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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he's "always available" if team co-owners Woody and Chris Johnson want his insight during their search for Gang Green's next head coach and general manager. Rodgers' comments were in response to a remark on the Jets using The 33rd Team and whether the Johnson would consider talking to him considering the 20-year NFL veteran's experience and his potential as a "valuable resource" given how many people he's presumably come across during that timeframe. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
By Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Every day millions of people share more intimate information with their accessories than they do with their spouse. Wearable technology — smartwatches, smart rings, fitness trackers and the like — monitors body-centric data such as your heart rate, steps taken and calories burned, and may record where you go along the way. Like Santa Claus, it knows when you are sleeping (and how well), it knows when you’re awake, it knows when you’ve been idle or exercising, and it keeps track of all of it. People are also sharing sensitive health information on health and wellness apps , including online mental health and counseling programs. Some women use period tracker apps to map out their monthly cycle. These devices and services have excited consumers hoping for better insight into their health and lifestyle choices. But the lack of oversight into how body-centric data are used and shared with third parties has prompted concerns from privacy experts, who warn that the data could be sold or lost through data breaches, then used to raise insurance premiums, discriminate surreptitiously against applicants for jobs or housing, and even perform surveillance. The use of wearable technology and medical apps surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but research released by Mozilla on Wednesday indicates that current laws offer little protection for consumers who are often unaware just how much of their health data are being collected and shared by companies. “I’ve been studying the intersections of emerging technologies, data-driven technologies, AI and human rights and social justice for the past 15 years, and since the pandemic I’ve noticed the industry has become hyper-focused on our bodies,” said Mozilla Foundation technology fellow Júlia Keserű, who conducted the research. “That permeates into all kinds of areas of our lives and all kinds of domains within the tech industry.” The report “From Skin to Screen: Bodily Integrity in the Digital Age” recommends that existing data protection laws be clarified to encompass all forms of bodily data. It also calls for expanding national health privacy laws to cover health-related information collected from health apps and fitness trackers and making it easier for users to opt out of body-centric data collections. Researchers have been raising alarms about health data privacy for years. Data collected by companies are often sold to data brokers or groups that buy, sell and trade data from the internet to create detailed consumer profiles. Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records. One of the key reasons health information has value to companies — even when the person’s name is not associated with it — is that advertisers can use the data to send targeted ads to groups of people based on certain details they share. The information contained in these consumer profiles is becoming so detailed, however, that when paired with other data sets that include location information, it could be possible to target specific individuals, Keserű said. Location data can “expose sophisticated insights about people’s health status, through their visits to places like hospitals or abortions clinics,” Mozilla’s report said, adding that “companies like Google have been reported to keep such data even after promising to delete it.” Related Articles A 2023 report by Duke University revealed that data brokers were selling sensitive data on individuals’ mental health conditions on the open market. While many brokers deleted personal identifiers, some provided names and addresses of individuals seeking mental health assistance, according to the report. In two public surveys conducted as part of the research, Keserű said, participants were outraged and felt exploited in scenarios where their health data were sold for a profit without their knowledge. “We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said. “As technology continues to advance, it is critical that our laws and practices evolve to meet the unique challenges of this era.” Consumers often take part in these technologies without fully understanding the implications. Last month, Elon Musk suggested on X that users submit X-rays, PET scans, MRIs and other medical images to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence chatbot, to seek diagnoses. The issue alarmed privacy experts, but many X users heeded Musk’s call and submitted health information to the chatbot. While X’s privacy policy says that the company will not sell user data to third parties, it does share some information with certain business partners. Gaps in existing laws have allowed the widespread sharing of biometric and other body-related data. Health information provided to hospitals, doctor’s offices and medical insurance companies is protected from disclosure under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act , known as HIPAA, which established federal standards protecting such information from release without the patient’s consent. But health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don’t fall under HIPAA’s