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fishing casino online won’t be taking over from Cathie Wood at ARK Invest – you heard it here first. But there are some other things that are unlikely in 2025 that investors should pay attention to. While risk is inevitable, working out how to minimise it is key. And that involves working out where it would take something big for things to go wrong. “Diageo cuts dividend” ( ) is facing a dual threat of US tariffs and anti-obesity drugs. But I don’t see either of these causing the business to lower its dividend in 2025. With the tariff issue, I think it’s worth noting that a decent part of the company’s portfolio – including , , and is produced in the US. These would be unaffected by taxes on imports. On the subject of anti-obesity drugs, the majority of users are people who already tend to consume less alcohol anyway. So I’m sceptical of the idea that this is likely to have a significant impact on demand. The risks can’t be ignored entirely, but the discounted share price means I’m looking to buy the stock in 2025. And I think the chances of the dividend doing any thing but go up in 2025 are extremely remote. “Rightmove accepts takeover bid” Earlier this year, REA group made a bid to acquire ( ). The offer was rejected and I don’t think anyone is going to succeed with a similar proposal in 2025. There are two reasons for this. The first is the company is doing well by itself – it’s growing strongly and it has a strong balance sheet, meaning there’s nearly no pressure to sell. The second is the stock isn’t exactly cheap, at a of 27. I’m not buying it at today’s levels and I can’t see anyone paying significantly over this to acquire the firm outright. The next year will be an interesting one for Rightmove, with the possibility of increased competition from OnTheMarket a potential threat. But as far as the chance of a takeover goes, I don’t think so. “Interest rates return to Covid-19 levels” Interest rates going back to 0.1% would almost certainly cause a huge rally in stock prices. But unless there’s another emergency on the scale of the Covid-19 pandemic, I just don’t see it. Even in that situation, I think the Bank of England might be more cautious than it was last time. The resulting is proving resilient and the last measurement of 2024 revealed CPI rising to 2.6%. Rising costs are unwelcome, but higher interest rates might be no bad thing for investors. These should weigh on share prices, creating opportunities to earn higher returns over the long term. Of course, that depends on which stocks investors choose to buy. But companies that can pass on higher costs to customers could make for very attractive investments. I could be wrong... With investing, uncertainty is inevitable. Dividends are never guaranteed, strange takeovers happen, and exogenous shocks can cause all kinds of macroeconomic instability. I could be wrong, but I don’t see Diageo cutting its dividend, Rightmove being acquired, or interest rates going to zero. I think this is about as likely as Warren Buffett taking over a disruptive innovation fund.Timberwolves win third straight game, again in dramatic fashionSALT LAKE CITY — Roope Hintz scored his team-leading 15th goal to help the Dallas Stars beat Utah 3-2 on Monday night. Hintz snapped a 1-1 tie 12:39 into the second period. Jamie Benn and Colin Blackwell also scored for Dallas, and Casey DeSmith made 24 stops. The Stars had lost two in a row. Kevin Stenlund and Barrett Hayton scored for Utah, and Karel Vejmelka had 27 saves. Utah has won just one home game in December. Dallas jumped in front in the first when Blackwell scored following a Utah turnover. Stenlund responded with his sixth of the season at 12:41. Benn lifted the Stars to a 3-1 lead when he got his seventh with 2:10 left in the second. Utah pulled one back on Hayton’s goal with 8:21 left in the third but couldn't find the tying goal. Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn warms up before the start of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate Takeaways Stars: Aggressive defense and relentless attacking helped Dallas create several quality shots during a dominant second period. Utah: Home ice struggles continued for Utah, which fell to 1-4-3 in its last seven home games. Key moment The second-period goals for Hintz and Benn gave the Stars enough of a cushion to pull out a second road win against Utah in December. Key stat The Stars had an 18-6 advantage in shots on goal in the second. Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) celebrates after a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate Up next Dallas hosts Minnesota on Friday, and Utah hosts Colorado on Friday.

Multi-oil Fat Emulsion Injection (C6-24) Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030 12-28-2024 12:21 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Multi-oil Fat Emulsion Injection (C6-24) Market The multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market represents a dynamic and continually evolving landscape, shaped by changing consumer demands and technological advancements. In this comprehensive report, we provide an in-depth exploration of the market, designed for a wide range of stakeholders including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Our goal is to equip industry participants with essential insights that enable informed decision-making in an ever-changing market environment. This analysis not only examines the current state of the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market but also forecasts its future trends. Scope and Purpose This report serves as an extensive resource, thoughtfully curated to deliver actionable intelligence to industry stakeholders. It covers critical elements such as market dynamics, competitive environments, growth opportunities, challenges, and regional differences. The insights provided go beyond mere descriptions, offering a valuable tool for stakeholders to refine their strategies and make informed choices in a competitive market. Request for Sample Report: https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Multi-oil-Fat-Emulsion-Injection-C6-24-Market/request-for-sample-report Comprehensive Market Analysis We are committed to providing a thorough analysis that explores every aspect of market growth, including shifts in consumer preferences and technological innovations driving demand for multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) products. We also address the challenges faced by the industry, such as economic uncertainties and intense competition, offering insights to help stakeholders navigate these complexities. Key Players in the Multi-oil Fat Emulsion Injection (C6-24) Market: Fresenius Kabi Austria GmbH Haisike Strategic Guidance for the Future This report invites stakeholders to delve into a detailed examination of the competitive landscape. By profiling key players in the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market and analyzing their strategies, we offer crucial insights to help industry participants make informed strategic decisions. Whether it's about outpacing competitors or learning from successful approaches, our analysis is designed to guide stakeholders toward success. Anticipated Insights Understanding the diverse segments within the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market is critical to success. Our report breaks down segment sizes, potential growth trajectories, and key trends, offering actionable insights that allow stakeholders to develop targeted strategies and optimize resource allocation. The knowledge provided empowers stakeholders to navigate the complexities of the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market with clarity and confidence. Balancing Market Forces and Strategic Impact This report delivers a comprehensive analysis of the factors shaping the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market. By evaluating both the drivers of market growth and the obstacles that could impede it, stakeholders gain a holistic understanding of the market's