p777 slot
WOMEN'S AP TOP 25: Gamecocks remain at No. 2; Trojans jump to No. 4By BEN FINLEY The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018 , and this year . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa’s story NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
Russia shares higher at close of trade; MOEX Russia Index up 0.47%None
Bowling Green earns 87-62 win over AquinasBowling Green earns 87-62 win over Aquinas
NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a RepublicanAs Auxerre prepares for a daunting encounter with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this Friday, Gideon Mensah is full of confidence, believing his team can pull off an upset despite facing the reigning Ligue 1 champions. The match poses a significant challenge for Christophe Pélissier’s side, who will host PSG at Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps. While PSG remains unbeaten in the league, Auxerre has been enjoying a solid run of form, including a five-match unbeaten streak—four of which were wins. This momentum has seen them rise into the top half of the table. However, a recent defeat to Toulouse has left Auxerre eager to bounce back. “We had a good run of five games without defeat, and then we took our first loss last weekend, which was disappointing for us,” Mensah shared in an interview with Flashscore, facilitated by Ligue 1. “But at the end of the day, we know it’s a long season, so there will be ups and downs. Losses like this remind us that we need to stay focused because anything can happen during the season.” While PSG has been in dominant form, going 13 league games unbeaten, recent performances have shown signs of vulnerability. The French giants suffered a loss to Bayern Munich followed by a draw against Nantes, and Mensah sees this as an opportunity. “I’m very confident against PSG. Most of my motivation comes from playing against top teams. I know it will be a good game for both myself and the team. These matches push us to perform better,” he said. Auxerre’s home form has been a key strength this season. With 15 points from six home games, they boast the second-best home record in Ligue 1, trailing PSG by just four points. Mensah attributes this strong home form to the passionate support of their fans. “Since our promotion to Ligue 1 two seasons ago, playing at home with our supporters has always been our strength. We rarely fear any opponent at home because even if we struggle physically, the fans will push us,” he noted. Auxerre fans will remember their recent encounters with PSG, including a tough 5-0 defeat in Paris two seasons ago. However, their home game against PSG that season was a much closer 2-1 loss, showing that they can compete on their home turf. “Two seasons ago, we lost 5-0 in Paris, which was tough because they were clearly the better side. However, our home game was much closer with a 2-1 loss, showing we have what it takes to compete at home,” Mensah recalled. On a personal note, Mensah has faced PSG four times in Ligue 1 without securing a victory and is determined to change that. “I want to end every negative streak in my career,” he said. “I enjoyed our five-game unbeaten run; winning against bigger clubs feels incredible. Losing again to PSG is not something I’m looking forward to.” Auxerre will also be counting on the continued form of Hamid Traore, who has been in excellent shape since joining the team on loan from Bournemouth. Traore has scored six goals this season, with five of those helping to secure points for the team. “Hamid Traore has been one of our standout players this season. He’s scored crucial goals that have helped us earn points. We need players like him to step up and make a difference,” Mensah remarked. With 19 points from 13 Ligue 1 matches, Auxerre is looking to set higher ambitions, though Mensah remains focused on their primary goal: staying in the league next season. “Our goal is still the same: we need to remain in Ligue 1,” Mensah emphasized. “It doesn’t matter how we achieve it—whether we finish third, fourth, or fifth—as long as we stay up.” The upcoming clash with PSG will be a true test for Auxerre, and a chance for manager Christophe Pélissier to improve his record against the Parisians, having won just once in his previous 12 encounters with them.
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Tech companies led a broad rally for U.S. stocks Tuesday, a boost for the market in a holiday-shortened trading session. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 273 points, or 0.6%, as of 12:18 p.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was up 1%. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, while semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 0.8%. Super Micro Computer jumped 5.8%. Tesla climbed 5.1%, one of the biggest gains among S&P 500 stocks. Amazon.com rose 1.6% American Airlines slipped 0.1% after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. U.S. Steel rose 1.1% a day after an influential government panel failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the nearly $15 billion proposed sale to Nippon Steel of Japan. NeueHealth surged 68.9% after the health care company agreed to be taken private in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Monday. European markets were mostly higher. Markets in Asia mostly gained ground. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to this week, including a weekly update on unemployment benefits on Thursday. Tuesday’s rally comes as the stock market enters what’s historically been a very cheerful season. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. The so-called “Santa rally” also correlates closely with positive returns in January and the upcoming year. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the stock market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up about 26% so far this year and remains within roughly 1.3% of the all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year.Vicario’s injury coul force Tottenham to bring in a goalkeeper next January Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario announced on social media that he has suffered an ankle fracture and was operated upon following their defeat of Manchester City on Saturday. The Italian international also revealed that he played an hour of the game with his injury, although he failed to give a timeframe for his return to action. Ange Postecoglou will have to call upon 36-year-old second-fiddle goalie Fraser Forster. He has been used in the Europa League matches every now and then this season as well as in the cup games, but it remains to be seen if he is up for the intensity of playing in the Premier League although there is little that Spurs can do until January at least. #thfc Vicario played for 60 minutes away to Manchester City with a broken ankle pic.twitter.com/qIzNBJdW9d The Telegraph has reported that Vicario is expected to be out for months and not weeks due to the surgery and as a result, Tottenham will expedite a goalkeeper’s signing in the winter. A shot-stopper’s purchase was anyways on their radar but the board was happy to wait until the end of the season but it is fair to say that doing so would be extremely detrimental at this point in time. The source does not link any particular goalkeeper to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and not much has emerged in recent hours regarding who exactly the Lilywhites could swoop for, though it is admittedly going to be difficult to bring in a first-choice level goalkeeper in January as clubs will be very reluctant in letting go of their players midway through the campaign. For the very near future, Fraser Forster will be the favourite to feature in each of Tottenham’s 10 games that remain between now and January. He is an experienced goalkeeper having previously spent eight years on Southampton’s books but it is not remiss to admit that Postecoglou will be anxious about his backline with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven also currently on the sidelines. This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.