umbrella, said Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center. “In the U.S. because we don’t have a comprehensive federal privacy law ... it falls to the state level,” she said. But not every state has weighed in on the issue. Washington, Nevada and Connecticut all recently passed laws to provide safeguards for consumer health data. Washington, D.C., in July introduced legislation that aimed to require tech companies to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use or sale of consumer health data. In California, the California Privacy Rights Act regulates how businesses can use certain types of sensitive information, including biometric information, and requires them to offer consumers the ability to opt out of disclosure of sensitive personal information. “This information being sold or shared with data brokers and other entities hypercharge the online profiling that we’re so used to at this point, and the more sensitive the data, the more sophisticated the profiling can be,” Bernstein said. “A lot of the sharing or selling with third parties is outside the scope of what a consumer would reasonably expect.” Health information has become a prime target for hackers seeking to extort healthcare agencies and individuals after accessing sensitive patient data. Health-related cybersecurity breaches and ransom attacks increased more than 4,000% between 2009 and 2023, targeting the booming market of body-centric data, which is expected to exceed $500 billion by 2030, according to the report. “Nonconsensual data sharing is a big issue,” Keserű said. “Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Last night at Anfield was supposed to be about a battle between two attacking superstars but Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah fluffed their lines. Instead, the battle between two of European football’s two giant clubs was dominated by some lesser names. For Liverpool , it was homegrown players Conor Bradley and Caoimhin Kelleher who took star billing as Salah missed a penalty while Real’s other big-name players were unable to help out Mbappe as the home side ran out 2-0 winners. There was also crazy late drama in Eindhoven and a piece of history in Bologna. Here are the big talking points from tonight. Have Liverpool got a homegrown Alexander-Arnold replacement? Liverpool supporters might soon have to picture life without Trent Alexander-Arnold . And last night it did not look too bad. With the Merseyside-born full-back’s contract due to expire at the end of this season, his hometown club remain hopeful that he will commit to an extension. But should he choose to try his luck elsewhere, Real would appear to be his most likely free-transfer destination. Advertisement So last night, with Alexander-Arnold on the substitutes’ bench as he continues his recovery from injury, it was a chance for Bradley to stake a claim as a long-term successor. The 21-year-old, who followed the same path as Alexander-Arnold through the Anfield academy, probably dreamed of playing in huge occasions like last night. But when he was turning out as a substitute for Bolton Wanderers in front of 2,381 people in the unglamorous English Football League Trophy in November 2022, he probably did not expect to be thwarting Real superstar Mbappe and then laying on a superb goal in front of a packed Anfield just two years later. Yet that was how it turned out last night. Early in the first half, Bradley drew acclaim from the home crowd for a superbly-timed challenge that ended a powerful break by Mbappe. "There's only one Conor Bradley" 🗣️🎶 Liverpool fans are making their appreciation of the youngster's performance known! pic.twitter.com/T8NbPkYDwu — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 27, 2024 Then in the second half, he showed he is more than just a rugged defender with a brilliantly-weighted pass to set up Alexis Mac Allister for the opening goal. Video for UK audience Take a bow, Alexis Mac Allister! 👏 Anfield erupts with noise as Liverpool take the lead 🔊 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fQSTG1Gl56 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Video for U.S. readers MAC ALLISTER FINISHES A LOVELY MOVE FROM LIVERPOOL TO HIT REAL MADRID EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF ⚡ pic.twitter.com/7iYRlrN9Vg — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 27, 2024 Mbappe’s frustration continued when he had a penalty saved by Kelleher and Salah then blasted another spot-kick wide for Liverpool before Cody Gakpo eventually scored Liverpool’s second. 3 – Caoimhín Kelleher has now saved three of the four penalties he has faced for Liverpool in all competitions (ex. shootouts), while this was only the second penalty Kylian Mbappé has failed to convert in the UEFA Champions League. Reflex. pic.twitter.com/20lpa3lTYJ — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 27, 2024 It all meant that, with two rounds of games remaining, Real might not even reach the knockout stage, which was probably not what UEFA had in mind when they changed the format of the competition. Why was Bellingham booed at Anfield? Jude Bellingham is greeted as the golden boy almost everywhere he goes but Anfield was in no mood to roll out the red carpet for the England midfielder. In fact, the Real Madrid star was booed for much of the evening by a lively home crowd as he failed to inspire the Spanish giants to victory on Merseyside. The reason for the jeering is probably a little nuanced, but the main reason was almost certainly the fact that Bellingham moved to Real Madrid despite Liverpool’s interest in him . There is also the added factor that Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold are close friends in the England squad so, if the Liverpool full-back is seriously considering Real’s