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Wondering how to get over someone is a universal experience—so then why does it feel so isolating? On a scale of 1 to torturous, getting your heart broken is a solid “absolutely awful.” Most of us have been there at some point, left questioning how to move on or how to best end a relationship . While there’s no surefire way to avoid a broken heart (unless you’re an unfeeling robot, of course), there is a way through it—even if, at the moment, you truly believe you’ll never be happy again. Understanding how your mind works—and how to work it better—can be helpful after breaking up. “It’s important to understand that we humans come hardwired with the ability to experience pleasure from our intimate connections and pain form heartbreak,” says Nan Wise, PhD, a sex therapist, neuroscientist, relationship expert, and the author of Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life. “The oldest part of our brain, which we share with all mammals and many other animals, has a circuit of brain regions—the panic/grief/sadness system—that gets activated when we experience the loss of an important relationship.” According to Dr. Wise , this means your body can very much feel the physical and emotional aftereffects of a breakup because our brains instinctually view relationships, and the resources they provide, as essential for survival. “When activated, this panic/grief/sadness system creates painful withdrawal-like symptoms: an ache in the heart, overwhelming sadness and despair, ruminations, regrets, and diminished enthusiasm for life,” explains Dr. Wise. “It is important to remember that heartbreak and subsequent grief are not pathological, but a normal part of being an emotional creature. It is just the dark side to our life-affirming ability to form loving, intimate connections.” Here, Dr. Wise and other experts share advice for how to get over someone. Why am I struggling to get over someone? Ending a relationship can be hard on all parties involved, but sometimes it can feel like you're the only one in pain while your ex has seemingly moved on with no issue. (See: Taylor Swift's “Mr. Perfectly Fine.” ) So who hurts more after a breakup, really? “It depends on the individual, but the one that hurts the most is the one that was most invested,” says Rachel DeAlto, chief dating expert for Match . If you were the more invested party, just know that it's normal to have feelings of sadness or loss around the breakup. “We struggle to get over someone because we focus on the good times, how they made us feel, and how much we cared for them,” says DeAlto. “Even when it wasn't always good, our hindsight is often rose colored and we hold on to what could have been.” How can I stop thinking about my ex? Can you turn emotions off? Unfortunately, DeAlto says, turning off your emotions is not possible. “It's what makes us human,” she says. “Our emotions need to be felt and processed to move through them.” Here's what you can do instead. When somebody breaks up with you, you’re going to feel a flood of emotions, says Rebecca Hendrix , LMFT, a psychotherapist in New York City. “It’s a trauma. It’s a shock to your system.” And as with any type of emotional shock, “you want to be really gentle with yourself and you want to allow yourself to feel your feelings,” she says. After all, your feelings are there for a reason—they can help you move through difficult experiences, but only if you release them. In the days following the breakup, allow yourself to cry and acknowledge that a breakup is like any other type of loss. With loss come five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. “You’re going to go through those in your own way, in your own time,” says Hendrix. And during the process, validate your feelings by saying things like “Why wouldn’t I feel like way?” and “Of course I’m experiencing this emotion.” Though it’s important to express your feelings, it’s also important to stop short of becoming them, says Hendrix. So if you feel sad, let yourself wallow for a certain amount of time—say, an hour. Cry, scream, yell, journal, listen to sad love songs , spend time with loved ones, do whatever you need to do to let your emotions flow freely, she says. But when those 60 minutes are up, stop and move on to something else. “Yes, you need to give yourself some time to grieve, but we don't want that to become self-harming,” says Dr. Alexandra Stratyner, a licensed psychologist at Stratyner and Associates in New York City. “It's important to keep up with self-care. If your functioning is diminishing—like you're having trouble eating or sleeping on an ongoing basis—it may be time to seek some support from a mental health professional.” Her advice? Keep things that historically bring you joy, like exercise or hobbies, in your daily routine. What are the stages of letting go? Once you go through those five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—you can begin the process of letting go. “The stages of letting go include grieving, acceptance, and healing,” says DeAlto. “Give yourself the time you need to grieve the loss, accept the reality of the situation, and then take the time and energy you need to heal.” For Brenden Durell, an intimacy expert who also serves as a relationship mentor and coach on Too Hot to Handle , the grieving stage is not one you can just skip over. “I was once engaged and had to go through the whole grieving process,” he says. “There has to be a grieving period. You can fill the voids all you want with drinks and partying or even with something healthy like working out, but you're still avoiding the actual emotions that are in there. When my former fiancé and I didn't work out, I got into the best shape of my life but it was all through motivation of abandonment. I wasn't willing to feel the abandonment wound, so I put it into working out, but those emotions were still there underneath. I didn't give myself permission to grieve.” Dr. Stratyner says her first recommendation to clients experiencing a breakup is to give themselves time. “I