fortune ox pg soft
fortune ox pg soft
NoneGeorgia loses QB Carson Beck (arm) during SEC title game
Stevenson's 20 lead Cleveland State past Green Bay 83-61Magic Johnson and Lakers fans make their opinion clear on tribute to legendary former coach Pat Riley
Is Marta about to play her last match for Orlando Pride? 'I don't know if I'm going to be here next year'NoneWindsor, Ont., man charged after live stream of sex assault on child
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jamichael Stillwell had 22 points in Milwaukee's 69-65 win over St. Thomas on Sunday. Stillwell added eight rebounds for the Panthers (5-2). Aaron Franklin had 15 points and eight rebounds. AJ McKee added nine points. Drake Dobbs led the way for the Tommies (4-4) with 16 points and five assists. Kendall Blue added 11 points and Miles Barnstable scored 10 with two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Bowen Hardman had 20 points in Akron's 101-48 victory NCAA-Division III-member SUNY-Brockport on Saturday. Hardman went 8 of 14 from the field (4 for 10 from 3-point range) for the Zips (6-2). James Okonkwo scored 12 points and added 16 rebounds. Nate Johnson shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points, while adding six rebounds. The Golden Eagles were led in scoring by Tony Arnold, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Jacob Oka added six points for SUNY-Brockport. Christian Amica also had five points. Akron took the lead with 18:22 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 56-24 at halftime, with Hardman racking up 12 points. Akron outscored SUNY-Brockport by 21 points over the final half, while Evan Wilson led the way with a team-high eight second-half points. Akron visits Milwaukee in its next matchup on December 15. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Senior Volleyball squads from North Peace Secondary School (NPSS) have returned with outstanding performances from B.C. provincials played last weekend. Following up on their 11th-place showing in 2023, the NPSS Senior Girls’ team finished sixth overall at the ‘AAAA’ competition, their strongest showing in at least 15 years. Head coach Alexandra Olsen commended her squad for playing “outstanding” and said the squad played at a high level, losing just twice throughout the tournament. She added that the Grizzlies won the BC Secondary Sports Fair Play award for the second consecutive year. “This was a huge achievement for NPSS and the program,” said Olsen. “There has been consistent growth with the program and it showed in our provincials performance.” “I have so much pride to represent these girls. They are outstanding athletes and humans and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.” Going 3-0 in pool play, NPSS needed a win over North Vancouver’s Argyle to gain a quarter-final position, winning in five sets. This set up a showdown with Kelowna’s Okanagan Mission Secondary. The Grizzlies lost in four sets. They won their next game against Kelowna Secondary before losing to Surrey’s Earl Marriott Secondary. Elsewhere, the Senior Boys Grizzlies represented the north region after playoff champions Prince George Secondary School were unable to go to Vancouver Island for the ‘AAA’ provincials. With a goal of “representing the north well” head coach Scott Hyde says mission accomplished, as the team won its final game to finish 15th overall. “Even with the lower ranking, the boys never got blown out,” said Hyde. “They held their own against every team they faced. This is great news when we think about the future of the team.” With comments from opposing coaches and officials on the teams work ethic and winning desire, the team also snagged the Fair Play Award for their tournament, something Hyde says the team was “very happy” to bring the award home. More information about the NPSS Grizzlies Volleyball teams can be found on the team’s Facebook pages.Clintons urge voters agitated by today's politics to remain involved in public serviceBOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu caught a break Monday when the absence of a Republican lawmaker who blocked her plan to hike commercial tax rates on two occasions last week allowed the bill to pass the House and advance to the Senate. The bill cleared the House quickly, representing a stark contrast to the drama seen last Thursday and Friday, when, doubting the presence of a quorum, state Rep. David DeCoste of Norwell used a procedural tactic to end legislative business on both days, while citing concerns with how the plan would impact the economy. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking to attract investment from the region's oil-rich states, Downing Street announced. Starmer will first visit the United Arab Emirates and then travel to Saudi Arabia, before stopping off in Cyprus on his way back to London on Tuesday in a bid "to build closer ties and drive long term UK growth". The trip to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh comes as his Labour government pursues a free-trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council's six nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. "There is huge untapped potential in this region, which is why, while here, I will be making the case to accelerate progress on the Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement," Starmer said in a statement released Saturday. The meetings will also aim to "deepen our research and development collaboration" and partner on projects in areas including defence and artificial intelligence, Starmer added. The British leader will land in the UAE on Sunday evening, ahead of Monday morning talks with its president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Later Monday, Starmer will fly to Saudi Arabia to meet Riyadh's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who last week hosted French President Emmanuel Macron. A Downing Street press release called the UAE and Saudi "some of the UK's most vital modern-day