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The groundbreaking collaboration between two storied luxury brands continues to blend the artistry of collectible treasures with the pinnacle of experiential travel BETHESDA, Md. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Luxury Group by Marriott International today unveils the next chapter of its exclusive brand partnership with auction house Sotheby's , "Iconic Pieces. Extraordinary Experiences." Building on the success of their inaugural offerings earlier this year, the two global luxury powerhouses will introduce new exclusive experiences for The Luxury Sales this December in New York . Rooted in a shared vision of reimagining the boundaries between luxury travel and collectible art, the continued collaboration underscores the synergy between the Luxury Group's world-class approach to experiential hospitality and Sotheby's curatorial expertise across its extensive sales categories. The Luxury Group and Sotheby's will auction two captivating experiences designed to pair world-class hospitality with exceptional treasures from Sotheby's auctions offering guests the chance to explore their passions while discovering unforgettable destinations: Geneva Grandmasters: A Watchmaking Odyssey will be presented within Sotheby's Important Watches sale on Friday, December 6 , marking the first time Marriott International will offer an experience in a live auction. As a part of the Finest Wines auction, A Taste of France is available for online bidding now until Tuesday, December 10 . "The expansion of our brand partnership with Sotheby's reflects our common belief that true luxury combines both the tangible and intangible," said George Hammer , Global Head of Luxury Marketing, Marriott International . "We're continuing to explore the interplay art and travel with experiences that not only celebrate our audience's passions but also inspire a deeper connection and appreciation for the artistry behind them. As this collaboration evolves, we're excited to leverage our international presence and the diverse expertise across our portfolio to surprise our guests with even more dynamic, never-been-seen experiences." "This collaboration represents a unique fusion of Sotheby's expertise in curating exceptional luxury collectibles and the Luxury Group's unparalleled approach to hospitality," said Eléonore Dethier, Sotheby's Global Head of Partnerships . " We are delighted to present these experiences during The Luxury Sales in New York , celebrating the pinnacle of hospitality, craftsmanship, and savoir-faire, while creating unforgettable moments for our clients that transcend traditional luxury." In addition to the experiential auction offerings, the collaboration will showcase the Luxury Group's world-class approach through hospitality, curated events, and exclusive editorial content when Sotheby's exhibitions open to the public on December 5th . Collectors and travelers alike can look forward to additional offerings from the Luxury Group and Sotheby's in 2025 as the collaboration continues to grow worldwide. For more details surrounding the experiences and Sotheby's Luxury Sales, please visit www.sothebys.com/en/series/luxury-sales . ABOUT THE LUXURY GROUP ® With an unrivaled portfolio of eight dynamic luxury brands, Marriott International is creating authentic, rare, and enriching experiences sought by today's global luxurian. Spanning all corners of the world, Marriott International's luxury brands group offers a boundless network of more than 510 landmark hotels and resorts in 70 countries and territories through The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels. From the world's most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, the international hospitality leader's collection of luxury brands is focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth. For more information on the Luxury Group, stay connected on Instagram . ABOUT MARRIOTT BONVOY ® Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with 32 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy MomentsTM, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques ® . To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com . ABOUT SOTHEBY'S Established in 1744, Sotheby's is the world's premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby's promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, ecommerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby's believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luxury-group-charts-new-territories-through-global-sothebys-brand-partnership-offering-once-in-a-lifetime-auction-experiences-302316859.html SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against WM Technology, Inc. ("WM" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MAPS ). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. The class action concerns whether WM and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. You have until December 16, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired WM securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained a t www.pomerantzlaw.com . . [Click here for information about joining the class action] On August 9, 2022 , WM disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that its board of directors had received an internal complaint relating to "the calculation, definition, and reporting of [its] MAUs [monthly active users]", a self-described key operating metric for the Company. Specifically, WM reported that "growth of our monthly active users, reported as MAUs, has been driven by the purchase of pop-under advertisements," but that "internal data suggests that the vast majority of users who are directed . . . via pop-under advertisements close the site without clicking on any links." On this news, WM's stock price fell $0.87 per share, or 25.14%, to close at $2.59 per share on August 10 , 2022. Then, on September 24, 2024 , the SEC issued a litigation release (the "Release") in which it announced that it had "charged [WM], its former CEO, Christopher Beals , and its former CFO, Arden Lee , for making negligent representations in WM Technology's public reporting of [MAUs] for WM Technology's online cannabis marketplace." The Release also noted that the SEC had instituted a related settled administrative proceeding against WM Technology" and that the Company had "agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,500,00 ." On this news, WM's stock price fell $0.012 per share, or 1.29%, to close at $0.92 per share on September 25, 2024 . The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York , Chicago , Los Angeles , London , and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz , known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud , breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
