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By CLAIRE RUSH PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show. Related Articles National News | Today in History: December 16, the Boston Tea Party National News | Today in History: December 15, Dylann Roof convicted of killing 9 Black church members in South Carolina National News | Paying homage to veterans on Wreaths Across America Day National News | Today in History: December 14, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting National News | Court denies TikTok’s request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It’s not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures. “While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art,” the city said in its posts. The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh,” one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. “We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!” Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer specifically are a great look, and they should stay that way.” Others said the city should focus on addressing more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money on removing the googly eyes. Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been adorned with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths, leis. The city doesn’t remove those, and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Bend’s communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press. “We really encourage our community to engage with the art and have fun. We just need to make sure that we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said. The post and its comments were covered by news outlets, and even made it on a segment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .” The city regrets that its post was misunderstood, Mitchell said. “There was no intent to be heavy-handed, and we certainly understand maybe how that was taken,” she said. “We own this large collection of public art and really want to bring awareness to the community that applying adhesives does harm the art. So as stewards of the collection, we wanted to share that on social media.” The city has so far spent $1,500 on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted, Mitchell said, and has started treating some of the art pieces, which are made of different types of metal such as bronze and steel. The “Phoenix Rising” sculpture might need to be repainted entirely, she said. For some, the googly eyes — like the other holiday objects — provide a welcome boost of seasonal cheer. “I look forward to seeing the creativity of whoever it is that decorates the roundabouts during the holidays,” one social media commenter said. “Brings a smile to everyone to see silliness.”
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Sunday's inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff bracket reveal officially set the stage for the most anticipated postseason the sport has ever seen. Eight more spots in the playoff field have created two extra rounds to determine a national champion, which could come from the Big Ten, the Southeastern Conference or even the Mountain West! Now that the initial matchups are set, it's time to examine the FanDuel odds for the first-round games and, of course, the latest national championship odds. CFP Bracket: Odds for First-Round Games Oregon's win over Penn State in the Big Ten championship locked the Ducks into the No. 1 seed, while Georgia's overtime triumph over Texas for the SEC crown moved the Bulldogs up to No. 2. Boise State slotted in at No. 9 in the final CFP rankings but is the No. 3 seed thanks to its win over UNLV in the Mountain West championship. With SMU losing to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, No. 12-ranked Arizona State is the four seed after it throttled Iowa State to win the Big 12. The top four teams get a bye, with the 5-12 seeds meeting in the first round. 12-seed Clemson (+330) vs. 5-seed Texas (-11.5) Texas was favored to win the SEC and lock down a top-four seed, but Clemson was not expected to beat SMU for the ACC title. The Longhorns will therefore hunt redemption, while Dabo Swinney's team is essentially playing with house money. The winner will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. 9-seed Tennessee (+215) vs. 8-seed Ohio State (-7.5) The third-highest-ranked team from the SEC (No. 7 Tennessee) will face off with the third-highest-ranked squad from the Big Ten (No. 6 Ohio State). This game brings the Buckeyes a chance at redemption for their embarrassing loss to Michigan to end the regular season. The winner will travel to the Rose Bowl to play Oregon. 11-seed SMU (+240) vs. 6-seed Penn State (-7.5) Concerns over strength of schedule dog both teams. Both have 11-2 records and were runners-up in their respective conferences. Penn State's only win over a ranked opponent was against then-No. 19 Illinois in Week 4, while SMU has knocked off then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pittsburgh. The winner will meet Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. 