yugioh online game

Former President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100; Oldest President in U.S. History
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy
GeneDx Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:WGSWW) Sees Significant Drop in Short InterestBy . . Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 35 points to inspire the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-111 victory against the Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers, whose 15-game winning run at the start of the season was ended by the Celtics, were 14 points behind at one stage in the third quarter before a strong rally. Mitchell scored 20 points – including 11 consecutive points – in the fourth quarter and, with one minute seven seconds left, put the Cavaliers 103-101 in front and they held on for a significant victory. The win ended a run of two defeats for the Eastern Conference leaders while the Celtics had their run of seven straight wins ended. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start.
The Golden State Warriors might want to consider trading for one of the most underrated big men on the trade market. The Warriors lack size in their frontcourt, something that might doom them come playoff time if they don’t make a move. Golden State will inevitably be linked to the biggest names on the market as they look for a center, but they should also put in a call to the Orlando Magic about the availability of 25-year-old Goga Bitadze. The six-foot-eleven former No. 18 overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in 2019 is having a career year for the Magic right now, which is making people notice his talent that has always been there. Bitadze is averaging 13.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per 36 minutes for Orlando through 18 games. He’s in year one of a three-year, $25 million deal, and as a legit rotational center, that’s a bargain contract. The good news for the Warriors: Bitadze might be available for trade before February’s deadline, as indicated by Forbes’ Evan Sidery on Monday. “Goga Bitadze is a player drawing trade interest amidst a career-best season for the Magic,” Sidery said. “Once their rotation is healthy, Bitadze will be back into a limited role on Orlando’s bench. On a value contract that descends through 2026-27, plenty of contending teams will be calling.” Should the Warriors be one of those teams? Acquiring Bitadze instead of a higher-paid center would leave Golden State with the flexibility to add an additional piece. Perhaps Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. should give Orlando a call soon. More NBA: Knicks predicted to land two-time NBA champion big man in trade with RaptorsConsumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to , the reports awarding 38,000 loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. Mariana Alvarez, owner of , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever to sell directly on social media platforms like , , and . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
EC invites Congress on Dec. 3 to discuss concerns regarding Maharashtra pollsThey don’t like the trash talk. Washington DC’s District Department of Transportation denounced a transit ad that was spotted near the Capitol that likened MAGA hat wearers to garbage. “Keep DC trash free,” reads the incendiary ad spotted by Capitol Hill Baptist Church pastor Caleb Morell . The ad featured a red circle with a line through it over an image of a MAGA hat wearer holding a book labeled “Project 2025.” The bottom of the ad includes the logo for the District of Columbia Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City program. DDOT DC quickly denied any role in the creation of the politically charged ad. “This image was not created, funded, or authorized by the DC government, and our teams are currently working to remove them,” DDOT DC wrote on X in response to Morell’s post. “If you see additional images like this, we encourage you to report them to 311.” When asked for comment, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office referred The Post to DDOT DC’s response. It is unclear who was behind the advert, but it wasn’t the first time a US city was plagued by dubious political ads In the fall, for example, the artist known as @winstontseng on Instagram fessed up to being behind art falsely showing the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. He claimed that he wasn’t aware how the fugazi ads depicting Harris in team attire got displayed near bus stops in the City of Brotherly Love. During the 2024 election homestretch, President Biden stoked major backlash for appearing to call supporters of President-elect Donald Trump garbage. ”The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it’s un-American,” Biden said during a webcast with advocacy group Voto Latino in October. Biden’s remarks came in response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s quip that US territory was a “floating island of garbage” during his opener at Trump’s blockbuster Madison Square Garden rally . The White House quickly scrambled to clean up Biden’s remarks and dubiously tried to argue that Biden said “supporter’s” with an apostrophe, despite video showing Biden punctuating his remark. That attempted cleanup gambit drew grief from the White House stenographer , which oversees transcripts. Biden’s team contended that the president intended to reference the “hateful” rhetoric from Hinchcliffe rather than Trump supporters writ large. Trump later did a photo op of himself clad in an orange vest getting into a garbage truck as a jab at Biden.
