Canadians bristle - or shrug - at Trump's trollingAmbitious Digital Nation Pakistan Act to be tabled in NA on 16th
Cracks emerge in Trump's MAGA coalitionAfter the strong November payrolls data , released last week, boosted hopes for an interest rate cut in December,the focus of investors in the week ahead will be on the consumer price inflation. The retail inflation data could provide clues on the US Federal Reserve’s last monetary policy of 2024. In addition, the market participants will also have the Producer Price Index (PPI) data. On earnings front, the Wall Street will see quarter results of some big names including Oracle, Adobe and Broadcom. Economic calendar On December 9 (Monday), a report on wholesale inventories for October will be released. On December 10 (Tuesday), separate reports on NFIB Optimism Index for November and US productivity (revision) for Q3 will be released. On December 11 (Wednesday), data on Consumer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 12 (Thursday), data on Producer Price Index inflation for November will be declared. On December 13 (Friday), a report on Import Price Index for November will be released. Earnings Following companies are due to report third quarter earnings in the week ahead — Oracle, Toll Brothers, Casey’s General Stores, AutoZone, Ferguson Enterprises, GameStop, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Adobe, Broadcom, Costco Wholesale, and Ciena. Events The Goldman Sachs US Financial Services Conference will start on December 10 and the Barclays 22nd Annual Global Technology Conference will begin on December 11. Markets last week The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose to record closing high on Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 123.19 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 44,642.52, the S&P 500 gained 15.16 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 6,090.27 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 159.05 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 19,859.77. For the week, the Nasdaq gained 3.3 per cent, the S&P 500 rose about 1 per cent and the Dow fell 0.6 per cent. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15 per cent from 4.18 per cent.
No. 22 Xavier faces South Carolina St., eyes rebound from lone loss
Arsenal moved into second place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over Ipswich at the Emirates. In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. 🎯 — Arsenal (@Arsenal) Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Three points that take Arsenal into second 🪜 — Premier League (@premierleague) Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Just over an hour on the clock. — IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.PM directs cut in power tariff PM Shehbaz says that low-cost power project produce environment friendly and affordable electricity ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the relevant authorities to further reduce power tariffs and expedite the implementation process of the action plan of the future power generation projects. Chairing a meeting to evaluate and diAscuss the future electricity and power plans of country, the prime minister stressed the need for prioritising the low-cost power projects based on local resources. During the meeting, the prime minister was informed about the progress of the ongoing hydro power projects across the country. PM Shehbaz said that the low-cost power project produce environment friendly and affordable electricity. He further directed that the current electricity generation capacity should also be shifted to solar energy. Globally, electricity is being produced from environmentally friendly, low-cost solar energy, he noted, adding that Pakistan was fortunate in this regard as the country had vast potential for solar energy. The prime minister was also briefed on the progress of phasing out inefficient power plants that consume more fuel but produce less electricity. He ordered the immediate closure of such outdated power plants adding that closing these plants would not only save valuable foreign exchange, but also reduce electricity costs for consumers. The prime minister instructed that immediate action be taken against all officials deliberately obstructing reforms in the power sector. He also directed that reforms in the electricity transmission system be expedited. The power transmission system should be upgraded according to international standards, the prime minister further directed. He ordered swift implementation of a system based on modern technology for the selection and transmission of low-cost electricity. The prime minister issued instructions to complete all measures for the reform of the power sector within the specified timeline. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Dr Musadik Malik, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and other relevant high officials. Meanwhile, Energy Minister of Tajikistan Daler Jumma Friday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House and discussed matters of mutual interests. During the meeting, regional connectivity projects, including CASA-1000, were discussed. Both sides agreed to further promote cooperation in sectors such as communications, particularly land-based connectivity, energy, education, and agriculture. Daler Jumma is visiting Pakistan to participate in the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission. The prime minister welcomed Daler Jumma to Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the progress made in bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various sectors during the Joint Commission. Recalling his visit to Tajikistan and his recent meetings with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Riyadh and Baku, the prime minister extended his best wishes to the Tajik president and expressed hope that President Rahmon would visit Pakistan soon. He expressed satisfaction with the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements reached during his visit and emphasised that timely implementation of these agreements would further strengthen bilateral relations. The Tajik minister thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and hospitality and emphasised the importance of enhancing relations and cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for investment and communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Energy Awais Ahmed Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Adviser to the PM Tariq Fatemi and relevant government officials.