10-seed Indiana (+230) vs. 7-seed Notre Dame (-7.5) The Hoosiers may be the biggest surprise in college football this season, although their inclusion came with a few concerns over the strength of their schedule. After falling flat in a potential statement game against then-No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 23, Indiana can prove its might against a Fighting Irish squad that won its last 10 games. The winner will take on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. National Championship Odds and Picks Oregon was the betting favorite (odds via FanDuel) prior to the final rankings reveal at +230. Post-reveal, Texas and Georgia are co-favorites at +360, followed by Oregon at +380, Ohio State at +500 and Penn State at +600. Boise State is the biggest long shot at +7500 despite having a first-round bye. Like Boise State, Arizona State saw its odds go from +3500 to +6000 even though it doesn't play until the quarterfinals. The Picks are In... First-Round Best Bet: Indiana-Notre Dame UNDER 51.5-both teams have solid offenses but will find it difficult to move the ball against the other's defense. Upset Special: Clemson (+340) over Texas-Cade Klubnik will have his hands full against the Texas secondary, but the Clemson defense could be up for the challenge against Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns offense. National Championship Winner: Favorite-Oregon +380; Dark Horse-Notre Dame +1200; Long Shot-Arizona State +6000 --Field Level Media‘It says you have 3 in the back’: Target worker exposes the truth behind items in ‘the back’
By CLAIRE RUSH PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show. On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It’s not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures. “While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art,” the city said in its posts. The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh,” one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. “We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!” Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer specifically are a great look, and they should stay that way.” Others said the city should focus on addressing more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money on removing the googly eyes. Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been adorned with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths, leis. The city doesn’t remove those, and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Bend’s communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press. “We really encourage our community to engage with the art and have fun. We just need to make sure that we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said. The post and its comments were covered by news outlets, and even made it on a segment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .” The city regrets that its post was misunderstood, Mitchell said. “There was no intent to be heavy-handed, and we certainly understand maybe how that was taken,” she said. “We own this large collection of public art and really want to bring awareness to the community that applying adhesives does harm the art. So as stewards of the collection, we wanted to share that on social media.” The city has so far spent $1,500 on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted, Mitchell said, and has started treating some of the art pieces, which are made of different types of metal such as bronze and steel. The “Phoenix Rising” sculpture might need to be repainted entirely, she said. For some, the googly eyes — like the other holiday objects — provide a welcome boost of seasonal cheer. “I look forward to seeing the creativity of whoever it is that decorates the roundabouts during the holidays,” one social media commenter said. “Brings a smile to everyone to see silliness.”Major indices close higher for the trading week by the Russell 2000
More prison school offerings like diploma, degree help better prospects for ex-offenders
It was December 2, 1805. The fields of Austerlitz were cloaked in fog. Napoleon Bonaparte outnumbered and ostensibly retreating, faced the combined might of the Austrian and Russian imperial armies. The Allies believed they had him cornered. They saw the French emperor’s lines thinning and his forces retreating from a key high ground, the Pratzen Heights. Sensing an opportunity, they charged forward, confident that victory was within their grasp. Yet, what unfolded next would shatter their hopes. As the Allies surged, Napoleon unleashed a meticulously planned counteroffensive, splitting their forces and driving thousands of soldiers onto a frozen lake. When French artillery rained cannonballs onto the fragile ice, it gave way, and entire regiments plunged into the freezing waters below. Austerlitz, later immortalized as the “Battle of the Three Emperors,” was not just a triumph of force but of strategy, deception, and preparation. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the fog of war has moved from battlefields to boardrooms and global markets. The U.S.