( MENAFN - WELLKINS) Wellkins Medical Centre, a leading multispecialty medical Centre, has been honored with the Best Digital Transformation SME Award at the Qatar Digital Business Awards (QDBA) 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Information technology (MCIT). The award was presented by His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali Al-Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, during a grand ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on last weekend. Dr. Sameer Moopan, Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of Wellkins Medical Centre, received the award along with Director Khalil Mansoor Al Shahwani and Chief Operating Officer Nikhil Joseph. The QDBA recognizes businesses that excel in using digital technology to drive innovation, improve operations, and deliver value to stakeholders. This year’s theme highlighted the role of technology in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 and fostering a knowledge-based economy. Speaking about the achievement, Dr. Sameer Moopan said, "We are honored to receive this prestigious award from MCIT. It reflects our commitment to building patient-Centered healthcare systems. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to MCIT, our dedicated team at Wellkins, and our technology partners – Al Khidma Systems, Purplegrids Inc., Bluarrows, and Talebu Communications – for making this transformation possible." He further highlighted Wellkins’ innovative initiatives, including the Digital Health Locker and Clinical Information System, "The Digital Health Locker empowers patients to securely store, access, and share their medical records online, improving continuity of care and giving them better control over their health data." Nikhil Joseph, COO of Wellkins added, "The Clinical Information System streamlines workflows within the medical Centre, enhancing patient care, improving efficiency, and ensuring data accuracy and confidentiality. These projects have not only transformed patient experiences but also set new benchmarks for innovation in Qatar’s healthcare sector. Our system simplifies the entire process from appointment confirmation, registration to medicine delivery at home which makes maximum patient satisfaction." Wellkins Medical Centre continues to lead digital transformation in Qatar’s healthcare by integrating advanced technologies like 'Wellbee,' an AI-powered assistant that simplifies patient interactions with features such as automated appointment scheduling and digital health record management. MENAFN30112024007512016241ID1108941564 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
BERLIN — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag — a sister publication of Politico owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The Tesla Motors chief executive also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. A critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, accompanied Musk’s opinion piece. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on Jan. 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the ‘world’ in the future. We will develop ‘Die Welt’ even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa.Are you obsessed with film cameras and Polaroids? Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not special—everyone and their mother is ditching our phone’s HD cameras for a little more nostalgic. The only bad thing about analog cameras? Well, they’re analog cameras. You’ll only ever be able to enjoy your snaps if you get them printed out! But what if we told you there’s a neat gadget to help you ? It’s true, so let us introduce you to the Kodak Slide N Scan. This machine lets you save your analog memories digitally—and easily—so you can enjoy your memories forever. Kick off 2025 with your new favorite gadget and get it for $164.97 (reg. $224.99) until the end of today. You could enter the new year with a toy that’s actually productive, helping you preserve physical memories for years to come. Digitize the film roll you brought on your summer vacation (finally), or surprise your parents or Grandma by digitizing their childhood slides from the ’70s. There’s no need for any Bill Gates-type tech skills to work the Kodak Slide N Scan—even your technologically challenged parents could do it themselves! Here’s how you use it: Thanks to the Slide N Scan’s fast-loading process, you could get through a pile of family slides or your vacation film in no time, meaning you won’t have to spend the entirety of 2025 finally digitizing all those memories. Once you’ve digitized everything, gather your friends and family to surprise them with digital, preserved versions of those photos. You don’t need a projector to show them off, either. Just connect your Kodak machine with the included HDMI cord so they can view the images on the big screen and relive the good old days! Your 2025 obsession awaits. Digitize everything from your childhood snaps to your latest vacation film roll with the , now $164.97 until the end of today, Dec. 