24th annual Bell Capital Cup returns to arenas across OttawaAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:33 p.m. ESTTrump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France
Embracing AI: beyond the fear of automationFor as long as I can recall during my 54 years on this planet, holidays at our family farm have always included my mom serving eggnog during the holidays from small “milk glass” special cups with a colorful etching reading the words “eggnog.” Her set dates back to the 1950s when the vintage glassware was produced by Hazel-Atlas Company, founded in 1902 in Washington, Pennsylvania. Originally, this company specialized in making the small, flat “milk glass” containers for products such as lotions, “cold cream,” salves and ointments. Toasting our holiday cheers and greetings with these cups always rates a smile. The lyrics for the song “Jingle Bells” are featured on the backside of each cup. Decades later in the 1990s, our good family friend Irene Jakubowski of Valparaiso gifted us with her similar themed Hazel-Atlas Company “milk glass” holiday set of cups and a matching small punch bowl. Her set features the etching of the words “Tom & Jerry,” the latter being another popular eggnog-based drink that is served warm (as opposed to room temp or chilled) and was dreamed up by British writer and journalist Pierce Egan around 1820. My recent fascination for the history of eggnog was inspired by my Christmas morning reading from the 2024 “Little Blue Book” of Advent devotions and reflections provided by our priest. These handy palm-size booklets also include “black cover” editions in the spring for Lenten devotions, and both are printed and published by the Diocese of Saginaw, as based on the writings and research of the late Bishop Ken Untener who died in 2004. Today, his writings and publications are continued by editor Erin Looby Carlson with illustrations by MaryBeth O’Connor and graphic designs by Cathy Gerkin, with editorial support by Jenny Cromie. Page 18 in this season’s booklet carries the heading “An Egg-cellent idea” and features this fun and informative passage: “If you’ve been to the grocery store recently or have attended a holiday gathering, you’ve probably noticed the eggnog has arrived for the season. But where did this holiday staple (originally made with raw eggs) originate? It is believed to have come from a medieval British drink called ‘posset,’ which called for hot milk and spices and was curdled with ale or wine. It was used to toast to health, happiness, and wealth. Centuries later, the drink continued to evolve, and monks are credited with adding their own twist — the whipped eggs we have today. By the 17th century, the drink had become associated with Christmas in England. It also was known as ‘egg flip’ and often served with a portion of wine. In America, rum (grog) was substituted for wine. President George Washington and wife Martha often added whiskey and sherry to the rum mixture and is said to have served it to guests at their estate Mount Vernon. A best-selling brand of ‘rompope’ (the Latin American term for eggnog) was first made in the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla, Mexico, and features a picture of the nuns on the bottle.” It’s not only our founding father President Washington and wife Martha who sipped eggnog throughout the year and not just at Christmastime. Eggnog is a rich and indulgent drink that has been traditionally enjoyed by upper-class society dating back to the days of British aristocracy of the late 1700s and throughout the 1800s. Because nobility and aristocrats often owned country estates with unlimited access to coveted products like eggs, cream and milk, eggnog ingredients were easily available any day of the year. The same tastes and traditions of wealthy society families continued in the Thirteen Colonies and, later, along the East Coast in Newport, the Hamptons and other landscapes of the privileged and “old money set.” Playwright and Yale graduate A.R. Gurney, who was born in an upper-class and very socially connected family, includes an eggnog reference in his 1988 play “Love Letters” when lead character Andrew Makepeace Ladd III writes to his college co-ed date Melissa Gardner sharing details and plans for her weekend visit to his college campus. “Here’s the schedule, starting with lunch at Calhoun around noon,” Andrew writes. “Then drive out to the game. Then there’s a Sea-Breeze Cocktail party at the Fence Club afterwards, and an Eggnog brunch at Saint Anthony’s the next day. I’ll reserve a room for you at the Taft or the Duncan, probably the Taft, since the Duncan is a pretty seedy joint.” Melissa’s written reply reads: “Then make it the Duncan. I hear the Taft is loaded with parents, all milling around the lobby, keeping tabs on who goes up in the elevators. Can’t WAIT till the 16th.” Portraits of President George Washington and first lady Martha were featured on a 1930s postcard designating the Washington Headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey. George and Martha liked their own recipe for eggnog to toast the holidays and everyday occasions. (Boston Public Library Collection/provided) As for George and Martha, they definitely loved to entertain with assorted spirits and libations, not only at their own home Mount Vernon, but also while president and first lady before the White House