A quick recap of Tuesday's Class C-1 state championship game at Memorial Stadium. Final: Wahoo 47, Central City 7 Turning point: Landon Fye picked up a Central City lateral behind the line of scrimmage and rumbled 33 yards in the second quarter for the first points of the game. Fye's touchdown also snapped a five-quarter scoring drought for the Warriors in the state championship game dating back to the 2023 title game. It was over when ...: The Warriors' defense took over in the second half. Logan Kelley recorded Wahoo's sixth interception of the game and Noah Bordovsky found Josh Fox for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Warriors a 41-7 lead over the Bison in the third quarter. Game ball: The Wahoo defense. Kelley finished with two interceptions Tuesday as the Warriors forced eight turnovers, including seven interceptions. People are also reading... Talking hardware: It's Wahoo's second state championship trophy, joining the 2019 state title. The Warriors finished second in 2023. . Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Lincoln Stars/Lincoln Saltdogs reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.UTAH VALLEY 77, WEST GEORGIA 74
Messi's son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watchTom Lee is an accomplished equity research analyst and serves as a managing partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors. A couple of months ago, Lee provided an update on his outlook on chip megastar Nvidia ( NVDA 3.69% ) . Nvidia's run over the last two years is nothing short of unprecedented. Excitement surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) has led to a generational surge in demand for Nvidia's data center services and graphics processing unit (GPU) chipsets. While it's natural to think that Nvidia's momentum is going to slow down at some point, Lee sees things differently -- calling for tenfold growth from current levels over the next decade. Below, I'm going to explore a bull and bear case surrounding Lee's 10x forecast on Nvidia. After carefully considering all angles, I hope investors can come away with more knowledge surrounding both the catalysts and headwinds that could impact Nvidia over the next decade. The bull case for Nvidia If you've been following my articles during the AI boom, you'll know that I see Nov. 30, 2022 as the unofficial start date of the AI revolution. Why so specific? Because that's the day OpenAI released ChatGPT to the masses and sparked a worldwide phenomenon for the ages. In many ways, I view the launch of ChatGPT akin to the early days of Facebook and the birth of social media. NVDA Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts Just look at the slope of the lines illustrating Nvidia's revenue, net income, and free cash flow over the last two years (with Nov. 30, 2022 being the start date depicted above). Nvidia's accelerated growth stems from unparalleled demand for its GPU chipsets. When I say "unparalleled" I'm not exaggerating -- Nvidia has acquired an estimated 90% of the GPU market, and there are many reasons to believe the company's momentum is just beginning. Industry research suggests that investments in AI infrastructure are going to exceed trillions of dollars over the next several years. Nvidia's new Blackwell GPU architecture, combined with its successor product dubbed Rubin (slotted for a 2026 launch), positions the company well to acquire incremental market share as AI investments continue to scale. The pace at which Nvidia is innovating, combined with its strong financial profile underscored by consistently rising profits, makes it difficult to buy into a pessimistic narrative over the company. Nevertheless, smart investors know that there are more stones to turn over before betting the house on Nvidia. The bear case for Nvidia One of the reasons Nvidia's GPU sales have skyrocketed stems from how the company's technology stack actually works. You see, Nvidia's GPUs (hardware) run on the company's compute unified device architecture (CUDA) software. This tight integration makes it extremely difficult for businesses to leverage products and services from other chipmakers. As I expressed in this piece from a few months ago , the Department of Justice (DOJ) could very well decide to investigate Nvidia's business practices given the company is arguably becoming a monopoly. Translation: The government could force Nvidia to loosen its grip and make the CUDA system more malleable so that it works seamlessly with GPU hardware developed by other companies. Should this occur, Nvidia's growth rate would decelerate and the company's market share would likely begin to shrink. Admittedly, the idea above is rooted more in speculation than reality. However, a more realistic headwind Nvidia is facing comes from competition. Nvidia's largest customers include cloud hyperscalers such as Microsoft , Alphabet , and Amazon , as well as "Magnificent Seven" cohorts Meta Platforms and Tesla . While increasing investments in AI infrastructure can be a good thing for Nvidia, it's important for investors to understand that this dynamic could also be a detriment for the company. Each of the companies referenced above is either investing in its own homegrown chips or is known to be supplementing its Nvidia GPUs with those offered by lower-cost alternatives -- namely from Advanced Micro Devices . The bottom line At the end of the day, I think that it is highly unlikely that Nvidia's valuation will rise 10x over the next decade. While I remain bullish on the company overall, I simply struggle to see how the company's growth can continue generating multibagger -style returns over the next several years. To me, Nvidia is still a rock-solid stock to own for exposure to the AI industry, but I think calling for tenfold growth in the face of direct and internal competition plus the potential for government intervention is a bit of an overzealous call.
Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fightingTikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what's next?
- Previous: bet777 slot
- Next: bet777 bonus