advances ahead of a possible free transfer, it seems inconceivable that he will not pick Bellingham’s brains. The former Birmingham youngster was public enemy No.1 at Anfield, although his side’s defeat probably bothered him more than getting the bird. USMNT pair shine in comeback for the ages If you were a fan of PSV Eindhoven and decided to leave the Philips Stadion early last night with your team 2-0 down in the closing stages, you probably won’t do it again. If you were a viewer in the United States who switched over from the same game at the same stage, you might think twice in the future, too. Because the ending to the game in the Netherlands was crazy... and very American. Advertisement It seemed to be going the way of Ukraine ’s Shakhtar Donetsk when they led 2-0 thanks to goals from Danylo Sikan and Oleksandar Zubkov in the first half. Even the second-half sending off of Shakthar’s Pedro Henrique seemed to have made little impact when his side still held their two-goal lead on 87 minutes. But it did. U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Malik Tillman scored to give his side hope and spark a finish that was frankly crazy. On 90 minutes Tillman scored again to level for his side and the Americans were not done yet. Ricardo Pepi , another U.S. international, popped up to score a winner for the home side five minutes into added time. Video for U.S. readers RICARDO PEPI TO THE RESCUE FOR PSV!! 🇺🇸 EL Tren’s hot streak continues! 🚂 pic.twitter.com/FypgbeKOHU — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 27, 2024 If you left early to beat the traffic, did you enjoy your extra 10 minutes at home? And if you switched over, were any of the other games really worth it? But a moment USMNT defender will want to forget Champions League nights at Celtic Park are always memorable. But United States Men’s National Team defender Cameron Carter-Vickers would prefer to forget the latest one. The former Tottenham Hotspur player scored an own goal for the ages to hand Celtic ’s opponents, the Belgian side Club Brugge, a bizarre leg-up in the form of a 1-0 lead in the first half. With the two clubs jostling for places in the middle section of the 36-team league, Celtic began their latest home game with designs on climbing above their opponents to solidify their spot in the group of clubs between ninth and 24th, who will take part in play-offs for places in the last 16. So having one of their own defenders beat goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel with a shot that nestled perfectly in the bottom corner was... not ideal. Advertisement Brugge’s pressing in the 26th minute was admirable but it did not really get Carter-Vickers off the hook for one of the more bizarre own goals the Champions League has seen. Video for UK readers That is not the start Celtic were hoping for 🙈 Carter-Vickers' mistake gifts Brugge the lead 😬 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AwI6R9o56Q — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Video for U.S. readers A shocking error from Cameron Carter-Vickers gives Club Brugge the lead 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZH7Wq555Om — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 27, 2024 Schmeichel’s positioning when Nicolas Kuhn rolled a pass into Carter-Vickers did not appear ideal, but he could not really have expected the defender to sidefoot the ball past him and inside the far post. Kudos to Celtic captain Callum McGregor , who immediately called an impromptu huddle with the aim of lifting his team-mates and ended up raising the home crowd too. But it was tough to recover from such a crazy self-inflicted wound. A moment of history for Lucumi – and Bologna Jhon Lucumi is not a well-known name in European football but the Colombia striker now has a permanent place in the history of Bologna. The Italian side are playing their first campaign in the Champions League in its modern iteration, having last played in its predecessor, the European Cup, 60 years ago. And in the first four runs of matches, they had not managed to score a goal. Lucumi changed that with the club’s first-ever Champions League goal on 63 minutes of their home game against Lille, cancelling out Ngal’ayel Mukau’s opener. The joy lasted for just three minutes before Mukau struck again with what proved to be a match-winning goal to leave Bologna still without a win and with just one point. Wednesday’s results What’s next? Round six of the eight-round group stage begins on Tuesday, December 10, with nine games. (Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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The connections are clear between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, longtime NFC South rivals. The teams get together for a meeting on Sunday in Charlotte and showed recent signs they can play with any team. "It's an NFC South battle," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. "All of them are going to be hard, none of them (are) going to be easy. ... They're playing pretty good football. They missed some games here and there, but they're playing very good football. It's going to be a tough battle." Few introductions are needed on Sunday, as first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales came to Carolina after serving as Buccaneers offensive coordinator a season ago. Canales' prized pupil last season, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was with the Panthers for part of the 2022 campaign. "There's some familiarity," Canales said of his connection to the Buccaneers. "Knowing coach Bowles, he's got a really sophisticated system and he attacks each team with a specific game plan. There's some principles that carry over. I know that he's going to have some