By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Although dollar stores have changed a lot over the years (the biggest change being that everything inside is no longer a dollar), shopping and retail experts say there are still hidden deals that can help ease the financial burden of your holiday shopping essentials and non-essentials. At the same time, just because the word "dollar" is in the name of a store doesn't mean that other big-box retailers like Walmart won't be able to rival (and even beat!) their prices. That's why if you're looking for ways to save this holiday season, it's best to plan out a detailed list of what you're in the market for and do a little research based on which stores have the cheapest items. That way, you won't be caught off-guard with any extra expenses and can make just one trip to a dollar store and another trip to a big-box store like Walmart to pick up all of your essentials. In any case, here are a few things that dollar stores are currently in the lead for for most affordable options. 1. Seasonal decor According to Joanna Clark-Simpson, head of consumer research and consumer expert at PissedConsumer , seasonal decor is one of the things dollar stores continue to excel at. And, as the leader of a review-based website where customers can air their wins and grievances, she sees this as an ongoing win for dollar stores across the board. However, she says, "Shoppers should [still] check price tags carefully, inspect items and plan their purchases." Cheap decor can be dented, broken or flawed, so give it a good once over before putting it in your cart. Things like tabletop Christmas trees are $1.25 at Dollar Tree, where a similar item retails for nearly $3 at Walmart. Fun room add-on items like Christmas-themed soap dispensers are a win from Dollar Tree at $1.25 and an easy way to add a fun pop of color to an often forgotten room like the bathroom. You will, however, have to fill up the dispensers with your own hand soap (which, honestly, sounds like a good idea, because there could be additional fillers added to dollar store soaps). Garland is another find you should head to the dollar store for. But Clark-Simpson recommends staying away from twinkle lights, as electronics and anything power or battery-operated tends to fall short at dollar stores. 2. Stocking stuffers Clark-Simpson says stocking stuffers like socks — even fun, printed socks — can always be found at the dollar store and make great, affordable gift add-ons. You can pick up golf and motorcycle-printed socks for just $1.25 per pair at Dollar Tree and a five-pack of socks for $5 , meaning you've hacked the system and can pay $1 per unit again instead of $1.25. However, if you're in the market for a larger pack of socks to break apart and gift separately, Walmart will be your best bet. You can find a 20-pack of girls socks there on sale for $5 . 3. Baking essentials According to Clark-Simpson, perishable food items should be avoided at dollar stores since customers find expiration dates to be tricky, but shelf-stable items like sugar or cookie mixes will always be a score at dollar stores — even if it's just by a little. A one-pound box of sugar at Dollar Tree is $1.25, and the same box will run you just under $2 at Walmart. If you want to save both time and money, pick up cookie mixes at the Dollar Tree, which will save you about $2 per pack vs big-box stores. 4. Kids' entertainment The kids are home from school during the holidays, which means it's time to find cheap, creative ways to entertain them. Dollar stores offer easy and affordable holiday craft painting kits and DIY ornaments that you can paint from home. 5. Disposable glassware Just like it's a good idea to keep a storage container full of Christmas decor that you can easily stow away when you're not using it, it's a great idea to have a case of cheap glassware that you don't care about your guests breaking. Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up reusable glassware that's just $1.25 per unit , so you don't have to purchase and re-purchase plastic cups each year. These glasses will last through the years and won't cause strife if one of your guests has too much eggnog and accidentally knocks it off the table. Don't forget your coupons Did you know even dollar stores offer coupons and discounts? According to writer, author, and nationally recognized consumer finance and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch, most dollar store shoppers have no idea that they can save even more at the stores. "Dollar stores like Dollar General have their own apps to help you navigate sales, save more through coupons and in-store deals and earn rewards," says Woroch. "For example, the My Dg app offers cash-back opportunities on a variety of products that you may need to buy anyway and you can apply rewards towards future purchases." And, she says, shoppers can take advantage of websites like Coupon Cabin that have deals to Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and more. Even your receipts can hold some money-saving power, as you can actually scan photos of your dollar store receipts to earn rewards. "Take pictures of your receipts using a free rewards apps like www.Fetch.com to earn points for free gift cards to a variety off stores like Amazon, Target and Walmart to offset future purchase needs," says Woroch. RELATED CONTENT 17 Deal Sites and Tools for Finding Online Shopping Bargains Family Holiday Meal Deals from Walmart, Target, Kroger 25 Best After-Christmas Sales