we know today, when the president and first lady still lived for the first three months on Pearl Street in New York City in 1789. White House records indicate the first couple spent $321.25 on alcohol in their first few months in office, the equivalent of more than $3,585 in today’s dollars. George was fond of ordering his Jamaican rum by “the hogshead cask,” which was close to 80 gallons. He also favored Madeira wine, ordered to be stocked up with 27 gallons at all times, and 252 gallons of the wine ordered at Christmastime for $1.60 a gallon. To be fair, written records reveal George requested the large wine order for serving his entire Army Commission for the holiday. Historian Stephen Decatur Jr., a leading expert on the Washington household, discovered the servants of the Washington household were allowed “unrestricted access to as much cider from the cellars as desired,” as batches were “milled for $5 a barrel by the Huguenot patriot Elias Boudinot from his Bergen County New Jersey farm.” Martha’s holiday menu favorites included chowders, cured ham, roast chicken, yams, goose, bread pudding, cherry and pumpkin pies and roast beef. The specialty items Martha favored included chestnuts, capers, anchovies, crab meat, almonds, assorted Cheshire cheeses, sugar tarts and rum fruit punch or imported Canary Island wine. Even though Martha Washington burned much of her personal correspondence with George after his death on Dec. 14, 1799, a recipe for the family eggnog dated around the time of the president’s death remained with other menus and records. Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@powershealth.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374. George and Martha Washington Eggnog Makes 2 gallons 1 quart milk 1 quart cream 1 dozen eggs 1 dozen tablespoons of sugar 1 pint cognac 1 pint rye or Irish whiskey 3/4 pint Jamaica rum 1/4 pint sherry Directions: Separate yolks and whites of eggs. Add sugar to beaten yolks and mix well. Add liquor mixture drop by drop at first, slowly beating, then add milk. Beat cream until stiff and fold into mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold slowly into mixture, tasting frequently.OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada's next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump's latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn't clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump's 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump's team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc's spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words "some information about Canada for Americans." Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
When Carl Sagan was five years old, his mother enrolled him at the local library. He would walk there on his own, asking the librarian questions that his parents couldn't answer, such as, “What are stars?” Reflecting on the experience later, he recounted: “I went to the librarian and asked for a book about stars [...] and the answer was stunning. It was that the Sun was a star, but really close. The stars were suns, but so far away they were just little points of light. The scale of the universe suddenly opened up to me. It was a kind of religious experience. There was a magnificence to it, a grandeur, a scale which has never left me. Never ever left me.” This anecdote, shared by Kay Davidson in one of several biographies written about Sagan, illustrates one of his most compelling traits: an insatiable curiosity. Over time, this was complemented by intellectual prowess, skepticism, a passion for teaching and making science accessible to the public, and a notable ego. Together, these qualities made him one of the most influential and fascinating figures in space exploration during the latter half of the 20th century. 4 View gallery An insatiable curiosity. High school student Carl Sagan, 1951 ( Photo: Wikipedia ) "It just grabbed me" Carl Edward Sagan was born on November 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. His father, a textile worker, had immigrated from Ukraine, and his mother, a homemaker, was born in New York. The family lived modestly and later moved to New Jersey due to his father's work. . Carl inherited his mother’s intellectual curiosity and skeptical outlook, while his father instilled in him an immense curiosity and sense of wonder about the world. From a young age, Sagan channeled these traits into a deep passion for science. In a biography by Ray Spangenburg, Sagan described his parents’ influence as follows: "My parents were not scientists. They knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder, they taught me the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are central to the scientific method." Sagan was an outstanding student from a young age. While his teachers recognized his potential and sought to support him, his parents couldn’t afford private education for gifted students. He taught himself many subjects, including chemistry, but his primary scientific focus was space. At age 12, when his grandfather asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, Carl replied, “An astronomer,” to which his grandfather responded, “Fine, but how will you make a living?” Later, upon discovering that astronomers could indeed earn a living doing what they loved, Sagan knew he would pursue the