partners". The regional tour will end on Tuesday with Starmer meeting President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, the first bilateral talks between the leaders of Britain and Cyprus in over five decades. Starmer is also due to address British troops stationed in Cyprus. Labour has staked its credibility on a promise to get Britain's sluggish economy firing again. It says a GCC agreement could boost bilateral trade, currently accounting for £55 billion ($70 bn) of UK trade, by 16 percent, "potentially adding an extra £8.6 billion a year in the long run". It hopes a deal would see Gulf sovereign wealth funds invest in a range of sectors, including energy and infrastructure, while also opening up lucrative markets to British firms. Starmer's trip comes after Britain last week rolled out the diplomatic red carpet for Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who enjoyed a state visit to the UK. Starmer discussed trade with the royal during talks in Downing Street that coincided with Qatar announcing it will invest £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in British climate technologies. Discussing regional conflicts is expected to be "high up the agenda", including the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and renewed unrest in Syria. Starmer will also be looking to repair relations between the UK and UAE that soured under the previous Conservative government after an Abu Dhabi-backed bid to buy the Telegraph newspaper failed. The Gulf visit will be Starmer's 15th international trip since he entered Number 10 on July 5. Opponents have criticised the amount of time he has spent out of the country but allies insist the trips have been vital to get to know other world leaders. Starmer, 61, has been insisting in capitals that "Britain is back on the world stage" following rancour over its departure from the European Union. pdh/aks/jjSyrian army command tells officers that Assad's rule has ended, officer says
None1. A copy of Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors filled with a ton of hilarious 1-star reviews of national parks that, somehow, might make them want to get out there and explore 'em all. Promising review: "Without a doubt, this is my favorite coffee table book and surprisingly also super educational. Perfect combination of sassy and informative while poking fun at 1-star reviews of some amazing national parks. I love, love all the added educational snippets along with the review illustrations. And Amber’s writing style is so personal and relatable that I feel like we could be friends. Such a fun book, so worth the buy!" — Anna Get it from Amazon for $16.59 . 2. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book , which is a newer edition of the fan favorite Reverse Coloring Book — perfect for anyone who is tired of coloring *inside* the lines and needs more of a challenge — in this scenario they'll be the one to draw the lines around the colors on the page! Basically, instead of adding the color to these, you draw lines to create images within the colors. Fun! Pair it with these fabulous black fine point pens for $9.99 on Amazon to complete the gift. Promising review : "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and, therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through ." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29 . 3. A bag of Reindeer Farts cotton candy because how could anyone not crack a smile from something as silly as this??? It's also made from a small business that donates 10% of all profits to charities that bring toys to kids in need — now *that* is worthy smiling about. Little Stinker is a small business. Promising review: " This was absolutely the best stocking stuffer of all this past year! Everyone, young and old, loved it! The laughs were many and the cotton candy inside was so good! Awesome product! I will buy again." — Peggy N Get it from Amazon for $8.95 . 4. A shaker of Thin Mint seasoning for your bestie who perks up at the mere mention of Girl Scout cookie season — now they'll be able to indulge in their favorite flavor whenever the mood strikes. BuzzFeed editor Emma Lord loves this stuff: "I stared at this for months online before caving and buying it, and when I tell you!! It jazzes up my morning coffee in a way that makes my little '90s baby heart sing. I've also loved it on Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and mug cakes. Plus, when I am feeling lonely for a real Thin Mint, and we're not in Girl Scout cookie season, I'll shake this on an Oreo Thin to stave off the despair." Get it from Amazon for $4.98 (and try their s'mores seasoning blend, too!). 5. Disney: Cooking With Magic: A Century of Recipes , a cookbook inspired by 100 years of Disney movies. The recipes will take them on a magical journey from 1928 ( Steamboat Willie !) all the way to 2023 ( Wish !) and everything in between. BRB, need to go get all the ingredients for Tiana's "Big Daddy Beignets." Promising review: "A perfect gift for the Disney fan in your life! Very high quality pages showing recipes from Disney movies through the ages all the way up to 2023's Wish !" — J. R. Coutu Get it from Amazon for $25.99. 6. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit for your BFF who insists on watching "The Joy of Painting" every night to soothe themselves to sleep. It comes with three pre-printed canvases, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and a mini easel (how cuuuuuute) to display their work of art when they're done. The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. They'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob! Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" — slb m Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 7. An Instax Mini 7 camera bundle (including film) so you can snap pics of you and your loved ones exchanging gifts this holiday season then put 'em all together in an album as a keepsake. So fun! The bundles comes with a camera, 40 sheets of film, a carrying case, and a cute photo album. Promising review: "Good bundle and fun product. Pictures are classic look and won't be sharp (but hopefully that's not why you bought this). My partner and I use this to log a lot of our hikes and everyday cameos." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $129.95+ (available in five colors). 8. A dimmable sad duck night-light guaranteed to bring a smile to their face each time they glance down at it. He'll not-so-happily become their companion. (We all need one, honestly.) Promising review : "I ordered this lamp because of its appearance. I didn't NEED a depressed duck lamp ... but it has totally filled a void in my life I didn't know existed. Everyone who sees it pokes it. The lamp is actually very functional. It's got a really nice set of brightness options and the glow is yellowish, which is much nicer than white in a dim/dark room. One thing that isn't mentioned in the description is that its legs are utterly floppy. It's terrific." — Literated Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 9. A tabletop USB-powered Super Mario Bros. Super Star tree for anyone looking to bring some holiday cheer to their gaming station. It'll also give you an excuse to make punny jokes like "It's ah-meeee, a Christmas tree!" or maybe that's just me... Promising review: "This little Super Mario Christmas tree is absolutely adorable. It’s perfect for any desk or shelf. It comes with lights already attached. You can always add mini ornaments if you wanted to. It’s perfectly cute without. It comes with a USB cord already attached. I definitely recommend this for any Super Mario fan." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $33.88 . 10. A Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas cross stitch kit so they can *~live like Jack and Sally if they want~* or at the very least add them into their home decor. This beginner's kit comes with thread, printed fabric, needle, step-by-step instructions, and a 3-inch plastic hoop, Get it from Amazon for $6.99 . 11. Crayola Globbles , a fun lil' toy they can use to burn off some steam in between meetings or when they just need a quick mental break. Don't worry, they won't leave residue on their walls. Promising review : " I waited over two months to write my review! My daughter is four and plays with these DAILY! YES, they do attract dirt and hair. HOWEVER, they are so easy to rinse off it's not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room, which was pretty entertaining! None of these have busted or ripped, and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more! " — Kindle Customer Get a pack of six from Amazon for $11.65 . 12. A set of custom stickers you'll be able to make of whoever you want — your pet, your own face, Harry Styles, the list goes on and on. And all you have to do is click 'Customize Now' and then upload a well-lit image! I bought these as a funny stocking stuffer for my husband a few years ago and it was a big hit. My Sticker Face is a small business. Promising review: "I think this might be one of the best things I've ever bought on Amazon. I bought one sheet for my mom for Christmas, and they just came. She hasn't seen them, but I know they'll crack her up. They look fantastic. I'll definitely buy more!!" — Claudia Basile Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 13. Or a personalized straw topper that'll hilariously help them mark which cookie cutter tumbler is theirs — I'm begging you, please get one made of something extra silly like a cut out of *your* face or Nicolas Cage's. Promising review: "I was very surprised by the quality of the straw cover. I sent in a picture of my dog with the order, and it was cropped perfectly without compromising the quality of the image. Sooo cute!" — Kim Veliky Get it from Amazon for $4.99 . 14. A " Liquipen " for anyone who grew up with a lava lamp but knows setting one up at their desk probably isn't *ideal*. Watching the little blobs float up and down will ease their mind and give them a chance to regroup before diving back into a project. Promising review: "I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in stockings for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." — Kindle Customer Get a set of three from Amazon for $17.99 . 15. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — a card game they can play with their squad (turn it into a drinking game?!) on cold nights or even at the beach when the weather is warm. You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add 'em to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins! Additionally, this game comes from a small business! Get it from Amazon for $9.95 or check out the festive version Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman (we love a theme!). 16. A toothpaste cap for anyone who typically wakes up singing "Somebooooody once told me the world was gonna roll me" a la one of the greatest soundtracks of all time... Shrek . CasualChicken is a small business based in Irvine, California that sells an array of unique 3D printed items. Promising review: "My order came well packaged and on time. Gifted it to my friend and she thinks it is hilarious." — Grace Get it from CasualChicken on Etsy for $11.99 . 17. A Michael Scott reversible dishwasher magnet that'll make loading/unloading just a bit more fun — I dare them not to giggle to themselves while thinking about what unfathomable things "Prison Mike" might shout about their dishes. Promising review : "My whole family is a fan of The Office , so when I was searching for a magnet we could use on our dishwasher, this was the hands-down winner. Does it go with my farmhouse decor? Nope, not at all. But it does get the attention of two teenage boys. Had I gone with something a bit more my decor style, I can guarantee you it would not be as useful. I mean, we all would much rather see Prison Mike staring back at us than suit and tie Michael Scott, right? And there is only one way for that to happen...clean out the dishwasher!" — R. Funk Get it from Amazon for $8.99 . 