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how to win in fortune gems Let change come organically, not by force I have read with interest the various pieces about why Kamala Harris lost this last election in such a decisive manner. Not a landslide by any means, but a decisive loss nonetheless. The rhetorical contortions are nothing short of amazing. She lost for the simple reason that she was an inauthentic, dishonest shill for the progressive left. No one was buying what she was selling. In today’s political landscape, each party pretty much owns its base. What a 45/45 split? Sadly it only about 10% actually decide the vote. The main issue before the people was the progressives obsession with forced social change. We as a society are based on the Judeo-Christian concept. With all the baggage and benefits derived therein. That is a simple fact. The drive to force such radical change so fast was their downfall. Let change come organically. Likely most people don’t have have serious issues with the personal choice of other people. But the aggressive nature of the progressive social warriors and their media allies has probably caused more harm than good to their cause. Let the change come organically. No one wants it forced down their throats. Karl Kunkel, Bloomington Labels divide us It’s now been a month since our national, state and local elections. In reflecting back over the last several months, it seems there was more “name calling” than ever before. There was clearly a lack of respect and simple courtesy to one another. Also, it was evident that we are now using more “labels” on ourselves and others than ever before. In prior generations, the labels often focused on race, gender and our Republican and Democrat political parties. Undoubtedly, some of this individuality has been our own creation, but nothing is wrong with this. The label that really intrigues me is that each generation/decade now needs their own label of x, y, z. The days of young and old have become history. My point in writing this letter is to raise the question of whether all these labels being created are more harmful than helpful. It sure appears that we use more and more labels when we talk about each other. I wonder whether we can all tone down the talk of differences and simply focus on a respect and acceptance for each other. It’s simply showing courtesy to one other. Can we give it a try and eliminate the labels that divide us? Jim Fruin, Bloomington A president-elect without integrity, empathy Once again our nation has chosen a president who chooses to have no integrity or empathy. This is what we have chosen to be not only our leader but also the leader of the free world. All the best to everyone! Randy Rasse, Minier What does CIRA’s future hold? I am writing this letter concerning a lack of flight options at the Bloomington-Normal airport. Why does the Peoria airport offer more destinations than CIRA? It would appear that Bloomington-Normal demographics out perform Peoria in population and job growth. Peoria has 40 daily flight departures and we have 7. I believe its time to hear from the CIRA airport board on exactly what is the goal and future of this beautiful underutilized airport to the citizens of this and surrounding communities is and what can be done to put CIRA back on the fast track as it once was. Robert Vericella, Bloomington Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Receiver Demarcus Robinson will not be suspended by the Los Angeles Rams this week after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Robinson will be available to play when the Rams (5-6) visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think he does understand the severity of this, and how lucky we were that nobody was injured,” McVay said. “I do believe that he's remorseful. We are going to let the legal process take place. The league has a process as well.” Robinson was arrested early Monday morning after California Highway Patrol officers observed a white Dodge sedan driving over 100 mph on the 101 freeway in the western San Fernando Valley, a few miles from the Rams’ training complex in Woodland Hills. The driver, who identified himself as Robinson, had “objective signs and symptoms of alcohol impairment,” the CHP said in a statement released to The Associated Press. Robinson spoke to the team and expressed remorse about his arrest, McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I think it was a bad decision he made,” McVay said. “I don't think that makes him a bad person, and I do believe this is something that, with the words that he said, our guys will learn from it, and hopefully nobody is ever going to repeat something like this. Let it be a learning opportunity, and a fortunate outcome that nobody was injured.” Robinson has 26 receptions for 384 yards and a team-leading six touchdown catches while starting all 11 games in his second season with the Rams . He caught a TD pass in the Rams' 37-20 loss to Philadelphia several hours before his arrest. The nine-year NFL veteran has served as a capable No. 3 option for Stafford behind star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Robinson spent his first six NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl ring in February 2020, and spent one year with Baltimore before joining the Rams last year. “Let this be a lesson to all of us,” Stafford said. “We're lucky with the result that came of it, to be honest with you, that nobody was hurt or injured. I know that D-Rob is a great person. I love being around him. Love him as a teammate. ... I'm just trying to support him, help him out any way I can.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Russian propaganda has sunk to a new low with a video depicting Santa Claus being blown up by Vladimir Putin's defences as he soars over the Kremlin in his sleigh. The shocking scenes in the video unfold as "western" Santa and his sleigh are obliterated in a massive explosion, much like the horrifying real life when a man dressed as Russian Santa fell to his death. This disturbing imagery follows widespread belief that Russian air defences shot at a passenger plane on Christmas Day, resulting in an air crash that claimed 38 lives, reports the Mirror UK. Azerbaijan Airlines says 'external interference' caused crash - 1 country blamed Children watch in horror as Russian Santa falls to his death during stunt Putin has yet to accept responsibility for the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, which crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan after traversing the Caspian Sea, with the pilots losing control of the doomed aircraft. This social media video from Putin's propaganda machine was released just before New Year, a time when the Russian Santa - known as the white-bearded Grandfather Frost, who dresses in red or blue - traditionally visits children with gifts, but never travels in a reindeer-pulled sleigh. The video's anti-Western sentiment is underscored by Santa sipping Coca-Cola and carrying NATO missiles in his sleigh. "Hey Russians, here are your presents, Happy New Year," he declares. Santa is depicted sitting next to an air defences operator as the button is pressed to annihilate the "enemy" Santa. The Russian Santa, dressed in blue, asks: "That's it?" "That's it, the target has been destroyed," responds the air defence operator. "Right, we don't need anything foreign in our skies," replies Grandfather Frost. DON'T MISS: Putin has deported 40,000 children from Ukraine to undergo 're-education' Polish children trained to use guns in school as fears grow over Russia invasion Putin’s ‘zombie’ children camps with Russian roulette, torture and brainwashing View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNITED24Media (@united24.media) The video is being circulated on propaganda Telegram channels. Russian TV actor Dmitry Melnikov, 33, portrays the air defence operator. He declined to reveal the authors of the propaganda video when speaking to Careful News , citing a non-disclosure agreement. The video features well-known Soviet music from the popular New Year film The Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath! The Kremlin declined to comment on allegations against Russia regarding the plane crash in Aktau, Kazakhstan, as evidence mounts that a Pantsir-S air defence missile severely damaged the Embraer jet. Putin's spokesman said: "An investigation into this aviation incident is underway and until the conclusions that will be made as a result of the investigation [are announced], we do not consider ourselves entitled to give any assessments." He added: "And we will not do so."