UYO – The Nigerian Army says it has made significant contributions to reduction in oil theft, production output and national economic recovery efforts of the present administration due to its ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region. Commander 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Jafaar Ibrahim made the disclosure at the Brigade’s combined West African Social Activities (WASA) held at the Military Cantonment,Mbiokporo, in Nsit-Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa A’Ibom State at the weekend. Ibrahim said the various operations of the Brigade has reduced security threats in the state to the barest minimum and rekindled confidence among residents of the state. He pledged commitment of the Brigade to make Akwa Ibom peaceful in collaboration with other security agencies, adding that all it operations including “Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force South South (Sector 4), and “Operation Thunder” have significantly reduced activities of criminal elements in the state. In his words “The continuous conduct of various operations in the Brigade’s area of responsibility has drastically decreased security threats and rekindle confidence in Akwa-Ibomites. ” The Brigade will continue to enthusiastically discharge her constitutional responsibility with every form of responsiveness and loyalty. Additionally, the commitment of the Brigade in synergy with other security agencies to make Akwa Ibom State peaceful for law abiding citizen remains unwavering. Operation Delta Safe Joint Task Force South South (Sector 4) and Operation Thunder have drastically degraded the activities of criminal elements within the state. “The Anti-bunkering operation is also curbing oil theft to the barest minimum in the state and boosting national oil production to optimum level for improved national recovery”. Special Guest of honour, Ambassador (Gen.) Godwin Umo (rtd), in his remarks lauded the 2 Brigade for hosting the event and explained that WASA is an agelong tradition inherited from the founding fathers of the Nigerian Army, adding that the initiative was borne out of the need to socialize and celebrate the successes recorded at a particular period. Umo noted that the military profession is full of challenges and stress, adding that WASA and other social activities are designed and organized to de-emphasize such stress and tension, to enable troops confront potential challenges with renewed vigor. “By nature, military profession, all over the World, is full of challenges, stress and tension, therefore WASA and other social functions are designed at deemphasizing such stress and tension to enable troops forge ahead and face any challenge with renewed strength” Umo said Highpoint of the event was presentation of gifts and prizes to personnel who distinguished themselves in their various units and formations, as well as cultural displays by various ethnic groups in the country.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP, and VMware software, today announced Rimini ConnectTM Console , a single-pane-of-glass management tool that unifies and simplifies the administration and monitoring of Rimini ConnectTM, Rimini Street’s industry-leading suite of interoperability solutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121087329/en/ Rimini Street Announces New Management Console for Rimini ConnectTM Suite of Interoperability Solutions (Graphic: Business Wire) Immediately available for Rimini ConnectTM for Browsers and for additional Rimini Connect solutions in the future, Rimini Connect Console is the latest advancement in Rimini Street’s interoperability solutions suite which are designed to extend the useful life of existing systems by insulating applications from changes in dynamic technology stacks and compatibility standards that may otherwise require costly upgrades or custom development. Rimini Connect Console unifies and automates several important capabilities into one centralized management tool, including: “Maintaining application interoperability with constant updates to dynamic technology stacks is a challenging, costly and never-ending effort that consumes potentially millions of dollars in forced software upgrades or development of custom, highly technical solutions,” said Desmond Whitt, vice president & general manager of Rimini Connect, adding that “Rimini Connect solutions future-proof your enterprise software against interoperability issues and Rimini Connect Console is designed to unify and streamline the monitoring and management of Rimini Connect solutions at scale, beginning with Rimini Connect for Browsers.” Rimini Connect Helps Businesses Achieve Modernization Without Disruption Built on Rimini Street’s experience of successfully resolving thousands of compatibility issues for clients since 2005, Rimini Connect provides a suite of seamless interoperability solutions that can resolve compatibility issues without requiring an upgrade of your core enterprise software. For example, Rimini Connect for Browsers enables IT teams to implement the latest releases of browsers without delay or worry of negative impact to current application releases. It also strategically decouples existing enterprise software from technology stack version dependencies, providing the flexibility needed for organizations to take control of their IT roadmap. Officeworks , a leading Australian retailer with over 167 stores nationwide and already a Rimini Street client for support of their SAP systems, deployed Rimini Connect for Browsers when Microsoft announced it would retire Internet Explorer 11. They needed to ensure their mission-critical applications would not be jeopardized by the change in browser availability or require an expensive, disruptive upgrade to maintain compatibility. “This project really was a collaborative experience with the Rimini Street team.... For us, it was about making this transition as seamlessly as possible without any interruption to business, and Rimini Street helped us achieve that,” said Michael Howard, chief operating officer at Officeworks. Rimini Street Continues to Invest in the Future of its Clients with New Interoperability Capabilities Known for helping clients maximize the potential of their IT investments, gain flexibility, and enjoy better support and savings from a trusted partner, Rimini Street continues to invest in interoperability solutions like Rimini Connect Console that help clients at scale to future-proof and extend the useful lifespan of their existing, robust systems without worrying about changing compatibility standards. “Rimini Connect Console is the latest of our continuously expanding offerings to help organizations achieve their goal of growth and profitability while reducing risk,” said Whitt. “We not only help extend the life of systems, we also help make it easier to manage them, lessening overhead costs and freeing teams to focus on higher value priorities for the business.” Learn more about how to remove interoperability challenges without upgrades by choosing Rimini Connect . About Rimini Street, Inc. Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support and innovation solutions and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software. The Company has signed thousands of contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who selected Rimini Street as their trusted, proven mission-critical enterprise software solutions provider and achieved better operational outcomes, realized billions of US dollars in savings and funded AI and other innovation investments. To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com , and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 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These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, adverse developments in and costs associated with defending pending litigation or any new litigation, including the disposition of pending motions to appeal and any new claims; additional expenses to be incurred in order to comply with injunctions against certain of our business practices and the impact on future period revenue and costs; changes in the business environment in which Rimini Street operates, including the impact of any macro-economic trends and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; the evolution of the enterprise software management and support landscape and our ability to attract and retain clients and further penetrate our client base; significant competition in the software support services industry; customer adoption of our expanded portfolio of products and services and products and services we expect to introduce; our ability to grow our revenue, manage our cost of revenue and accurately forecast revenue; the expected impact of recent and anticipated future reductions in our workforce and associated reorganization costs; estimates of our total addressable market and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; variability of timing in our sales cycle; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; the loss of one or more members of our management team; our ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, including sales personnel, and retain key personnel; our business plan, our ability to grow in the future and our ability to achieve and maintain profitability; our plans to wind down the offering of services for Oracle PeopleSoft products; the volatility of our stock price and related compliance with stock exchange requirements; our need and ability to raise equity or debt financing on favorable terms and our ability to generate cash flows from operations to help fund increased investment in our growth initiatives; risks associated with global operations; our ability to prevent unauthorized access to our information technology systems and other cybersecurity threats, protect the confidential information of our employees and clients and comply with privacy regulations; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our brand and intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations, including changes in tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take, a failure by us to establish adequate tax reserves, or our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk, including uncertainty from the transition to SOFR or other interest rate benchmarks; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; uncertainty as to the long-term value of Rimini Street’s equity securities; catastrophic events that disrupt our business or that of our clients; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 30, 2024, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121087329/en/ CONTACT: Janet Ravin VP, Global Communications Rimini Street, Inc. +1 702 285-3532 pr@riministreet.com KEYWORD: NEVADA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT APPS/APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE NETWORKS INTERNET HARDWARE SOURCE: Rimini Street, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 04:00 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 04:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121087329/en
No. 12 Boise State holds off stubborn Wyoming 17-13 and advances to Mountain West title game
Saints hope to ride the Rizzi factor back to relevance after their bye weekResilient St. Mary’s squad headed to Ford Field with 28-27 OT semifinal win over Groves
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
GROWING COMMUNITY BLTX is the collective labor of several groups that comprise its core organizers, some of them represented in this photo. They include independent presses and art collectives like Gantala Press, Magpies Press, Makò Micro-Press; Studio Soup Zine Library, and Paper Trail Projects. The number of participants has since grown since the first staging in 2009. —BLTX/Instagram (@Xeroxography) MANILA, Philippines — “Art isn’t easy—have to keep things in scale, have to hold to your vision,” goes the lyric by Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. True enough, for many artists, forging a path toward genuine artistic freedom and expression is a struggle that involves more than just creating and showcasing their work. The reality of cultural production in the Philippines is fraught with problems and the same age-old questions: What kinds of value does art provide in society and culture? Who gets to decide such value, and why? Who gets to create and access art? Who gets to have their works published or exhibited, and what rewards are there in making them—if there is even one? Better Living Through Xeroxography (BLTX) is a yearly small press fair founded at a time when younger writers, writers who did not write in English, and writers without “padrinos” had scant or zero access to publishing avenues compared to, say, older established writers, and writers in the mainstream. “It started as a manifesto on literary patricide,” said cofounder Adam David in an email interview. He does not mean patricide as those that occur in stories, like Oedipus killing his own father, though the concept also comes to mind. What David means is “metaphorically [killing] padrinos” by way of empowering younger writers to “wantonly [publish] themselves and their peers without anyone else’s blessings or permissions.” BLTX’s goals remain the same since its first staging in 2009: artistic autonomy in the production and distribution of one’s own work, where creators are free to “define the cultural and economic value of their work in their own terms,” which extends to “the ethics of their and their community’s art practice.” For proponents of BLTX, this means embracing the principles and practice of small, independent (or “indie”), and do-it-yourself (DIY) production where the process of producing a work—from conceptualization and production to distribution and promotion—is “free from interference or support from institutions... as far away from the profit motive as one can get.” To produce works independently means creating outside the need for mere profit or against the market logic of “bigger is better.” For David, it means creating conditions where a writer or an artist is free to explore any subject, experiment in different formats, write in different languages, and address the concerns of communities creatives often neglect, “like farmers, nurses, migrant workers, survivors of extrajudicial killings, sadly among many, many, many others.” What first started as an expo at a videoke bar in Project 4, Cubao, has now gone regional with past stagings at La Union (which they have termed “BLuTX”), Davao, Naga, Cagayan de Oro, and Baguio. It has served various communities