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agilaplay888 By JESSICA DAMIANO Some homeowners gaze out their windows and see lush and beautiful gardens . Others would like to see lush and beautiful gardens but instead are greeted by overgrown, dead or otherwise messy landscapes. Related Articles Things To Do | Happenings — what’s coming up in Northeast Ohio starting Dec. 27 Things To Do | Join this golf club and you’ll get 7 ‘home’ courses across the US Things To Do | King Arthur Baking Company’s Stollen Recipe Things To Do | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone Things To Do | A preview of some stunning hotels and resorts opening in 2025 Whether you’ve inherited a neglected garden from a previous homeowner or have been too busy to keep on top of maintenance, don’t despair: Devising a game plan now can set you up for a much better view by next winter. As with most seemingly hopeless tasks, breaking the process down into small steps performed over time will help make the project manageable. First, grab a notepad and take a walk around the garden. Assess each section, determining which plants can be saved, which need to go and which require attention. Make a list now. Dead and invasive plants , as well as weeds , should be first on the chopping block. If the weather allows, dig them out, removing as much of their root systems as possible. Otherwise, tackle this first in spring. Next, remove and give away otherwise-healthy plants that you don’t want. Online buy-nothing groups and neighborhood pages are great places to find takers . Many will even be willing to do the digging if it means getting a free plant. If the property has been overrun with a thicket of plants, shrubs, trees and vines that have grown wild, a chainsaw, brush mower or brush grubber may be in order. If you’re dealing with a lot of weeds or want to create new garden beds in a lawn, you can smother the existing vegetation rather than dig it up. Determine the shape and size of the bed or border, and cover that area with cardboard or thick layers of newspaper. This can be done now, topped with 3 inches of compost and 2 inches of mulch, and left to sit over winter. It can also wait until planting time. When you’re ready to plant, you’ll be cutting root-size holes in the cardboard for your plants. Most weeds will be suppressed, but some may sneak through and require pulling or more cardboard. Healthy but overgrown or unproductive deciduous shrubs (the types that lose their leaves) can be rejuvenated by pruning . Do this when branches are bare in late winter. Choosing a method will require weighing aesthetics against rebound time and deciding which is right for you. The fastest (but most severe) method would be to cut the whole plant down just above ground level. It’s scary, but most shrubs can handle this and will bounce back stronger. If retaining height in the garden is important, you can opt to prune each branch or stem individually at uneven heights. Or cut back one-third of the plant’s branches each year for three years. The latter would have the least drastic effect but require the most patience. Evergreen trees and shrubs should only undergo selective pruning (the shortening of individual branches). Take care to avoid over-shearing or creating holes in needled evergreen plants and trees; with the exception of yews, they won’t fill back in . Now that you have a clean canvas, turn your attention to the soil. Test the soil’s pH to ensure it’s within range for the plants you plan to add. Test kits are available at local and online garden retailers. Your local cooperative extension service may provide testing and soil-amendment advice for a nominal fee. If indicated, incorporate lime or elemental sulfur into the soil to raise or lower its pH, following package instructions. If the soil is hard and compacted, use a core aerator or long-handled garden fork to create 2-3-inch holes through which air and water can enter. Finally, spread a 2-to-3-inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure over the area. As it decomposes, nutrients will work their way into the soil. After completing the above steps, it will be time to plant your new garden. If by summer you’re not yet ready to plant, apply mulch or use annuals to protect the bare soil. When you’re ready to plant new trees , shrubs and/or perennials, carefully select varieties that will not run rampant. Dig holes just as deep as their roots but twice as wide and space them appropriately to allow for their mature sizes. For the lowest maintenance going forward, consider hardy, pollinator-friendly , drought-tolerant native plants. Incorporate non-invasive groundcovers into beds to serve as a natural mulch and discourage weeds – remember, if you don’t plant something in bare spots, God will. While you wait for groundcovers to fill in, apply 2-to-3 inches of mulch between and around plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, keep soil temperatures even and protect tender roots. It might take a year or two — or longer, depending on your schedule and ability, but a step-by-step approach will avoid overwhelm and provide a steady stream of small wins as you approach your goal. Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice. For her favorite tools and gear of the past year, see her 2024 gardening gift guide. For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening .FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys ' injury-plagued 2024 season took another turn on Thursday with the team announcing they are shutting down All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for the team's final two games. His AC joint sprain in the right shoulder continued to devolve to the point to where it wasn't worth the risk to have him out on the field given Dallas (7-8) is eliminated from postseason contention. Lamb's teammates marveled at his toughness and will to power through an injury that bothered the wideout so much Lamb said he was seriously focused on "keeping my shoulder attached to my body." "I know his shoulder has been bothering him, but I think for CeeDee (what) was so impressive -- and he might be the best player that I've seen with my own eyes -- is that man ... he just loves the game of football," Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons said Thursday. "I don't think anyone should ever question how much CeeDee brings to the team, or his factor. He's QB proof." Lamb registered 935 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns on 74 receptions as a rookie in 2020 when Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending ankle injury before ripping off 1,000 or more yards receiving in each of his last four NFL seasons. He led the entire league with 135 receptions while ranking second in receiving yards (1,749) in 2023, which led to him earning first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career. His 496 career receptions are the second most through a player's first five seasons in NFL history, just 14 behind former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowler Michael Thomas ' record of 510 set in the 2016 through 2020 seasons. "I've seen him get 1,000 [receiving yards] with Andy Dalton [in 2020]," Parsons said. "I've seen him get 1,000 with Dak Prescott [from 2021-2023]. I've seen him get 1,000 with Cooper Rush [in 2024]. At one point, you give grace to all these other wide receivers and say 'Oh, they're not producing because they don't got their quarterback.' But CeeDee has shown time and time again that he can do it with anyone throwing him the rock. He can find a way to get open. He's competitive. He's a dog ... when it comes to what he's going fight through, man, I just don't think he's comparable. That's why I think he's the best." Cowboys fill-in starting quarterback Cooper Rush was asked on Thursday what he would miss the most if Lamb were to be out for the team's final two regular season games. "Obviously his production," Rush said. He called Lamb "a warrior" after his Week 17 performance against Tampa Bay in which Lamb caught seven passes for 105 yards receiving. "He's a warrior," Rush said of Lamb postgame on Sunday night. "That guy is as tough as they come. He's out there, moving him around, throwing it to him or handing it to him. It felt real good to get him down the field tonight. He's been doing a lot of shorter stuff, throwing screens, yards after catch and tonight he showed what he can do down the field, too." During the end of the first half of that game, Lamb landed hard on his shoulder, which left him officially questionable to return. Almost right after the announcement was made, Lamb returned to action, and he caught a 10-yard pass that came up just an inch short of a touchdown. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott bulldozed into the end zone to give Dallas a 20-7 lead on the very next play with under two minutes left in the second quarter. "I really scored," Lamb said postgame Sunday night with a smile. "But yeah, my shoulder is out of whack. Bro, I'm not even going to even lie to you. I'm just out there battling and doing what I do. Yeah, bro, it's not fun." Dallas is now without the following Week 1 starters: quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring tear), wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (AC joint sprain in shoulder), right guard Zack Martin (ankle), edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence (foot), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee). Earlier on Thursday, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear no player would be forced to suit up the final two games of the season if they weren't healthy, and that's clearly the case given the announcement about Lamb. Dallas has two games remaining in their 2024 season at the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3) in Week 17 and home versus the Washington Commanders (10-5) in Week 18. "There's a lot that goes into this, but the players are not forced to play," McCarthy said on Thursday. "That's why you have the return to practice group, the rehab group, so there's a process. There's protocols in place to ensure that because I think it's even been heightened even more with the 17-game season and so forth. That part hasn't changed because of our record. We'll go through the week, and the 48 players we feel give us the best chance to win the game that are healthy, will play."Sports on TV Monday, Dec. 16NCAA HOCKEY: Skidmore’s late rally falls short against Lake Forest