things up his sleeve." The Buccaneers (5-6) playing a division opponent for the first time since an Oct. 27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The goal will be notching back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two weeks of the season. Four different ball-carriers, including Mayfield, found the end zone on the ground during a 30-7 drubbing of the New York Giants last Sunday. Mayfield also completed 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards. "For me, the biggest thing was blocking and tackling," Bowles said of what his team did well last weekend. "We cleaned up the fundamental and technique part of it." Star wideout Mike Evans was back in action for Tampa Bay following a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He finished with five receptions for 68 yards against the Giants and now gets a crack at a Carolina team allowing a league-high 30.9 points per game this season. However, the Panthers have tightened up their play as of late, winning two games in a row before hanging with the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in a 30-27 setback last Sunday. The outing against Kansas City may have been the most efficient performance of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's two-year career. Young completed 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards and one score without throwing a pick. "It's not all Bryce, it's the whole unit," Canales said. "It's a collective effort, but he certainly needs to be the voice and driver of that." Wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps), tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck) and safety Lonnie Johnson (personal) were all missing from practice on Wednesday for Carolina. Defensive end LaBryan Ray is dealing with a hand issue and was among those limited. Safety Jordan Whitehead (pectoral) was one of four Buccaneers to miss practice on Wednesday. Evans practiced in full. Carolina and Tampa Bay might as well get used to each other, as the two teams will collide again in Week 17. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.HistoSonics Edison® Histotripsy System behandelt erste Patienten mit Bauchspeicheldrüsentumoren in GANNON-Studie
Hang mittens, more on Tree of Hope Once again, the Tree of Hope where items providing warmth for the the winter for those in need will be in placee in front of the Unitarian Universalist church of Saco and Biddeford at 60 School St. in Saco. Hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks and other items for the cold, winter weather donated by members of the church and community will be placed on the tree and are free to take by anyone in need. Community participation and donations are welcome as well as the taking of the gifts by those who need them. To donate, contact the church at 207-282-0062. Matherne Geraldine Matherne named Biddeford’s finance director Geraldine Matherne will serve as Biddeford’s next finance director. The Biddeford City Council unanimously supported City Manager James Bennett’s nomination Matherne for the position Dec. 3. Matherne is a Biddeford resident and has nine years of experience in the city’s Finance Department. She previously served as a staff account for the city and was promoted to deputy finance director in 2018. “I am excited and honored to return to the city of Biddeford as your Finance Director,” Matherne said. “I am confident my knowledge, experiences, and vested interest in the community I am part of will serve our citizens well.” Matherne has most recently served as the finance director for the city of Saco, a position she held since July 2022. She holds a graduate certificate in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine. “I am pleased to welcome Gerry back to the city of Biddeford as a member of our leadership team,” Bennett said. “Gerry’s proven expertise and her extensive knowledge of our history and processes will make for a seamless transition for residents and staff.” Sasha Pavlak, the city’s current finance director, has announced her resignation effective Dec. 31. Matherne will assume the responsibilities of the position on Jan. 5. “I am thrilled to have someone with Gerry’s experience and deep roots in our community returning to lead the Finance Department,” said Mayor Martin Grohman. “I would also like to thank Sasha for her service to our city this year and wish her continued success.” Stuart Atlantic FCU awards scholarship to Dayton woman Atlantic Federal Credit Union congratulates Danielle Stuart of Dayton, the 2024 Atlantic/Amable & Vivian Caron $2,500 college scholarship recipient. Currently attending Husson University, Danielle was selected from numerous entries to receive the award after submitting her application and writing a short essay about her favorite mentor and how they impacted her life. Atlantic President/Chief Executive Officer Scott Chretien said, “We are happy to award Danielle Stuart this scholarship and are proud to support her as she pursues her education. Amable A. Caron and Vivian Caron were long-time members of the Credit Union who wanted to help young members like Danielle pursue higher education. It is an honor to continue their legacy.” Aroma Joe’s Aroma Joe’s opens 2nd location in Saco Aroma Joe’s opened of its newest location in Saco at 933 Portland Road. This 980-square-foot drive thru location features handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, unique flavor infusions, signature AJ’s RUSH® Energy Drinks and all-day food options. The shop will be open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The shop will employ approximately 20 local residents, according to a company press release, and is the second Aroma Joe’s to open in Saco under the leadership of franchisee Maryna