18. A set of quirky cat-themed hair clips , so fun they'll want to start planning all of their outfits around them. Everyone's going to want to know where they got these playful accessories. Promising review: "Super cute, holds all my curly hair well, good size!" — Elizabeth Blank Get a set of four from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four styles). 19. A teensy version of Atari that'll transport them right back to the '80s — a perfect gift whether they actually lived through that iconic gaming era or simply wish they did. Promising review: "I've put probably 10 hours in playing with this little system . It's an excellent little Atari clone, the screen is crystal clear, the games play exactly as expected , the sound is great the controller is a joy. This is an absolute must for anyone who loves retro games." — Doug Welyczko Get it from Amazon for $25.95 . 20. A bookmark book tracker that'll motivate them to actually settle down and read the novel their book club decided on for this month. After they finish a book they can add the title into the spine on the bookmark and color it in — adorable. This shop also offers other versions of the bookmark themed around zodiac signs, very gift-worthy! Britishbookart is a small business based in the UK that sells paintings of literary characters, like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (my personal fave) and Arya from Game of Thrones , as well as reading trackers and bookmarks. Get it from britishbookart on Etsy for $3.92 and check out the zodiac versions here. 21. Murdle, Volume 1 , a compilation of murder mystery–themed logic puzzles that are reminiscent of the ever-popular Wordle game. This version will encourage your pal to use powers of deduction and a variety of clues to solve the mysteries throughout the book. Sherlock Holmes, who? There are 100 puzzles total, and four different levels of difficulty to tackle —each puzzle features a logic grid to help you solve it! Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativeness! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes but this one will keep me busy for awhile!" — Liz Gately Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . If you want to keep the fun going you can *also* snag Murdle: Volume 2 and Murdle: Volume 3 for more puzzling. 22. A hilarious and random "screaming goat" button they can slap every few hours to keep their coworkers on their toes. Who wouldn't love THAT? Novelty888 is a small business that specializes in delightfully and oddly specific talking buttons. Promising review: "Got this for my wife to keep on her desk. She said it’s been a big hit in the office! If she or her coworkers are having a tough time, this lightens the mood with just the press of a button." — Daniel Get it from Amazon for $17.99 . 23. A Calico Critters keychain that'll leave your bestie cackling and forever thinking about those unhinged staged dramas you send each other back and forth on TikTok (IYKYK). If you're not already in on this very niche TikTok trend, please indulge yourself . Promising review: "The absolute cutest thing to hang on your keys or bags. I bought each one available because I couldn’t decide. They are just that cute. Highly recommend!" — Autumn12 Get it from Urban Outfitters for $14 (available in four styles). 24. A Taylor Swift lyric–inspired coloring book which will have their brain screaming "Drop everything now!" a la "Sparks Fly." It has 45 intricate pages to color that are loosely designed to follow the Eras tour in order. (Genius!) Don't forget to snag a fresh colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.99! Promising review : "I never thought I would enjoy adult coloring as much as I do with this book. It provides many opportunities to be creative, mix colors, be whimsical, and enjoy the lyrics." — Sherry Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 25. And an updated version of the Taylor Swift Little Golden Book fans will take one look and say I'm "enchanted to meet you." The new *~style~* comes with 22 (ooOoOh ooOoOh) bonus pages including stickers and fill-in-the-blank activities. You might find see a lil' Travis cameo within. 😉 I have this book (as pictured above) and by that I mean the second I saw it available for pre-order I added it to my cart faster than you could say "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." As the parent of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old, I have many Little Golden Books in my home. However, this one is just STUNNING. I'm a big fan of Taylor (obviously) but was really enamored by how beautiful the pages in the first version was — so, naturally, I had to get the updated version! It's a short book, looks cute on my daughter's shelf, and is a hit for bedtime story time with my son who has, ahem, been mildly encouraged to *also* love Taylor Swift. What more could you want??? Get it from Amazon for $8.78 . Note: If they're a diehard Taylor fan here are some other book options they might enjoy: The Story of Taylor Swift: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers You Are Fearless: A Book for the Littlest Taylor Swift Fans Let's Meet Taylor: Story of the Superstar Taylor Swift Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras 26. Bullseye microfleece pajama pants , because there are few things as beautiful as stepping into warm, cozy PJs adorned with the icon of your favorite Target mascot. My best friend and I bought these for each other for Christmas, including the matching top . Shopping at Target is basically the only hobby I've got these days. 