in these localities and wherever their “methods and perspectives are helpful,” including numerous advocacies as well as communities of women and LGBTQIA+. By principle, BLTX is organized “cheaply”: The workshops and forums are free, and table rentals for the expo where artists get to sell or trade their works (usually zines, stickers, printed shirts, and other DIY stuff) range from P300 to P500, just enough to cover costs like the rent of the venue (which for recent installations of BLTX have been in Sikat Studio, Tomas Morato, Quezon City) and other reimbursements like printed event posters and materials for making coffee. THE HUB WITH RIGHT VIBE Individual artists, collectives, and independent publishers have found the environment they need at BLTX, a yearly fair in Quezon City where they can promote and sell their works, and also explore opportunities for collaboration with fellow creatives and entrepreneurs. The expo offers a free taste of the works of upcoming talents. —BLTX/Instagram (@Xeroxography) “The one community BLTX has served through the years is the ever-emerging community of independent small-scale creators, all of us lifers and amateurs and hobbyists and late bloomers and child prodigies and idiot savants and weirdos all around trying to make artistic fire happen by rubbing two beinte-cincos together,” said David. “[BLTX] reminded people that writing and publishing are not exclusive to people who come from or have access to certain institutions,” he added, “that anyone can do it.” Collaboration is also central to making BLTX happen. Staying true to its commitments of going small-scale and independent, the annual expo, which over the years has included workshops, forums, and even a library, is collaboratively organized with other small and independent presses with diverse but interconnected persuasions. David mentioned that nearly half a dozen groups currently organize the expo, with over a dozen having participated since its inception. These include Gantala Press, an independent, nonprofit, volunteer-run Filipina feminist press; Magpies Press, an artist collective that explores collaborative independent zine publishing; Makò Micro-Press, a radical group of DIY artists; Studio Soup Zine Library, a small distro and archive in Manila; and Paper Trail Projects, the small press and shoestring operation founded by David and Conchitina Cruz. “We are all volunteers so we don’t get paid,” he said. “We always make efforts to be transparent about all this information, but this year we made even stronger efforts to be even more transparent to the first-timers about all this information, hoping they become emboldened and empowered enough to start doing happenings themselves.” ‘DIYFEND’ Zines have been an avenue to address the concerns of specific communities, particularly the marginalized sectors, and a tool for pushing social advocacies. ——BLTX/Instagram (@Xeroxography) David observed that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people have taken on DIY arts and crafts and creativity as therapy to cope. This has yielded “a burgeoning community of artists and artisans [who] were all lying in wait looking for spaces to continue producing and selling their work,” especially once the lockdowns and quarantines ceased. Finding an opportunity to tap into this “mother lode of revenue,” art markets started to pop up all over the country. According to David, “After confirming the richness of this mother lode, the art markets predictably proceeded to follow market logic: They became abusive and raised [their] table rental prices and spread even farther and wider.” This was why, in February this year, BLTX was staged for first-timers. “We wanted to remind even just a small portion of these new, mostly young artists and artisans that, much like how they started their art practice during the pandemic, they can also organize themselves and their own happenings cheaply, without the need to abuse anybody,” David said. For individuals like Shekynah Samadan, BLTX “was like Christmas.” She recalls saving up lunch money so she could support her favorite writers and artists, who she also gets to know and talk to, and buy from new ones she meets at the expo. Now, she co-organizes BLTX as comanager of Studio Soup Zine Library and saves money from her salary so that she can not only buy works but also create her own to sell or trade. “Now that I’m part of the organizers of BLTX, I’m still as excited as I was back when I first found out there’s this type of event that happens in the country,” she said. “It was unlike the art markets that I knew back then. It was a bazaar that upheld pure DIY publishing where the main focus was creative writing and putting your work out there in a physical form.” ‘CHEAP’ EVENT Recent editions of BLTX were held at Sikat Studio, beside Popular Bookstore on Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City. —BLTX/Instagram (@Xeroxography) This year—which also marks the expo’s 15th year—was about slowly receding the roles of older organizers so that younger ones get to step in. David explains that this is because BLTX needs to be “replenished” with “genuinely new ideas and concerns coming from new people.” He shared that organizers have “stabilized with more younger individuals with fresh perspectives on the old problems and also looking toward history to help solve emergent problems.” Yet the politics and practice of small-scale, DIY, and independent publishing need not start and end with BLTX. “I hope that many young artists and writers develop the urge to organize and create more events like [BLTX] in our country,” said Samadan. “Never be afraid to create and take up space, and do it with a sense of community care in mind,” she added. When asked what she has to say to artists, writers, and even just those inclined, Samadan said to “embrace the mistakes you make when self-publishing, be as welcoming as you wish to be, but defy just as much. And, lastly, make your own BLTX.” As BLTX looks to the future, it plans to do fewer expos and more forums and workshops. Nevertheless, BLTX remains headstrong in its commitment to exist in spaces “far if not free from market’s reach,” where it gets to reevaluate the value of art and its practice “in an industry increasingly redefining and narrowing the meaning of the words ‘independent’ and ‘artist.’” Check out more of their important work and goings-on by visiting their Instagram (@xeroxography) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/xeroxography/). Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Sources: Inquirer Archives, Makò Micro-Press Facebook page, Magpies Facebook page, BLTX Instagram page, gantalapress.org, papertrailprojects.com, studiosouplibrary.wordpress.com