think people want to feel much better much sooner than they should typically expect,” she says. “It's going to take a little bit of time.” It's normal, she says, to mourn what could have been when a relationship ends. “A breakup is something that can elicit feelings of grief—maybe this was a relationship where you had ideas about what your future was going to look like with this person, maybe you envisioned going through different life stages and reaching certain goals with each other. That can be really painful, and it's also a form of rejection potentially. So it's important to give yourself some time and allow yourself to feel your feelings.” If you've been ghosted— a dating phenomenon many of us know all too well—before a new relationship has even taken off, it's OK to still need time to process your feelings about it just as much as you would for a long-term relationship. “Grieve it, feel sad,” says Durell. “If you're able to cry, cry about it. I'm a big fan of advocating for emotional expression. You don't want anything to build up inside—so if you're in that space of melancholy, let it all out. It's healthy. We want you to release that. But know that your self-worth isn't tied up in the person who ghosted you—it's in how you pick yourself up and move forward in love.” For some, the end of a situationship or crush can sting just as much as breaking up with a long-term partner. “It's the wish of what could be and the rejection of what came to pass,” Stratyner says. “You still have to give yourself some time and honor those feelings.” When someone is rejected by a crush, she says, sometimes it can hurt your self-esteem and bring about feelings of inadequacy or insecurity. You may also question yourself. “We can be invalidating of ourselves,” she explains. “'Nothing even happened here, so why am I feeling this way?' It's not useful to judge yourself for having feelings.” Stratyner compares it to quicksand: The more you judge yourself, the deeper in you go. So be patient with yourself. How can I accept that someone doesn’t want to be with me? “Acceptance happens when you recognize that we can never control the desires or actions of another,” says DeAlto. “Even when it doesn't make sense, and even when it hurts.” Below are some expert tips on how to deal with unrequited love and reach those acceptance and healing stages. First thing's first if you want to learn how to to get over someone you love: Stop sending those late-night texts to your ex and mute or unfollow their social media profiles. “It is essential to go no contact and become very aware of our thoughts,” says DeAlto. “Do not allow your brain to wander or wallow. Redirect thoughts and actions.” There’s a scientific reason heartbreak hurts so much: You actually go through withdrawal-like symptoms after a breakup because the feel-good hormones you got from your partner are suddenly gone, says Elle Huerta, founder of Mend , an app and online community designed to help people post-breakup. “When your partner is no longer there, you start to crave those feel-good hormones,” she explains. “If you give in to this feeling and see your ex again, you’ll struggle to move forward and find yourself stuck months and maybe even years later.” (That’s why Mend promotes a 60-day “ex detox.”) Cutting off all contact in the beginning is healthy, agrees Hendrix. It allows you to break your attachment to your former partner. That said, there’s no hard-and-fast rule about contacting your ex, she says. Brief, occasional communication—like, “Hey, could we talk for a few minutes? I’m having a hard time with this”—could be okay. Just be cautious that those “innocent check-ins” don’t become a habit. “Every time you talk to them, you open up another energy tie between you, and your goal is to break those energetic ties, not to keep creating them,” says Hendrix. “We actually have a 30-day no contact rule,” says Yue Xu, a relationship expert, cohost of the Dateable podcast, and coauthor of the upcoming How to Be Dateable (out January 28). “A 30-day detox. Let yourself feel all the feelings. It's okay to think about your ex, to pine after your ex, but also to make progress towards no contact with them and scrubbing them from your life in some way. Is it unfollowing them, or is it getting rid of some memorabilia that you have around the house? Take 30 days to do that, and make sure that every day you allow yourself the space to feel the hurt, but then make these incremental improvements and progress every day.” Call two or three people you really care about and let them know what you’re going through, says Hendrix: “A lot of people love you, and they want to support you, but often they don’t know how because you’re not telling them.” Opening up to others may bring catharsis in return. “Most everyone has been on the receiving end of a breakup at one time or another, and commiserating with them, sharing experiences, getting counsel, being reminded you’re not alone, can be highly beneficial,” says Franklin A. Porter , PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. Durell also recommends “being witnessed” in your grief over a breakup by a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional—or even better, all of the above. “Say I'm carrying shame or embarrassment or whatever it is, to actually cry in front of people who are there to support me can change your life,” he says. “It changed my life to be vulnerable and be witnessed in my grief.” Breaking a sweat may be the last thing you want to do when you’re wallowing over a past relationship, but trust: It can help just as much as watching those breakup movies , if not more. “The endorphins produced during exercise will help with the withdrawal symptoms post-breakup, and it also helps you build confidence in yourself,” says Huerta. Durell says a physical reset is all just part of the grieving process. “When something traumatic happens to an animal, what do they do?” he says. “They shake. When a gazelle is being chased by a lion and it gets away, it shakes; it resets its body. Our way of resetting as human is