dynamics. For manufacturers, this analysis helps align innovation efforts with consumer demands and regulatory trends, while investors and decision-makers gain a deeper understanding of economic risks and supply chain vulnerabilities, allowing them to make more informed strategic choices. Our goal is to provide stakeholders with the knowledge needed to confidently and successfully navigate the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market. Competitive Landscape Our in-depth examination of the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market's competitive landscape highlights key players, scrutinizing their strategies and impacts on the industry. By analyzing the approaches of major companies, stakeholders gain a valuable understanding of market dynamics and can leverage these insights to identify growth opportunities, innovate, and make informed strategic decisions. Market Segmentation The report begins with a detailed analysis of the unique characteristics defining each segment within the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market. Segmentation can occur across various dimensions, including product types, customer demographics, or specific use cases. Understanding these differences allows stakeholders to tailor their strategies, products, and marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of each segment, enhancing competitive positioning and maximizing opportunities for success. Market Segments: Product Type: 100ml/Bottle 250ml/Bottle 500ml/Bottle Application: Hospital Clinic Others Market Size and Segment Growth Potential A crucial part of the report focuses on understanding the size and significance of each market segment. We provide quantitative data that illustrates the market share and contribution of each segment, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, strategic prioritization, and investment. This section offers insights into the growth potential of each segment, including factors driving future expansion, evolving consumer preferences, and technological adoption. Conclusion This report serves as a strategic guide for stakeholders in the multi-oil fat emulsion injection (c6-24) market, offering comprehensive insights into market segmentation, competitive dynamics, and growth potential. By understanding the market's complexities and emerging opportunities, industry participants can make well-informed decisions that drive success and innovation in this rapidly evolving market. Other Reports Star Tracker Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Star-Tracker-Market Engine Valves Timing Chain Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Engine-Valves-Timing-Chain-Market Lignin Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Lignin-Market Suction Lysimeter Market https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/market-report/Suction-Lysimeter-Market "Contact Us Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited Contact No: +91 7580990088 Email Id: sales@dhirtekbusinessresearch.com" "About Us Dhirtek Business Research & Consulting Pvt Ltd is a global market research and consulting services provider headquartered in India. We offer our customers syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our objective is to enable our clientele to achieve transformational progress and help them to make better strategic business decisions and enhance their global presence. We serve numerous companies worldwide, mobilizing our seasoned workforce to help companies shape their development through proper channeling and execution. We offer our services to large enterprises, start-ups, non-profit organizations, universities, and government agencies. The renowned institutions of various countries and Fortune 500 businesses use our market research services to understand the business environment at the global, regional, and country levels. Our market research reports offer thousands of statistical information and analysis of various industries at a granular level." This release was published on openPR.ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has been called to Islamabad for consultations with policy makers on the recent tough statement made by the US administration on Pakistan’s missile program including imposition of sanctions on entities for supplying equipment to develop the missile program. Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has arrived in Islamabad for crucial discussions and necessary instructions. During his weeklong stay in Islamabad, he is scheduled to hold important meetings with Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and policymakers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sources indicate that Ambassador Rizwan will also meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He will brief the prime minister and the top brass in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the bilateral ties and what could be Pakistan’s policy with the new political administration in Washington which is expected to take charge next month. Reports suggest that in the past three months, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh held significant meetings with members of both houses of the US Congress, where he apprised them of Pakistan’s perspective on various important areas of interest of both the countries including trade, political situation in Pakistan. The sources further stated that in the context of the Trump administration’s expected return to power in January 2025, the Government of Pakistan will give Rizwan Saeed Sheikh with important directives and tasks. There will be detailed consultations between the Foreign Office policy makers and Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh on what could be Pakistan potential approach to Washington under a Republican administration. Multiple cars pileup in Dera Ismail Khan leaves 20 injured Tags: pak envoy us called

HOUSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 27 points before being one of six people ejected after a fight in the final minute of the Miami Heat’s 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Herro was thrown to the ground by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson with 35 seconds left and the Heat leading 99-94. Players and coaches from both benches then came onto the court. Both players were thrown out along with Rockets guard Jalen Green, coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Terry Rozier was also ejected for Miami. Houston led 92-85 after Fred VanVleet’s layup with 8:10 to play, but the Rockets missed their next 11 shots, allowing Miami to tie the game when Herro found Haywood Highsmith for a 3-pointer with 4:47 to play. Herro’s jumper with 1:56 to play put the Heat on top for good. MAGIC 102, NETS 101 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cole Anthony drove for a layup with 0.2 seconds left to complete Orlando's 17-point fourth-quarter comeback in a win over Brooklyn. Cam Thomas missed a jumper from the corner at the final horn. Anthony scored 10, and Tristan da Silva scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando, which was down 71-51 midway through the third quarter. Goga Bitadze added 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Magic’s comeback was their second in eight days after Orlando rallied from 25 points down to beat Miami 121-114 on Dec. 21. Thomas came off the bench with 25 points to lead the Nets in his first game since Nov. 25. Jalen Wilson added 16 points including two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. Thomas, Brooklyn’s leading scorer with 24.7 points per game, played 25 minutes after missing 13 games with a strained left hamstring. PACERS 123, CELTICS 114 BOSTON (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points and Indiana rebounded from a 37-point loss to Boston two nights earlier by winning the rematch. Andrew Nembhard, who returned after missing Friday’s game with tendinitis in his left knee, added 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pacers. Pascal Siakam chipped in with 17 points and Bennedict Mathurin had 14. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 31 points and six assists. Jayson Tatum had 22 points, nine boards and six assists. Payton Pritchard added 21 points and Derrick White scored 17. The Celtics lost their sixth game at home already this season. Last season, they went 37-4 at TD Garden during the regular season and 9-2 in the playoffs en route to the NBA championship. HAWKS 136, RAPTORS 107 TORONTO (AP) — Trae Young had 34 points and 10 assists, De’Andre Hunter scored 22 points and Atlanta routed Toronto for their fourth straight win. Clint Capela had 11 points and 13 rebounds as the Hawks opened a six-game trip by handing the reeling Raptors their 10th consecutive loss. Scottie Barnes scored 19 points and RJ Barrett had 17, but the Raptors fell behind by more than 30 points and allowed more than 130 for the second straight game. Toronto gave up a franchise-worst 155 points in Thursday’s loss at Memphis. Young shot 7 for 13 from 3-point range, singlehandedly making as many shots from distance than the entire Raptors team, who combined to go 7 for 24. Toronto’s Bruce Brown made his season debut after sitting out the first 31 games recovering from right knee surgery. Brown soared for a one-handed dunk for his first points shortly after entering the game in the first quarter. He finished with 12 points in 19 minutes. THUNDER 130, GRIZZLIES 106 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and Oklahoma City won their 11th straight game, beating short-handed Memphis in a matchup of Western Conference leaders that turned lopsided before halftime. Rookie Ajay Mitchell scored 17 points, Aaron Wiggins contributed 16 and Jalen Williams added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder (26-5), who opened a five-game lead over second-place Memphis. Gilgeous-Alexander made 14 of 19 shots to go along with seven assists, six rebounds and a team-high four blocks. He sat most of the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City blocked nine shots, including three by center Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder led 76-50 at halftime behind 23 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 12 each from Mitchell and Kenrich Williams, who combined to go 5 for 7 on 3-point shots. Oklahoma City outscored the Grizzlies 42-19 in the second quarter to take control. Desmond Bane had 22 points and nine rebounds for Memphis (22-11), which played without star Ja Morant (shoulder) and Zach Edey, the team’s No. 9 overall draft pick, who was in concussion protocol. Jay Huff added 17 points but Jaren Jackson Jr., the team’s leading scorer at 21.9 points per game, managed 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting. TIMBERWOLVES 112, SPURS 110 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo scored 26 points as Minnesota defeated San Antonio. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, won won their third straight. Julius Randle had 16 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 12 points and 10 boards for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards, who earlier in the day was fined $100,000 for continued use of profanity in postgame media comments, was held to 14 points, 11 below his season average. After DiVincenzo made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds left, the Spurs had one more possession down 112-110. San Antonio found a wide-open Jeremy Sochan for 3, but he came up short. Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points and eight rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 24 points, Devin Vassell had 22 and Chris Paul dished out 14 assists.Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary footballTop-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app's YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organisation noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh”. “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn't want to,” he said, and “I stand by that”. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI)

Musadik calls for holding dialogue to address national issuesExciting Developments for AMD Fans AMD is making waves as it prepares to launch a new lineup of CPUs and GPUs. The tech community is abuzz with anticipation for the release early next year, sending AMD’s stock up by 4.76%. The spotlight is on AMD’s rumored Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPUs, in addition to the highly anticipated RDNA 4 GPUs, specifically the RX 9070 XT. These innovations are expected to redefine performance standards in gaming and content creation. Unleashing the Power of Ryzen 9 9950X3D The upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D is designed to impress. It will feature enhanced clock speeds to handle demanding applications with ease, complemented by AI-boosted performance. Users can look forward to a turbo boost reaching up to 5.70 GHz, offering unprecedented speed. Its 16 cores and 32 threads ensure users can tackle gaming, content creation, and multitasking efficiently. Built using a 4 nm process, it promises energy efficiency with reduced heat output, a big plus for tech enthusiasts. Revolutionary RDNA 4 GPUs AMD’s unveiling of the RX 9000 series starts with the RX 9070 XT GPU, set to transform gaming graphics. With improved ray tracing capabilities, it aims to deliver stunningly realistic lighting and shadow effects. The graphics card is expected to have a clock speed up to 3.0 GHz and improved power efficiency, making it perfect for extended use in gaming systems or editing suites. These upcoming releases not only satisfy the growing demands of tech users but also signal promising financial prospects for AMD. AMD’s Next-Gen Breakthroughs: What You Need to Know Embracing Next-Gen Tech: AMD’s Upcoming Lineup AMD fans and tech enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating a new wave of cutting-edge CPUs and GPUs set for release early next year. This surge of innovation is fueling excitement in the tech community and driving AMD stock prices up by 4.76%. The anticipated Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPUs, along with the RDNA 4 GPUs like the RX 9070 XT, promise to set new performance benchmarks in gaming and content creation. Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Unmatched Performance and Energy Efficiency The Ryzen 9 9950X3D stands poised to redefine processing power. Boasting a turbo boost capability reaching up to 5.70 GHz, this CPU is tailored for demanding applications, aided by AI-boosted performance for enhanced efficiency. Featuring 16 cores and 32 threads, it is designed for high-intensity gaming and content creation, seamlessly handling multitasking. Manufactured with a 4 nm process, this CPU offers energy efficiency and reduced heat output, catering to the needs of sustainable tech solutions. RDNA 4 GPUs: Elevating Graphics to New Heights The forthcoming RX 9070 XT GPU from AMD’s RX 9000 series promises significant advancements in gaming graphics, with an emphasis on improved ray tracing capabilities. These enhancements intend to deliver hyper-realistic lighting and shadow effects, elevating the visual gaming experience. Clock speeds are expected to reach up to 3.0 GHz, with improved power efficiency perfect for prolonged gaming sessions or intensive editing tasks. AMD’s Path to Market Leadership: Insights and Predictions These anticipated releases not only aim to meet the growing expectations of tech users but also forecast a promising financial horizon for AMD. Market analysts predict these innovations will solidify AMD’s position as a leader in the CPU and GPU markets, potentially attracting a broader customer base and boosting the company’s market share. Sustainability and Innovation at AMD AMD’s commitment to sustainability is highlighted by the 4 nm process technology, which promises energy-efficient operations. This innovative manufacturing process reflects AMD’s dedication to reducing environmental impact while delivering high-performance technology. For more information about AMD and its product offerings, visit the official AMD website .