The University at Buffalo football team is preparing for its final regular-season game when it hosts Kent State at 7 p.m. Tuesday at UB Stadium, and the Bulls got a special message from a well-known Kenmore West graduate. UB football coach Pete Lembo shared a video on social media Friday morning of CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer — a 1970 UB graduate — congratulating the Bulls’ seniors. “I want to send a very special shoutout to the senior class for staying the course and leading this great turnaround,” Blitzer said in the 78-second video. “We couldn’t do it without you, and we wish you, as well, all the future UB alumni, only, only the very best.” Kenmore West + UB alum Wolf Blitzer with a message for @UBFootball ’s seniors, who play their last home game Tuesday. ⬇️ https://t.co/DjKjzdxk39 It’s part of a celebration of this year’s class of seniors, graduate students and graduate transfers who will be honored prior to Tuesday’s matchup. They’ll have a chance to help UB (7-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) clinch its first season with at least eight wins since 2019, when UB went 8-5. Here are three takeaways from Lembo’s news conference Friday at Murchie Family Fieldhouse: UB head coach Pete Lembo contacted alumni, including CNN's Wolf Blitzer, after joining the Bulls' program. 1. Why and how Wolf’s rooting for the Bulls The video of Blitzer congratulating UB’s seniors, Lembo explained, came from a relationship the first-year Bulls coach cultivated with the CNN veteran when he joined the UB program in January. Lembo contacted Blitzer and explained the importance of high-profile alumni of UB, and how he wanted them to become fans of the football program and to be connected with the program. “We’ve been keeping in touch for the last nine months or so, and as we were starting to do some of the senior stuff this month, I reached out to him a few days ago and asked him to put that together for us,” Lembo said. “We showed that to the team this morning and it was extremely well-received. All those little things make it a football program.” 2. Secondary shuffle continues UB’s depth chart continues to list Marquis Cooper and Charles McCartherens as the starting cornerbacks and Marcus Fuqua and Solomon Brown as the starting safeties, but the Bulls continue to swap backup players, at least on paper, to find a way to limit an opponent’s passing game. This week, Eddie Pleasant III is listed as Cooper’s backup, John Keough as Brown’s backup and Oliver Bridges as McCartherens’ backup. “The goal is not to get the ball thrown over our heads, which happened a couple times the other night,” Lembo said. “You’ve got to keep creating competition there, keep challenging guys and guys have to respond. We’ve talked a lot about CJ (Ogbonna, UB quarterback) and how he’s progressed, and how his 11 games of experience is starting to show in his decision-making and poise. We need to see that at all positions, across the board.” UB’s defense has given up at least 280 passing yards in six of its last seven games and has allowed 11 touchdown passes in its last three games, including 375 passing yards and three touchdown passes in a 37-20 win Wednesday at Eastern Michigan. 3. Good health UB has had only three season-ending injuries to major contributors through 11 games: wide receiver Nik McMillan (left knee), nickel back SaVeon Brown (right leg) and defensive tackle George Wolo (left biceps). Lembo credits a lot of factors to his team remaining relatively healthy. They include the work of strength and conditioning coach Ryan Horton, communication between the sports medicine staff and the nutrition staff and the program’s ability to crunch data in order to make decisions as to when to do more in practices and when to streamline practices. “The season-ending injuries are going to happen, but we’ve had very few of the soft-tissue injuries, and guys that are playing a lot of snaps have been able to play a lot of snaps the next week,” Lembo said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! College/high school sports enterprise reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Yext to Announce Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results on December 9, 2024DirecTV extends its agreement as title sponsor of the Holiday BowlPanjab University (PU) organised two condolence meetings to pay homage to its distinguished alumnus and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. The morning meeting, held at the Senate Hall, was attended by vice-chancellor (V-C) Renu Vig and registrar YP Verma along with other PU officials and faculty members. Vig expressed profound grief over Singh’s demise stating that his legacy as an academician, economist, and a leader will remain forever etched in the history of the university and the nation. She highlighted his academic excellence, including his bachelor’s degree in economics (1952) and master’s degree in the same domain (1954), both achieved with distinction, as well as his tenure as a senior lecturer, reader, and professor of economics at PU from 1957 to 1965. The V-C mentioned that as finance minister, Dr Singh was instrumental in securing a special grant of ₹ 70 crore for the varsity, a testament to his enduring commitment for his alma mater. Vig also reflected on the honours conferred upon Singh by PU, including the honorary doctor of literature in 1983 and the honorary doctor of Laws in 2009. She recalled his inaugural Prof SB Rangnekar Memorial Oration delivered in 2018, which underscored his lasting association with the university. In the afternoon, the department of economics and the Panjab University Alumni Association (PUAA) jointly organised a hybrid-mode condolence meeting, with the offline session held in the seminar room of the department. Faculty members, including HS Shergill, Pampa Mukherjee and others paid homage to Singh, reflecting on his contributions to academics, public service, and economic reforms. In both the meetings, students, scholars, and faculty members observed two minutes of silence to pay their respects and offer prayers for Dr Singh, who served as India’s 13th PM (2004–2014) and spearheaded transformative economic reforms as the finance minister (1991–1996). Chandigarh Congress pays floral tributes Chandigarh Local Congress unit paid floral tribute to Dr Manmohan Singh. The Congress urged the government to award Bharat Ratna to him for his remarkable services rendered as the governor of Reserve Bank of India, finance minister, and the PM. This recognition would be a fitting tribute to the leader who was the architect of liberal economic polices adopted in modern India, said local Congress president HS Lucky. While remembering Dr Singh as an economist par excellence, Lucky stated that Dr Singh introduced economic liberalisation which laid the foundation for the country’s emergence as a major economic power. Lucky further stated that Dr Singh’s tenure as PM was marked by significant achievements, including the nuclear agreement with the nuclear club countries, which enhanced India’s global standing. Dr Singh knew me since I opened my eyes: Tewari Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari expressed profound grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, describing him as a source of inspiration for millions. “Very Sad to learn about the unfortunate demise of Dr Manmohan Singh. My association with him goes back to the time when my parents and Dr Singh were neighbours in PU. He knew me almost from the day I opened my eyes in this world,” he said. The MP also shared his regret over missing an opportunity to meet Dr Singh, saying, “I was supposed to call on him tomorrow (Saturday) in the morning. How strange are the ways of god.” His humility was his greatest strength: Pawan Bansal Four-time Chandigarh MP Pawan Bansal expressed deep condolences at the passing away of Dr Singh. “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Dr Manmohan Singh ji. The nation shall forever remain indebted to him for turning around the country’s economy in the time of national crisis,” he wrote on X. Bansal recalled how the former PM used to converse very politely with everyone. He always took everyone in consensus and was a workaholic. He used to work and not show off and never speak loudly, he said adding that Dr Singh’s humility was his greatest strength.The holiday season is here, and for many of us, this means flying across the country to see family or–if we’re lucky–across the world to escape the winter. In either case, boarding a plane in the US means being greeted with the familiar instruction to turn portable electronic devices onto airplane mode or turn them off entirely. The reason for this policy has long been that cell phones might interfere with aircraft systems. But the EU lifted its long-standing ban on cell phone usage in airplanes in 2022–so why are Americans still required to use airplane mode? Richard Levy, an aviation consultant who worked for decades as a pilot for American Airlines and is now an instructor for Southwest Airlines, says that the FAA’s official line remains that cell phone signals could interfere with aircraft communications and navigation equipment. (The FAA, for its part, simply referred to the that require passengers to follow all crew members’ safety instructions, and did not comment further.) The word “could” is obviously doing a lot of work in that sentence; what is the actual risk? Levy says that in modern aircraft, at least, the risk of interference with navigation equipment is minimal. “In the latest Boeings and Airbus planes,” he explains, “the navigation equipment [relies] on GPS, the same as in cars. And I’m not going to say the odds [of cell phones interfering with that system] are zero, but they’re next to zero.” As far as communications equipment goes, it’s instructive to look at the FAA’s guidance on the issue, which is contained in on the subject of “Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft.” This document gives some insight into the FAA’s thinking on the issue—especially the “History” section, which explains that the ban “was established in May 1961 to prohibit the operation of frequency modulation (FM) receivers since they were determined to interfere with the operation of aircraft navigation and communication systems.” This, at least, makes perfect sense, because aircraft communication frequencies and FM radio broadcasts both use a very similar part of the VHF area of the electromagnetic spectrum. In most parts of the world ( ), FM radio uses frequencies between 87.5 MHz and 108 MHz, while aircraft communication frequencies . It’s absolutely feasible, then, that someone trying to listen to a transistor radio in the cabin could cause problems. Cell phones, however, use much higher frequencies than FM radios. The lowest-frequency cellular band bottoms out at , and modern and networks mostly use frequencies in the GHz range. It seems extremely unlikely, then, that cell phones could cause problems or air communications. The FAA itself has already commissioned two studies—one in and one in —that found no evidence that cell phone signals interfere with aircraft systems. Nevertheless, there are anecdotes about phones interfering with communications equipment. Earlier this year, a pilot how he had experienced interference in wired headset, which he said felt like “a mosquito” in his ear. “If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, 150 people on board,” he said, “and even three or four people’s phones start to try to make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves. There’s the potential that those radio waves can interfere with the radio waves of the headset that the pilots are using.” What does Levy make of this? “Prove to me,” he says, “that [the pilot] knows it was a cell phone [causing the interference]. It could be all kinds of stuff causing the static. I’m very skeptical.” So why is the US so reluctant to lift the ban? Several commentators have theorized about the “real” reasons for US authorities’ intransigence on this issue, reasons that have less to do with science and more to do with pragmatism: , for example, that the continuing ban on cell phone usage is “completely about air rage.” (This idea is supported by the 2012 FAA study, which called for public comment on this issue—79 of the 148 comments received opposed lifting the ban, and “the dominant concern expressed by these comments was that voice conversations by passengers using their cell phones would result in annoyance and distraction to other passengers.”) Does Levy lend any credence to such ideas? “I do,” he says. “You and I have been at a grocery store, and somebody is talking way too loud. They don’t mean harm—but talk quietly, or go to your car, or go to a park.” On a plane, of course, there’s no such escape, and the idea of being stuck for hours in the middle seat between two people talking loudly about their start-up ideas sounds like an entirely fresh circle of hell. Levy also suggests that authorities could see inattention as a problem: “Another reason they don’t want people using cell phones on the ground is that [they] want passengers to pay attention to the flight safety briefing.” For what it’s worth, he has less time for this argument: “The Europeans have safety briefings also, and people pay attention [to those].” So what are the chances of the ban being lifted? Levy says that passengers shouldn’t hold their breath. The prohibition on cell phone usage isn’t left to the discretion of airlines; it’s enshrined in two separate Titles of the (specifically , which covers Aeronautics and Space, and , which covers telecommunications.) The former is issued by the FAA and the latter by the FCC, meaning that two federal agencies would have to decide to change their respective stances on the issue. The FAA and FCC aren’t the only powerful organizations opposed to any change in the policy; Levy suggests that unions may also be happy for things to remain as they are. In the commercial air industry, he says, “unions [still] have a lot of authority. I don’t know if the airline employee unions are petitioning the FAA to [retain the ban”, but if so, they have a lot of lobbying power.” However, he says, ultimately the issue is that “the US is very conservative in this way. My guess is that they’re waiting for data somehow to prove [definitively] that there’s no risk.”