Shuliakouskaya. Shuliakouskaya was one of Aroma Joe’s first franchisees, opening her first shop in 2013. She now owns and operates 10 locations and is a passionate mentor and motivator for her staff and leadership teams. “We’re excited to grow within the Saco community,” said Maryna Shuliakouskaya, owner of both Saco Aroma Joe’s locations. “This new store allows us to serve more guests and create additional opportunities for local team members. It’s all about sharing the positive energy that Aroma Joe’s is known for.” Aroma Joe’s is a major disruptor in the quick service coffee space, headquartered in Scarborough, Maine and now with 120 locations across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. They are currently planning development and opening new stores along the East Coast from Maine to Florida. Aroma Joe’s is actively expanding, and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available. Thornton Academy is presented with the 2024 – 2027 Apple Distinguished School Award. From left are: Ben Grasso, assistant head for faculty and academic affairs; Rene Menard, headmaster; Ben Nasse, director of Technology; and Ryan Wiggins, education leadership executive at Apple. Contributed / Thornton Academy Thornton honored as Apple Distinguished School Thornton Academy, a high school in Saco, has again been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for “inspiring, imagining, and impacting teaching and learning through continuous innovation,” according to a school press release. The Apple Distinguished School program, recognized in 37 countries, is by invitation only. Schools must meet the program’s rigorous qualifications, including innovative use of the Apple platform, leadership and faculty proficiency with iPad/Apple Pen or Mac, and all students and educators use Apple devices as their primary learning or teaching device to ensure access equity across the entire academic experience. Representatives from Apple and educators from across New England visited the Thornton Academy campus last month to observe teachers and students using Apple technology in the classroom and to see firsthand what makes an Apple Distinguished School. Thornton is one of only 10 schools in all of New England to receive the honor. It has been honored as an Apple Distinguished School continually since 2016. “As educators, we strive to prepare students for a changing world, which includes being comfortable working with technology,” said Ben Grasso, assistant head for faculty and academic affairs at Thornton. “Whatever path students choose after high school, whether they attend college, pursue a trade, or join the military, they will certainly be exposed to technology, and attending an Apple Distinguished School like Thornton Academy gives them a strong foundation to build on.” On its website, Apple notes that “The Apple Distinguished Schools program supports forward-thinking education leaders and their communities who are using Apple technology to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning.” SMAA offers winter Tai Chi Classes Falls are not an inevitable part of aging, yet they can have enormous economic and personal consequences for older adults. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. The good news is that older adults who remain active have the power to prevent falls. Registrations are now open for in-person and virtual Tai Chi for Health & Balance – Falls Prevention classes offered through Southern Maine Agency on Aging. Tai Chi for Health & Balance is a 10-week, 20-session class that helps improve mobility, breathing, and relaxation with an enjoyable form of exercise that almost anyone can learn. “As a trusted community resource, we are honored to provide evidence-based health programs – such as Tai Chi – that are proven to reduce the incidence of falls among older adults,” said Meg Barhite, SMAA volunteer services director. “Increased strength, flexibility, better mental focus, and improved balance are all wonderful outcomes of the program. Just as importantly, our classes provide social engagement opportunities for clients, and are led by dedicated and trained volunteers.” Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Winter Tai Chi Classes include: • Introduction to Tai Chi at the South Portland Public Library, Jan. 6 – March 20, Mondays and Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. • Introduction to Tai Chi at Scarborough Community Services, Jan. 14 – March 20, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. • Introduction to Tai Chi on Zoom (Technical assistance offered for users new to Zoom), Jan. 14 – March 20, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. • Deepening Tai Chi on Zoom for participants who have completed the SMAA intro class Jan. 14 – March 20, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. Class sizes are limited and pre-registration is required. Visit the events page at smaaa.org/events or call 207-396-6578 to pre-register and check out other class locations and dates. For more information, call 207-396-6578 or email agewell@smaaa.org. SMS a finalists in STEM competition Saco Middle School is one of 300 public middle and high schools from across the country named as a state finalist in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) competition. In addition to Saco Middle School, the other Maine State Finalists are: Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Nokomis Regional Middle School in Newport, Noble High School in North Berwick, and Camden Hills Regional High School (two teams) in Rockport. Each finalist has won a $2,500 Samsung technology prize package, an initial milestone on the path toward becoming one of three National Winners that will each unlock $100,000 for their school. Overall, Samsung will award more than $2 million in prizes to this year’s participating schools. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is among the most awarded national STEM competitive programs, according to a Samsung press release, recently recognized with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Award for Best Commitment to Education Program, the Digiday Greater Good Award for Education, and a Silver Anthem Award for Community Engagement and CSR. The education-based citizenship initiative empowers students in grades 6–12 to leverage the power of STEM to create innovative solutions addressing critical issues in their local communities. The competition engages Gen Z and Gen Alpha students to catalyze positive change by applying Problem-based Learning (PBL) principles, environmental stewardship, and social impact entrepreneurship to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges. By promoting active, hands-on learning, Solve for Tomorrow makes STEM more tangible for young learners, and opens doors to future opportunities in STEM education and careers. For the next phase of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, teachers must create a focused activity plan. Plans must outline how students will execute their STEM project by defining the community problem, proposing a STEM-based solution, specifying objectives, detailing activities to reach their anticipated goals, and articulating the expected positive impact their solution will bring to the community. Activity plans are due Jan. 9, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Based on these activity plans, judges will select State Winners, who will be revealed in March 2025. Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previousby Ruth Surenthiraraj Recent events surrounding the ABBA tribute concert held in Colombo brought to light certain long-standing questions particularly to do with the arts and the idea of leisure. While I will not pretend that I can capture the spectrum of responses that were offered on the fact that some NPP politicians had attended the concert, I am intrigued by what I thought was a dominant critique. The politicians were viewed as being hypocrites because they came in on a promise of focusing on the most immediate needs of the people and were then seen at a concert, something non-essential to the jobs they were elected to do. This vein of critique is not really a new one to the arts, particularly to the performing and fine arts. Often, artists find themselves having to defend their creations because they are viewed as being non-essential. Indeed, anything that is remotely related to entertainment or leisure is often seen as being unnecessary and, therefore, easily dispensable. This is true regardless of whether you are studying or working. In fact, entertainment, leisure, or the space to create is often perceived as being directly and positively correlated to being able to afford either the time or the resources to enjoy it. In this sense, we seem to have ample historical evidence. Certain forms of either entertainment or leisure have been specifically linked to having access to a certain lifestyle. You are more likely to be able to enjoy painting or sport or music if you are more well-to-do or you are born into a certain class. And if we have stories of artists or sportspeople from lower income families, it is more often than not because they have struggled against the grain and perhaps even caught a lucky break. The problem with this view, however, is that it often leads to a faulty conclusion: we assume that leisure or alternative interests are only feasible when one has money to dispose of comfortably – or if you come from a certain class or can claim a particular social status. If you extended this argument to its rational conclusion, we are really suggesting that the poor or the working classes need not enjoy something that is not directly linked to the fulfilment of their basic needs. We often assume that if you are struggling to make it from day to day, then you can dispense with the idea that leisure or entertainment is necessary This assumption is a dangerous one because it ascribes more value to the life of the rich or the ‘well-born’ and feeds into the lie that leisure is not a vital part of enjoying life as a human being with dignity. This acknowledgement becomes even more important when we think of students today. While they are often encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities because it will flesh out their CVs and get them through the door into better employment opportunities, the discussion does not often go beyond this point. I am not saying that extracurricular or leisure activities cannot make you a better employee. But does this mean that our entire lives are defined by the employment we have or hope to have? Does it also mean that we should cut out all ‘non-essential’ activities that do not directly benefit our careers? And what happens when we give students the impression that if anything does not directly benefit their future employability, then they should be spending less time and effort on it? I am myself guilty of this utilitarian approach. In one of my classes recently, I discovered that a fair number of students had not seemed to have done very much extracurricular work in school. I expressed my shock and horror and proceeded to tell them to try at least a few other activities in university. I then found myself having to justify why I would ask them to do such a thing and found myself blithely going on about how it will teach them skills of teamwork and handling difficult tasks or complex personalities. But when I thought back to that experience much later, I realized that I too had been guilty of reducing the inner or alternative