It turns out that the slang "brain rot" may not be an inaccurate description of what's actually going on in our domes while we endlessly scroll TikTok. As Spanish newspaper El País reports , a growing body of scientific evidence over the past decade suggests that consuming mind-numbing content, from sources ranging from algorithmically driven social media junk to sensationalist news, can literally reduce the physical gray matter in our brains . That's along with wreaking other pernicious effects like shortened attention spans and weakened memory. The nefarious thing? These symptoms are often by design. The most infamous example is the implementation of infinite scrolling in apps, which is intended to feed our compulsive desire to endlessly consume content, or "doomscroll." "This can significantly impair attention and executive functions by overwhelming our focus and altering the way we perceive and respond to the world," Michoel Moshel, lead author of a 2023 meta-analysis documenting the neuropsychological impacts of disordered screen use, told El País . According to Moshel, who is a researcher at Macquarie University, doomscrolling is a consequence "of our brain's natural tendency to seek out new things, especially when it comes to potentially harmful or alarming information, a trait that once helped us survive." Some research has suggested that this mindless digital consumption induces a dissociative state , which explains why we often lose track of time while glued to our phones. One 2023 study which surveyed around 1,100 people found that compulsive digital content consumption could lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes, especially high levels of stress. The US Surgeon General has even warned against letting anyone younger than 13-year-old use social media sites. These sites and apps constantly bombard us with rapidly changing and variable stimuli, explained Eduaordo Fernández Jiménez, a clinical psychologist at Hospital La Paz Madrid, forcing us to constantly change our focus, too. In the long run, this degrades our ability to concentrate on one task for long periods of time, he told El País . "It is the one that is linked to academic learning processes." The physical effects on the brain are perhaps the most alarming. In brain regions involved with decision-making, reward processing, and impulse control, Moshel's meta-analysis indicated that excessive internet use was linked with decreased gray matter volume. "These changes reflect patterns observed in substance addictions," Moshel told El País , likening them to the toll of methamphetamines or alcohol. So it may be time to put the phone down. If the rot hasn't fully taken hold yet, that is. More on neuroscience: You'll Laugh When You Hear How Many Bits Per Second the Human Brain Processes... Once Your Sluggish Human Brain Finally Comprehends It, That Is Share This ArticleIndia’s Kranthi Kumar Panikera From Telangana Enters Guinness World Records for Stopping 57 Electric Fan Blades With His Tongue in Just One Minute (Watch Video)Lenovo's sixth-generation ThinkPad T14s is available now, starting at $1,598. It's is a powerful workhorse thanks to the new AMD Ryzen AI chipset and support for the speedy Wi-Fi 7 standard. Its display, on the other hand, isn't all that impressive considering its price tag. Whenever Lenovo isn't pushing the boundaries of laptop design, the brand is creating high-quality personal work computers like the new ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 . On the surface the T14s looks like your average ThinkPad with a lightweight, matte black body and an excellent keyboard. But if you examine it closely, you'll notice small differences that set it apart from the crowd. Also: The fastest laptops of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed For one thing, it houses a good selection of ports, including an HDMI 2.1 input and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, supporting power delivery and DisplayPort. Those last two inputs allow you to send a video signal to an external monitor and charge the device at the same time. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 stands tall as a great-performing laptop for busy business professionals. It can handle all sorts of tasks thanks to its AMD chipset and makes you look good at the same time via the 5MP webcam. However, I found the display a little disappointing. It outputs at a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with the glass covered in an anti-glare coating, ensuring visibility under bright conditions. It is also Eyesafe certified , meaning the display emits low blue light to protect your eyes from strain. While this is all great, given its price point, I would've liked a 2K display instead. I also want to shout out the 5MP webcam. It supports video calls up to 1440p, enabling sharp, bright images. This laptop ensures you'll always look your best during those important calls. Your voice will be heard loud and clear thanks to a combination of Dolby Voice and the dual-array mics. To be better hear your audience, the speaker system supports Dolby Atmos for crisp sound. Also: This ultralight Copilot+ PC is my preferred laptop for working remotely. Here's why As great as the external hardware may be, the real star of the show here is what's inside the ThinkPad T14s. My review unit came with the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 processor, an AMD Radeon 880M graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. That new Ryzen chipset has made this model one of the best-performing Lenovo laptops I've tested. Benchmark scores are high across the board, especially in PCMark 10's Essential Productivity tests, earning 9,310 and 9,452 in the respective categories. These numbers indicate that apps open quickly and the hardware can multitask with ease. Cinebench results reveal the Ryzen AI 7 Pro is capable of fast image rendering. A major factor in this experience is the neural processing unit (or NPU, for short). It utilizes artificial intelligence to take some of the load off the main processor so it can operate unencumbered. I had around 50 tabs on Google Chrome running live streams on YouTube, videos on social media, and more alongside several open apps. Not once did I experience a modicum of lag. The one area where the benchmarking faltered is digital content creation, receiving its lowest scores in video editing, which isn't surprising. Due to the integrated GPU and subpar display, this computer isn't really meant for content creators. But for businesspeople, it's the perfect companion. Battery life was solid, although nothing mindblowing. On average, the computer ran for about 12 hours straight under the Best Power Efficiency mode. Under Best Performance, the number dropped down to 7.5 hours. Also: Why I prefer this Dell XPS desktop over the M4 Mac Mini for creative tasks These are still solid run times. Users can enjoy multiday longevity, but the device