Impartner Partner Relationship Management platform now available in the Microsoft Azure MarketplaceThe mystery surrounding at least one of the unexplained drones causing Americans to look toward the night sky in recent days was solved late Saturday evening, when Boston police arrested two men for allegedly flying their unmanned aerial device too close to Logan Airport. According to police, 42-year-old Robert Duffy of Charlestown and 32-year-old Jeremy Folcik of Bridgewater were arrested Saturday on Long Island, after officials noticed the drone on their monitoring systems. “The incident began earlier that evening, at 4:30 p.m., when a Boston Police Officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance detected an Unmanned Aircraft System operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport. Leveraging advanced UAS monitoring technology, the Officer identified the drone’s location, altitude, flight history, and the operators’ position on Long Island,” the Boston Police Department said in a Sunday statement. After rallying officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission, and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control, the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit was dispatched to the Boston Harbor Islands, where they allegedly found Duffy and Folcik, along with another man on the closed Long Island Health campus. All three attempted to flee on foot, according to police, but the arrested pair were caught and a drone found in their possession. The third man, according to police, is “believed to have fled the island in a small vessel.” Police say that all three were engaging in seriously dangerous behavior. “Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions. Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to airplanes and helicopters. Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk,” they said. Both Duffy and Folcik will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of trespassing, police said. This is a developing story and it will be updated.