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CHANTILLY, Va., Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) announced today that Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer, and Matt Ofilos, chief financial officer, will participate in fireside chat question and answer sessions at the following investor conferences: Goldman Sachs Industrials and Materials Conference on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at approximately 1:20 p.m. Eastern Time UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at approximately 9:40 a.m. Eastern Time These presentations will be available live via webcast on the investor relations section of Parsons’ website ( https://investors.parsons.com/ ). A replay of the webcasts also will be available on the website for 30 days. About Parsons Corporation Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and global infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cyber and intelligence, space and missile defense, transportation, environmental remediation, urban development, and critical infrastructure protection. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact.Javon Small scored 31 points to rally West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime upset of No. 3 Gonzaga in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Wednesday in Nassau, Bahamas. The Mountaineers (4-1) trailed by 10 points early in the second half and by five in the final minute. But over the final 19 seconds of regulation, Tucker DeVries scored five straight points to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Small scored five points and West Virginia held Gonzaga to a single field goal, which came after the outcome was decided with 19 seconds left. Amani Hansberry added a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds for West Virginia, which advances to the semifinals Thursday against another surprise first-round winner, Louisville, which stunned No. 15 Indiana. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle added 16 points for Gonzaga (5-1) which settles for a consolation-round game Thursday against Indiana. Nolan Hickman tallied 13 points. Ryan Nembhard delivered seven points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs. Huff put Gonzaga in position to win when he made three hook shots in the final 2:34 of regulation as the Bulldogs turned a one-point deficit into a 69-66 lead. Two free throws by Nembhard expanded the lead to 71-66 with 25 seconds left. But DeVries followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then made a mid-court steal and drew a foul with 5.9 seconds left. His two free throws sent it to overtime. The Mountaineers never trailed in overtime. Sencire Harris wrapped it up with a steal and a breakaway slam that put West Virginia up 84-76 with 26 seconds left. Battle, a transfer from Arkansas, scored eight points in a span of 90 seconds late in the first half as the Bulldogs took control on their way to a 39-31 lead at the break. Gonzaga earned its biggest lead early in the second half when Graham Ike scored inside with an assist from Nembhard to make it 43-33. But West Virginia responded with a 17-2 run, fueled by Small as he hit two 3-pointers and two layups. Hansberry drained a trey and DeVries grinded for a putback layup to give the Mountaineers a 50-45 lead with 12:26 left. DeVries finished the game with 16 points and four blocks. --Field Level Media

LeBron James trolled for saying Christmas belongs to NBA after NFL viewership is revealed1. A plush Ugg blanket you can basically just start wearing like a cape on your trek from the couch to your bed. Promising review: "Love this blanket! So soft and cuddly! Bright white, just the right thickness to snuggle up on sofa and relax." — candy bumgardner Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors). 2. An electric heated mattress pad that'll transform your bedroom that's always a little too chilly for ya. This'll be a major one-up from the PILE of blankets you have on your bed that weigh you down a little too much by the middle of the night. It has timed auto-shutoffs and 10 heat settings with dual controls for queen and king sizes so everyone finds their perfect temp. Promising review : "We live in Wisconsin where it gets very cold at night. We like to crack the bedroom windows open at night because we prefer a cold room to sleep in. But this makes getting in bed with freezing cold sheets brutal. Not anymore! This mattress pad is a game changer! Turning the mattress pad on before getting in bed makes all the difference in the world; no more freezing cold sheets. The dual controls are great since I like my side warmer than my husband does his side. The mattress pad is soft and comfortable ; you cannot feel the wires at all. It has nice deep pockets that fit on our mattress and memory foam pad very nicely." — Linda Stranzl Get it from Amazon for $63.36+ (available in sizes Twin–California King). 3. Self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint for those nights when you REAAAALLY want a foot massage but no one but your precious cat is around to help. Your kitty is busy making biscuits overtime. He knows the rent is due! Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. My colleague Emma Lord loves these: "I'm a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and after a few minutes feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!" Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation and they definitely felt good on our feet!" — KS2018 Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $10.77 . 4. Or if you wanna ~step~ it up a bit, a foot warmer and massager if you're willing to slip your old dogs into this before you completely wrap yourself in your faux-fur blanket. Promising review: "I am a perpetually cold person, so it doesn’t help that I sit at a desk all day at work. My feet end up frozen within a few hours of sitting, and now I can be comfortable and cozy at work and my feet are never cold anymore. So happy with this purchase! The massagers are an added bonus for me." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in six colors). 5. A dishwasher-safe silicone soup cube tray that'll hold one cup of delicious hot entrees like soup/chili/stew/sauce per cube so you can freeze and then reheat it later, then chow down for a very easy meal. It also comes with a lid so you can easily stack them and four fill lines (1⁄2 cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, 250 mL). Souper Cubes is a small business seen on Shark Tank that specializes in bake-and-freeze storage products. Promising review: "I'm extremely happy with my Souper Cubes! I cook chili and soup and always make too much, having the ability to freeze serving-size portions is perfect. Saves time and food quality by not having to thaw it all each time I want another serving. High quality and since it's silicone and not rigid plastic it won't crack in the freezer. Highly recommend!" — Alexander S. Waterman Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three colors and packs of two). 6. Plus, a box of slow-cooker liners to make whipping up (and cleaning up) some soup easy-peasy. Because nothing says cozy like soup. I adore my slow cooker but hate cleaning up after using it. So I use these handy lil' bags. Read my full review of Reynolds Kitchens Premium Slow Cooker Liners . Get a box of six from Amazon for $3.48 . 7. A ~streamlined~ door draft stopper to help keep whatever temp air you prefer within the room you're currently in, rather than the rest of your home where you're not. Promising review: "So easy to set up! All you do is peel tape and adhere to a CLEAN and DRY door. Also looks great, I don't even notice it. I had a huge gap under my door. I could smell and hear everything from the hallway. Smells, drafts, and sound all are less of an issue now." — Brit B. Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors). 8. An organizing couch pillow with a spot for everything you require as you catch up on the Interview with the Vampire TV series because you won't want to pry yourself off the couch. Listen, the first season is on Netflix. I expect you to do your homework so we can talk about it. Yes, I am EAGERLY awaiting *this* Lestat's rockstar era. If you require further convincing regarding picking up IVTV, here's the recent Comic-Con teaser for season three !!!! Cup Cozy Pillow is a small biz as seen on TV specializing in cleverly designed cup holders. Promising review: "I liked that it worked with cups and mugs, perfect for clumsy friends." — YAZ "This thing is great! I’m home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with crazy dogs running around. It’s a little more expensive than I would have liked but it works and I love it so money well spent!" — Amber Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in more colors ). 9. A pair of blackout, noise-canceling, AND thermal insulating curtains to help solve a plethora of problems — even if you've brought them on yourself by staying up all night marathon-ing the first two seasons of the Interview with the Vampire series. Ya gotta watch! I'm telling ya! Promising review: "Truly life changing sound barrier curtains!!! They definitely help with the quality of sleep, quietness, and solace for me and my whole family. The sound isolation is incredible! There was so much noise pollution around with constant main road traffic, pool/deck construction, chainsaws next door, water main construction on the main road with giant trucks/bulldozers and jackhammers, several lawnmowers, outdoor concert noise, birds constantly chirping, weekly Brazilian parties. Especially with people coming out of the woodwork after the pandemic with the noisiest, most annoying things on the planet all at once. These curtains truly dampened ALL that noise to a distance or to completely nothing. Almost all of it gone. Our sleep at night has dramatically improved and deepened. Best in our lives and finally feeling fully rested." — Heather Lascano Get two panels from Amazon for $59.95+ (available in 12 sizes and 15 colors). 