NEWS BRIEF The US government unsealed charges yesterday against a Chinese national who allegedly broke into approximately 81,000 of Sophos firewall devices around the world in 2020. Guan Tianfeng, also known as gbigmao and gxiaomao, was charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tianfeng has also been accused of developing and testing a zero-day security vulnerability used to conduct the Sophos attacks. The zero-day vulnerability in question is tracked as CVE-2020-12271 and has a CVSS score of 9.8, a critical SQL injection flaw that could allow a threat actor to achieve remote code execution (RCE). A federal arrest warrant was issued for Tianfeng in the US District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division, and it is believed that he is currently residing in Sichuan Province, China. The Rewards for Justice Program through the US Department of State is offering an award of up to $10 million for information on Tianfeng and the offices he worked out of, Sichuan Silence Technology Company Ltd., as well as associated individuals and their malicious activity. "The defendant and his conspirators compromised tens of thousands of firewalls and then continued to hold at risk these devices, which protect computers in the United States and around the world," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen, in a press release . "The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who contribute to the dangerous ecosystem of China-based enabling companies that carry out indiscriminate hacks on behalf of their sponsors and undermine global cybersecurity." Any tips or information can be made with the FBI via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or tips.fbi.gov . Skilled writer and editor covering cybersecurity for Dark Reading.
— The company saw record trades on Cyber Monday — — Asics, Fear of God, Pop Mart, and Timberland set new trade records throughout the week — — Best-selling products across categories included Travis Scott's latest Jordan collab, sneakers from Asics and adidas, Fear of God apparel, Ugg Lowmel boots, and Labubu collectibles from Pop Mart — DETROIT, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- StockX today reports a strong Cyber Week performance, with Monday breaking previous trade records. Between Wednesday and Monday, the platform saw record trades from brands including Asics , Fear of God , Pop Mart , and Timberland . Additionally, adidas , Yeezy , Lego , Stanley , Vans , and Denim Tears saw year-over-year trade growth. During the same time period, the company also set a new trade record for apparel sales, with the category achieving double-digit growth compared to 2023. Shoppers flocked to the platform earlier than ever, with year-over-year trades on Wednesday and Thursday up nearly 40% and 50% respectively, and StockX closing the six-day shopping week with more trades than it saw in the same time period last year. The platform also saw record use of Xpress Ship – StockX's quicker shipping feature – setting single-day sales records from Wednesday through Cyber Monday. Xpress Ship items are pre-verified by StockX verification experts and ready to ship as soon as a purchase is made. "This Cyber Weekend was a testament to the continued demand for sought-after products around the globe. Though many consumers remain price-conscious this year, we saw record trades on Cyber Monday and multiple brands achieved triple-digit growth over 2023. These results reflect the trust our community has in StockX and the power of our vast product catalog of sought-after items," said StockX co-founder, President, and COO Greg Schwartz. "We expect this momentum to continue through the holiday season, and our team will be ready to deliver a best-in-class experience for both buyers and sellers." Just between Friday and Monday, StockX facilitated tens of millions of dollars in sales worldwide. In preparation for the weekend, StockX rolled out new features to provide even more value to holiday shoppers. The platform made hundreds of thousands of products available for quicker shipping via Xpress Ship, giving customers the opportunity to shop through Thursday, December 19, and still get their items before Christmas. The company also introduced returns, allowing shoppers in the United States to return eligible items within 14 days of delivery for a full refund in the form of StockX credit, minus the original cost of shipping. For orders placed between November 27 and December 31, StockX extended the return window through January 15, 2025. Additionally, StockX gift cards are available to U.S. customers for the first time this holiday season. Top Movers on StockX During Cyber Weekend: Sneakers Shoes Apparel Collectibles Electronics StockX welcomed millions of visitors to its website and app and awarded more than $2 million in prizes to customers throughout Cyber Weekend. Prizes included coveted grails like the Jordan 1 Retro High Dior , Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 Low By Virgil Abloh White Red , and Nike Air Yeezy 2 Solar Red , as well as the Sony PlayStation 5 PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle . The global marketplace served buyers and sellers in more than 100 different countries and territories, with multiple markets seeing year-over-year sales growth during the shopping period. For more information about StockX, please visit www.stockx.com . About StockX StockX is proud to be a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online market for sneakers, apparel, accessories, electronics, collectibles, trading cards, and more. StockX's powerful platform connects buyers and sellers of high-demand consumer goods from around the world using dynamic pricing mechanics. This approach affords access and market visibility powered by real-time data that empowers buyers and sellers to determine and transact based on market value. The StockX platform features hundreds of brands across verticals including Jordan Brand, adidas, Nike, Supreme, BAPE, Off-White, Louis Vuitton, Gucci; collectibles from brands including LEGO, KAWS, Bearbrick, and Pop Mart; and electronics from industry-leading manufacturers Sony, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple. Launched in 2016, StockX employs 1,000 people across offices and verification centers around the world. Learn more at www.stockx.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stockx-sets-cyber-weekend-records-302321322.html SOURCE StockXDefending SOCs Under Siege: Battling Adversarial AI AttacksSubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . This past week, I’ve practically caused a spasm in my eyes from staring at media coverage of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Now that new developments have slowed following the identification of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione as a suspect in the assassination, meme makers across social media platforms have taken to glorifying the Gen-Z computer science nerd-turned-person of interest in a high-profile American killing. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities Something about the shooting felt intertwined with my life from the outset — possibly because it occurred not far from buildings where I’ve worked in Midtown Manhattan, or because it was the CEO of the insurance company I receive care through who was killed. The targeted killing was also the first instance of a sensationalized crime I could link my social circles to through social media. When Mangione was charged with the healthcare executive’s murder, I found his Instagram and quickly discovered mutual connections. I turned to his GoodReads account, a platform on which I often share my book reviews, and I casually compared and contrasted our tastes in literature. These are tangential and imagined connections, but a phenomenon arises from the knowledge that the alleged killer is a member of the Gen-Z generation: Young people feel closer to a suspected killer who once occupied their same digital subcultures than they do to the slain executive of a massive corporation. Emerging from that sentiment is a humor that has fascinated the media. The alleged details of the case, including the engravings on the shell casings, monopoly money left behind, the suspect’s purported understanding of post-9/11 surveillance in New York City, his apparent flirting with the desk attendant of a youth hostel, and the get-away electric bike all pointed to someone young, at least by the standards of my circles. As a friend texted in a group chat I’m in: “I just knew I’d have mutuals with this guy once they caught him.” Gen-Z’s shared generational status with Mangione, combined with frustrations over American healthcare insurance practices and widespread desensitization from chronic exposure to violent imagery, including the murder of George Floyd and images of Israel’s war on Gaza, might explain the sardonic online reactions to Thompson’s killing. As of this writing, “Mangione” is the top trending topic on X. Chalked up to “ hate ” by some, the saint-style portraiture, jokes about conjugal visits, fake alibis, jabs at Italian heritage, and comments praising Mangione’s appearance and intelligence barfed up by social media users are an intimate glimpse into how Gen-Z metabolizes the intragenerational suspect of a politicized crime. Almost immediately following Thompson’s murder, X users drew attention to an Anthem Blue Cross policy update that sought to place limits on coverage for anesthesia. Following the online backlash, the provider reversed that policy, yielding a slew of knowing memes. Seemingly devoid of sympathy for the CEO’s death, memes glorifying Mangione alternatively function as symbols of mass solidarity with those who have died as a result of inadequate healthcare access. Thompson’s killing brought healthcare, which was rarely discussed in this year’s presidential debates, briefly into the feeds of millions of Americans. For a brief moment following Thompson’s murder, major media outlets propelled complaints against UnitedHealthcare to the forefront, including a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of using an algorithm that “ systematically den[ies] claims ” of Medicare plan holders. Below are many more examples of social media users’ reactions to the arrest of Luigi Mangione — I’ll let you decide whether they’re cruel or meritorious. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn FacebookFunny Money