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Grab yours before they’re gone! .MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings were ready to start their postgame ritual in honor of a ninth consecutive victory before realizing Sam Darnold was still missing from the raucous locker room because he was finishing his interview with the TV broadcasting crew. He was well worth the wait, on so many levels. Darnold added another exploit to his career-altering season, passing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Vikings hung on to beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25 on Sunday and moved tantalizingly close to the NFC's top seed for the playoffs. “Just to see how he's ultimately been able to maximize everything about his opportunity, our football team loves him for it,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “I've had an absolute blast coaching him.” The Vikings (14-2) set up a final-week showdown in Detroit for both the NFC North title and the first-round-bye-plus-home-field-advantage package that comes with the best record in the conference, finishing 7-1 at U.S. Bank Stadium where their blitz-fueled defense has fed well off the deafening crowd. “Playing here, our opponents feel that,” said linebacker Blake Cashman, who had a team-leading 11 tackles and 11⁄2 sacks to help keep Packers quarterback Jordan Love from ever finding a rhythm. Darnold hit Jalen Nailor, Jordan Addison and Cam Akers for scores to raise his passing touchdown total to 35, the fourth-most in NFL history by a player in his debut season with a team. When Darnold jogged into the locker room after his interview with, of all people, Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion and now the lead analyst on Fox, he was doused in water by his teammates and hoisted in the air. “It was just mayhem,” Darnold said, smiling wide. “I think I blacked out when Aaron Jones grabbed me and lifted me up.” Love’s only touchdown pass for the Packers (11-5) came with 2:18 left, a 3-yard toss to Malik Heath that trimmed their deficit to two points and reignited the “Go Pack Go!” chants from the green-clad fans mixed in among the purple in another classic edition of this divisional rivalry. Despite another fierce climb out of a gaping hole against Minnesota this season, following a 31-29 loss in Green Bay on Sept. 29 that started with a 28-0 deficit, the Packers fell to a troubling 0-5 against the top three teams in the NFC. “We know what type of team we are,” Love said. “There’s just a lot of stuff to clean up.” The Packers were swept by the Lions, too, and lost their opener in Brazil to the Eagles. “I can’t sit up here and say, ‘Yeah, we’re on the same level,' if we ain’t beat them,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “We've got to be more on our details. We've got to play cleaner. We've got to start faster.” Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson rushed for second-half touchdowns to fuel the late surge by the Packers after Will Reichard’s second missed field goal of the game for the Vikings with 9:18 remaining prevented them from pushing the lead to 20. But with the score too close for comfort and the Packers holding all their timeouts before the two-minute warning, O'Connell didn't hesitate to trust Darnold to win it. Darnold ran bootlegs for completions for two vital first downs, one to fullback C.J. Ham and one on third-and-2 that Akers snagged just before it hit the turf to force the Packers to use their final timeout. On the play before that, Darnold hit Justin Jefferson in tight coverage for 9 yards on another rollout. “We can be aggressive, but he's still going to be a great decision-maker,” O'Connell said. “He's playing quarterback at a very, very high level.” Darnold went 33 for 43 with one interception as the Vikings ran 70 plays for 441 yards, their second-highest total of the season. He passed Brett Favre (33, Vikings, 2009) and Vinny Testaverde (33, Ravens, 1996) for fourth place in touchdown passes in a debut season. The third overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Jets trails only Matthew Stafford (41, Rams, 2021), Brady (40, Buccaneers, 2020) and Peyton Manning (37, Broncos, 2012). Stafford and Brady won the Super Bowl those years. Manning is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Packers: WR Christian Watson (knee) was inactive. LB Quay Walker (ankle) missed his second straight game and CB Jaire Alexander (knee) was sidelined for the sixth consecutive game and the ninth time this season. ... Two backups, FS Zayne Anderson and DE Brenton Cox, entered the concussion protocol during the game and did not return. Vikings: Jones (quadriceps) was pulled in the fourth quarter as a precaution, O'Connell said. ... OLB Patrick Jones (knee) limped off after Packers TE Tucker Kraft delivered a low, diving block that drew loud boos after the replay was shown on the video board but no penalty. The Packers host Chicago to finish the regular season next weekend, when the Vikings visit Detroit. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