😅 Promising review: "The Bullseye print on the pants is so cute! They are soft and warm and a must have for the Target lover!" — boymom2 Get them from Target for $7 (available in unisex sizes XS–2XL) 27. French Truck Coffee K-Cups they can easily pop into their Keurig machine to take their tastebuds on a trip to New Orleans — I can't think of a better way to start the day. This blend is made in small batches and packed with that chicory flavor anyone who has sipped a cup o' Joe in NOLA will recognize. French Truck Coffee is a small business based out of New Orleans that sells small-batch, fresh-roasted coffee. If K-cups aren't your thing you can also check out their whole bean options and their cold brew pods . Get a pack of 12 from French Coffee Truck for $17. 28. A carbonated bubble clay mask that starts to bubble once it's applied — get one for both of you to prepare for a fun night of selfies (all the while banishing blackheads). Promising review: "Wow! I purchased this on a whim after seeing one of my favorite YouTubers try it out. I didn't expect a lot from it. I tried it out and was shocked!!! The mask was simple (and fun) to use. I wasn't sure I felt a lot happening while it was on, but it was pretty cool how the bubbles started to grow off of my face. Upon inspection after using this mask I was completely amazed. My face felt cleaner than it has in a very long time AND my pores looked amazing! I don't remember a time when I felt like my pores looked great before using this mask. I would highly recommend this mask to anyone. It's also so much cheaper than the GlamGlow ones I have been using (and didn't see near these results from)." — Phil Textor Get it from Amazon for $8.65 . 29. An embroidered hat for the Bella to your Jacob — a gift that'll surely elicit some giggles from you both. Where'd U Get That Hat is a small business based in Washington, DC that sells embroidered hats. Promising review: "Every hat I've gotten from this seller has been awesome, 10/10." — Sabrina Jagielski Get it from Where'd U Get That Hat on Etsy for $25 (available in 17 hat colors and 11 thread colors). 30. A Mitzvah Moose (yes, you heard that right) with antlers that'll double as a Hanukkah menorah — if this doesn't turn your pal's frown upside down I'm not sure what will! This precious plush also comes with a cute picture book. You may have seen this adorable Moose on Shark Tank alongside the other Mensch on a Bench (a small business) products! Promising review: "I bought one for my grandson and before I clicked to buy my finger slipped 😉 and I ordered one for myself. I'm very happy with both of them." — Belle Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 31. A Dracula garlic mincer that'll make even the most serious of chefs let out an audible laugh. Promising review: "I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer — Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and, months later, still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I'm pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I've gotten her which were more expensive/thought out , and I'm fairly certain it's what took me from 'good friend' to 'best friend,' but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor." — L Get it from Amazon for $9.94 . 32. A realistic Dr. Pepper can(dle ) for when they want to indulge in the scent of their favorite vice but it's a touch too early in the morning to crack open the real thing. Promising review: "I love this candle as it smells exactly like Dr. Pepper. This candle is the same exact size as the real soda can too! This is going to be the perfect Christmas gift for my friend." — Chrysanthemum Get it from Amazon for $26.99. 33. A reviewer-beloved ~croc~ veggie chopper they can use to dice onions in a flash — save the uncontrollable crying for the next Hallmark holiday movie. It can also spiralize, slice, and chop! Promising review: "I bought this as a gift for my husband, who loves cooking AND crocodiles! He loves it! Best of all, it works great too. We’ve used it so many times, and the blades are still sharp. It’s easy to use and clean. Love it!" — Niki Mitchell Get it from Amazon for $34.99 . 34. A light hearted "In This Economy?" candle featuring a lovely floral and amber woody fragrance and cheeky label that says: spent the rest of my non-existent savings on this." It'll surely give anyone a laugh while helping them decompress with it's soothing smell. Evil Queen is my all-time favorite small business, and my go-to shop for candles. They're woman-owned and sell all kinds of candles with fun labels that'll make you want to try 'em even if the scent isn't your typical go-to. Naturally, as a shopping editor, I *needed* this candle. The label makes me giggle and looks great on my desk while the scent is relaxing and helps me focus on my work. The sparkles on top are an added bonus, hehe. Get it from Evil Queen for $24 . 35. A hilarious 100-piece cat puzzle depicting them as graceful lil' ballerinas — I dare anyone not to dissolve into laughter just looking at the box. Promising review: "Whimsical picture, bright colors and easily lockable and uniquely shaped pieces. Very happy with this puzzle experience!" — Karen Bleizeffer Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 36. And/or cat tarot cards that'll have your friend saying "are you kitten me?" when they open it and offer to give you a reading right on the spot. Promising review: "These cards are great! As someone who owns more than a couple of tarot decks, the card stock on these is superb for the price. This deck is friendly and has a very aesthetically pleasing color palate — even some of the darker cards of the deck are rather light hearted. The images themselves are fantastic, cute, colorful without overdoing it, and harmonious and for the most part true to the tarot and not too gimmicky. My only gripe is that the images don't always lend themselves to intuitive interpretation, however this deck comes with a guidebook so it's not that big of a turnoff. The guidebook itself is great and includes interpretations for upright and reversed cards. I haven't used it for a reading yet because i just got it today, but I am more than pleased with this purchase. If you like tarot and you also happen to like cats get this deck!" — A. Asher Get them from Amazon for $17.90 . 37. And a microwaveable hugging sloths filled with soothing lavender — who better to spend a cold wintry night with?! The pair breaks apart so they can share the love with their roommate when they're having a rough day. 🥹 My sister bought my son a Golden Retriever Warmies plush before he was born and it's recently become a staple in his collection of "crib friends." It smells incredible and is so soothing for bedtime. I love that they're weighted but not *too* heavy that I'd be worried to let him snuggle with it overnight. Promising review: "I have a sloth obsession so I'm adding these to my collection! Perfect size and absolutely adorable! Not sure I'll use them for warming, but I have other Warmies for that purpose!!" — Heather W. Get it from Warmies for $29.99 or Amazon for $26.95 . Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