lives of my students into something that was or was not capable of adding to their employability. When we treat employability as the only measurement by which we decide if an activity is valuable or not, we are inadvertently telling our students that other measurements, like enjoyment or beauty or satisfaction, are invalid ways of deciding if something can be important to us. Students should not be made to feel guilty about spending their time on activities that are not directly seen as gainful. Instead, they should be encouraged to see that a fully embraced life requires multiple ways of measuring experiences that we encounter. In fact, an individual who can coherently hold together these varying ways of valuing the world will be more easily able to embrace realities that are complex. But let’s get down to the brass tacks of why we should be encouraging students to do more activities that they enjoy instead of hyper-focusing everything they do on employability. When did we last do something we truly loved without thinking twice about whether it would be helpful to our careers? But this joy of indulging in something that brings you satisfaction is exactly what we might be taking away from our students. By increasingly pressurizing them to keep performing within a hypercompetitive world, we seem to be sapping the last of their individuality and sense of self. If they are not routinely taught that they can enjoy themselves outside of their study or work, we will be facilitating the advent of a generation that eventually lacks the capacity to enjoy life itself. In fact, it is even more difficult to remind our students that they are allowed to not excel at something in life. The greatest pitfall of the employability perspective on extracurricular activities is that students now feel that if they do something other than studies, they must do it perfectly or perform at the highest level in order to justify their continuing of that activity. Practice does make perfect – but have we ever considered also telling them that it’s ok to not be the best in everything they undertake? In fact, I think we must consciously begin to encourage students to do something they love even if they are bad at it, rather than hail students who might be average at something they are indifferent to. My point is that being indifferent (basically incapable of intense emotion) towards an activity is the worst way a learner could approach something – because this indifference strips you of any need to envision a better outcome or want something that is different. And I would argue that we need to actively encourage the ‘loves’ of our students – regardless of their success – if we are to combat this crippling and far more insidious indifference to life itself. A student who is capable of love towards an extracurricular or leisure activity can be enticed to love the curiosity of learning: a student who is indifferent may offer us no inroad to entice them at all. I also strongly believe that encouraging students to have lives that encompass spheres other than their education or potential employment will help them navigate the reality of loss and failure with more composure and resilience. We often end up mistaking the fact that interest in something should automatically lead to easy success at it.. Often, though, we are deeply unaware or consciously blinding ourselves to the reality of failure or defeat. While failure can have very far-reaching consequences in education or employment, should we not have an alternative way in which our students might be able to prepare themselves for failure as a normal part of life itself? Continuing to do something I am bad at simply because I love to keep trying is a wonderful way in which I can think of how to navigate disappointment and failure as normal experiences. To me, the discourses surrounding the ABBA event served as a reminder of how easily we seem to dismiss the vital nature of extracurricular or leisure activities. These ‘non-essentials’ often help us discover what truly brings us joy outside of our work or study. And it is good to be occasionally reminded that we need not feel guilty about creating the time or the space for enjoying other aspects of our lives. (Ruth is a teacher of English as a second language at a state university) Kuppi is a politics and pedagogy happening on the margins of the lecture hall that parodies, subverts, and simultaneously reaffirms social hierarchies.
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In a push to meet forecasts for soaring electricity demand in the next 25 years, Ontario is testing support for new power plants — possibly nuclear — in three locations. Ontario Power Generation is being tasked with beginning discussions with municipal, community and Indigenous leaders for sites it owns in Port Hope, just east of the Darlington nuclear plant, Nanticoke on the north shore of Lake Erie near Port Dover, and along the St. Clair River south of Sarnia. “With demand continuing to grow, it is clear we must build for the future and plan ahead,” Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said Wednesday. New plants are needed to meet demand from 2035 onwards and the government will consider “all types of new energy generation,” he added. Calling more nuclear power “the only way we can reduce (carbon) emissions” while increasing the electricity supply, Lecce hinted at the need for new power plants last month when the province’s Independent Electricity System Operator issued a forecast showing the need for power will soar 75 per cent by 2050. That’s the equivalent of adding four-and-a-half cities the size of Toronto to the grid. The community consultations come as Premier Doug Ford ‘s government prepares to release a new provincial energy