to that, states celebrated on the dates of their choice. Using words you would more likely hear from a pulpit than a government leader these days, our 16th president invited his fellow citizens to set aside “a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” History has shown Lincoln to be one of our more quotable presidents, particularly on matters involving leadership and freedom. Within weeks of his Thanksgiving proclamation, he would deliver the Gettysburg Address, with its memorable reference to “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” As the people of Washington pause to give thanks for the many blessings we have received, it’s also a good time to give credit to those who helped to make our state what it is. Some of Lincoln’s other words of wisdom lend themselves to that. Achievement has no color, Lincoln said. That would apply to familiar figures like Chief Seattle, who befriended settlers arriving in the Puget Sound area, and Centralia’s George Washington, born into slavery, who not only founded Lewis County’s largest city but kept it alive during difficult times through his courageous and compassionate leadership. It also brings in people like George Washington Bush, who became one of the first black landowners in Washington when he settled his family in Thurston County, and was also legendary for his generosity to neighbors and new settlers. Owen Bush, one of his sons, was among the most celebrated farmers in Washington. He was chosen in 1889 to serve in the first House of Representatives and would have an important role in the creation of a state agricultural college – today’s Washington State University. Lincoln also spoke multiple times about the importance of perseverance: “The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion,” is an example. Those words and his interest in discoveries and inventions call to mind both the historical and modern trailblazers of our state, from Mother Joseph, who led the founding of hospitals and schools across Washington, to industry leaders like George Weyerhaeuser, William Boeing, John Nordstrom, and Paul Allen. In his 1863 annual address to Congress, Lincoln did not just lay out a plan for the reconstruction of the nation. He also called for welcoming those seeking to become naturalized citizens as a “source of national wealth and strength.” While they are largely nameless today, the countless people who migrated here to become Americans – in Lincoln’s time and over the next century – also had a huge part in the growth of our state. The influence of Hispanics, Ukrainians, Russians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Filipinos, Scandinavians, Germans, Sephardic Jews, East Indians, Eastern Europeans and others can be seen in communities throughout Washington. It should be celebrated. Also, the day after Thanksgiving is designated as a legal holiday in Washington to recognize the immeasurable contributions of Native Americans and their remarkable cultures. In fact, this is the 10th anniversary of Native American Heritage Day, which was created by a state Senate bill. Lincoln hoped he would be remembered as someone who “always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” That describes some of the elected officials who should be remembered for their efforts to put our state on a better path — like the late Sen. Jeannette Hayner, the first woman to lead a house of our state Legislature, and former three-term Gov. Dan Evans, who recently passed at age 98. When Lincoln issued that first national Thanksgiving proclamation, the Civil War was just past its halfway point. Washington was only a territory, far removed from the fighting over the expansion of slavery. The issues before the territorial legislators who met in Olympia in 1863 included selecting a public printer, deciding whether legislators could grant divorces, and the proposed construction of an “adequate” wagon road between Puget Sound and Walla Walla. While those were important debates for a territory that was less than a decade old, they couldn’t compare to the strife in many of the 35 states that existed at the time of that first national Thanksgiving, Lincoln referred to the consequences of the war in his proclamation, which went on to recommend that the people “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand” to do two things. The first was to heal the nation’s wounds. The second was to restore the nation to the “full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.” Washington has come a very long way in the 161 years since, especially when compared to other states. For instance, U.S. News and World Report recently ranked our state eighth in the nation overall, based on scores in eight categories that include health care, education, and crime. However, it’s important to know the same publication had ranked Washington second overall in 2023. The drop in this year’s overall ranking is due largely to crime rates. Our state sank to 39th in that category for 2024, compared to 19th the previous year. In the “opportunity” category, which covers affordability along with economic opportunity, our state fell to 37th in 2024. That’s down from an already troubling 31st in 2023. In turn, “affordability” is defined by the overall cost of living and the cost of housing. In that specific category, only California, Hawaii and New Jersey ranked worse than our state. In the education category, the publication ranked Washington 13th. I believe many K-12 parents would be skeptical about that, especially those who have seen their children suffer from post-pandemic learning loss. Sure enough, a closer look shows Washington ranking 32nd for “pre-K-12” and a dismal 40th place for college readiness. To use Lincoln’s words, these examples help show where our state needs healing. Our communities have been wounded by violence and lawlessness. Our families and employers have been wounded by the high cost of living. Our children have been wounded by misguided priorities. Republicans are working on policy and budget proposals to address all of this during the 2025 legislative session, which convenes in less than two months. In the meantime, the list of blessings received by our state since that first national Thanksgiving is a long one. Let’s offer thanks and praise for it. After the results of the general election came in, I observed the voters had spoken, and it was now time to get to work. Simply healing our state will take a great deal of work. Restoring it to Lincoln’s definition — the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union — means reaching an even higher bar. Getting to that standard will take more leadership and vision from both sides of the political aisle than we have seen in some time. But it’s how we make our state better. ••• Sen. John Braun of Centralia serves the 20th Legislative District, which spans parts of four counties from Yelm to Vancouver. He became Senate Republican leader in 2020.
The Wanted star Max George has said he is “staying positive” while in hospital waiting for tests that could shine a light on issues with his heart. In a post to Instagram on Thursday the singer, 36, explained that he went to hospital after feeling “really unwell” and added that he needed “a lot more tests” to determine “what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet.” Updating his fans, George posted a video from his hospital bed on Friday, and said he “had a bit of a rough day”. A post shared by Max George (@maxgeorge) He added: “My heart rate dropped a bit this morning, which was, it was a little bit scary. “But everyone here is amazing, so wanted to get it back up a little bit and get it stable again, which is great. “Reason I’m not... like a lot of friends and family are asking why I’m not just going in and having anything (like surgery) done yet, because there’s so many tests that need to be done before we do anything. “So I just need to get through till, I guess, next week. Get all the tests done, and then they’ll know exactly what to do, because otherwise, obviously, they’ll be able to do something, but it’ll be better doing it with all the information that they need. “But, yeah, it’s shit, but still here and staying positive. “And thanks everyone as well for all the lovely messages and any friends and family and that that have messaged that I haven’t got back to. “I see you all and yeah, means a lot. Much love and have a nice Friday night.” George rose to fame in the 2010s with The Wanted, who had a number of hit songs including All Time Low, Glad You Came and Heart Vacancy. His bandmate Tom Parker died in 2022 at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. George, who helped carry Parker’s coffin at his funeral alongside fellow bandmates Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes, previously said on This Morning that he continued to message his late bandmate following his death as it brought him “a bit of comfort”. He also appeared in the US musical series Glee as Clint and in his band’s reality series The Wanted Life. Over the years, he has competed in a number of competition series including Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, Bear Grylls: Mission Survive and Richard Osman’s House Of Games. George’s girlfriend is former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, who appeared on BBC One dancing competition series Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 at the same time as George, though they have previously said that romantic sparks only began to fly in 2022. He was due to appear on a MasterChef Christmas special before the BBC pulled the show from its festive schedule amid allegations about the conduct of judge Gregg Wallace across a range of shows.Botcha calls Vizag drugs container allegations high ‘drama’, demands probe by CentreSalah 'far away' from new deal with Liverpool