isn't as energy efficient as other laptops housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipset. The AMD processor may be too power-hungry to offer the same experience. Fortunately, the battery recharges quickly. A one-hour charge restored the battery to about 70%. Two unique features stood out to me as they help futureproof the ThinkPad. It supports both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The two behave similarly by offering faster, more secure connections for their respective standards. Even though both standards have been around for about a year each, they still haven't been widely adopted. Few routers actively support Wi-Fi 7, for example, although that number is slowly increasing . To harness these nascent networks, you'll need a trailblazing machine, and the ThinkPad T14s is just that. Prices for the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 start at $1,598, which is about what you'd expect from a ThinkPad with this level of hardware. I highly recommend the laptop to professionals (or anyone really) who want a lightweight powerhouse that can handle a wide array of office and productivity workloads. You can also configure this machine with higher-end components, including a 1TB SSD, but that will bring the price up to around $1,600. If you prefer something cheaper with a solid chipset, Lenovo is selling the ThinkPad T14s with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, starting at $1,181 . ZDNET's product of the year: Why Oura Ring 4 bested Samsung, Apple, and others in 2024 I tested Samsung's 98-inch 4K QLED TV, and watching Hollywood movies on it left me in awe I let my 8-year-old test this Android phone for kids. Here's what you should know before buying This ThinkPad checks all my boxes for a solid work laptop. Here's why it stands out

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Guwahati, Dec 29, 2024- Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, who has been scooping adulation across the world courtesy his live shows, dedicated his recent show in Guwahati to the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The actor-singer took to his Instagram on Sunday, and shared a video from his show. In the video, Diljit paid a moving tribute to the former PM, and said that MMS was a man of grace, who always conducted himself in a sophisticated manner, and never answered anyone in an uncivilised manner. He said, “Today’s concert is dedicated to former late Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He led a very simple life. He never used to answer back or talk ill which is quite immpossible in a profession like politics”. He then went on to say a shayari once used by MMS, as he said, “Hazaro’n jawabo’n se meri khamoshi acchi, na jane kitne sawalo ki aabru dhak leti hai”. The superstar urged the youth including himself to learn such etiquettes from him. He wrote in the caption, “Today’s Concert is dedicated to Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. DIL-LUMINATI TOUR Year 24”. MMS passed away on December 26 after prolonged illness. Several members of the film fraternity condoled his demise, and thanked him for his service to the nation and materialising several key moments in modern India. Earlier, Diljit addressed the “conspiracy” that has been alleged against him over the spelling of the Indian state of Punjab. The actor-singer took to his X, formerly Twitter, and spoke about the same. He penned a long note in which he also spoke about how English is a very tricky language, and can particularly cause trouble to those whose first language is not English. He wrote, “Punjabi. If I mistakenly didn’t put up India’s flag after writing ‘Panjab’ in a tweet then it becomes a conspiracy. In a tweet from Bengaluru, I forgot to mention the Indian flag after writing ‘Panjab’, it became a conspiracy”. He further mentioned, “If you write ‘Panjab’ instead of ‘Punjab’, it will remain ‘Punjab’. Panj Aab – 5 Rivers. Bravo, those who create conspiracy around the usage in a language of the Englishmen. You know what, I will write ‘Panjab’. How many times do we prove that we LOVE INDIA. Bring something new, or is creating conspiracy is what you get paid for? #Vehley”. The superstar has seen a meteoric rise in the last couple of years with the box-office success of his films in Hindi and Punjabi cinema. The singer-actor also performed at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April 2023 making him the first Indian performer to achieve the feat. He was followed by fellow Punjabi artiste A. P. Dhillon at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April 2024. Meanwhile, Diljit is set to conclude the India leg of Dil-Luminati tour in Ludhiana. (Agency)FERANAGOUNA village in East Fataleka is set to host the festive season games for Ward 14 of Malaita Province as of Monday 30 December. The games include 7 aside soccer tournament and volleyball tournament and the games organiser and FIFA Assistant Referee David Sau said the registration fees for both soccer and volleyball teams will be $100 dollars per team. He said there will be no team re-entry into the competition once knocked out as the games will only be straight forward knockouts. The first prize for the soccer tournament will be a cash prize of $3000 dollars, the second prize will be $1500 dollars cash, the third prize will be $1000 dollars cash and the fourth prize will be $500 dollars cash. For the volleyball tournament, only be two grand prizes were so far made known and these are the first prize, which consists of $2000 dollars cash and the second prize which is worth $1000 cash. The executive is yet to decide on the amounts for the third and fourth prizes. David Sau said for this year, the standard of the games in Feranagouna will be high. “This means every team must have proper uniforms and every player must wear soccer boots to qualify for participation,” he explained. He said this tournament is only for Ward 14 members from Abira village to Ata’a village in East Fataleka. Mr Sau said so far, 25 teams have already arrived at the games hosting village. He said the games will be opened with a parade at 11:30am for all the teams participating in the games. Mr Sau said the signing of the ground rules will be held during the official opening ceremony, which will see the Games Coordinator officially declare the games open. Mr Sau, meanwhile, called on all Ward 14 members of East Fataleka in Honiara or elsewhere in the country who wants to participate in the games, especially the soccer knockout, to bring their own soccer boots because the game rules have been upgraded. These Xmas games are sponsored by the Member of Provincial Assembly for Ward 14 in East Fataleka, David Solobaerara. Mr Sau extended his acknowledgement to the CDO of Fataleka Constituency for paying for his travelling expenses from Honiara to Feranagouna and also to the MP for Fataleka Constituency, Rexon Ramofafia for his financial assistance towards the games.