grieving. We can shake, which is an amazing exercise, but it's still part of the grieving process. We have to have an official ending so we can have a new beginning.” If running on the treadmill isn’t your idea of how to get over someone, at least consider gentle movement activities like yoga or meditation apps . “Grief is experienced in the body,” says Dr. Wise. She suggests yoga to help your body release those emotions. “Grief is stressful and can temporarily dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, hence changes in your sleep, appetite, and concentration.” According to Dr. Wise, breath work—a big part of yoga and meditation practices—can help calm the activation of that system. “Going through grief can be an opportunity to learn new wellness habits like the regular practice of yoga, mindfulness, exercise, and even honing the ability to create more resilience and resourcefulness,” she says. “If you have challenges finding such a practice, consider using a HeartMath biofeedback device , which can help you reset your nervous system and decrease the adverse effects of stress.” A common response if you regret breaking up a romantic relationship is to idealize the other person, says Hendrix. And while you don’t want to deny that there were good parts of your relationship, you also don’t want to fixate on them. To find the middle ground, write a list of all the negative aspects of your former partner or relationship, like signs of cheating or fighting in a relationship , and look at it on the reg. “This mental exercise helps counterbalance all the obsessive thinking you will probably be experiencing around what you miss about your ex and why they were so great—even if they weren’t,” says Huerta. “If we try to pretend that we aren't thinking about our ex, it just festers more,” says Julie Krafchick, a relationship expert, cohost of the Dateable podcast, and coauthor of the upcoming How to Be Dateable (out January 28). “So I personally like getting it out by writing a letter to my ex.” The key here? DO NOT SEND THE LETTER. Just write down all your emotions, what you learned from the other person, and what didn't work for you. “I like ending the letter with what you're grateful for from this relationship, even if it was a toxic relationship or not a good relationship,” says Krafchick. “So that way you're looking at this not as a waste of time, but a way to propel forward.” Once you finish the letter, she says, ask yourself, “What's next? How do I regain the things that I used to love? What are the activities I used to do all the time that I've kind of slipped away because I've been spending time with this person? How do I regain my sense of self?” All experts agree that taking care of yourself in the midst of heartbreak is key. Check in with yourself throughout the day, says Hendrix, and ask, What do I need? Maybe it’s a healthy salad, maybe it’s a hot bath, maybe it’s a phone call with a friend, maybe it’s seeking professional help. Also, know that feelings of rejection and diminished self-worth could trigger unhealthy responses like over- or undereating or substance abuse, which could lead to a depressive spiral, says Dr. Porter. “Exercise, nutrition, and proper sleep will raise the floor on how bad you feel,” he adds. In the aftermath of a difficult split, Dr. Porter says, avoid thinking, I’m not good enough—there’s something wrong with me. Instead, situate the problem in the relationship (if not in your partner), he says. “Sometimes when people are going through a breakup or feel brokenhearted, they go through a period of time where they attribute it to faults within themselves,” adds Stratyner. “There can be a tendency to generalize or catastrophize from that and say, ‘I’m not going to be good enough for anyone . Will I ever find love again?' These kinds of myths make it really hard to recover.” Try to understand any impulses you may be having, like texting your ex, checking their Instagram every hour, or replaying every damn detail of your last weekend together. These urges are part of the natural withdrawal process that happens after heartbreak, but don’t let yourself overindulge in obsessive behaviors (like analyzing every aspect of your relationship until 4 a.m.), says Hendrix. If you find yourself spending significant time in this frame of mind, it might be wise to reach out to a coach or therapist for support. Realize that the breakup is likely going to cause voids in your life. Say you and your ex always went to the movies every Friday, says Hendrix. Now your Friday nights are wide open, but instead of wallowing alone, proactively call your friends and make plans. Durell recommends filling that time with self-care and healthy habits specifically. “Time does heal,” he says. “The sting, you might still remember it, but it will go away. So fill your time until then with healthy habits.” Say you really enjoy the outdoors, but your ex didn’t, so while you were together, you cut back on your weekend hiking habit. Now that you’re single, give yourself permission to reconnect with that interest and also explore new hobbies. “The universe meets us at the point of action, and if we’re trying to heal, we have to take steps to heal,” says Hendrix. Take intentional steps to move forward with your life, like joining a new gym, signing up for pottery class, or booking a trip with friends. After getting your heart trampled, it can be tempting to instantly download a dating app and search for a rebound or even your next relationship. But Hendrix warns against dating too soon after heartbreak . “You don’t want to push yourself before it’s time just to avoid feeling your feelings because, most likely, they’re going to come back to bite you,” she says. At the same time, reentering the dating scene could provide a healthy confidence boost for your bruised ego. Just be honest with yourself—and the people you’re dating—about where you’re at emotionally, she says. If you’re not fully over your ex and simply looking for a fun fling, say so. You don't have to jump back into dating, Stratyner says. But seek out