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None from group side charged with violation of FCPA or conspiracy to obstruct justice: Adani

NoneTrivially Speaking: Fun and games lead to ‘Brandy’ and musical memories

Join this golf club and you’ll get 7 ‘home’ courses across the USThe finance ministry on Sunday said that the department of expenditure has been consistently improving direct benefit transfer or DBT linkages between beneficiaries and on boarding with external systems to facilitate greater ease of living. As part of its review for the year 2024, the DBT through the public financial management system (PFMS) supports digital India by enabling electronic payment and receipt for all the ministries and departments in both the Centre and states. In a social media post, the ministry also said that the information technology (IT)-based public financial management system (PFMS) makes a direct and significant contribution to the digital India initiative of the government, enabling the direct benefit transfer for the beneficiaries enrolled in various schemes under ministries/departments in the government. “The DBT through PFMS aims to achieve the complete tracking of the realisation of funds from its release to credit into the bank account of intended beneficiaries and ‘just in time' transfer of funds,” the ministry said. Almost all the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) and central sector schemes (CS) are on the PFMS and all the major banks, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have an interface with PFMS. These transfers through DBT are part of various welfare schemes aimed at ensuring that government aid reaches the people it is intended for, without middlemen or leakages. Emphasing the tremendous success in India that has achieved in delivering welfare benefits directly to the people through digital systems, earlier in October, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that more than $450 billion has been transferred through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) to the people in the last 8 years. “Over 51 ministries and departments in the central government deal with the DBT. Around $40 billion has been saved from being lost to pilferage during this period,” the minister said. The finance minister also credited the elimination of ghost accounts and fraudulent transactions for these savings, underlining the importance of accountability when it comes to handling taxpayers’ money. “This digital initiative is a ‘superb lesson’ in improving transparency and efficiency. The government's efforts have ensured that every rupee is properly accounted for, thus preventing misuse and enhancing the responsible use of public funds,” she said. The DBT system, introduced by the central government, has been widely recognised as a powerful tool in ensuring the delivery of subsidies, pensions, scholarships, and other benefits directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries, minimising delays and cutting down intermediaries.