SHORT-TERM foreign investments turned positive in November, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late Friday, hitting a net inflow of $96.59 million. The investments — registered with the central bank through authorized agents and also known as "hot money" because these can be moved quickly elsewhere to maximize profits from interest rates — reversed from a $529.68-million net outflow in October. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.S&P/TSX composite closes up nearly 150 points on Monday, U.S. stock markets upTimo Meier hit Martin Necas with a brutal knee-on-knee play on Saturday night, but despite the ejection, he doesn't appear to be facing any more discipline even with some calling for a multiple game suspension on the play. Saturday night's game between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes was their second in as many nights, and unsurprisingly, things got fairly heated throughout the game as Carolina pulled out a huge victory over their fierce Metropolitan Division rivals. Perhaps the biggest reason for that was the hit from Timo Meier that resulted in a major penalty and a game misconduct, as he took down superstar forward Martin Necas with a knee-on-knee hit. This hit looked ugly on first viewing, but thankfully Necas was okay and didn't miss a shift in the game, although many believed that given Meier's actions earlier in the year, a suspension could potentially be on the horizon. However, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski has now confirmed that Meier won't face any further discipline for his part in the play, with the Hurricanes ultimately picking up the win on the back of this play. Some fans believe that this was all down to embellishment from Necas, who hasn't been known to do that throughout his young NHL career, but without missing a shift, it's easy to see why people believe that. However, others see the play as a very dangerous one and believe that Necas was lucky to walk away without an injury, especially given the force that Meier put into the play. Ultimately, any play where this type of collision occurs can lead to serious injury, so thankfully no one involved was hurt, but it appears that the league have made the right call by not handing out any further discipline to the Devils veteran. This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of WaFd, Inc ( NASDAQ:WAFD – Free Report ) by 28.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 428,504 shares of the bank’s stock after buying an additional 95,251 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.53% of WaFd worth $14,933,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in WaFd by 6.7% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 26,463 shares of the bank’s stock worth $954,000 after acquiring an additional 1,669 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of WaFd by 10.1% during the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 9,958 shares of the bank’s stock worth $370,000 after purchasing an additional 913 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC lifted its holdings in WaFd by 112.7% during the 3rd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 1,323 shares of the bank’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 701 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in WaFd by 10.0% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,759,135 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $61,318,000 after purchasing an additional 159,750 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its holdings in WaFd by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 161,958 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $5,643,000 after buying an additional 40,499 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.71% of the company’s stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WAFD has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of WaFd from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a “market perform” rating and set a $40.00 target price on shares of WaFd in a research report on Monday, October 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of WaFd from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their price target on WaFd from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $38.00. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Ryan Mauer sold 12,132 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.33, for a total transaction of $404,359.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 100,376 shares in the company, valued at $3,345,532.08. This represents a 10.78 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . 2.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. WaFd Price Performance WAFD stock opened at $32.61 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $35.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $33.83. The firm has a market cap of $2.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.15 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. WaFd, Inc has a 12 month low of $25.78 and a 12 month high of $38.62. WaFd ( NASDAQ:WAFD – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 17th. The bank reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.70 by $0.01. WaFd had a net margin of 13.97% and a return on equity of 9.44%. The business had revenue of $389.98 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $190.43 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.72 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that WaFd, Inc will post 2.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. WaFd Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 22nd. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. WaFd’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.94%. WaFd Profile ( Free Report ) WaFd, Inc operates as the bank holding company for Washington Federal Bank that provides lending, depository, insurance, and other banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including business and personal checking accounts, and term certificates of deposit, as well as money market accounts and passbook savings accounts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for WaFd Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WaFd and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

48 Things For Anyone Tired Of Having A Boring Living RoomPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Sirianni wore the hat given to NFC East champions as he sat at the podium and considered all the greatness that his Eagles still could accomplish this season. Personal goals, sure. Saquon Barkley has Eric Dickerson's NFL rushing record in sight. Team goals, absolutely. There are playoff games and a Super Bowl to try and win — and this Philadelphia team sure plays like one that could win it all. “It’s cool, I’m not going to downplay it," Barkley said of the division crown. “At the end of the day, you’re not getting remembered for being a 2024 NFC East division champ.” Barkley rushed for 167 yards to top 2,000 on the season , backup quarterback Kenny Pickett ran and threw for scores before departing with injured ribs, and the Eagles clinched the division title by routing the Dallas Cowboys 41-7 on Sunday. Barkley has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in next Sunday's mostly meaningless regular-season finale to top Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. The Eagles (13-3) led 24-7 in the third quarter when Pickett was drilled by defensive end Micah Parsons, ending his first start in place of the concussed Jalen Hurts. Tanner McKee, a career third-stringer, entered the game and the Eagles finished the drive with a field goal. McKee later threw two TD passes, a 20-yarder to A.J. Brown and a 25-yarder to DeVonta Smith, in front of a roaring crowd delighted to watch the Eagles dominate their rivals to wrap up the division title and at least the No. 2 seed in the NFC. “We always want to do special things. I think winning the division is always a special thing, and then our goals are much bigger from here,” Sirianni said. “I think we’ve got special guys.” Hurts was injured in last week's loss at Washington and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol — he didn’t practice all week -- which opened the door for Pickett to start. Pickett, acquired from