experiences in your free time that remind you of all your positive qualities. “Spend time with friends and loved ones, or people who make you feel good about yourself” she suggests. “Do things that you feel proud of, or that remind you of the qualities you value within yourself.” Whatever makes you special, do more of that. “It can be really helpful because so much of our self-worth can be wrapped up in the way that our partner, or former partner, thinks of us. That can become really diminished if we experience rejection, so we have to try and find those things in ourselves again.” In the long run, the breakup shouldn’t taint the whole relationship, says Dr. Porter. “As the pain subsides, consider the good you got out of it, embrace the excitement of new possibilities, and remind yourself how awesome you are.” Can you be friends with someone you still love? If you're still wondering how to move on from a relationship, you may need to accept that you’re losing your best friend as well. “It is extremely difficult to be friends with someone you are in love with,” DeAlto says. “But if you have love for them, you can still be friendly .” What if I can never move on? And how long is too long to get over someone? “It's okay to be scared and hurt,” says DeAlto, adding that the time frame for healing is different for everyone. “But know that, with time, the pain numbs. And with new experiences, there is new hope.” Okay, but how long does it take to get over someone, really? Durrell says you'll inherently know when you're ready to let go. “There comes a point when you'll feel it,” he says. “When it's like, ‘Okay, time to pick myself up. My worth doesn't come from this person who left me. My worth comes from how I feel about myself.’” “Don’t equate the time of healing with the time of your relationship,” says Hendrix. Even “almost” relationships can cause enormous heartbreak, says Huerta. “A lot of times people are like, ‘Well, I was only with them for six months. Why am I devastated?’” says Hendrix. “Because you fell for them in six months and you’ve gotten super attached and you started spending every day and night together for a while. Your six months is like somebody else’s two years. So whatever you feel, honor that.” In truth, how long it takes to get over an ex depends on a variety of factors, including the narrative you tell yourself . Sometimes you’re not going to get the closure you need from your ex-partner, and you’ll have to find it on your own after the end of a relationship. If your former partner couldn’t explain the reason for the breakup, create your own healthy narrative. And if that isn’t enough to provide closure, consider talking with a therapist about how to heal a broken heart, says Hendrix. Also, if your breakup triggers thoughts and feelings about other losses in your life and you’re having a hard time processing it all, definitely seek outside help. “However much pain you’re experiencing, try to believe that ‘this, too, shall pass,’ and have faith that on any given day, you could meet your special someone who’s truly right for you,” says Dr. Porter. When you’re in the thick of heartbreak, it can be hard to imagine that you could ever feel otherwise. But “time does tend to heal most, if not all wounds,” says Dr. Porter. How do you know it’s truly over? “I never say never, but if you've had honest and open communication about the end of your relationship, tried to reconcile and it didn't work, and someone has moved on, it's likely truly over,” says DeAlto.
NoneToni Breidinger Opens Up On 'Hard' Off-Season Preparation Ahead Of Full-Time NASCAR Debut49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled during last Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Difficult weather conditions and his recent recovery from a shoulder injury likely contributed to his performance. This week, Purdy has been a full participant in practice and is gearing up to make his second consecutive start. The 49ers will host the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Levi's Stadium. Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters on Friday, addressing how the quarterback has looked in his first full week of practice since the injury. "He's good," Shanahan said. "We had to wait a while to give him rest to make sure it healed, and we could see that it did at the end of last week. That's why there were no issues last Sunday, and it's been great all week." That's encouraging news for the 49ers as they fight to avoid playoff elimination during the final five games of the season. Shanahan added, "So, glad to get him back to full speed, and get him a full week of practice." Purdy has appeared in 11 games this season, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 2,707 yards, with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He hopes to close out the season on a strong note. This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.
Learn about one of the most delightful (and eagerly anticipated) New Year’s traditions in Japan. Receiving (New Year’s pocket money) is a fun and culturally significant practice that kids eagerly look forward to every year in Japan. It’s also an excellent opportunity to teach children about money, savings and . Otoshidama is the celebratory money given to children during the , typically by parents, grandparents, relatives or family friends. It is a way of wishing good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. The custom dates back hundreds of years and symbolizes the passing of good luck and blessings to children. Originally, otoshidama wasn’t a gift of money—it was (rice cakes)! Mochi were considered symbols of the soul or vitality for the new year. Families believed that the (New Year’s God) would share energy with them at the start of the year, giving them the strength and good fortune to carry through the year ahead. The mochi, which represented this divine power, was divided among family members. By the Edo period, people started giving other items, like gifts or money. By the 1960s, as Japan’s economy grew, giving money became the