1 Magnificent Fintech Stock to Buy Before Dec. 25
S.Korea political upheaval shows global democracy's fragility - and resilienceGREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning this summer and left his wife and three children has been located in Eastern Europe and is communicating with law enforcement, but he has not committed to returning home, authorities said. Ryan Borgwardt began communicating with authorities Nov. 11, after they tracked him down, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said Thursday. The sheriff showed a video that Borgwardt sent police that day from an undisclosed location. The sheriff said no charges have been filed and that he doesn't think they will be necessary while authorities “keep pulling at his heartstrings” to come home. Here are some things to know about Borgwardt and his disappearance: Borgwardt, who is in his mid-40s, lived with his wife and children in Watertown, a city of about 23,000 people northwest of Milwaukee that is known for its German heritage, parochial schools and two dams on the Rock River. The sheriff has said his department was told Aug. 12 that Borgwardt had not been heard from since the previous day, when he traveled about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home to Green Lake to go kayaking. Borgwardt’s wife said he texted her at 10:49 p.m. to say he was heading to shore. Deputies found Borgwardt’s vehicle and trailer near Green Lake. His kayak was discovered on the lake, overturned and with a life jacket attached to it, in an area where the water is about 200 feet (60 meters) deep. An angler later found Borgwardt’s fishing rod. The search for his body continued for more than 50 days, with divers scouring the lake on several occasions. Clues — including that he reported his passport lost or stolen and obtained a new one a few months before he disappeared — led investigators to speculate that he made it appear that he had drowned to go meet a woman he had been communicating with in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan. Podoll declined to comment when asked what he knew about the woman, but he said law enforcement contacted Borgwardt “through a female that spoke Russian.” His identity was confirmed through asking him questions that the sheriff said only Borgwardt would know and by a video he made and sent them Nov. 11. He has spoken with someone from the sheriff's department almost daily since. However Podoll said Thursday that Borgwardt's exact location in Eastern Europe was not known. Podoll said Chief Deputy Matt Vande Kolk has been the one communicating with Borgwardt and their conversations have all taken place via email. Vande Kolk told The Associated Press in an email Friday that authorities are trying to determine Borgwardt's exact location. But that might not be easy even with modern surveillance technology. Scott Shackelford, executive director of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University, said authorities should be able to locate Borgwardt through his device's internet protocol address, a unique number assigned to every device connected to the internet. But he said it's very easy to mask an IP address and make it appear as if the device is in one country when it's really in another. Software exists that can route your IP address across the globe, Shackelford said. Police may not have the expertise, the manpower or any interest in digging through multiple layers of cyber deception, he said. Wearing an orange T-shirt, Borgwardt, unsmiling, looks directly at the camera, apparently filmed on a cellphone. Borgwardt says he is in his apartment and briefly pans the camera, but mostly shows a door and bare walls. “I’m safe and secure, no problem,” he says. Borgwardt has told authorities he overturned his kayak on the lake, dumped his phone in it and paddled an inflatable boat to shore. He told authorities he chose Green Lake because it is Wisconsin's deepest at 237 feet (over 72 meters). He then rode an electric bike stashed by a boat launch about 70 miles (110 kilometers) through the night to Madison, the sheriff said. From there, by Borgwardt's account, he traveled by bus to Detroit and then Canada, where he boarded a plane. Police are still verifying Borgwardt’s description of what happened, Podoll said. Borgwardt faked his death and fled because of “personal matters,” thinking it was the right thing to do, the sheriff said. Investigators found that he took out a $375,000 life insurance policy in January for his family. “He was just going to try and make things better in his mind, and this was the way it was going to be,” Podoll said. Borgwardt has not yet decided to return home, and if he does it will be of his own free will, according to Podoll. Deputies are stressing to him the importance of returning home and cleaning up the mess he made. The sheriff suggested that Borgwardt could be charged with obstructing the investigation into his disappearance, but so far no counts have been filed. The search for Borgwardt, which lasted more than a month, is said to have cost at least $35,000. Borgwardt told authorities that he did not expect the search to last more than two weeks, Podoll said, and his biggest concern is how the community will react to him if he returns. This story was updated to correct the spelling of Scott Shackelford’s last name, which had been misspelled “Shackleford.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