Pittsburgh in the offseason, played with extra protection under his jersey after he suffered a rib injury when he was pressed into service against the Commanders. Sore ribs or not, Pickett was pumped for this start all week. He was raised a diehard Eagles fan in central New Jersey about 80 miles from Lincoln Financial Field and recalled “great memories” of going to games with his dad and grandfather since he was 5 years old. The 26-year-old Pickett said he had plenty of family at the Linc to cheer him on against Dallas (7-9). More than 60,000 other Eagles rooted him on, too, but Pickett's dream day ended prematurely. He finished 10 of 15 for 143 yards. With the Eagles no longer having a division title to play for, it's likely Hurts will rest another week ahead of the playoffs. Now, Pickett could be sidelined as well — possibly forcing McKee into the starting lineup. Barkley had 31 carries and his last one went for 23 yards to push him over 2,000. He could also sit out rather than risk injury chasing Dickerson's record. Barkley, who left the Giants and signed a three-year deal with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed, set the NFL mark for most yards rushing in a player's first season with a new team. The friends and family that traveled to see Pickett play had to wait a bit after Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson returned an interception 69 yards for a score on Dallas’ opening drive. Cooper Rush — who threw for 147 yards and had two interceptions — followed on the next drive for Dallas with a 4-yard TD pass to Jalen Tolbert. Pickett connected with Grant Calcaretta for 34 yards and then hit Smith — who had six catches total for 120 yards — for a 22-yard score and a 14-7 lead. The Eagles' defense broke the game open when a recovered fumble led to Jake Elliott’s 31-yard field goal and Gardner-Johnson’s second pick of the day set up Pickett's rushing score on a tush push. Just like Hurts. Pickett took two tough shots on the same drive on the third: Osa Odighizuwa was flagged for roughing the passer on a late hit and Parsons delivered the knockout blow. The Eagles were thrilled to have a capable backup QB who went 14-10 as a starter with the Steelers. His performance prompted Pittsburgh legend and Fox broadcaster Terry Bradshaw to say the Steelers never should have gotten rid of him. “All I wanted to accomplish today was to get the win, for the team, for the city,” Pickett said. Cowboys struggle The injury-depleted Cowboys had won four of five but were no match for Philadelphia. “We knew it was going to be a different game with the plan this week,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “To be honest with you, we didn’t really get to some of the things we’d hope to get to.” The teams scuffled late in the game, and Eagles defensive back Sydney Brown was ejected after an altercation in a stadium tunnel. Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks and cornerback Troy Pride were also thrown out. Injuries Cowboys: S Donovan Wilson suffered a knee injury. ... All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb was shut down for the final two weeks with a sprained right shoulder. Eagles: DE Bryce Huff briefly left with a shoulder injury sustained in his first game back since he was activated off the injured list. He had wrist surgery. Up next The Cowboys host Washington next Sunday in their final game of the season. The Eagles tune up for the playoffs with a home game against the Giants next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

“THE CULT OF THE FOUNDER.” “THE CULT OF THE TECH GENIUS.” “Beware: Silicon Valley’s cultists want to turn you into a disruptive deviant.” “Tech’s cult of the founder bounces back.” “Silicon Valley’s Strange, Apocalyptic Cults.” “How the cult of personality and tech-bro culture is killing technology.” “Company or cult?” “Is your corporate culture cultish?” “The Cult of Company Culture Is Back. But Do Tech Workers Even Want Perks Anymore?” “10 tech gadgets with a cult following on Amazon—and why they’re worth it.” “13 steps to developing a cult-like company culture.” The headlines seem to write themselves (if that cliché is allowed anymore in the age of ChatGPT and generative AI). Tech is culty. But that is a metaphor, right? When I first saw Michael Saylor’s Twitter account, I wasn’t sure. Saylor is an entrepreneur, tech executive, and former billionaire. Once reportedly the richest man in the Washington, DC, area, he lost most of his $7 billion net worth in 2000 when, in his mid-30s, he reached a settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission after it brought charges against him and two of his colleagues at a company called MicroStrategy for inaccurate reporting of their financial results. But I had no idea who he was back then. In 2021 Saylor started showing up in my Twitter feed. His profile picture showed a man with chiseled features, silver hair, and stubble sitting in a power pose and looking directly into the camera, a black dress shirt unbuttoned to display a generous amount of his neck. It was a typical tech entrepreneur’s publicity shot except for the lightning bolts blasting from his eyes, and the golden halo crown. Then there were his tweets: #Bitcoin is Truth. #Bitcoin is For All Mankind. #Bitcoin is Different. Trust the Timechain. Fiat [government-backed currency] is immoral. #Bitcoin is immortal. #Bitcoin is a shining city in cyberspace, waiting for you. #Bitcoin is the heartbeat of Planet Earth. As MIT’s humanist chaplain, I follow a lot of ministers, rabbis, imams, and monks online. Very few religious leaders would dare to be this religious on social media. They know that few of their readers want to see such hubris. Why, then, does there seem to be an audience for this seemingly cultish behavior from a cryptocurrency salesman? Are tech leaders like Saylor leading actual cults? According to Bretton Putter, an expert on startups and CEO of the consulting firm CultureGene, this needn’t be a major concern: “It’s pretty much impossible,” Putter writes, “for a business to become a full-blown cult.” And if a tech company or other business happens to resemble a cult, that might just be a good thing, he argues: “If you succeed in building a cultlike culture similar to the way that Apple, Tesla, Zappos, Southwest Airlines, Nordstrom, and Harley-Davidson have, you will experience loyalty, dedication, and commitment from your employees (and customers) that is way beyond the norm.” Are the cultlike aspects of tech companies really that benign? Or should we be worried? To find the answer, I interviewed Steve Hassan, a top expert on exit counseling, or helping people escape destructive cults. At age 19, while he was studying poetry at Queens College in New York City in the early 1970s, Hassan was recruited into the Unification Church—the famously manipulative cult also known as the Moonies. Over his next 27 months as a member of the church, Hassan helped with its fundraising, recruiting, and political efforts, which involved personally meeting with the cult leader Sun Myung Moon multiple times. He lived in communal housing, slept only a few hours a night, and sold carnations on street corners seven days a week for no pay. He was told to drop out of college and turn his bank account over to the church. In 1976, he fell asleep at the wheel while driving a Moonie fundraising van and drove into the back of a tractor-trailer at high speed. He called his sister from the hospital, and his parents hired former members to help “deprogram” him and extract him from the cult. After the Jonestown mass suicide and murders of 1978 brought attention to the lethal dangers of cult mind control, Hassan founded a nonprofit organization, Ex-Moon Inc. Since then, he’s earned a handful of graduate degrees (including a doctorate in the study of cults), started numerous related projects, and written a popular book on how practices with which he is all too familiar have crept into the mainstream of US politics in recent years. (That 2019 book, , seemed even more relevant in early 2024, when a video called “God Made Trump” went viral across the campaign trail.) Hassan even found himself advising Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, leader of the second impeachment trial against Donald Trump, in 2021, on how to think and communicate about the cultish