India lost its foremost thinker and architect of its new economy in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late night on Thursday. Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he breathed his last , surrounded by family members and devoted party colleagues, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi along with other senior leaders. Senior BJP leaders including party president J. P. Nadda also rushed to the hospital and condolences started pouring in from across the world. AIIMS said in a statement that Singh was being treated for age-related medical conditions. It said he had “sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26 and resuscitative measures were immediately started at home.” Singh was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS at 8:26 pm but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 pm.” Ninety-two-year old Singh stands tall as one of India’s most distinguished leaders, whose contributions have indelibly shaped the country’s economic and geopolitical trajectory. A true statesman, visionary leader with humility, Singh rose to prominence through sheer intellect and integrity, leaving an enduring legacy as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation. Born on September 26, 1932 in Gah, now in Pakistan, Singh’s journey exemplifies resilience and dedication to public service. He held the distinction of being the first Sikh to occupy the Prime Minister’s office and was the first Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. He exhibited academic brilliance from a young age, earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from Punjab University in 1952 and 1954, respectively. He furthered his studies at the University of Cambridge, obtaining a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957, and later completed his D.Phil. in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1962. An economist by training, he held key positions in academia and government before taking on the transformative role of India’s finance minister in 1991. This period marked a watershed moment in India’s history, as the country faced a severe balance of payments crisis. Singh, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, unveiled a series of bold economic reforms that dismantled the License Raj, opened up the economy to foreign investments, and liberalised trade policies. In his historic 1991 Budget speech, Singh captured the nation’s imagination with a profound quote from Victor Hugo: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.” These words symbolized India’s awakening to its potential as a global economic powerhouse. The reforms ushered in a new era of growth, entrepreneurship, and modernization, laying the foundation for India’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. Singh’s professional journey is a testament to his profound impact on India‘s economic landscape. He began his career with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 1966 to 1969, followed by a tenure as a professor of International Trade at the Delhi School of Economics. His expertise led to significant roles within the Indian government, including Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985), and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (1985–1987). Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 further cemented his reputation as a transformative leader. One of his most remarkable achievements was navigating the contentious India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement during his first term. The deal, signed in 2008, ended India’s decades-long isolation in the global nuclear order and granted it access to nuclear technology and fuel for civilian purposes. Despite facing significant opposition from political allies and adversaries alike, Singh stood firm, demonstrating exceptional courage and statesmanship. “I am convinced that this is an agreement that is good for India and the world,” he asserted, emphasizing the long-term benefits for the country’s energy security and international standing. Singh’s unwavering commitment to the nuclear deal, even at the risk of his government’s survival, was a testament to his belief in pursuing policies for the greater good, regardless of political expediency. Reflecting on the challenges he faced during this period, Singh famously remarked, “History will judge me kindly.” This statement encapsulated his confidence in the enduring value of his decisions, even amid criticism and controversy. A leader known for his quiet dignity and humility, Singh’s legacy extends beyond policies and reforms. He epitomized the values of integrity, intellect, and service, earning respect both domestically and globally. While his tenure was not without challenges, including criticisms over governance issues in his second term, Singh’s contributions to India’s economic transformation and global stature remain unparalleled. Manmohan Singh’s journey from a modest background to becoming the steward of India’s economic destiny underscores his identity as a true “son of the soil.” His vision, courage, and foresight have left an indelible mark on the nation, ensuring that his legacy will indeed be judged kindly by history. 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Hyderabad: Forests and endowments minister Konda Surekha has expressed suspicion on the handiwork of former secretary of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS) and BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar in the recent cases of food poisoning being reported in those institutions. Addressing media in Hyderabad on Saturday, she also suspected the hand of BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) behind the incidents, as per the inputs from the intelligence. She said that RS Praveen Kumar had many followers in the Gurukuls, and that she was suspecting that they were trying to create unrest by blaming the state government for those food poisoning incidents, seemingly at the behest of KTR. She also alleged that there were irregularities to the tune of crores in Gurukuls, when RS Praveen Kumar was heading the administration of those institutions, “During the previous government, there was no effort made by those in power to inspect the Gurukuls and check the quality of education and facilities being offered to students there. After Congress came to power we have been doing that. Only one incident of food poisoning happened in the present government, which is unfortunate. With a plan they are trying to prevent the government from doing its work. I believe that there is the hand of RS Praveen Kumar in the incidents of food poisoning being reported in the state,” she told the media. She also said that BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was giving more importance to his daughter K Kavitha, and that was the reason why KTR was feeling left-out. She also said that while Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao and Kavitha formed a team, KTR was feeling isolated. In a strong rebuttal of Surekha’s comments, Praveen Kumar dared the state government to arrest him if he was found to have perpetrated any wrongdoing. “Konda Surekha lost her credibility when she got Telangana activists attacked at Manukota railway station during Telangana movement. She doesn’t even deserve to be a minister. I neglected my own children to ensure the children from these Gurukuls excelled in their careers. The results speak loud about what I could achieve. Konda Surekha should stop holding press meets,” he remarked.Rockets vs. Timberwolves Injury Report Today – December 27

Have you ever wanted to run away from your life? Why this phenomenon is more common than you think

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