AP News Summary at 6:33 p.m. ESTBy Conor Ryan The Bruins decided to fire Jim Montgomery last week after Boston opened the year with a lackluster 8-9-3 record. It didn’t take very long for Montgomery to land on his feet, with the 2022-23 Jack Adams Award winner signing a five-year contract with the St. Louis Blues on Sunday — just five days after Boston handed him a pink slip. It was a drastic shift for the Blues, who elevated interim head coach Drew Bannister to a full-time role last offseason via a two-year extension. But once Montgomery hit the open market last week, it didn’t take long for Blues GM Doug Armstrong to strike. “When I woke up Wednesday morning, there was no inclination to make a coaching change,” Armstrong told reporters on Sunday , adding: “This decision, I would say, almost 100% on having someone of Jim’s caliber become available when I didn’t know that was going to happen.” Boston’s decision to move on from Montgomery after just two full seasons might have come as a surprise. But longtime NHL insider Elliotte Friedman wasn’t shocked to see Montgomery land in St. Louis in short order. “This was always the plan,” Friedman said of Montgomery joining the Blues on his “32 Thoughts” podcast on Monday. “If it didn’t work out in Boston, this was always going to be the outcome. As a matter of fact, within an hour of the announcement being made, I got calls from two different people who said to me, ‘You have no guts.’ And ‘guts’ was not the phrase they used. ... And I was like, why? “And they said, ‘Because you danced around it when you wrote about it last week ... but you knew this guy was going to St .Louis, and you didn’t come right out and say it.’ And I said, ‘You’re right. I did lack the guts to come right out and say it.’” Montgomery already has plenty of history with both the Blues and Armstrong. After getting fired as Stars head coach in December 2019 for unprofessional conduct, Montgomery re-entered the coaching ranks when he joined the Blues as an assistant coach for two seasons (2020-22) before getting hired by Boston. Add in the fact that Montgomery opened his NHL career with the Blues and his family still has an offseason home in St. Louis, and Armstrong’s interest shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. But was that interest something that was already present before Montgomery officially hit the hot seat this fall? As Friedman noted, the timing of the Blues’ decision to retain Bannister via a new extension came shortly after Montgomery and the Bruins avoided blowing another 3-1 series lead in the playoffs — this time to the Maple Leafs. “I think let’s just go back to this. Drew Banister got the coaching job last year on an interim basis,” Friedman said. “When Craig Berube was fired, [Banninster] did not get the official job until May 7, which was just after the Boston Bruins played Game 1 of the second round last year against the Florida Panthers. “And especially now, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on. Doug Armstrong was waiting to see if there was any chance that if the Boston Bruins lost in the first round to the Toronto Maple Leafs — would Jim Montgomery become available? The answer? They won. They hung on. They won that series, and now Montgomery is not available.” While the Bruins’ poor start did prompt Don Sweeney and Boston’s top brass to move on from Montgomery, Friedman noted that there might have also been some hesitancy on the part of Montgomery to commit long-term to Boston. Sweeney acknowledged last week that Boston remained in contract talks with Montgomery, with Friedman writing on Sportsnet Thursday that “people who believe [Montgomery] was unsure about Boston even before they were unsure about him.” Friedman elaborated more on that sentiment Monday, noting that Montgomery might have had some reservations about Boston’s augmented roster and their shift in play style to a heavier, no-frills brand of hockey. “Doug Armstrong did a five-year deal,” Friedman said. “I don’t believe the Bruins offered five years. Someone will tell me if I’m wrong, but what I’ve heard is that the Bruins offered Montgomery three years. But like we said on Friday’s pod, I think this was bigger than simply the negotiations and the offer. “I think it was about philosophy. I think it was about approach. I don’t think the coach and the front office in Boston were on the same page, and I just think everybody realized that was not a long-term match.” For now, it looks as though all parties have benefited from the split between the Bruins and Montgomery. Joe Sacco has stabilized Boston’s play — at least for two games — while Montgomery is now coaching a team he clearly had an affinity for. Still, the short turnaround of Montgomery’s reunion with St. Louis is interesting to note after a disappointing end to his tenure in Boston. “I think everybody knew that the Blues had one eye on Montgomery, and Montgomery had one eye on the Blues,” Friedman added. “And I would think that the Bruins knew that this was possible all along, that Montgomery realized that this other situation was there. “And if he wasn’t happy with the way that the Bruin situation was working out, he could potentially go there. And that’s exactly the way it unfolded. I don’t think this is a surprise to anybody.” Conor Ryan Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023. Sign up for Bruins updates🏒 Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during hockey season. Be civil. 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Secrets behind £1.6bn Harry Potter TV series – & why Hollywood is backing JK Rowling after trans rowBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.