aspects of the violent mob of Trump followers who stormed the Capitol on January 6 of that year. I wanted to ask Hassan what he makes of the discourse around tech cults, but first it’s important to understand how he thinks about cults in the first place. Hassan’s dissertation was titled “The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: Undue Influence, Thought Reform, Brainwashing, Mind Control, Trafficking, and the Law.” The idea was to create a model that could measure cult exploitation and manipulation, or what Hassan and other experts in related fields call “undue influence.” His BITE model looks to evaluate the ways social groups and institutions attempt to control followers’ behavior, information access, thoughts, and emotions. Because there is no one quintessential, Platonic definition of a cult, what matters is where a given instance of potential cultishness falls on an “influence continuum.” In this continuum model, Hassan evaluates the ways in which institutional cultures attempt to influence people. To what extent are individuals allowed to be their authentic selves or required to adopt a false cult identity? Are leaders accountable to others, or do they claim absolute authority? Do organizations encourage growth in the people who participate in them, or do they seek to preserve their own power over all else? While any kind of person or group can struggle with some of the dimensions on Hassan’s continuum chart (which lists constructive behaviors at one end and destructive behaviors at the other), healthier organizations will tend toward constructive responses more of the time, whereas unhealthier institutions—those more truly worthy of the cult label in the most negative sense—will tend toward destructive responses such as grandiosity, hate, demands for obedience, elitism, authoritarianism, deceptiveness, or hunger for power. It turns out that there are some real, meaningful similarities between cults and tech, according to Hassan. “This is the perfect mind-control device,” he told me, holding up his iPhone. He explained that when he joined the Moonies in 1974, cult recruiters had to get information from the victim. Now, he said, users of everyday technologies are sitting ducks: “There are 5,000 data points on every voting American in the dark web, and there are companies that will collect and sell that data.” The first time Hassan was told about cryptocurrency, he added, it smacked of multilevel marketing to him. The proposition that you can make a fortune in a very short amount of time, with almost no labor, was something he had seen many times in his work. As was the idea that if you become an early investor in such a scheme, you’ll make more money if you recruit more people to join you. “The people who started it are always going to make 99% of the money,” Hassan said. And as in the cults that recruited him and continue to recruit the kinds of people who ultimately become his clients, “everyone else is going to get burned.” All of this would certainly seem to explain why I so frequently hear from people, eager for me to know they are fellow atheists, who tell me to buy some bitcoin because it will rewire my neurons and cure me of the woke mind virus. Of course, it should be noted that some scholars have complained about Hassan’s work, arguing that brainwashing and mind control are concepts for which there is not sufficient evidence. But I’m not claiming that tech uses literal brainwashing, nor is it like when a character in a episode hears “You are getting very sleepy” and then their eyes become squiggles. Hassan probably wouldn’t say so either. Companies don’t need to go to such extremes to exert undue influence on us, though. And as is clear from the headlines I cited above, a lot of companies have been accused of, or associated with, a bit of cultishness. I won’t attempt to evaluate anyone’s cultish tendencies on a scale of 1 to 10. But I see crypto sales techniques as a particularly good example of cultlike behavior, because if there’s one thing cults need to be good at to sustain their existence, it’s separating people from their wallets. Cryptocurrency has specialized in that to extraordinary effect. It’s all a continuum, and it would be hard to find a person whose life is completely devoid of anything cultish, technological or otherwise. But as a culture, we are careening dangerously toward the wrong end of Hassan’s chart. Or to quote a Michael Saylor tweet, “We all stumble in the dark until we see the cyber light. #Bitcoin.” : How Technology Became the World’s Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation.

Elon's Grok AI Was Asked Which Cryptocurrency Will Perform Like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) Did in 2021TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay's surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship. The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South , but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance. That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. “We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race. “This one, we've got to take it on the chin,” Mayfield added. “It's a short week. It's Christmas week. We've got to focus on Carolina and figure out a way to win.” If Atlanta is able to maintain its lead, Tampa Bay could make the postseason as a wild card if the Bucs win out and the Commanders lose twice. Coach Todd Bowles sounds confident that his players understand the challenge ahead and will clean up mistakes that contributed to the end of their four-game win streak. “We’ve got to win a ballgame (this week). If we don’t win a ballgame, we don’t give ourselves a chance,” Bowles said Monday. “We have to focus on us like we’ve been doing,” the coach added. “We have to correct the mistakes, and we have to go out and win Sunday, and we’ve got to win the next week, and then we’ll see what happens after that.” The offense, which ranks third in the NFL at 389.8 yards per game, isn't a fluke. Despite losing to the Cowboys, Tampa Bay finished with 410 yards total offense. It was the team's fifth straight game — as well as an NFL-high ninth overall — with 400-plus yards. The Bucs are seventh in rushing (143.7 yards per game) after ranking 32nd each of the past two seasons. The defense yielded 292 yards passing against the Cowboys, 226 of it in the first half when Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bowles said shoddy tackling was the biggest issue — not poor coverage. Lamb had one reception for 5 yards after halftime. Mayfield's chemistry with rookie WR Jalen McMillan, who has 27 receptions for 336 yards and five TDs, continues to grow. McMillan had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown — his fourth in the past three games — against Dallas. He was also the intended receiver on Mayfield's deep throw that CB Jourdan Lewis intercepted in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off the Bucs in the closing minutes. Turnovers were costly against Dallas. The end-zone interception stopped the Bucs from cutting into a 26-17 deficit with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Rachaad White's fumble with 1:31 left ended any hope for a last-minute victory. On both plays, defenders ripped the ball out of the grasp of the offensive player. “We knew they were going to rake at the ball going into the ballgame," Bowles said. "We just have to have two hands on the ball, and we have to fight for it. We have to take better care of the football. That’s priority No. 1.” Bowles said it's too early to project the status of several starters for coming games, including S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee), who has missed the past two games. TE Cade Otton (knee) and LB K.J. Britt (ankle) were inactive against the Cowboys, while reserve WR Sterling Shepard left during the game with a hamstring injury. 80. Bucky Irving leads all NFL rookie RBs with 920 yards rushing. He needs 80 over the next two games to reach 1,000. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown against Dallas. That tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing TDs by a rookie running back in franchise history. Doug Martin set the record of 11 in 2012. Host Carolina on Sunday. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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