field. ''I didn't make a decision to pursue astronomy,'' he would later say. ''Rather, it just grabbed me, and I had no thought of escaping.'' He graduated from high school at just 16 years old. According to another biographer, William Poundstone, near the end of high school, he entered a competition with an essay speculating on the potential dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. He speculated that such a meeting could be devastating for humanity, much like the catastrophic effects that the encounter with European civilization brought upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. This essay may have been influenced by young Sagan's love for science fiction. Sagan received a full scholarship to the University of Chicago, where he began studying physics in 1951. He went on to earn a master’s degree and later a Ph.D. in astronomy, which he completed in 1960. His doctoral research, supervised by astronomer Gerard Kuiper, focused on the physical properties of planets and moons. At the time, new measurements showed that the surface of Venus was extremely hot, contrary to earlier assumptions that it might have Earth-like temperatures. In his dissertation, Sagan proposed that the greenhouse effect was responsible for Venus’s high temperatures, demonstrating that carbon dioxide and water vapor were the primary culprits. He later published these findings in a significant paper in Science. During his studies, Sagan collaborated with several renowned scientists, including George Gamow, a physicist who was instrumental in developing the Big Bang theory. The origin of life was another topic that had fascinated Sagan since childhood. As a student, he worked with renowned chemist Harold Urey, who led the seminal experiment exploring the chemical origins of life on Earth, and with geneticist Joshua Lederberg, a pioneer of gene therapy. Sagan also spent summers training with Hermann Muller, a geneticist and zoologist at Indiana University, who studied the effects of radiation and strongly opposed nuclear weapons. 4 View gallery These images were captured thanks to Sagan’s efforts to persuade NASA leaders to photograph Earth from afar. The planets of the solar system, photographed by Voyager 1 in 1990 ( Photo: NASA ) At the University of Chicago, Sagan met Lynn Margulis, a brilliant young scientist four years his junior who had entered the university at just 14. They married in 1957 when Margulis was 19. The marriage lasted seven years and produced two children. Margulis went on to have a distinguished scientific career, becoming one of the foremost researchers in evolutionary biology. New frontiers After earning his doctorate, Carl Sagan pursued further training at the University of California, Berkeley, where he chose to study biology to deepen his understanding of topics related to the potential development of life on other planets. At the same time, he joined the scientific team for NASA's Mariner 2 mission, a spacecraft launched to explore Venus. In 1963, Sagan became a researcher at Harvard University, where he continued his studies of the planets of the solar system. Among his accomplishments was developing a model of Mars's atmosphere, which demonstrated that its seasonal changes were driven by dust storms. He also joined the scientific teams for additional space missions, including Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit Mars, whose findings helped validate Sagan’s prediction. 4 View gallery Designed to convey a message from humanity to intelligent extraterrestrials. The plaque sent aboard the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft ( Photo: Wikipedia ) Sagan’s extensive research on the planets and his fascination with origin of life research led him to repeatedly explore whether life could develop elsewhere in the solar system and under what conditions. For example, he explored the possibility for life in Venus’s atmosphere and the formation of relatively complex molecules within the environments of planets like Jupiter. These studies positioned Sagan as a founding figure in two scientific fields that were once peripheral to astronomy: planetary science, which focuses on processes occurring on planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, and exobiology—now commonly known as astrobiology—which focuses on the conditions necessary for life and the potential for its emergence or presence in other planetary systems. In 1966, Sagan co-authored Intelligent Life in the Universe with Soviet astronomer Iosif Shklovsky, earning him public recognition beyond the scientific community. The following year, he published a detailed article on the subject in National Geographic and appeared on several television programs. By this point, it was clear that Sagan aimed for a career that would bring him broad public recognition and allow him to present scientific work to a wider audience. This approach was unconventional in academia at the time, and some of his colleagues at Harvard viewed it as a compromise of scientific integrity in favor of self-promotion and publicity. According to his former student David Morrison, this perception likely contributed to Harvard’s decision not to grant Sagan tenure in 1968, despite his prolific research and reputation as a beloved and respected lecturer. Consequently, Sagan had to seek employment elsewhere. Unlike Harvard, Cornell University