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Eller scores twice, Capitals beat Panthers 4-1 as Florida loses 6th out of 7So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays
By LINDSEY BAHR Do you have a someone in your life who plays Vulture’s Cinematrix game every morning? Or maybe they have the kitchen television turned to Turner Classic Movies all day and make a point of organizing Oscar polls at work? Hate to break it to you: They might be a hard-to-please cinephile. But while you might not want to get into a winless debate over the “Juror No. 2” release or the merits of “Megalopolis” with said person, they don’t have to be hard to buy gifts for. The Associated Press has gathered up some of the best items out there to keep any movie lover stylish and informed. While Christopher Nolan dreams up his next film, fans can tide themselves over by revisiting his modern classic “Interstellar,” which will be back in IMAX theaters on the weekend of Dec. 6, followed by the home release of a new collector’s edition on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ($59.95). A third disc in the set, available Dec. 10, contains more than two hours of bonus content, like a never-before-seen storyboard sequence, and new interviews with Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and famous fans Peter Jackson and Denis Villeneuve . Elaine May does not give interviews anymore. But thankfully that didn’t deter writer Carrie Courogen, who did a remarkable job stitching together the life of one of our culture’s most fascinating, and prickly, talents. “Miss May Does Not Exist” is full of delightful anecdotes about the sharp and satirical comedian who gained fame as one half of Nichols and May and went on to direct films like “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mikey and Nicky.” Courogen writes about May’s successes, flops and her legendary scuffles with the Hollywood establishment. It’s a vital companion to Mark Harris’ biography of Mike Nichols . Macmillan. $30. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has an exclusive new “Matrix” sweatshirt for sale in conjunction with its Cyberpunk exhibition. Brain Dead Studios designed and created several items, including the black hoodie ($140), a white rabbit tee ($54) and a pint glass ($18). If you can’t make it to Los Angeles to check out the “Color in Motion” exhibit for yourself, the Academy Museum also has a beautiful new companion book for sale ($55) charting the development of color technology in film and its impact. It includes photos from films like “The Red Shoes,” “Vertigo,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and images of rare prints from the silent era. The Academy Museum Store is having a sale (20% off everything) from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. Related Articles Things To Do | Duct-taped banana sells for $6.2 million at art auction Things To Do | LeBron James says he’s taking a social media break for now Things To Do | Pamela Hayden, longtime ‘Simpsons’ voice actor, including Bart’s friend Milhouse, hangs up her mic Things To Do | Simone Biles to join Snoop Dogg as a guest mentor for an episode on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ Things To Do | Alec Baldwin wasn’t invited to ‘Rust’ premiere, incites anger of slain cinematographer’s family Want to look like a real film festival warrior, the kind who sees five movies a day, files a review and still manages to make the late-night karaoke party? You’re going to need the ultimate status tote from the independent streaming service MUBI . Simple, to-the-point and only for people in the know. $25. Film magazines may be an endangered species, but print is not dead at The Metrograph . Manhattan’s coolest movie theater is starting a biannual print publication “for cinephiles and cultural connoisseurs alike.” The first issue’s cover art is by cinematographer Ed Lachman (“Carol”), and contributors include the likes of Daniel Clowes, Ari Aster, Steve Martin and Simon Rex. There’s also a conversation with Clint Eastwood. It’s currently available for pre-order and will be in bookstores Dec. 10 for $25 ($15 for Metrograph members). This is not a book about filmmaking styles, camera angles and leadership choices. It’s literally about what directors wear. “How Directors Dress: On Set, in the Edit, and Down the Red Carpet” ($40) has over 200 archival photos of filmmakers in action: Spike Lee in his basketball caps, Sofia Coppola in her Charvet button-ups, Steven Spielberg’s denim on denim and many more. With a forward by the always elegant Joanna Hogg and writing from some of the top fashion journalists, it’s a beautiful look at how filmmakers really dress for work — and might even be a source of inspiration.
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