plan early next year. Lecce has said it will include a “significant expansion” of energy efficiency programs and that nuclear generation will be the “overarching focus.” “We need to know we can work in strong partnership from the outset,” Lecce said, speaking of the three communities that are no strangers to electricity generation. The Nanticoke and Sarnia-area sites were home to massive coal-fired generating stations that were shut down years ago, while the Port Hope location was to be the site of an oil-fired generating station until the early 1970s oil crisis sent fuel prices skyrocketing and halted construction there. The Port Hope site, also known as Wesleyville, is considered the most likely spot for a large nuclear power plant, with enough room to accommodate a facility the size of the nearby Darlington generating station, or possibly larger. There is now an Ontario Power Generation solar farm on the Nanticoke site, and the Sarnia site is close to a gas-fired power plant. Green Leader Mike Schreiner called for public hearings on the new energy plan and urged the government — which is hinting at an early election next spring instead of waiting until the scheduled date in June 2026 — to emphasize renewables like solar, wind and storage as costs fall for those sources of electricity. “I thought they were going to do a competitive procurement process for the lowest-cost, emission-free electricity,” he said Wednesday. “They’re more interested in high-cost new nuclear than they are in taking advantage of low-cost renewables.” Lecce said the government will consider “all types of new energy generation.” The government’s chosen sites are already zoned for power plants and close to transmission lines in areas with strong population growth. Lecce said engaging communities early is key to the process, and is establishing a fund of up to $50 million for investments in local infrastructure and attracting industry in the three potential locations. New plants would also boost local tax revenue and create jobs, both in construction and long-term operation of the facilities. New plants have the potential to improve “economic reconciliation” with local First Nations through “equity participation” in the generation projects, said Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford. “We look forward to meeting with municipalities and First Nations to understand their perspectives and aspirations,” said Ontario Power Generation president Ken Hartwick, who will retire at the end of the year. The forecast of soaring demand was up from a previous forecast of a 60 per cent increase in demand by 2050. That increase is fuelled by a continuing surge in energy-hungry data centres using artificial intelligence, population growth, increasing electrification of cars, public transit, home heating, electric vehicle battery plants and steelmaking as it transitions to electric arc furnaces from coal. The government is also seeking approval to refurbish the aging Pickering B generating station.Image via Gareth Cattermole/Getty Taylor Swift recently missed the match between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. As per reports, she does not attend away games due to security concerns. But now as per Page Six, a source close to the couple has revealed that Taylor might just be looking into making Nashville a temporary home. Currently, Taylor is not interested to live in Los Angeles or New York and would rather choose Nashville since it is closer to Kansas City. Taylor Swift Will Be Moving To Nashville Soon To Be Closer To Travis Kelce Taylor currently owns a posh apartment and a mansion in Nashville. As per earlier reports, Taylor has also been looking into moving temporarily into the $6 million mansion that Travis Kelce owns in the Kansas City. Taylor actually wants to be there for her boyfriend, the NFL star and the tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce, as his team enters into the playoffs next month. As per reports, Taylor feels Travis will be more calm, comfortable and prepared if she decides to stay with him. For this reason, Travis has also recently spent thousands of dollars into securing this $6 million mansion of his since it was burglarised in the month of October. As per reports, Travis has solely done this for hid girlfriend, the global pop star, Taylor Swift so that she feels safe and comfortable living at his house. Taylor Swift Has A Lot Of Security Concerns Taylor has been a bit scared when it comes to her safety lately. This might have stemmed from when her legendary Eras Tour had to be cancelled in Vienna in June 2024 as there was a terror threat. As per reports, it was earlier revealed that Taylor actually feels the safest only with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. This is evident since in the last few months, apart from her Eras Tour, Taylor has rarely been spotted outside without her boyfriend beside her. It also looks like things are pretty serious between the global pop star and the NFL star. Not only has their romance inspired two Christmas Day movies this year but they are also spotted frequently hanging out with each other’s families. More than moving for safety in Nashville, one can assume Taylor is trying to be closer to Travis and his family since Kansas City is closer to Nashville than her current residence in New York. Taylor also is having the time of her life as she recently celebrated her star studded Eras-themed 35th birthday, As per reports, Travis surprised Taylor with this celebration when she thought she was going for a birthday dinner with Travis and her close friends. Pictures and videos from the party have gone viral that show Taylor and Travis enjoying the night together. 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