10. A reusable pet fur remover might just have you tossing your old sticky roller after you see how much fur this reusable one (it has a sturdy brush system) picks up off your beloved couch. You love your cat, but don't need to look like a porcupine when you peel yourself off the couch for a bathroom break. Promising review: "I have a golden retriever and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie, this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However, I find it's a great arm workout and it works wonders." — Joanne Ertel Get it from Amazon for $28.95 . 11. Some sheet fasteners if that fitted sheet won't stay put on your mattress, and you end up in a sheet burrito. These are exactly how they sound, so no matter how much you toss and turn, your fitted sheet won't come loose in the middle of the night and require an extra pair of hands to put back in place. See them on TikTok here . Promising review: "I love these! Since I started using them my sheets haven’t popped off once and that used to be a several-times-a-night problem because I toss and turn when I sleep. Thank you, TikTok! " — Gabby Get a set of four from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors). 12. A set of safe-locking magnetic duvet clips to keep your duvet in its proper place, instead of loose and saggy inside the cover you couldn't resist form Urban Outfitters. These work for duvets up to 10 pounds and then use a magnetic key to remove the clips on laundry day. Checkout a TikTok of the duvet clips in action. Pinion Pins is a small business specializing in home improvement products. Promising review: "I was super worried about if I would have enough of the Pinions, and I totally do! My duvet is kinda thick and the Pinions pierced through with no problems! Plus with a little extra room if I had some extra layers. I REALLY like how you have to have the magnet tool to pull them apart . Absolutely no moving! Don’t walk, RUN TO BUY THIS. I also like how unnoticeable they are." — Abigayle Mishler Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $17.95 . 13. An investment-worthy MicrowavaBowl you should absolutely make room for in your cabinet. This bowl's elevated center distributes the appliance's heat evenly and quickly, so your leftovers are ready to go faster. Oh, and it's dishwasher-safe! Promising review: "These bowls are high quality and very convenient. They heat up food very quickly and evenly, saving you valuable time and energy. Its ability to heat the food and not the bowl itself is very valuable to me. Prior to this purchase, I would have to use a hot bowl holder to avoid burning my fingers. The size of the bowls are perfect for the dishwasher, making them easy to clean and use. I would highly recommend them to friends and family!" — Alana Get it from Amazon for $34.98 . 14. Or a set of heat-safe microwave bowl holders so you won't burn your poor little paws while in pursuit of heated-up chili. OR, use 'em to keep your bowl of ice cream nice and frigid! Promising review : "These bowl huggers were larger than expected and do a great job of protecting your hands from the heat so you can place the bowl on the table. Very colorful and a great addition to your kitchen. Plan on getting a set for my daughter and son for Christmas gifts!" — Ljoy20 Get a set of five from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five color sets). 15. A game-changing "bed wedge" pillow in a high-density foam and triangular shape to prevent stuff from falling into that gap between the mattress and the headboard. No need to scrounge down there for your phone or other stuff. Totally the stuff of nightmares! Bonus : T here's a lil' side pocket for your phone, glasses, or other nighttime accessories. Promising review: "I did not realize that these were out there until I watched a TikTok about one. This has saved my pillows. I do have a headboard, but there was about a three-inch gap between it and my mattress. This has stopped my pillows from sliding down in between. I have had no issues at all with it. I did let it sit for almost 72 hours while it was getting its shape back from being in a shipping container, but after that it was perfect!!! I highly recommend." — Miss_Beck Get it from Amazon for $326.99+ (available in three colors and Twin–California King). 16. A super cozy, extra-large blanket (it's 10 x 10 feet!) with ample room for snuggling up together underneath with pals or loved ones — or perhaps creating a giant blanket burrito with just you as the ingredient. It's made from a temperature-regulating blend of polyester and spandex, making it softer than sherpa and fleece blankets while keeping you cozy yet cool! Big Blanket Co. is a small business specializing in selling the world's largest blankets for the ultimate cozy setup in your home. Promising review: "I instantly fell in love with this blanket. I was hesitant to purchase at first with the price but I'm so glad I did. It's super soft, has just enough weight to it that it makes it soothing, and is surprisingly cool to sleep with. It doesn't get really hot like some of my other blankets do. The huge size is also a bonus, as I love hogging blankets all to myself." — Lindsey B. Get it from Amazon for $159 (available in 14 colors). 17. A huge, leakproof tumbler with a handle reviewers compare to the hard-to-get Stanley tumblers thanks to its proportions and abilities to keep your ice water as cold as the scenes in Fargo (the film, THOUGH I rather enjoyed the last season with Jon Hamm). Promising review: "I’ve been using Simple Modern bottles since my sophomore year of college, so when I graduated and needed a 'big girl' tumbler that wasn’t covered in stickers and would be cute and functional in a professional environment, getting an SM tumbler was a no-brainer for me. I absolutely love the sea glass sage color, and of course, I had to get a matching 32-ounce water bottle , too! These are so sturdy, keeps my water icy cold through the day and the night, and motivates me to hydrate like no other. It is 1,000x cuter than a Stanley tumbler or a Hydroflask, and a much more reasonable price ! I get compliments on it every single day. I absolutely cannot recommend this brand and these tumblers enough!" — Hannah Rodlund Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in 17 colors). 18. Plus a snack bowl that'll fit on top of your Stanley tumbler (or other 40-oz. tumblers with a handle) so you don't have to juggle a bowl of popcorn. No promises that you won't toss all that popcorn once you get to the dumpster part of Mulholland Drive . Gets me every time! Promising review: "This snack bowl is a great addition to my 40-oz tumbler. I was worried it wouldn’t fit well since mine isn’t the popular name brand, but it fit perfectly. It has three different sections for snacks and is pretty sturdy without being too heavy. Bonus points for being dishwashe-safe. Would recommend and will be ordering some as gifts for family!" — Michelle I Ink to Novel Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 11 color). 19. A cozy blanket sweatshirt if you go back and forth on whether to wrap up in blanket or put on your sweatshirt and THEN wrap up in a blanket. This solves it for you so you can get onto better things, like rewatching the Superbowl episode of What We Do in the Shadows. BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd has one and says, "I LOVE this thing. It allows you to literally wrap yourself in a blanket, but still be able to use your hands, without your poor arm suffering in the cold breeze. I wear this while working from home, watching Netflix, and while taking naps. It's so comfy that there have been times I don't want to take it off when I have to run to the store — the only reason I do is because I don't want it to get dirty. I can't imagine one person who wouldn't be happy to have this wonderful bundle of coziness." Promising review: "My husband is terribly hard to buy for, so most gifts end up returned or exchanged. Because he is always cold due to health issues, I thought this Comfy might be just the thing to make him — well, more comfy! I read the reviews, and with high hopes, I bought him one. It arrived in the mail the next day, and he was pretty skeptical as we opened the box. I insisted that he try it on for at least a little while, and it turns out he couldn't be happier with it! He tells me he hasn't been so warm and cozy for years now. This is a double bonus for me — not only is he more comfortable, but it is the first gift in a long time that isn't being shipped back! The Comfy is super soft, just the right length to not tangle around his legs, and with the front pocket and hood, it keeps him warm no matter how cold he was when he put it on. This is a terrific product for yourself or someone you love!" — Dee H. Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in pullover or quarter zip and 15 patterns). 20. Fleece-lined sweats that'll become your go-to when regular ol' sweatpants just aren't enough. These'll keep you nice and toasty for the long holiday weekend and BEYOND. FYI, if you have Amazon Prime Wardrobe you can give this a spin before you buy it! Promising review: "I'm always cold in the Wisconsin Winters. These toast me up and are perfect for lounging. So cozy." — Jodi Larson Get them from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 14 colors). And check out a similar fleece-lined pair in sizes 1X–5X. 21. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt if you've been chasing that dream of recreating movie theater popcorn while you're holed up, watching scary movies. Well, dreams do come true because this stuff IS life-changing and I can personally vouch. I invested in one of these delicious cartons after reading my colleague Emma Lord rave about it. It's super salty, super buttery, and like, probably something you shouldn't eat every day. But boy is it a total TREAT. Promising review: "I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." — S Martinez Get it from Amazon for $9.45 . 22. A bottle of Drop It , a natural wine sulfate and tannin remover that addresses the stuff that tends to give you hangovers. If you're going to stay put and imbibe like you're in The Holiday, you might as well stave off any possible hangovers. I've tried these before on some weekend friend getaways where we drank a LOT of wine and I think they really work! Just don't get overeager squeezing the bottle because then you can put way too much in your glass and make your wine taste weird. Yep, I did that and learned my lesson. Drop It recommends 1–2 drops for each glass of white wine, 2–3 for a glass of red, and 7–9 if you're treating the whole bottle at once . Once it's in the glass, swirl lightly for 20 seconds, and you should be g2g! Promising review: "I can finally drink wine again after years of abstinence! I used to get the most awful headache on just one glass of wine, it was so bad I just stopped drinking wine altogether, then I discovered these magic drops! I've only had them a couple of weeks but I have drank red and white wine totally headache-free! I even drank half a bottle of heavy red. These drops really are magic! I love that you get two bottles as well, one can stay in your purse and one at home. Brilliant!" — shelleymab Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 23. A Hallmark Christmas Movie bingo set to help game-ify the somewhat formulaic but still very fun movie genre with enough films to watch for, like, an entire year. The Crafty Chick Co is a Bristol, Connecticut-based small biz specializing in wooden gifts and accessories. Promising review: "The laser cutting is so nicely done and the bingo spots are so clever. My Hallmark movie-loving friends absolutely loved it!" — Gloria Echeverria Get it from The Crafty Chick Co on Etsy for $17.50 . 24. A 24-pack of mulled spice tea bags can jazz up individual servings of wine, cider, or tea to help make even the most mundane of nights feel a little bit special. Promising review: "It is so hard to find mulling spice! Grocery stores had none, but Amazon came to the rescue and I was able to serve mulled cider to my family for Thanksgiving — we had our dinner early due to out-of-town family." — Freda Horn Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 25. Some Eddie Bauer flannel sheets for a classic embrace worth the hype if you're one of those types who likes to be sooooo toasty at night. Promising review: "I'm absolutely in love with these sheets! They're incredibly soft, warm, sooooo cozy...and the pattern is beautiful." — Kali Get them from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in five sizes and 37 patterns). 26. A little snack dispenser to load up with smaller-scale stuff (think, trail mix, nuts, M&Ms, Goldfish, etc.) to provide the perfect amount to toss in your mouth without getting your fingers and hands all grubby. Promising review : "It arrives already assembled. I chose to add peanut M&Ms. To add snacks, just remove lid by twisting off. To release snacks, push down on latch. Easy to use and clean. I just have to be careful that when I release the candy into my mouth I go slowly so I don’t get a lot of M&Ms at once." — Marlene T. Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors). 27. A universal remote attachment so you don't have to hunt down the TV remote and then the Fire TV remote and, well, you get my frustrated drift. This'll help you control it all with just your Fire TV remote. Promising review: "Before: three remotes, one for the screen (on/off), a separate one for the sound system (volume) and of course the fire stick remote. After: just the one convenient integrated unit. No more scrambling to find the which remote to do what I want, cause it's all right there in the one unit. I wish I'd have bought one years ago cause the multi-remote tango got old real fast." — Chapman B. Get it from Amazon for $26.99 . 28. A book light that'll put some light RIGHT where you need it so you can finally make a dent in that TBR pile that's been haunting you since the summer. Promising review: "I also ordered one of those book lights that you have to clip directly on to your book. I haven't even tried the clip-on yet because I LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH!! It's so versatile. It is the perfect solution for when I'm up in the middle of the night and I still want to stay in bed and read while my husband sleeps next to me. Even when I don't have to worry about disturbing someone this light is still my go to when reading. It's better than any night stand lamp because you can focus this light directly on your book or other types of hands-on projects. I had worried that it would be uncomfortable around my neck but It's so lightweight I hardly even notice it" — Linda Holloway Get it from Amazon for $17.98+ (available in seven styles). 29. A mug warmer to keep your bevvy at the exact right temp so you won't have to emerge from your pile of blankets to heat up your coffee in the microwave. Promising review: "It's so nice to work on the computer and reach for the coffee ☕️ and it's still hot or warm, your choice. Great buy." — Chip Wood Get it from Amazon for $19.98 . 30. A heated eye massager with five different massage modes and Bluetooth music so you can retreat into your own lil' isolation bubble RIGHT on your couch. Promising review : "I saw this product on one of Amazon’s must-have TikTok videos and I knew I had to get it. It was so worth it — even though price may seem higher compared to other sellers, this is for sure a good investment piece. The quality is top notch, the strap that goes around your head is comfortable, and most importantly, the duration of each mode is long enough that it doesn’t interrupt your rest. I work a 12-hour night shift as a nurse and this technology has helped me get through the night easily. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in four colors). 31. Plus, a Renpho percussion massager that'll help work out all kinds of knots and pains. Check out a TikTok of the massager in action. Promising review: " I have tried EVERYTHING for my feet, nothing works and I am always in pain. It came, and I opened the box to find an UNUSED, BRAND-NEW massage gun with all the attachments. I tried it out and I thought wow, that feels AWESOME. But the true test is how do you feel the next day right? You cannot always walk around with a massage gun in your hand. The next day, I felt AMAZING. AMAZING. I used it on my hubby's back too, and he said he felt so much better today as well! In addition, this one is way QUIETER than my original massage gun. It's just really a quality piece. You won't be disappointed in this one. It really is what it says. I know it is hard to choose from all the models on the internet, but this one is the real deal. It's worth the money if you have pain." — L Johnson Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in three colors). 32. A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighter with a flexible neck in case you're a candle fiend who also can't get enough gadgets. (Two things can be the truth at once!) Promising review: "I cook outside, and lighting a fire during wet and windy weather was a real pain. This lighter was a game changer! As long as the material is dry, this lighter will light regularly, consistently, and easily. Plus, it’s rechargeable! Love it!" — Sandra Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors and as a two-pack). 33. A set of satin pillowcases to help all that time you clock lounging (and sleeping) on your bed pillows keep from messing up the moisture on your skin and hair. Promising review: "LOVE THESE! They are a beautiful shade of gray, well-made, and a perfect price! I ordered these to help protect against hair breakage and I've already noticed a huge difference!!!" — shawnellnewberry Get them from Amazon for $7.64 (available in three sizes and 16 colors). 34. A pair of Beckham Hotel Collection pillows I own and adore to the point where I replaced the pillows I keep at my parents' with them, too! Yes, they're utter perfection and help me straight-up sleep better. So you NEED them for your holiday bed-rotting. And, tbh, just any other time. Promising review : "I have no idea why, really, but they are perfect . Just the right amount of softness. I highly recommend them. I have purchased pillows all over — Costco, Walmart, Marshalls, etc. But every time I was out of town on business and staying in a hotel, I would notice that I really liked those pillows better than my own. I finally decided one day to go ahead and spend $50 on two pillows. I'm so glad I took the chance. They just work for me and I'm really glad (at least this time) my whim paid off. It actually makes me happy that I got the perfect pillows after so many other purchases across the years." — Sally Get them from Amazon for $60.99+ (available in two sizes; clip the coupon for 20% off this price!) Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.ESPN has acquired fan-favorite show Inside the NBA, but they have no intention of adding Stephen A. Smith to the roster. Warner Bros. Discovery struck a deal with ESPN to allow the show to air on the network starting in the 2025-26 season. The show will still be ran and produced by TNT, the only difference is that it will air on ESPN. "They’re going to produce it, and that’s exactly what we want," Magnus said on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast. "Of course we’re not going to change the show. "Why would we take something so successful and so iconic, bring it over and then be like, 'We know better, we’re gonna change it.'" Read more on the NBA Magnus made sure to emphasize that the version of Inside the NBA that fans love will be the same version they see on ESPN. "We don’t want to change it. We don’t want to interject new talent into it," he said. "We don’t want to really do anything to it." Not changing the show means not adding anyone to the show, meaning Stephen A. Smith won't be added to the cast. Most read in Basketball Instead, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal , and Kenny Smith will have their usual duties on Inside the NBA . "They’ll do the NBA Final," Magnus said. "They’ll do a Conference Final, which is part of a new rights agreement. They’ll do pretty much the entire playoff run. "And then they’ll do primarily during the regular season, the Saturday night and/or Sunday afternoon window on ABC. "And then there’s a mechanism for some select games on ESPN. Opening Night, a tentpole regular-season game that happens to fall in November or December. "For example, if we had had Boston-Cleveland Tuesday night, that would’ve been a perfect way to activate for that game for ESPN. And then Christmas Day and that sort of thing." Fans were thrilled to find out that Stephen A. won't be forced into Inside the NBA, and shared their happiness on social media . "WE WON," one fan said. "Thank god," another fan said. "That would’ve legit ruined the show. Finally a ESPN W decision," a third fan said. Read More on The US Sun "You know the crew did not want him lol... Charles and Shaq would make life hell for him," a fourth fan said. "Well done ESPN," a fifth fan said.

Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherCongress on Tuesday staged protests at all its district headquarters across Rajasthan condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah's ''objectionable'' and ''disrespectful'' remarks on B R Ambedkar made in Parliament recently. Following the instructions given by Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, the party organised a 'Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Samman' march from all its district headquarters in protest against Shah's remarks,'' state Congress General Secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said. After the march, the district Congress committees submitted a memorandum addressed to President Droupadi Murmu to their respective district collectors demanding Shah's dismissal as a Union minister, he added. The Congress also demanded that Shah should apologise to the nation for his comments, Chaturvedi said. Replying to the debate on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India', Shah said in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, ''It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven.'' As his remarks triggered outrage among the opposition parties, Shah later accused the Congress of twisting his comments. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Traditionally, the holidays are for spending time with family and friends, perhaps with a varying degree of religious rituals or practices. There’s also pressure not to miss certain family celebrations, but there will be times you can’t make it – whether by choice or circumstance. So, if you’re spending the holidays alone this year, you’re actually not alone in wondering if it’s OK to be alone. You hold the ticket to your happiness, even if you’re spending the holidays (or any special day of the year) in a less conventional way—all by yourself. There’s no correct formula for how to spend the holidays, experts say, and keeping that in mind is key when you’re not going to be around your loved ones. Spending the holidays alone can feel lonely or empty, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Loneliness is an issue during the winter holidays for many students and other clients, according to Diana Winston, director of UCLA Mindful , the mindfulness education center at UCLA Health. Not having people to spend the days with, “can compound any existing loneliness and worsen it during the holiday times,” Winston said. New York psychologist Dr. Bryant Williams agreed, noting that being alone during the holidays “accentuates existing problems.” Both experts suggest taking action to strengthen your mindset and fill your days with activities that you know nurture you. Step outside for some fresh air Go on a hike, take a walk in a park, visit the beach or engage in nature in a way that suits your lifestyle and location. Get out into “whatever nature you have available to you,” Winston said, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities to be outdoors. The benefits of simply being outside and surrounding yourself with nature are plenty, and why not rack up those benefits when you’re spending the day or week alone? In the practice of forest bathing , one spends time in nature through activities like a walk or sitting and enjoying the environment, Dr. Leana Wen previously told CNN. “Forest therapy” can lower anxiety, improve mood and reduce blood pressure, studies show . You can simply take a walk, and make the most of that walk. A higher daily step count is linked to fewer depressive symptoms, according to a recent study in the journal JAMA Network Open. And it’s not an impossible number—even 7,000 steps can lead to better mental health , said clinical psychologist Dr. Karmel Choi, who previously spoke to CNN. ‘Zoom in’ to celebrate You don’t have to miss out on all the fun just because you can’t be there to celebrate in person. Williams recommended people take action to reach out to people with a phone or video call. Do something “similar to what people did during the pandemic, when people were so isolated,” he said. “People, because they weren’t spending time with each other in person, started spending a lot of time on Zoom.” Social experiences are important to health, so carving out time for this can improve your well-being. More specifically, reach out to loved ones who make you feel good about yourself since positive social interactions are linked to better coping and lower stress , research shows. If your schedule and circumstances allow for catching up in-person, aim for a spontaneous coffee meetup with a friend or accept your colleague’s invitation to join their festivities. None of the plans have to be grand, orchestrated celebrations. The point is to connect with someone at some point during the holidays if possible. Volunteer where people need help Volunteering, such as at a children’s hospital or at a nursing home, can be beneficial for those spending this season alone. You can also find opportunities to serve meals at a soup kitchen or food bank in your community. Some locations could use the help to hand out food at a holiday meal pick-up center. “There’s all sorts of structured activities that people can engage in when they’re spending time with other people, even strangers, and they’re doing something thoughtful and nice for them,” Williams said. That kind of an activity can impact one’s brain in a positive way. “If someone takes action, they get outside of themselves, then they’re thinking about other people,” Williams said. “People generally feel better when that happens.” Treat yourself to something nice You might be missing only your grandma’s mac-and-cheese or wishing you were baking pies for many to enjoy. It’s common for holidays to evoke images of people gathering around a shared meal. If you’re alone, try to cook something special, order takeout or order something delicious at a restaurant, Winston said. If you’re going to be out of town on a work trip, research the best nearby restaurants to your liking and splurge on a nice dinner. If you’re choosing to be a homebody this year, be as lazy or as complex as you’d like with the meal—if it nurtures you. Rituals Rituals and fun family routines around the holidays are an important part of celebrating and maybe what you are missing most this time of year. “Can they perform some ritual that punctuates the day and makes it feel special in some way?” Williams said. Taking a hot bath, getting a massage or playing a sport can be nurturing to some people, Winston said. Light the menorah, hang up a stocking on your fireplace, or do the New Year’s Eve countdown for yourself. You can observe the days however you’d like without disagreements with others, judgment or the pressure of expectations. Get a head start on your to-do list Having a sense of accomplishment, such as by working on a home project, during this solitary time can also be one way to get through the holidays, Winston said. “People can be creative about their use of their time,” she said. Seasonal chores like raking leaves or shoveling snow, decorating your house or decluttering your closets can also count as functional exercise without hitting the gym. Reflect on the year Another more introspective activity is to take advantage of the solitude to plan for the new year or review the past year. “Especially for (the) new year, people love to reflect on the previous year,” Williams said. “And doing that in an intentional, structured way and even outlining the ways they want the new year to be different or even citing specific goals for the new year.” Spend the holiday creating new traditions, like creating a vision board or reviewing the highs and lows of your year in a journal. Shifting your mindset Winston suggests coupling actions with a strong mental approach—a mindfulness perspective— to help one with loneliness feelings. “Paying attention to our present moment experiences with openness, curiosity and a willingness to be with that experience” is mindfulness, according to Winston. “It’s really about learning to live in the present moment, not lost in the past or the future.” Understandably, the willpower to focus only on the now and block out the other noise can be challenging, and fully accepting that present