Some investors focus on growth; others seek out stocks that can deliver passive income. Today, let's focus on two well-known passive income stocks from the telecom sector: Verizon Communications ( VZ -0.10% ) and AT&T ( T -0.44% ) . Which is the better passive income stock right now? Here's what I think. Verizon Communications The company's stock enjoyed a 2024 that's been solid but not all that spectacular, with shares up about 5% year to date. Add to that the hefty $2.71 annual dividend -- representing a yield of roughly 6.8% -- and investors in Verizon banked a total return of nearly 13%. While that is a solid year-to-date return, it still lags behind what the S&P 500 generated. And as we will see, it pales in comparison to Verizon's key competitor. Nevertheless, the company is making headway in its key areas of focus. For a value stock like Verizon, that means improving margins, generating plenty of free cash flow , and reducing debt. All told, its gross margins increased from 56.8% to 60.3%, while net debt shrunk from $151 billion to $146 billion. AT&T As of this writing, shares of AT&T increased by 36% year to date, making 2024 one of the best years the telecom giant has seen in several years. On top of that, the stock pays a generous $1.11 dividend per share, which works out to a yield of roughly 4.9%. Taken together, that means shareholders enjoyed a year-to-date total return of around 45% in 2024. The company's fast-improving fundamentals are the reason for its excellent stock performance. Take its gross margin, for example: Over the last year, it has jumped from 56.6% to 61.5%. Meanwhile, net debt has been reduced from $133 billion to $128 billion. Which is the better passive income stock right now? For income-seeking investors, Verizon and AT&T are both solid stocks. However, there are key differences between these two. Verizon has a fat dividend yield of 6.8%. That means a $50,000 investment should generate about $3,400 in annual dividend income. Compare that to AT&T, which has a yield of 4.8%. That's nothing to sneeze at, but it's about 200 basis points (or 2 percentage points) lower than Verizon's. That means a $50,000 investment in AT&T shares should generate about $2,400 per year in dividend income -- about $1,000 less than Verizon. But this year, the performance of AT&T's stock bolstered its total return to more than three times what its competitor generated. Looking ahead, Verizon is embarking on an acquisition of Frontier Communications . That will serve a strategic purpose, helping it compete in the bundling of various services. However, it may act as a drag on the stock due to uncertainties around the deal and the added debt the company will take on as part of the agreement. For that reason, investors who value total returns over simply dividend income may prefer AT&T.Lakers vs. Timberwolves Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for December 13
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TEHRAN - The Iran Carpet Museum hosted a ceremony unveiling two exquisite Safavid-era carpets, drawing the attention of over 150 scholars, artists, and carpet enthusiasts. Held in the Pazyryk Hall of the museum, the event featured an in-depth presentation by prominent carpet researcher and educator Touraj Zhouleh, who provided detailed insights into the intricate beauty and historical significance of the Safavid carpets, Mehr reported on Saturday. Highlighting the value of hand-woven carpet workshops, Zhouleh emphasized the role of advanced technologies in enhancing participants' understanding through immersive, multi-sensory experiences. The expert also traced the origins of carpet studies to the mid-19th century, crediting European scholars as pioneers in the field. He noted that American researchers later expanded this discipline by employing fieldwork techniques to introduce tribal and rural carpets to the global art community. “Carpet studies go beyond technical analysis,”Zhouleh remarked, “encompassing the deep connections between history, culture, society, and beliefs. Safavid carpets, in particular, exemplify the flourishing of art and culture during this period.” The two Safavid carpets will be on display at the Iran Carpet Museum until January 19, 2025, offering visitors a chance to marvel at these masterpieces of Persian artistry. Attendees described the unveiling as a memorable moment that celebrated the artistry of this remarkable era. Persian carpets are sought after internationally, with patterns of Persian garden being arguably the most characteristic feature of them all. Weavers spend several months in front of a loom, stringing and knotting thousands of threads. Some practice established patterns. Some make their own. Each Persian carpet is a scene that seems ageless, a procedure that can take as long as a year. These efforts have long put Iran’s carpets among the most complex and labor-intensive handicrafts in the world. When the weaving is finally done, the carpet is cut, washed, and put out in the sun to dry. Throughout history, invaders, politicians, and even enemies have left their impact on Iran’s carpets. As mentioned by the Britannica Encyclopedia, little is known about Persian carpet-making before the 15th century, when art was already approaching a peak. AM