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Darren Rizzi would be an unconventional choice to take over the New Orleans Saints' head coaching job on a permanent basis. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The Saints (4-7) had been on a seven-game skid when Rizzi, the club's special teams coordinator, was promoted. They've since won two straight, and as the club entered its Week 12 bye, prominent players were already discussing their desire to continue improving Rizzi's resume. “He’s definitely had an impact on our football team,” quarterback Derek Carr said after New Orleans' 35-14 victory over Cleveland last weekend. “We want to keep winning so that maybe he gets a chance to be the coach here for a long time. “That’s what we want as players,” Carr continued. "Hopefully, we can continue to have success, keep winning and give him that opportunity.” Before the Saints' demoralizing defeat at Carolina precipitated the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen , Rizzi had never been a head coach at the NFL or major college level. The north New Jersey native and former Rhode Island tight end got his first head coaching job at Division II New Haven in 1999. He also coached his alma mater in 2008 before moving to the NFL with Miami in 2009 as a special teams assistant. By 2010, he was the Dolphins' special teams coordinator and added the title of associate head coach in 2017 before ex-Saints coach Sean Payton lured him to New Orleans in 2019. A common thread shared by Payton and Rizzi is that both worked under Bill Parcells. Parcells — known best for winning two Super Bowls as coach of the New York Giants — was coaching the Dallas Cowboys when Payton was his offensive coordinator. Rizzi, who grew up a Giants fan during the Parcells era, got to know his childhood idol during his first couple years in Miami, where Parcells executive vice president of football operations. Since his promotion, Rizzi has spoken to both Payton and Parcells. And he has begun to employ motivational techniques reminiscent of Payton, who left New Orleans in 2022 as the franchise leader in wins (152 in the regular season and nine in the postseason — including New Orleans' lone Super Bowl triumph). Payton as a big believer of symbolic imagery and motivational props, from baseball bats distributed before contests that were expected to be especially physical to gas cans left in the lockers of aging veterans whose performance was key to the club's success. Rizzi, who describes himself as a “blue collar” guy, has his own spin on such things. He began his tenure by asking players to accept individual responsibility for the metaphorical hole the team had dug itself and asked them all to embrace the idea of filling it up — one shovelful at a time. He even has brought a shovel — as well as a hammer, tape measure, level and other construction tools — to team meetings to help make his points. Saints tight end Taysom Hill, who also plays on special teams, has gotten to know Rizzi well during a half-decade of working together. Hill doesn't sound surprised to see Rizzi's combination of work ethic, enthusiasm and personal touch resonating across the entire team now. He also made a lot of changes , from weekly schedule adjustments to reconfiguring players' lockers by position. “He has a really good pulse on what we need collectively as a team to get ready for a football game," said Hill, who scored three touchdowns and accounted for 248 yards as a runner, receiver, passer and returner against Cleveland. “Guys have responded to that.” Because Rizzi's first victory came over the first-place Atlanta Falcons , and because the Falcons lost again last week, the Saints now trail Atlanta by just two games with six to play. Suddenly, the idea of the Saints playing meaningful football down the stretch is not so far-fetched. “We’re starting to get our swag back, and that makes me happy,” Rizzi said. ”We’re going to have some downtime now to kind of press the reset button again and see if we can make a push here." When the Saints return to action at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec 1, they'll do so with a level of momentum and positivity that seemed to steadily drain out of the club between their first loss of the season in Week 3 through the six straight setbacks that followed. While Saints players have tended to blame themselves for Allen's demise, they've been quick to credit Rizzi for the turnaround. “He’s pointed us and steered the ship in the right direction,” Carr said. “Hopefully, we can just keep executing at a high level for him, because we love him.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAdele bids tearful farewell to her Las Vegas residency: I will miss it terriblyt seems has no regrets about moving on from following The 1975 frontman's aggressive online spat with got into it again last Tuesday, as the 35-year-old boasted about wanting to "slap" the rapper after her public remarks about him and fiancee "Talk to me like that I'm not gonna side eye you at an awards do I'll f****** slap you so hard I'll get a Guinness world record for the highest a rat some bitch calls a wig has ever flown," tweeted. The fact that threatened physical violence towards resulted in a public outcry, and it appears Swift is all the more convinced about her decision to move on from him. "There is a reason why didn't get deeply involved with him after her split from Joe Alwyn," a source told DailyMail.com. "She has known a very long time and she had worked with him professionally, but she is no longer in communication with him. "In no way should a man ever threaten to harm a woman, or anyone else for that matter. He is facing demons clearly. Taylor knows his family as well and everyone just really hopes that he gets the help he needs before it is too late." Another source added: " and it has kind of reaffirmed that moving on from him was the right decision. "She was shocked that he threatened to assault ." How the Healy-Banks drama began The controversy all began when who is the fiancee of " used to be sooo pretty. Ugh," she wrote. That didn't well with who fired back with: "All the women you attack seem to be culturally relevant, attractive, divisive and NICE people. I think this makes you jealous cos you're so talented but everything else about you is a failure. Just rap bro." He then took things further by defending his own fiancee: "And on that point if I see one little s**t bag twitter barista say ONE thing about my Gabi, EVER, I will use my mental illness to full affect and I will dox and f**k you up. I'm so over pretending to have different standards online cos it's 'not real'. Well, a f***in slap is." From there responded by insulting : "The b***h look[s] like Frankenstein to me. You both look like you share needles. Lmao." That's when responded in controversial fashion, before later backtracking. "Nah I can't be saying I'm gonna hit a girl that's insane I'm sorry. You just can't keep being so mean about my mates and my mrs it's really hurtful gets me well defensive," he wrote. late threatened to sue over his comments, after which he offered an apology. "What a bad day, I really let myself down. I have worked so hard to move past these impulsive self destructive and honestly quite volatile outbursts I have," he wrote. "I'm constantly making trouble for myself for no reason, I come back to social media after depressive episodes (which is NOT an excuse) because I often become sober, so as an addict when I'm not using I pick up social media my new way of "consuming" and changing how I feel. "I just feel dreadful about how I acted violent - I think and all obvious flawed people all deep down have a heart and I hate that I have contributed to her mental fragility. She's a human. "This cultural discourse has become so violent in general. I don't wanna act like I regret who I am or who have been. But Tbh at this point I feel gross even having said anything negative ever about anything - if it's contributed to this culture."LA Galaxy achieves its sixth MLS title after defeating New York Red Bulls in the final