in upstate New York was eager to recruit faculty researchers with a potential for stardom. In 1969, Sagan joined Cornell, making it his academic home. A star in the scientific sky Carl Sagan remained a leading figure in planetary science and a regular contributor to solar system exploration missions. Notably, he was part of the scientific team for the Viking Mars landers, playing a crucial role in selecting their landing sites in 1976. He also contributed to the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 missions, which became the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and study Jupiter up close. Sagan further contributed to the Voyager missions, designed to explore the outer planets, and the Galileo mission, which studied Jupiter and its atmosphere. His research drew heavily on data from these missions, including analysis of the geology of Mars at Viking landing sites, studying the composition of Jupiter’s clouds, and investigating the processes of formation of organic compounds in Titan’s atmosphere, Saturn's largest moon. Sagan didn’t just study the possibility of extraterrestrial life—he was also among the first to propose practical methods for communicating with potential alien civilizations. He suggested adding a small metal plaque to the Pioneer spacecraft, featuring a brief description of humanity, illustrations of humans, and a cosmic map indicating Earth’s location. Designed to remain in space long after the spacecraft completed their missions, these plaques were intended to be discovered by intelligent extraterrestrial beings. The artwork for the plaque was created by Sagan’s second wife, artist Linda Salzman, whom he married in 1968. Together, they had one child. During this period, Sagan emerged as an increasingly prominent public figure and a science ambassador in popular media. He achieved this partly through his popular science books. One of his most successful works was The Cosmic Connection, published in 1973, in which he extensively explored the possibility of extraterrestrial life. At the same time, Sagan did not shy away from addressing popular claims made by alien enthusiasts, who asserted that intelligent extraterrestrials frequently visit Earth and that governments are concealing the evidence. Sagan strongly advocated for a scientific approach to evaluating such reports. The success of The Cosmic Connection led to Sagan becoming a regular guest on The Tonight Show, where he often showcased new images from space missions he was involved in. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time to fly to California for interviews with Johnny Carson, whom he referred to as hosting "the largest classroom in history." Sagan’s eloquent media appearances turned him into a true celebrity. His work and image graced the covers of major magazines like Time and Newsweek. His public recognition soared to new heights in 1978 when his next bestseller, The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. The cosmos, television, and everything By the late 1970s, following the successful Viking landings on Mars and with the Voyager spacecraft en route to Jupiter, Carl Sagan set out to use television to bring science to the broadest audience possible. He established his own production company, raised approximately a million dollars from investors, and began developing a script for a documentary series about the universe and humanity’s understanding of it. The series, Cosmos, consisted of 13 hour-long episodes and aired in 1980 on the public television channel KCET. It was an enormous success, winning Emmy and Peabody Awards and reaching over 400 million viewers worldwide. The companion book, also titled Cosmos, remained on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year. The success of the series and book officially cemented Sagan’s celebrity status, earned him widespread media attention and brought him significant financial success. This success came at a cost. While working on the series, Sagan neglected his academic responsibilities, canceled courses, and left research students - who had chosen Cornell specifically to work under his guidance - without supervision, forcing them to seek other advisors. This behavior drew significant criticism from colleagues, which escalated as fame brought its drawbacks, including harassing phone calls, death threats, and an influx of fans or eccentrics roaming the university grounds in search of him. While working on the production of Cosmos, Sagan fell deeply in love with Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on its production and writing. Although he was still married at the time, Sagan moved to Los Angeles to live with Druyan during the series' production. In 1981, he divorced his second wife and married Druyan. The couple later had a daughter and a son. They continued to collaborate professionally, including co-authoring several books. Following the success of Cosmos, Sagan received a $2 million advance from the major publisher Simon & Schuster to write a novel about humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life. The resulting book, Contact, published in 1985, was another major success and was later adapted into a Hollywood film starring Jodie Foster in 1997. A pale blue dot Carl Sagan’s scientific work also explored the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial life. The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, carried a more elaborate message about humanity than the Pioneer plaques. Attached to Voyager was a gold-plated copper record—a kind of "time capsule" of life on Earth. The record contained natural sounds such as ocean waves, music from various periods and cultures, voice greetings in dozens of languages, and images of life on Earth, all stored in audio form. Instructions for playing the record were etched onto its cover, based on the assumption that any extraterrestrial beings who might find it would have some ability to perceive and interpret visuals and sounds in ways similar to humans. Sagan chaired the committee that selected the content, with its artistic direction led by his new partner, Ann Druyan. The record also included an audio representation of Druyan's brainwaves. Sagan was also a strong supporter of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), an initiative dedicated to scanning space for radio signals that might indicate the presence of intelligent alien civilizations. He collaborated with his colleague, astronomer Frank Drake, to design the Arecibo message—a radio signal broadcast into space with the aim of reaching extraterrestrial beings and drawing their attention to humanity's existence 4 View gallery Cosmic Love. Sagan with his third wife, Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on the Cosmos series and co-authored several of his books ( Photo: Peter Morenus/Cornell University, Courtesy of Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc. ) In 1990, after Voyager 1 completed its primary scientific mission in the solar system and began its journey outward into interstellar space, Sagan’s persistent efforts convinced NASA leadership to capture a distant photograph of Earth. The resulting image, taken from about six billion kilometers away, showed Earth as a tiny speck—less than a pixel—against the vast emptiness of space. This iconic image was named Pale Blue Dot by Sagan, a title that also became the theme of his 1994 book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, in which he reflected on humanity’s place in the cosmos and, above all, our smallness. “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot,” Sagan said in a lecture at Cornell University. Years of disappointments In the 1980s, under U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the government increased defense spending and promoted the "Star Wars" initiative, a program aimed at deploying defense systems in space. This, along with the Soviet Union’s response, rekindled fears of nuclear war between the superpowers. Sagan, an opponent of nuclear weapons since his student days, co-authored an influential scientific paper with four colleagues on the potential effects of nuclear war. In this paper, they coined the term "nuclear winter," referring to climate changes caused by massive amounts of dust rising into the atmosphere following large-scale nuclear explosions. Sagan went on to co-author two books on the dangers of nuclear weapons and frequently discussed the topic in media interviews. However, unlike his work on space exploration, his stance on the politically sensitive issue of nuclear weapons drew significant opposition. Critics included those who viewed disarmament as a threat to U.S. security, as well as scientists who disputed the nuclear winter theory, arguing that it was an overly pessimistic and insufficiently substantiated prediction. This opposition sometimes manifested in personal attacks on Sagan in the media, a stark contrast to the favorable coverage he had previously enjoyed. Many believe that Sagan's advocacy and his efforts to highlight the dangers of war through the concept of nuclear winter ultimately helped pave the way for the disarmament negotiations and the eventual signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by U.S. and Soviet leaders in 1987. During this period, Sagan also faced challenges from budget cuts to U.S. space exploration, including NASA missions. The Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 marked a low point for the agency and disrupted research-oriented missions. Sagan saw this as an opportunity to promote U.S.-Soviet collaboration on a joint mission to Mars, leveraging the Soviet Union's growing openness to the West. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and Sagan was forced to abandon the idea after the Soviet Union’s collapse, which left its space program in a state of limbo due to the political upheaval. In 1990, amid stalled space initiatives, Sagan made his most significant scientific misstep. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and its threats to ignite oil wells if the West intervened, Sagan feared that such widespread fires could release enough soot to trigger a smaller-scale version of nuclear winter. Despite opposition from three of his four co-authors of the original nuclear winter paper—who did not believe the fires would have a global climatic impact—Sagan published his predictions in articles and TV interviews. In early 1991, Iraqi forces did set Kuwait’s oil wells ablaze, but when the smoke cleared, it became evident that Sagan had been wrong. The fires did not cause global or even local climate changes. This miscalculation drew widespread criticism, and Sagan faced ridicule from his opponents, some of whom used the incident to cast doubt on the entire nuclear winter theory. In 1992, Sagan was nominated for membership in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Despite meeting the accepted criteria for scientific publications, contributions to the scientific community, and his efforts to make science accessible to the public, his nomination received only about half the votes—well below the two-thirds majority required. Two years later, the Academy awarded him its prestigious Public Welfare Medal in recognition of his contributions to popularizing science and explaining complex issues. However, it is unclear whether this honor softened the sting of his earlier rejection. Adding to his disappointment, the 1993 book Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, co-authored with his wife Ann Druyan, did not achieve the success they had hoped for, despite being regarded by some critics as his best work. Billions and billions In 1994, Carl Sagan was diagnosed with cancer and began undergoing treatment. Despite his illness—or perhaps because of it—he did not slow down and continued working on new books. Foremost among them was The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. This book was a passionate defense of science, the scientific method, and rational thinking, countering irrationality and pseudoscience. In the book, Sagan revisits his field of expertise, extraterrestrial communication, and critiques unfounded claims about alien visits to Earth and alleged abductions by extraterrestrial spacecraft. He also equips readers with a "baloney detection kit," a list of logical fallacies typical of pseudoscientific arguments. Additionally, Sagan used the book to publicly acknowledge his earlier error in predicting the catastrophic environmental effects from the burning of oil wells in Kuwait. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Another book Sagan managed to work on with Druyan was Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. The title, evoking the vast number of stars in the universe, became synonymous with Sagan since the days of Cosmos. In the book, Sagan and Druyan discuss the application of scientific tools to everyday life and global issues such as climate change and international relations. Sagan also shares his religious perspective, expressing skepticism about the existence of God in the traditional sense, though he refrains from identifying himself as an atheist. Sagan did not live to see the publication of this final book. After undergoing three bone marrow transplants, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away from pneumonia on December 20, 1996, at the age of 62. “Carl Sagan, more than any contemporary scientist I can think of, knew what it takes to stir passion within the public when it comes to the wonder and importance of science,” eulogized Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. “American astronomy lost its clearest and most colorful voice with the death of Carl Sagan,” wrote astronomer Yervant Terzian of Cornell University. Quoting a Washington Post obituary by Joel Aschenbach that stated, “We have needed Sagan since Copernicus removed us from the center of the Universe,” Terzian added, “And the need remains. Carl Sagan received a great many awards during his 62 years, but ‘billions and billions’ would not have been enough to repay what the scientific community owes him.” Content distributed by the Davidson Institute of Science Education . >Investors Rally Behind Innovative Semiconductor Firm—Here’s Why
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Cubs predicted to dump $35 million Gold Glover to make way for top prospect | Sporting NewsBy Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. The economy steadily grew Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. Related Articles What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Savings accounts offered high rates and returns Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Credit card debt hit a high Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Small business boomed Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Home buying remained challenging Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. The markets were a boon for investors Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Premiums went up for home and auto insurance Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Lawsuits and uncertainty over student loan relief continued Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Traveling in style was all the rage Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Dynamic pricing expanded its reach Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. The car market came back for buyers Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Buy now, pay later grew in popularity Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Inflation eased, finally Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Rents were still high, but price growth slowed Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Trump won the election, promised tariffs and deportations Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Congress squabbled while consumer-first, antitrust efforts won Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More From NerdWallet Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .
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