reality is key. When things look and feel different and when one is in a transition period, clinical psychologist Dr. Adam Brown previously told CNN that there is no requirement to have the holidays look or feel the same as they had in the past. Compassion for yourself “Be compassionate with yourself and do the best that you can and know that this is a particular moment in the year,” Winston said. “There’s nothing wrong with you and you will get through it.” It’s also helpful to remember that not all those who are spending their holidays surrounded by people are having a good time. “We have a lot of input, demands and stress in general that is elevated during the holidays , so it is extra important to be attentive to your need for alone time,” Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University told CNN earlier this month. Due to some last-minute logistical challenges last month, I was unable to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Even though I knew I would be able to fly home the next day, I was still bummed to miss my family traditions. To make the best of the situation, I did as many of my favorite things as I could: I walked around my neighborhood, read news magazines and sat for hours in a bustling coffee shop to write. To cap it off, I went to a special Thanksgiving dinner by myself at a local restaurant. I missed time with my family, but I would say I still had an experts-approved day. I highly recommend turning your day alone into a gratifying one, and even if you’re not going to be alone, try to carve out time for yourself in the midst of social obligations to help keep you grounded and serene.Tech billionaire Elon Musk faced accusations of censorship Friday from fellow conservatives after several prominent right-wing accounts who had criticized Musk’s views on immigration said that they subsequently lost access to premium features on Musk’s social media app, X. At least 14 conservative accounts said late Thursday or Friday that X had revoked their blue verification badge, cutting them off from a variety of premium features, including the ability to monetize their accounts through subscriptions and advertising revenue-sharing, according to a review conducted by NBC News . Some accounts said the number of those affected was far higher. The accounts were all still active Friday, but without access to monetization features; some of them said they worried about their ability to keep posting. Some conservatives said they considered X’s actions to be a betrayal by Musk, who purchased the service then known as Twitter in 2022 in part because he said it had unfairly limited conservative speech . Musk has since called himself a free-expression advocate, even as he calls for jailing some of his critics . Musk and X did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. But on Thursday night, about an hour before some conservatives started complaining about losing access to X’s premium features, Musk posted what he called “a reminder” on X. He wrote that the site’s algorithm automatically reduces the reach of a user if they’re frequently blocked or muted by other, credible users. “If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” Musk posted . But rather than satisfying people complaining about censorship, the post elicited even more accusations that Musk was shadowbanning his conservative critics, or reducing engagement on their posts without officially disclosing such actions to affected accounts. The actions by X came in the middle of a heated online debate on the subject of future immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump, with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists denouncing the influence of pro-immigration tech executives and investors such as Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Many of the affected accounts said they were affiliated with one media brand in particular, ConservativeOG. Preston Parra, a 23-year-old influencer and head of ConservativeOG, said he considered the actions by X to be a “political takedown” in retaliation for publicly disagreeing with Musk’s pro-immigration views. He said he plans to keep fighting Musk, not only to get his premium features restored but also to ensure that Trump pursues restrictionist immigration policies. “If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs who didn’t get bullied enough in high school, steal our country, they’re mistaken,” Parra said in a text message. He said he believes Musk to be a “Trojan horse” in the Trump camp. Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy would lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” to much fanfare, shortly after the Nov. 5 election. But in recent days, after venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan was announced as a White House adviser on AI policy, Trump’s tech-world allies — including Musk and Ramaswamy — have come under deeper scrutiny and criticism from the far-right for their previous statements about or involvement with legal immigration. Musk is an immigrant, having been born and raised in South Africa. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:Heirlooms Jewelry at 36 Main Street in downtown Stockbridge, will be under new management starting Jan. 1 as long time owners Robin Fleet and Phil Coleman, are retiring. New owners Ella and Shaun Hall are planning to continue a 54 year tradition of local ownership. STOCKBRIDGE — Since 1970, Heirlooms Jewelry — a shop tucked into the back of The Mews at 36 Main Street, near Once Upon a Table — has maintained a robust presence within the compact downtown business center. That presence will continue in 2025, with new owners. After 25 years of co-proprietorship, Philip Coleman and his wife and shop owner Robin Fleet are retiring at the close of business at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Without skipping a beat, Stockbridge native and current Lee resident Shaun Hall and his wife Ella, the new owners, will be opening the doors around 11 a.m. on New Year’s Day, with the intent of being open year-round, seven days a week. Heirlooms Jewelry in Stockbridge, established in 1970, is the second oldest business downtown. It will be under new ownership as of Jan. 1 as co-proprietors Robin Fleet and Phil Coleman, at left, are retiring and moving to a condo in a French chateau. At right, new owners Shaun and Ella Hall are planning to keep the store as is. During a recent conversation on a busy day inside the brightly-lit store, the foursome made it clear that very little will change following a smooth transition. Heirlooms counts on repeat visits by longtime steady customers, said Coleman. “It’s a business that people love,” he said. “This has been our best years.” Why sell it now? Coleman and Fleet are retiring to a condo they’ve purchased at a chateau in the Loire Valley of central France — where they had been frequent visitors for 50 years. “It’s a lovely spot,” said Coleman after acknowledging that leaving the store and the Lenox home they recently sold would be bittersweet. He had been ready to retire several years ago, but Fleet was not. “This store has been like a second child,” she explained. What did it take to persuade her? “He found the chateau!” she exclaimed. “We’ve met thousands of people from all over the world,” Coleman pointed out. “We’re going to miss the people and the good times with literally thousands of frequent customers who love the store and feel like they’re dealing with regular people. It’s a cool, fun place.” He said the store completes more than 5,000 sales annually, with tens of thousands of customers passing through. Heirlooms Jewelry in Stockbridge has had a 54 year tradition of local ownership. Specializing in antique and estate jewelry from the Victorian era to the present. Philip Coleman and Robin Fleet, co-proprietors for a total of 25 years, are retiring, having sold the business tp Shaun and Ella Hall of Lee. Fleet recalled one of her favorite moments, when a customer gifted a $250 piece of jewelry to a total stranger who had been looking it over but deemed it unaffordable. “I’m doing it because I can,” said the customer. “It was just a complete gift,” Fleet recalled. The business, originally called Folklorica, was started by Ellen Kenwood, taking over a space first occupied by fashion designer Nicole Miller . In 1980, Minna Zaret, the second owner, bought it, renaming it Heirlooms Jewelry. Befitting its name, the store always has specialized in antique and estate jewelry — “anything that’s technically not new,” Coleman explained. The stock is acquired from wholesale jewelry dealers, local estates, trade shows and events such as the Brimfield antique show. Coleman, a Philadelphia native, met Fleet, who grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., in first grade after his family moved there. They’ve known each other for 64 years and have been married for 40, moving to the Berkshires to raise their daughter. Fleet, stopping at Heirlooms to look for a ring, returned a week later, encountered a sign for a “closing” sale and bought business from Zaret in October 1995, paying about $130,000 for the value of the business and the inventory. Last summer, the Halls had considered buying it, Shaun explained, but it didn’t work out. On the day after this past Thanksgiving, with some revisions, the deal was consummated. With 75 percent of the store's inventory sold since last January, the price of the business transaction was $50,000, said Coleman. The building is owned by a subsidiary of William Gottlieb Management, LLC. Shaun Hall, born and raised in Lee but with deep family roots in Stockbridge, noted that his father and grandfather were models for Norman Rockwell . “We are very happy to be part of the community,” he said. A year ago, just a pebble’s throw from Heirlooms, Hall purchased 7 Arts Music, a record store specializing