Horror, myth and a feminist reworking of Thomas Mann: Olga Tokarczuk’s The Empusium defies classificationDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ian Schieffelin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in leading Clemson to a 75-67 win over Penn State on Tuesday and the championship of the Sunshine Slam Beach Division. Chase Hunter added 17 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and Del Jones 10 for the Tigers (6-1), who shot 44% and made 9 of 19 3-pointers led by Hunter's three. Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 20 points and had 11 assists, Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 14 points and Nick Kern Jr. 11 for the Nittany Lions (6-1), who shot 46% and were just 4 of 18 from the arc. Neither team had a double-digit lead in the game and it was tied with seven minutes to go. But Penn State had a six-minute drought without a field goal while committing three turnovers and the Tigers went up by six. A hook shot from Schieffelin with a minute to go made it a five-point lead and free throws sealed it from there. The eight-point final margin was the largest of the game. Konan Niederhauser's dunk to open the second half tied the game but a Hunter 3-pointer gave the lead back to Clemson. Penn State took its first lead of the second half on a 9-0 run, seven coming from Baldwin, to go up 57-54 with midway through the period. Penn State had its largest lead of seven in the first half but three consecutive 3s put Clemson ahead with three minutes to go and the Tigers led at 38-36 at halftime. Clemson had a 16-9 edge on points off turnovers. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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Lea en español For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect. If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even point you toward a healthier, happier holiday season. Our reactions are encoded into our nervous system, said Dr. Beth Frates, a part-time associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "By understanding these brain responses, people can develop strategies to manage stress better, such as setting realistic expectations, focusing on mindfulness and simplifying holiday preparations," said Frates, who also is the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. People are also reading... The idea of exchanging gifts at this time of year can be traced back to pagan solstice celebrations. But the drive to share with another is as old as humanity itself, said Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson who studies cooperation and generosity. The science of generosity is more about survival than stocking stuffers, Guevara Beltran said. Sharing food gave early humans an evolutionary advantage. "Generosity is just one of the ways by which we can accumulate resources, be it wealth itself or friendships or work partners or more attractive, more intelligent mates," he said. Sharing with other people, Guevara Beltran said, is "a signal that communicates how much you value them, their welfare, your relationship with them." Research has shown that helping people makes us feel good. Part of that, he said, is because when someone is part of a community, they feel protected. One way this manifests is through the act of giving gifts. But to derive happiness from gift-giving, the giver needs to feel both that it was not an obligation and that it was effective, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report . That means it could be stressful to be in a culture where gift-giving feels mandatory, or if we can't see that a gift helped someone, Guevara Beltran speculated. It also might be stressful if gift-giving becomes a competition to show that you care about somebody more than the others around them. Our brains on shopping Stressful shopping can cause several physiological responses to kick in, Frates said. First is the "fight or flight" reaction that comes with stress. The release of chemicals that increase our heart rate, raise our blood pressure and intensify our breathing evolved to give us bursts of energy to escape danger. Frates said that while holiday stressors are not life-threatening, they can still trigger the stress response. The pressure to stay within budget could create a sense of scarcity, she said. "This taps into an evolutionary response, where the fear of losing resources like money can feel urgent and distressing." The holiday season also involves a lot of choices. "The brain has limited capacity for decision-making, and making multiple decisions can lead to decision fatigue," Frates said. "This fatigue reduces the ability to self-regulate and cope, which can lead to heightened stress responses when confronted with even minor setbacks, like a long line or out-of-stock item." The stress of needing to complete tasks within a limited time can intensify the fight-or-flight response, she said, as the brain interprets the ticking clock as a sense of urgency or threat. Meanwhile, Frates said, holiday shopping can also trigger brain chemicals that affect our feelings. "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we anticipate something exciting or enjoyable, like finding a great gift or finding a good deal," she said. "This anticipation can feel rewarding even before any actual purchase is made." For some people, this dopamine boost can make shopping a relaxing experience. "It provides a temporary distraction from other stressors and allows them to focus on something positive, creating a 'holiday high,'" Frates said. For some people, that can be problematic. "When shopping becomes a way to chase that next dopamine hit, it can lead to excessive spending or impulsive purchases," she said. "This can become a trap, particularly during the holidays, when deals, sales and gift-giving pressures are everywhere." Understanding how all these processes work can help people recognize why they feel the way they do and adopt strategies to cope, Frates said. Here are some of her suggestions. 1. Start with self-care before shopping Prioritizing self-care means people can be their best selves and make good decisions, Frates said. So, "eat food that is delicious and nutritious. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure to enjoy physical activity. Take walks when you can and invite friends along. Practice stress reduction like meditation or yoga to help you calm your body and mind." Before going shopping, try taking deep breaths using stress-relieving techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight) or box breathing (inhale through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four, exhale for four, then hold for four). 