norm and otoshidama became a tradition mostly for children. The amount of money given to children as otoshidama can vary widely depending on the family, the child’s age and their relationship to the giver. Here’s a general guideline for parents (however, you can ultimately decide the most appropriate amount for your family): While otoshidama is often given in cash, it’s important to note that the amount is just symbolic. The emphasis is on the gesture and the blessing of good fortune, not the financial value. Otoshidama is often gifted during the first few days of the New Year (from Hatsumode, the first shrine visit, to January 3) but can also continue throughout the month of January. Otoshidama is traditionally given in a special envelope called お年玉袋 ( ) or ポチ袋 ( ). These envelopes are typically beautifully decorated with auspicious designs, such as cranes, tortoises or kimonos, symbolizing good health and long life. Some Japanese people write the name of the recipient on the front of the envelope and their own name on the back but this is optional. Envelopes in various designs are available in most general stores, such as 100-yen shops, supermarkets and around Japan. They are often sold in sets for use during the New Year holiday period. When giving otoshidama, it is customary for the giver to hand over the envelope personally with a smile and a few well-wishing words for the child’s future success and happiness. If your child receives an envelope from others, it’s best to teach them not to open it immediately; it’s customary for children to wait until later to open it. In today’s digital world, gift cards are sometimes given instead of cash. Various cashless services, such as , also offer cashless money transfer methods with an otoshidama design. When it comes to giving otoshidama, there are a few things you should know to avoid any awkward situations. Here are some key points to keep in mind: Although otoshidama is traditionally given from elders to younger people, with the hierarchy of your boss being above you, giving your boss’s kids money is considered impolite. If you really want to give something, it’s better to offer a small gift like a toy or some stationery. Similarly, it’s considered disrespectful to give your parents an otoshidama. Instead, you can give them an —a New Year’s gift that represents gratitude for the continued support during the previous year and a greeting to the new year. Money should always be wrapped when given—never hand it over bare—even if it is for your own kids. If you’re in desperate need of an envelope but can’t find one, just wrap the money in a clean piece of paper (a napkin or even tissue paper works fine). Just make sure to apologize for the informality as you gift it. Money is money, but it is important to prepare it in good condition before you give it to someone as a gift. It’s best to prepare clean bills and ¥500 coins in the amount needed for each child. This custom of giving “clean” money for celebratory gifts is a common courtesy in Japan—like at . So, for parents, it’s best to lead by example. Consider giving your kids getting crisp notes and shiny coins as a learning experience! While it’s less common these days, amounts with numbers like fours and nines should be avoided. In Japan, these numbers are associated with death and suffering. For example, giving gifts with amounts like ¥400 or ¥4,000, or ¥900 or ¥9,000, may be considered bad luck. Due to the celebratory aspect of otoshidama, it’s considered bad manners to give otoshidama to children who are mourning family members or people they were very close with. If you really want to give something, change the wording to something like “pocket money” instead, and refrain from using a decorated envelope. For many children in Japan, receiving otoshidama is an exciting moment, but the next step is often even more important—deciding what to do with it! Here are some typical ways that children handle their otoshidama: Some adults may be excited to hear that otoshidama is not nessesarily limited to children in Japan. Here are a few specific cases where otoshidama might be given to adults: In families where young adults have not yet moved out or are still financially dependent, grandparents or older relatives may continue to give otoshidama. Sometimes, older relatives give otoshidama to young adults as a gesture of good fortune, even if the young person is financially independent or employed. This practice is less about financial support and more about wishing prosperity and success for the coming year. At some lucky companies, bosses and managers may provide small gifts or vouchers to employees during the company 新年会 ( ; “New Year’s party”). It’s also not uncommon for some Japanese bosses to privately hand otoshidama in cash form to their subordinates, as a sort of year-end bonus, especially at locally owned establishments.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry threw internal divisions in his political movement into public display. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hard-line immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. People are also reading... Loomer declared the stance to be "not America First policy" and said the tech executives who aligned themselves with Trump did so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks, whom Trump tapped to be the "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government, weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump had not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown close to the president-elect, was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. Critics say they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. "There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. "It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley." Trump's own positions over the years reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he also sought curbs on legal immigration, including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program "very bad" and "unfair" for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a "Buy American and Hire American" executive order, which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club, and his social media company behind his Truth Social app used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are "poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. However, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. "I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the "All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to focus on winter wellness and thoughtful gifting ideas for health-conscious entertaining. Renowned Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Mia Syn shares her top recommendations to help people feel their best while enjoying all the season has to offer. COMBAT HOLIDAY CONGESTION “So many of us look forward to holiday parties and quality time with loved ones,” says Syn, “But we often find ourselves battling sinus congestion from dry air, cold weather, or seasonal allergies.” Her go-to solution? The NEW Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray, the first-ever saline product featuring a 2-in-1 nozzle with customizable spray settings. Consumers can choose the ‘Power Jet’ to tackle tough nasal congestion or the ‘Gentle Mist’ to clear everyday congestion and soothe your nose. With its dual-nozzle technology, Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray helps relieve congestion caused by allergens, irritants, and colds. Available at major retailers, pharmacies, and on Amazon, you can find your nearest store at Mucinex.com . Direct link: https://www.mucinex.com/ Social Media Handle: Facebook: @mucinex IG: @mucinex_us HOLIDAY TREATS WITH A HEALTHY TWIST Syn also encourages swapping ingredients in traditional holiday recipes with better-for-you alternatives. “One of my favorite holiday ingredients is Almond Breeze Almondmilk,” she shares. “Santa might even prefer Almond Breeze with his cookies this year!” jokes Syn. Direct link: www.AlmondBreeze.com Social Media Handle: Facebook: Almond Breeze Instagram: @AlmondBreeze Twitter: @AlmondBreeze SKINCARE MUST-HAVES FOR WINTER Cold, harsh air can wreak havoc on your skin, causing dryness and accentuating fine lines. "Nobody enjoys that itchy, uncomfortable feeling that winter brings," says Syn, a skincare enthusiast. "That’s why I turn to Mediheal—a trusted name in Korean skincare that’s been raising the bar for years." Mediheal’s toner pads have become a hit on social media, especially on TikTok, where users are swearing by their magic. Leading the charge are two fan-favorite products: "Mediheal’s toner pads are absolute game-changers," Syn adds. "They’re versatile, targeting multiple skin concerns, so there’s something for everyone." With a diverse lineup of toner pads and skincare products designed to tackle winter skin woes, Mediheal cements its place as the ultimate go-to for glowing, healthy skin—even in the harshest seasons. For a limited time, the Madecassoside Blemish Pad, Collagen Ampoule Pad and Vitamide Brightening Pad will be available in festive holiday packaging—perfect for gifting to loved ones or treating yourself this season! Direct link: Mediheal Amazon Website Social Media Handle: Facebook: @Mediheal US Instagram: @mediheal_us TikTok: @mediheal_us Twitter (X): @medihealus About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Almond Breeze, Mediheal, and Mucinex. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74283b19-564e-43c4-a467-440c7d109074BUCHAREST -- In Romania, at least, Bogdan Peschir was known as the "king of TikTok," a mystery man involved in cryptocurrency operations and noted for his generous donations to the platform’s users. But now Peschir, a 36-year-old programmer reportedly leading a lavish lifestyle, has emerged as a central figure in the claims that far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu benefitted from secretive influence campaigns, including from Russia. Georgescu was the surprise winner of the first round of Romania's presidential election on November 24, where from relative obscurity he won 23 percent of the vote. His win had set up a second-round contest against pro-Western centrist Elena Lasconi, but Romania’s Constitutional Court on December 6 annulled the election , leaving the government to set a new date for the presidential ballot. Political analysts were scratching their heads at the runaway success of Georgescu, 62, an agricultural engineer who has campaigned on a pro-Russian and anti-NATO platform. Many attributed his surprise result in large part to his TikTok campaign, which attracted the votes of many young people and members of Romania's diaspora. As suspicions about the TikTok campaign mounted, Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense on December 4 -- four days before the now-cancelled December 8 runoff -- declassified intelligence records alleging that Georgescu had benefited from a coordinated social media campaign most likely orchestrated by a "state actor." Some 25,000 TikTok accounts were used to boost Georgescu's popularity, with influencers on the platform enlisted to publicly support him and indirectly promote him with posts that included hashtags linked to the candidate, the declassified records state. Georgescu has said that he spent "zero" on election campaigning. Peschir was a notable facilitator of that campaign, according to the intelligence records. Using his TikTok handle "bogpr," the records allege, he "made payments worth $381,000 between October 24 and November 24, 2024, to users of some TikTok accounts involved in promoting the candidate Calin Georgescu, including after the end of the electoral campaign," a violation of Romanian legislation. Peschir has since denied financing Georgescu’s campaign , saying that while some of his donations went to the candidate’s supporters, others went to charity, apolitical TikTok accounts, and accounts supporting other candidates. He told RFE/RL on December 6 that he has no connection whatsoever with Georgescu. “I do not have any material or personal interest, I simply supported