in vinyl, including half of his personal collection of 30,000 discs, which includes CDs and some vintage 45s and 78s. Customers call it “a walk down memory lane,” he said, with albums including '60s and '70s rock as well as classical and jazz. His wife Ella is a native of Armenia whom he met while in the Peace Corps teaching English from 1998 to 2000 in Armenia. Ella was among his students prior to their marriage. They’ve been raising four daughters in Lee, now ranging in age from 16 to 22. Ella, who teaches seventh grade English Language Arts at Lee Middle and High Schoo l, will keep that job despite her new role as co-proprietor of Heirlooms. The Halls have been apprenticing with Coleman and Fleet, learning how to run the business. “It will be a juggling act,” Ella conceded, “but I’m a hard worker and these are my passions — teaching and being surrounded by jewelry.” Her husband, who will keep his part-time job at St. Mary’s School in Lee , and their oldest daughters, Liana and Ariana, will take their turns running the store. Heirlooms Jewelry will continue to be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 to 8 Fridays through Sundays. A revamped website, heirloomsjewelry.com, will be online soon, complementing the store's Facebook page. “We have a lot to grasp and learn,” Ella said. “Eventually, I’d love to bring in jewelry from around the world.” Coleman and Fleet will be available for consultation even after they’re ensconced in the French chateau. “I have his number,” said Shaun, though he’ll bear the six-hour time difference in mind. “We’ll keep everything here exactly the same, the service and everything customers are used to,” he said. “This store has been a part of Stockbridge history for a very long time.” Heirlooms Jewelry is the second-oldest business in Stockbridge. Williams & Sons Country Store holds pride of place as the first, established about 60 years ago. “We’re keeping the legacy,” Ella said. “We wish Robin and Phil the best of luck, and we’re really thankful to them for their guidance and support.”

Gordon doppelclangers! Meet chef's doubles... who look nothing like himNEW YORK (AP) — A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames made an initial court appearance Tuesday and will remain in custody. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time.” Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta's court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he didn’t know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the U.S. illegally. In a statement, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman” that would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day. Overall, according to authorities, crime is down in the transit system this year when compared to last year — major felonies declined 6% between January and November of this year and in 2023, data compiled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority show. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five in the same period last year. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted Daniel Penny in the death of an agitated subway rider that the former Marine placed in a chokehold last year. The case became a flashpoint in ongoing debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is also difficult, given the vast network of trains constantly moving between the system’s 472 stations, with each stop containing multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms. On Sunday, police at the station where the woman burned to death were patrolling a different area and responded after seeing and smelling smoke, authorities said.

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Commercial Airport Lighting Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 13, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! How Has The Commercial Airport Lighting Market Performed In Recent Years? The commercial airport lighting market size has grown robustly in recent years. Marked growth from $0.93 billion in 2023 to $0.99 billion in 2024 occurred at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.6%. This growth in the historic period can be traced back to increasing demand for air travel, the push towards modernizing existing airports, rising demand for airport lighting systems, an increase in disposable income, and ever-growing focus on enhancing airport safety. Sample the comprehensive insights into the Global Commercial Airport Lighting Market with a detailed report here: What Does The Future Have In Store For The Commercial Airport Lighting Market? Looking ahead, the commercial airport lighting market is slated for strong growth. It is projected to reach a sizable $1.29 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.7%. This growth in the forecast period is predicted to be spurred by an increasing demand for customized lighting solutions, population growth, increasing airport expansion projects, a rise in tourism and travel demand, and the impact of globalization and increased connectivity on the market. Secure the full Commercial Airport Lighting Global Market report here: What Are The Major Trends Influencing The Growth Of The Commercial Airport Lighting Market? Major trends during the forecast period include advancements in LED lighting technology, adoption of smart and intelligent lighting systems, significant developments in wireless communication technologies, enhancements in lighting control systems, the burgeoning development of smart cities, strides forward in lighting design and engineering, and breakthroughs in smart lighting systems. How Is Rising Demand for Air Travel Impacting the Market? The increasing demand for air travel is expected to propel the growth of the commercial airport lighting market going forward. Air travel entails traveling by aircraft, including airplanes or helicopters, transporting passengers or cargo from one location to another via air. Continuous economic growth, increased global connectivity, and the affordability of flights, combined, have fueled the rise in air travel. Commercial airport lighting significantly enhances air travel by ensuring safe and efficient aircraft takeoffs, navigation, and landings, even in low visibility conditions. For instance, in December 2023, Eurostat, a Luxembourg-based statistical office of the European Union reported a major surge in air travel within EU borders. The total number of passengers reached 820 million in 2022 marking a significant increase of 119.3% compared to the prior year. Therefore, this rising demand for air travel is a key driver of the commercial airport lighting market. Who Are The Key Players In The Commercial Airport Lighting Market? Major companies operating in the commercial airport lighting market include Siemens AG, Honeywell International Inc., ABB Ltd, Collins Aerospace, Safran S.A., Eaton Corporation plc, Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, Signify N.V., OSRAM GmbH, and Acuity Brands Inc., among others. What Market Segments Are Present In The Commercial Airport Lighting Market? The commercial airport lighting market covered in this report is segmented as follows: 1 By Type: Runway Lighting Systems, Taxiway Lighting Systems, Apron Lighting Systems. 2 By Technology: Light-Emitting Diode LED, Non-Light-Emitting Diode LED. 3 By Position: Inset Airfield Lights, Elevated Airfield Lights, Precision Approach Path Indicator PAPI. 4 By Application: Landside, Airside, Terminal Side. What Is The Regional Distribution Of The Commercial Airport Lighting Market? In 2023, North America was the largest region in the commercial airport lighting market. Moving forward, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Browse more similar reports- Commercial Drones Global Market Report 2024 Commercial Vehicle Global Market Report 2024 Commercial Services Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model . 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If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The Portuguese coach arrives with an impressive CV, leading Sporting CP to two league titles in four years, as well as two Taca da Ligas and a Supertaca Candido de Oliveira. But Amorim has a tough job ahead of him as he seeks to return to the top after 11 years without a league title — during which time they’ve won just five major trophies. is, at least, boosted by the fact United won three and drew one of their four games under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, compared to one win from Erik ten Hag’s last eight games in charge. The 39-year-old’s tenure begins away at Ipswich Town on Sunday. Amorim will know that if he’s to be a success at Old Trafford, he’ll need big performances from United’s biggest stars. That has always been the case, even under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who could call upon a host of incredible leaders during his glittering time in charge of the Red Devils. There has arguably been no Man Utd captain more iconic than Roy Keane, however, with the Irishman winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League title — including guiding United to the treble in 1999. Speaking to former United right-back and pundit Gary Neville ahead of this weekend’s trip to Portman Road, Amorim has admitted he’d love to have Roy Keane at his disposal now. “Roy Keane was a massive player and I like players with character. I think they can improve. It was not just what Roy Keane did on the pitch, it was the way he influenced the others. I think that is very important in one player,” Amorim said. “You must have this kind of player in the big clubs. I hope we’ll have in the future players like Roy Keane.” On Ferguson, Amorim added: “Sir Alex Ferguson, you want to ask so many things. I think he will talk about horses. I don’t understand anything about horses. But it will be amazing to meet that kind of character.”