2. Be strategic Don't shop when you're hungry, tired, lonely or stressed, Frates said. And don't start shopping 15 minutes before a store closes or a website's online deals end, she said. That's setting yourself up for triggering the fight-or-flight response. 3. Be mindful Before making a purchase, take a moment to consider whether it's truly needed or whether it's an impulsive choice. To avoid overindulging, set a specific budget or limit yourself to a couple of hours or specific shopping days. "This keeps dopamine-driven spending in check while still allowing for the enjoyable aspects of holiday shopping," Frates said. Look for post-shopping activities that provide rewards without the financial cost. That can satisfy your brain's desire for more dopamine in a healthier way. "Plan enjoyable, stress-relieving activities after shopping, like going for a walk, spending time with friends or indulging in a hobby," she said. 4. Bring a friend Not only does this support healthy social connections, Frates said, but if things start feeling stressful, "you have a buddy, and you have a support system right there for you." 5. Rethink the focus of the season "With gift-giving, we need to change mindsets in order to be able to manage the stress," Frates said. The holidays could be used to emphasize social connections, she said. "Thinking about the connection with the person and making gift-giving more about deepening the connection than anything else, I think, will really help to reduce the stress around the process," she said. So instead of scouring shops and websites for the "perfect" gift, think about making a meaningful and personal one, she suggested. It could be a poem, a painting, a song or a framed photograph that captured a special time. 6. Lessons for children It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for a hard-to-get item, Frates said. But ask yourself what the holiday means in your family's traditions. "Is it about getting that perfect gift for the child? Or is it about celebrating the meaning of that holiday?" So instead of having children ask for one specific toy, or a specific brand of clothing, teach them to leave a little leeway on their lists. "It is a good reminder to express to children that this season is about giving and sharing what we can in the best way that we can," she said, "and sometimes the exact gift is not available." Encouraging such an attitude can be a tall order, Frates said, but it's a place to start. "A simple mindset shift could be the difference between a stressful holiday shopping season or a joyful journey to find meaningful gifts for people you care about." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
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The British singer-songwriter, 36, launched Weekends With Adele at Caesars Palace in November 2022 and performed her 100th show on Saturday. Her run of sell-out shows at the venue, which seats around 4,000 people, has been a success but has also taken its toll. In July, she announced she would be taking a “big break” from music after her current run of shows. A post shared by Adele (@adele) Videos posted online from her concert on Saturday show the singer getting tearful as she bid farewell to Vegas. “It’s been wonderful and I will miss it terribly and I will miss you terribly”, she said. “I don’t know when I next want to perform again.” She also said she got “closure” when Canadian singer Celine Dion came to watch her perform, admitting that she cried for a “whole week” afterwards. “It was just such a full circle moment for me because that’s the only reason I ever even wanted to be in here”, she added. Adele shared an emotional embrace with Dion after she spotted the singer in the audience during her Las Vegas show last month. A post shared by Adele (@adele) In footage shared online, the British star can be seen breaking down in tears as they hug in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was built for Dion’s residency. The Rolling In The Deep singer has been vocal about her love for Dion over the years, hailing her as “Queen Celine” after attending one of her performances in an Instagram post in 2018. Dion reciprocated the love at the time, sharing a photo to social media of her posing alongside Adele, who was wearing the singer’s merchandise. She wrote: “Wasn’t able to do all my shows, but was thrilled that @Adele came to one of them.... I love her so much!! – Celine xx”. After their encounter at the venue, Adele said in an Instagram post: “Words will never sum up what you mean to me, or what you coming to my show means, let alone how it felt seeing you back in your palace with your beautiful family.”Lea en español For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect. If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even point you toward a healthier, happier holiday season. Our reactions are encoded into our nervous system, said Dr. Beth Frates, a part-time associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "By understanding these brain responses, people can develop strategies to manage stress better, such as setting realistic expectations, focusing on mindfulness and simplifying holiday preparations," said Frates, who also is the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The idea of exchanging gifts at this time of year can be traced back to pagan solstice celebrations. But the drive to share with another is as old as humanity itself, said Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson who studies cooperation and generosity. The science of generosity is more about survival than stocking stuffers, Guevara Beltran said. Sharing food gave early humans an evolutionary advantage. "Generosity is just one of the ways by which we can accumulate resources, be it wealth itself or friendships or work partners or more attractive, more intelligent mates," he said. Sharing with other people, Guevara Beltran said, is "a signal that communicates how much you value them, their welfare, your relationship with them." Research has shown that helping people makes us feel good. Part of that, he said, is because when someone is part of a community, they feel protected. One way this manifests is through the act of giving gifts. But to derive happiness from gift-giving, the giver needs to feel both that it was not an obligation and that it was effective, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report . That means it could be stressful to be in a culture where gift-giving feels mandatory, or if we can't see that a gift helped someone, Guevara Beltran speculated. It also might be stressful if gift-giving becomes a competition to show that you care about somebody more than the others around them. Our brains on shopping Stressful shopping can cause several physiological responses to kick in, Frates said. First is the "fight or flight" reaction that comes with stress. The release of chemicals that increase our heart rate, raise our blood pressure and intensify our breathing evolved to give us bursts of energy to escape danger. Frates said that while holiday stressors are not life-threatening, they