him through posts and comments voluntarily,” he said in written comments. “That document only mentions [Georgescu] supporters, which seems absurd to me. I made no agreement with any people that I would donate to support one candidate or another,” Peschir added. In a Facebook post on December 6, shortly before the election was annulled, Peschir accused the media of harassment and threatened legal action. Responding to a question in the comments section about where the money came from, Peschir wrote that it’s “none of your business.” “I am not a person who works for the state, or with the state, to declare my income publicly,” he wrote. Peschir’s post was one of a handful on his sparse Facebook page, among them posts about Georgescu as early as 2020, in which the then-obscure future presidential candidate railed against government measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, which he called "the pandemic of fear and stupidity.” Allegedly Incongruous 'Standard Of Living' In recent months, the "bogpr" account became platform-famous for lavishing significant donations on TikTok creators, amassing more than 191,000 followers and 1.1 million likes. In March, he donated tens of thousands of euros to singers of manele, a genre of pop folk originating in Romania, prompting speculation about his identity and motives. Some TikTok users posited that he could be the famous son of a wealthy business tycoon or a member of a criminal clan. In November, "bogpr" began donating money to Romanian influencers in support of Georgescu. More than 100 influencers with a combined total of over 8 million followers took part, according to a declassified document originating from the Interior Ministry. The promotional posts were not marked as part of a paid political campaign. Despite trying to keep his identity a secret, his cover was recently blown by the Romanian tabloid Gandul, which identified "bogpr" as Peschir. According to his online profile, Peschir has spent the bulk of his career in cryptocurrencies, mostly with companies involving the same associates, including Gabriel Prodanescu, a Romanian who obtained South African citizenship in 1995. One of these companies, the Romanian firm BitXATM Technology, was founded 12 years ago and has been involved in the operation of crypto ATMs – devices that allow one to buy cryptocurrency with cash or, in some cases, receive cash in exchange for cryptocurrency. Company filings show that BitXATM Technology reported no employees, no turnover, and no profit last year while reporting around $300,000 in debt. Stolen Cryptocurrency In 2016, BitXATM found itself at the center of a scandal when several of its crypto ATMs were compromised and clients’ cryptocurrency was stolen. Gabriel Prodanescu accused a former employee of the theft. The following year, Romania authorities arrested a man from the Transylvanian city of Brasov who was subsequently convicted after a trial in which Bogdan Peschir testified. Posts on Bitcoin-related online forums claimed that at least some BitXATM clients were unable to recover their funds. After the scandal, BitXATM’s website ceased updating, and Prodanescu opened a cryptocurrency company of the same name – as well as another called Globaya LTD – in Britain. Peschir’s LinkedIn page lists him as a Globaya employee. A jobs-listing site features a profile of a man with the username Bogdan Peschir who lists BitXATM and another crypto-related brand, mTicket, as places where he has worked. RFE/RL located social-media posts for both of these brands featuring photographs of a man who resembles the man in the job listing. RFE/RL sent one of these images to Peschir and asked him about the person and the company shown in the photograph, but he did not reply. The declassified intelligence records said Peschir "displays a standard of living that does not correspond to the activities carried out through the company he owns." He lives, according to Romanian media reports , in a swanky villa in an exclusive part of Brasov, with a BMW and a Porsche in the garage. RFE/RL was able to geolocate photos of this villa and confirm that they were taken in Brasov. In written comments to RFE/RL, Peschir rejected the thrust of the intelligence records’ statement about his standard of living. “I have income from other sources, completely legal, that are declared and taxed,” Peschir said. The Romanian intelligence documents mention both Prodanescu and a South African company called FA Agency, which the records allege was offering 1,000 euros ($1,047) to influencers to distribute a video clip in support of Georgescu's candidacy. RFE/RL contacted a self-described "influencer agency" of that name that says it operates in South Africa, asking about the company's alleged role in the operation and its links to Peschir and Prodanescu, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Attempts to reach Prodanescu for comment were unsuccessful. Asked by RFE/RL for an interview, Peschir responded only with a link to his previously published comments. 'I Don't Even Know Georgescu' The December 6 Constitutional Court ruling annulling the presidential election was followed by an announcement from Romanian prosecutors that a probe into alleged computer-related crimes has been launched amid allegations of Russian influence. Russia's exact role in the alleged TikTok influence operation is unclear. According to the intelligence documents, TikTok notified the Romanian authorities that it had identified a network of accounts affiliated with the Russian state news agency Sputnik that targeted users from Romania and Moldova. The documents also claimed that user access data for electoral websites was stolen and posted online on "cyber-crime platforms that originated from Russia." The Kremlin has denied any interference in Romania's elections. Neither Peschir nor his associates were linked to Russia in the intelligence reports. After his identity was made public, Peschir posted on TikTok that he was a "Romanian entrepreneur and investor" and had not been promised or paid anything for his support for Georgescu. "I don't even know [Georgescu] personally, and I don't feel that endorsing a cause that I support is unethical," he wrote. He also compared it to how Elon Musk helped U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's campaign with massive financial backing and by endorsing him on X and in his speeches. Peschir also doubled down on his support for the presidential candidate, saying, "The attacks on the system...motivate me even more to support Calin Georgescu," and describing the far-right politician as "the right choice for the people."