-China trade war is a modern-day Austerlitz, where tariffs and currency maneuvers have replaced cannonballs and cavalry charges. In 2018, when Donald Trump levied tariffs on Chinese goods, it was an ambush reminiscent of the Allied assault on Napoleon’s ostensibly weakened forces. Trump saw an opening to weaken China’s economic dominance. He expected the tariffs to leave China vulnerable. Initially, the move appeared to succeed. China’s exports faltered, its stock markets stumbled, and Beijing scrambled to contain the damage. But, like Napoleon retreating to draw his enemies into a trap, China was not as vulnerable as it seemed. Over the years, China has hardened its economic defenses, just as Napoleon meticulously prepared his army before Austerlitz. President Xi Jinping’s government has shifted its trade strategies to flood emerging markets with exports, ensuring a broader base of demand. By devaluing the yuan, Beijing made Chinese goods cheaper abroad, effectively neutralizing the tariffs’ impact. This currency manipulation acted like Napoleon’s cannon fire on the ice, destabilizing U.S. manufacturers and forcing global competitors to operate on China’s terms. The infamous “China price” has become a weapon as potent as any artillery barrage, undercutting rivals and consolidating Beijing’s control over key industries. Much like Napoleon’s use of terrain, China has exploited the dynamics of the global economy to its advantage. Trump, for all his strengths and his admirable vision back toward a more just, sustainable U.S. economy, finds himself in a position not unlike the Allies at Austerlitz – overextended and overly confident in its initial moves. The belief that tariffs alone could cripple China underestimated Beijing’s resilience and capacity for adaptation. Chinese leaders, like Napoleon, understand the importance of timing and preparation. They have avoided direct confrontation, opting instead for a strategy of attrition, flooding global markets with inexpensive goods and undercutting U.S. industries. Meanwhile, the devaluation of the yuan functions as a defensive maneuver, absorbing economic shocks and allowing Chinese exporters to remain competitive despite the tariffs. But the parallels between Austerlitz and the trade war extend beyond strategy. They also give us critical lessons about the risks of hubris and the power of long-term planning. Napoleon’s genius lay not only in his military tactics but in his ability to see several moves ahead, anticipating and exploiting the overconfidence of his enemies. Similarly, China’s strategy demonstrates a long view of economic warfare, one that prioritizes resilience and adaptability over immediate victories. By diversifying its trade partners and pouring national resources into its manufacturing base, Beijing has created a buffer against the economic pressures imposed by Washington. The United States, on the other hand, risks repeating the Allies’ mistakes. Overreliance on the dollar’s dominance, combined with political and economic fragmentation at home, has left Trump vulnerable to counterattacks. Just as the Allies underestimated Napoleon’s ability to strike decisively, Trump has underestimated China’s capacity to absorb blows and retaliate in ways that reshape the global economic landscape. The fog of economic war cloaks the real strengths and weaknesses of each side, making it all the more crucial to understand the dynamics at play. At Austerlitz, Napoleon turned the tide of battle with a single decisive move – the destruction of the ice-bound lake that swallowed thousands of Allied soldiers. This dramatic moment was memorably recreated in Ridley Scott’s 2023 film Napoleon. Scott showed the unpredictable, surprising nature of warfare. Similarly, in the trade war, a single misstep – whether a poorly calibrated tariff, an underappreciation of China’s control over supply chains, or a financial crisis – could shatter the fragile balance of power. Both sides are vying for dominance in a global economy that increasingly resembles the thin ice of that fateful battlefield. What if Napoleon could give strategic advice to Trump? Let’s imagine. First, he would likely stress the importance of understanding the opponent’s true strengths and weaknesses. Just as Napoleon studied the terrain and movements of his enemies, Trump must conduct a comprehensive assessment of China’s economic vulnerabilities and strengths rather than relying on outdated assumptions. Second, Napoleon would advise against overextension. He understood that no force, no matter how powerful, can win if it spreads itself too thin. For Trump, this means focusing on shoring up his own economic foundations – investing in domestic manufacturing, securing critical supply chains, and strengthening alliances with other nations to counterbalance China’s global influence. Trump also risks spreading himself too thin if he spends his time and attention encouraging financial market bubbles that risk misallocating scarce capital. Finally, Napoleon would emphasize the importance of timing and decisive strikes. Just as he waited for the perfect moment to counterattack at Austerlitz, Trump must be patient and deliberate in his strategy. Will tariffs with thousands of Commerce Department exemptions be a decisive strike? Or will China view them as bluffs, based on the 2018 experience, as it sets up shell companies in Vietnam and Mexico? It’s hard for me to imagine tariffs being successful in achieving Trump’s goals without at least temporary pain and restructuring in the way many global companies do business. Finally, Napoleon might remind Trump, “Never invade Russia, or shoot missiles at it, in the winter... or in the spring, for that matter.” Although Trump, unlike Joe Biden, long ago realized that extending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, rather than urging peace talks, is one of the most tragic, wasteful, and stupid decisions in history. Editor’s note: Members of Jim Rickards’ Strategic Intelligence Pro can read the rest of Dan’s research, along with the accompanying stock pick, here.AP News Summary at 5:36 p.m. EST