can still trigger the stress response. The pressure to stay within budget could create a sense of scarcity, she said. "This taps into an evolutionary response, where the fear of losing resources like money can feel urgent and distressing." The holiday season also involves a lot of choices. "The brain has limited capacity for decision-making, and making multiple decisions can lead to decision fatigue," Frates said. "This fatigue reduces the ability to self-regulate and cope, which can lead to heightened stress responses when confronted with even minor setbacks, like a long line or out-of-stock item." The stress of needing to complete tasks within a limited time can intensify the fight-or-flight response, she said, as the brain interprets the ticking clock as a sense of urgency or threat. Meanwhile, Frates said, holiday shopping can also trigger brain chemicals that affect our feelings. "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we anticipate something exciting or enjoyable, like finding a great gift or finding a good deal," she said. "This anticipation can feel rewarding even before any actual purchase is made." For some people, this dopamine boost can make shopping a relaxing experience. "It provides a temporary distraction from other stressors and allows them to focus on something positive, creating a 'holiday high,'" Frates said. For some people, that can be problematic. "When shopping becomes a way to chase that next dopamine hit, it can lead to excessive spending or impulsive purchases," she said. "This can become a trap, particularly during the holidays, when deals, sales and gift-giving pressures are everywhere." Understanding how all these processes work can help people recognize why they feel the way they do and adopt strategies to cope, Frates said. Here are some of her suggestions. 1. Start with self-care before shopping Prioritizing self-care means people can be their best selves and make good decisions, Frates said. So, "eat food that is delicious and nutritious. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure to enjoy physical activity. Take walks when you can and invite friends along. Practice stress reduction like meditation or yoga to help you calm your body and mind." Before going shopping, try taking deep breaths using stress-relieving techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight) or box breathing (inhale through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four, exhale for four, then hold for four). 2. Be strategic Don't shop when you're hungry, tired, lonely or stressed, Frates said. And don't start shopping 15 minutes before a store closes or a website's online deals end, she said. That's setting yourself up for triggering the fight-or-flight response. 3. Be mindful Before making a purchase, take a moment to consider whether it's truly needed or whether it's an impulsive choice. To avoid overindulging, set a specific budget or limit yourself to a couple of hours or specific shopping days. "This keeps dopamine-driven spending in check while still allowing for the enjoyable aspects of holiday shopping," Frates said. Look for post-shopping activities that provide rewards without the financial cost. That can satisfy your brain's desire for more dopamine in a healthier way. "Plan enjoyable, stress-relieving activities after shopping, like going for a walk, spending time with friends or indulging in a hobby," she said. 4. Bring a friend Not only does this support healthy social connections, Frates said, but if things start feeling stressful, "you have a buddy, and you have a support system right there for you." 5. Rethink the focus of the season "With gift-giving, we need to change mindsets in order to be able to manage the stress," Frates said. The holidays could be used to emphasize social connections, she said. "Thinking about the connection with the person and making gift-giving more about deepening the connection than anything else, I think, will really help to reduce the stress around the process," she said. So instead of scouring shops and websites for the "perfect" gift, think about making a meaningful and personal one, she suggested. It could be a poem, a painting, a song or a framed photograph that captured a special time. 6. Lessons for children It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for a hard-to-get item, Frates said. But ask yourself what the holiday means in your family's traditions. "Is it about getting that perfect gift for the child? Or is it about celebrating the meaning of that holiday?" So instead of having children ask for one specific toy, or a specific brand of clothing, teach them to leave a little leeway on their lists. "It is a good reminder to express to children that this season is about giving and sharing what we can in the best way that we can," she said, "and sometimes the exact gift is not available." Encouraging such an attitude can be a tall order, Frates said, but it's a place to start. "A simple mindset shift could be the difference between a stressful holiday shopping season or a joyful journey to find meaningful gifts for people you care about." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!Ndiraya who won his first league title as well as guiding Simba Bhora to their historic championship, will spend some time with Turkish Division One side Kocaelispor, under the guidance of legendary coach Ertugrul Saglam. Simba Bhora secretary general Taurai Janhi is the brains behind the trip. He highlighted that it is his dream to help local coaches, “not Ndiraya alone”, to get exposure in Europe. Janhi believes that to improve the quality of local football and attract more fans to stadias, local coaches need such international training programs. “Football as a business, needs a lot of investment for it to reward. Our football is lagging behind because of lack of exposure, so I came up with this idea of taking coach Tonderai Ndiraya to Turkey to broaden his skills. “He recently won the league, and that on its own is a big achievement in his career. But going forward, he may need some tips especially on how to conquer in the African Safari. “As a result, I believe exposure to the European football, learning from top level clubs and coaches can actually play a significant role,” said Janhi. However, even though Ndiraya’s trip is a positive step towards improving his coaching career, Janhi acknowledges the financial constraints associated with such international training programs and appeals to corporate sponsors to support this initiative. “I came up with the idea and have been engaging the corporate world to help me fulfill my dream. “Without corporates, the initiative will not be impactful because I really wish that majority of our top flight coaches have a chance to broaden their skills in Europe. This is the exposure l’m trying to give to all our local coaches.” Janhi, a youthful football administrator was recently in London, England watching his favourite English top flight league side Chelsea at their fortress Stamford Bridge donning a Simba Bhora jersey, probably as a way of marketing the Shamva based team. The video trended on various social media platforms.