Published 4:45 pm Monday, December 9, 2024 By Associated Press EAGAN— Sam Darnold pinballed around his collapsed pocket to dodge a sack on third-and-8, before slicing through a skinny opening to sprint right in search of more space as Justin Jefferson’s hand shot up downfield. Darnold let rip an on-the-run throw that sailed 45 yards in the air and straight into Jefferson’s arms, where he was stunningly wide open inside the 10. He danced his way into the end zone to give the Minnesota Vikings a 21-13 lead, the harbinger of a fourth-quarter surge past the Atlanta Falcons. “I’m not going to tell you what I told him in regards to my opinion on how many guys make that throw,” coach Kevin O’Connell said with a smile. The 42-21 decision on Sunday not only gave the Vikings (11-2) their sixth consecutive victory but further validated their decision to let Kirk Cousins leave in free agency for a cheaper replacement. With O’Connell directing the quarterback development program and calling the plays and Jefferson leading a dangerous and diverse group of pass-catchers, Darnold has finally found a place he can thrive in after such an environment had long eluded the third overall pick in the 2018 draft — even in this roundabout way after the season-ending injury to rookie J.J. McCarthy. Factor in a defense that’s allowing only 18.5 points per game, sixth best in the NFL, and leads the league in interceptions (20), and these Vikings are going to be a tough team to outscore in the playoffs. Darnold became the ninth quarterback in NFL history and the first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to hit these benchmarks in a game: at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a 75% completion rate, no interceptions and a 155-plus passer rating. Jefferson and Jordan Addison combined for 15 catches, 265 yards and five scores. “This is definitely the ball that we want to play every single game,” Jefferson said. “Just the energy, the tempo that we had, just going out there and executing the plays.” None more spectacular than that on-the-run 52-yard touchdown pass from Darnold to Jefferson, who started the play in motion from left to right into a three-man bunch with Addison and Jalen Nailor to set up a favorable matchup with nickel cornerback Dee Alford. Addison ran a clear-out route toward the opposite corner, initially drawing the attention of three defenders. Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates, who was in a single-high alignment while the other Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons blitzed, diverted from Addison toward an uncovered Nailor on the other side while ignoring Jefferson streaking behind him. Cornerback Clark Phillips left Nailor to try to catch Jefferson, who’d blown by Alford. “He absolutely cooked the dude on the route,” Darnold said. The Falcons couldn’t have played their coverage worse, leaving three receivers open, but that’s the type of stress the Vikings can put on a defense with the way Darnold is throwing the ball. “We already knew what he was about once we got him on our team, that he could throw any pass,” Addison said. “He’s just put it on display for everybody else.” What’s working Though Darnold has been sacked 40 times this season, he has the athleticism and instinct to extend plays and find one of his tough-to-cover receivers on longer-developing routes even if pressure comes. What needs help The Vikings have allowed their two highest rushing yardage totals of the season in the last two weeks for an average of 4.95 yards per attempt, a trend worth watching for a defense that still ranks second in the NFL against the run. Their final two games against division rivals Green Bay and Detroit will pit them against two of the top five rushing teams in the league. Stock up Rookie Jalen Redmond made his first career start and played 39 of 74 snaps, the most among the interior defensive linemen, and had two tackles for loss and two deflected passes at the line. One came on a third-and-goal throw by Cousins that forced Atlanta to settle for a short kick right before halftime. Redmond went undrafted last year out of Oklahoma, was released by Carolina during the preseason and played this spring in the United Football League. Stock down Will Reichard made all six extra point attempts in his return from a four-game absence to let a quadriceps strain heal, but his only field goal try from 47 yards in the third quarter clanked off the left upright. Injury report CB Stephon Gilmore (hamstring) and backup OLB Patrick Jones (knee) were held out on Sunday. LB Ivan Pace (hamstring) must miss at least two more games. Key number .660 — O’Connell’s winning percentage at 31-16 during the regular season is the highest in Vikings history, ahead of Bud Grant (.621). He’s fourth among active NFL coaches, trailing Nick Sirianni (.703), Jim Harbaugh (.682) and Matt LaFleur (.677). Up next The Vikings finish their three-game homestand next Monday night against Chicago (4-9), three weeks after beating the Bears 30-27 on the road in overtime. The Vikings have a two-game edge on the Packers for the first NFC wild card, the No. 5 seed, and will clinch a spot in the playoffs with one more win or one more loss by the Los Angeles Rams, who were the last team to beat them on Oct. 24. The tiebreaker outlook in the NFC North, however, will likely require an additional loss by the Lions (12-1) in the next three games, even if the Vikings were to win their next three, to set up a division title game on the final weekend at Detroit.