QLD News Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brisbane’s existing public transport system can carry only about half of the expected 1 million-plus passengers per day to and from 2032 Games venues without extending the Metro, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says. His proposal to add 22 extra stations would allow fans to get to four venues: the Hamilton Northshore athletes’ village; Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler; Belmont Rifle Range; Capalaba business district, near the Redland Whitewater Rafting Centre. During the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games overall public transport patronage increased by almost 1 million trips per day, but Brisbane’s current public transport network could handle only half that number. There were 18 Olympic and Paralympic venues planned for Brisbane, with a target of 90 per cent of trips to venues to be taken by public and active transport. “Brisbane’s incredible growth means better public transport must be a priority today, during the Games and beyond,’’ Mr Schrinner said. Artist impression of the athletes’ village at Northshore Hamilton, which the Lord Mayor says could be serviced by an expanded Metro. “We’re already making that step change from public transport to mass transit with the introduction of Brisbane Metro services along our existing busway network. “The expansion of Brisbane Metro to Carseldine, Capalaba, Springwood and out to the airport is the logical next step. “Premier David Crisafulli has been a long-time supporter of Brisbane Metro and we’ll continue working closely.’’ His comments came after he said a Brisbane Airport extension, which would also be critical to the success of the Games, could be delivered using existing roads and tunnels. An alternative would be to use a re-purposed Doomben rail corridor from Eagle Junction. Both options would need the monopoly Airtrain deal, ending in 2036, renegotiated. Mr Schrinner has made it clear council could not fund the huge expansion itself and wrote to the federal government in August asking for it to approve a $50m business case. But Metro has been plagued by huge cost overruns which have pushed the price of the two currently-planned routes out from $944m to $1.55bn. It has also had long delays since it was first announced in 2016, with a trial on the 169 route ending this week despite media and former transport minister Bart Mellish being taken by surprise. Council Transport Chair Ryan Murphy has now said Metro 1 and 2 would not begin until sometime next year. Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy warned this week that delays to the Adelaide St tunnel and a string of stations might push out the start date to as late as the end of 2025. More Coverage Council challenged over reason for city’s Metro debacle Brendan O’Malley, Madura McCormack, Iwan Jones Council signs 20-year Metro deal days after bendy buses vanish Brendan O’Malley Originally published as Brisbane City Council predicts 500,000 people per day gap for 2032 Games without Metro Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories QLD News Cars go under, creeks overflow as SEQ cops drenching Dozens of cars have been inundated with water after a creek in a southern Brisbane suburb began to overflow. Read more QLD News Truth-telling inquiry to defy LNP shutdown as minister cancels meeting The chairman of Queensland’s Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will reopen submissions despite LNP plans to shut it down. Read more
The Denver Broncos ' Week 16 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers has been flexed to Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The first Thursday night flex: The Week 16 Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers game will move to Thursday Night Football on Prime Video while the Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals matchup will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. According to NFL insider Albert Breer , the league had to get the Broncos' approval to make the decision since it will be the second road Thursday night game of the season for Denver. Broncos had to sign off on the Week 16 TNF flex, b/c it's their 2nd TNF road game. They were alerted Tuesday. Interesting element—Denver plays Cincinnati in Week 17 (X-mas week). Bengals got flexed out of TNF. So Denver gains the edge that the Bengals previously had for Week 17. This is a puzzling decision from the Broncos for multiple reasons, the first being that they will play on a short week in late December. Players are beat up and exhausted by that point of the season, making it tough to play on just three days rest. The next challenge is Denver being the road team, which means having to travel on a quick turnaround. The cherry on top of both of those factors is that these teams are closely jockeying for playoff seeding. Los Angeles defeated Denver back in Week 6, so the Broncos are going to be in huge need of winning this Week 16 rematch. The Broncos, who currently hold the seventh and final playoff seed in the AFC, trail the Chargers (currently the No. 5 seed) by one game. The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals were originally slated for the Thursday night slot, but will now play the following Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Ironically, Denver plays Cincinnati the following week. However, choosing to be fresh against a 4-7 Bengals team and playing a 7-3 Chargers team on a short week is, frankly, not a smart decision. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
- Previous: volleyball online game
- Next: cash online game