super ace 2022
super ace 2022
Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024
Shares of Google parent Alphabet rose about 5% on Tuesday after it unveiled a new generation chip that the company said helped overcome a key challenge in quantum computing. Google on Monday introduced a new chip called Willow, which solved in five minutes a computing problem that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe. Tech companies are chasing quantum computing in hopes of developing systems that perform at speeds far faster than traditional silicon-based computers. The building blocks of quantum computers, called "qubits", while being fast, are error-prone, making it hard to ensure quantum computers are reliable and commercially viable. The more qubits used in quantum computing, the more errors typically occur. But Google said on Monday it found a way to string together qubits in the Willow chip so that error rates decline as the number of qubits rise, adding that it can also correct errors in real time. Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Web Development Intermediate C++ Skills: Master Pointers, Structures and File Stream By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Web Development 12-Factor App Methodology: Principles and Guidelines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program "While (there are) no current uses, (Willow) will have major implications in science, medicine and finance. Willow reduces errors exponentially and could lead to major breakthroughs and discoveries across industries," said Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member at Great Hill Capital. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Alphabet's shares were on track for their best day since late April. The stock has risen 25% so far this year, as of Monday's close. The company's shares trade at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.58, compared with Microsoft's 32.03 and Amazon's 36.79, according to data compiled by LSEG. Earlier this year, Microsoft and quantum computing firm Quantinuum said they achieved a key step in making quantum computers a commercial reality by making them more reliable.NonePAK vs ZIM 1st ODI: Netizens Troll Pakistan Cricket Team As Zimbabwe Pull-Off Upset In Bulawayo
GSA Capital Partners LLP Makes New Investment in Nucor Co. (NYSE:NUE)
NoneTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a $2.38 per share dividend for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend will be paid on March 7, 2025 , to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2025 . About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow Amgen on X , LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) SOURCE Amgen‘Results were not on expected lines’: Sharad Pawar on MVA’s massive defeat in Maharashtra polls"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) two highly competitive Microelectronics Science Research Center projects. PPPL researchers will lead two collaborative projects involving national labs, as well as academic and industry partners. Princeton University researchers will act as deputy directors to the PPPL project directors. Each award will provide $3 million per year and is expected to run for four years. The awards recognize PPPL’s expertise in the plasma processes that will continue to be critical to further developments in semiconductor manufacturing and the advanced materials that are needed to keep the U.S. globally competitive. The DOE program leading to these awards originated from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. In their call for proposals, the DOE prioritized research on energy-efficient microelectronics and microelectronics for extreme environments. Of the 16 projects given the green light, eight went to DOE national labs with projects concerned with extreme environments, and eight went to projects emphasizing energy efficiency. The eight projects within each theme will form a networked larger center on that theme. Atomic-scale science PPPL’s awards both went to projects focused on extreme environments because of their emphasis on plasma science. One of PPPL’s projects will investigate ways to make smaller, more capable microelectronics with 2D materials that are made using plasmas in high-temperature chambers. The other will look at the extreme properties of diamond material and how it can be used to make sensors and electronics that can handle harsh environments. “These projects will provide a better understanding of how to craft the materials needed for next-generation semiconductors at the atomic scale,” said Emily Carter , the Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment at Princeton University and associate laboratory director of applied materials and sustainability sciences (AMSS) at PPPL. “The outcomes of this research have the potential to profoundly influence multiple industries worldwide, reflecting the integral role microelectronics play in our daily lives.” AMSS researchers are using their plasma expertise to develop new technologies in microelectronics, quantum sensing and sustainability. AMSS teams are already working with industry partners like Applied Materials, Lam Research and Samsung to develop new techniques for microchip fabrication and etching. The AMSS directorate also opened the Quantum Diamond Laboratory (QDL) at PPPL in March of 2024. 2D materials for next-generation semiconductors Semiconductors are the foundation of the memory, storage and processing power used in our commercial, industrial and military-grade devices. Unfortunately, scientists and engineers are reaching the limit on what can be done using the standard material — silicon — and existing processes, driving the need for further research. Yevgeny Raitses , a managing principal research physicist at PPPL, will lead the project aimed at perfecting methods for incorporating 2D materials into 3D complex nanostructures. These materials are needed for next-generation microelectronics as researchers continue to push the envelope by fitting more features into ever-shrinking devices. Although 2D materials are mostly actually 3D, they are often made up of only a few layers of atoms. They are so thin that scientists call them 2D. “Plasma is a critical component of nearly half of all semiconductor manufacturing processes,” said Raitses. ”We aim to create a science-based plasma-processing toolbox to enable the integration of 2D materials into next-generation semiconductor device manufacturing processes.” The research team will also include researchers from Princeton University, the University of Michigan, the University of Houston, the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), and IBM Research’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center. Diamond sensors for extreme environments Alastair Stacey , a managing principal research physicist at PPPL and a professor of physics at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), will spearhead a second project to research ways to make highly resilient sensors out of diamond. “There are a set of really extreme environments that most electronics can’t survive and that diamond might be able to do well in,” said Stacey, who is the head of PPPL’s quantum materials and devices and the QDL. Sensors and electronics used in space, for example, sometimes need to withstand bombardment by potentially problematic particles, such as high-energy ions. Those used inside nuclear or fusion reactors and rocket thrusters need to tolerate high-energy particles and radiation, as well as immense heat, without breaking down. “Diamond is the hardest material found in nature, with extraordinarily high thermal conductivity, both of which suggest it could be promising for use in such environments,” said Carter. “There are a bunch of really technical questions about actually making diamond work as an electronic material,” Stacey said. One part of Stacey’s research will look at ways to make transistors — a key component of all electronics — using diamond instead of silicon. Another will explore the use of diamond for handling very high-power loads. “One of the things we have to figure out is how close can we get right to the fusion reactor, for example, before we just completely wipe out the material,” he said. “Diamond is robust. But how robust? How close can we get?” The team for this project will bring together researchers from the QDL, Princeton University, UCLA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, RMIT and the company International FemtoScience Inc. Stacey said each team member brings a different set of expertise. “By working together, we should be able to produce something bigger than the sum of its parts within each of the projects but also within each of the two overarching, networked centers,” Stacey said. PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma — the fourth state of matter — to solve some of the world’s toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and https://www.pppl.gov .Saquon Barkley is closing in on the record for the most rushing yards in a single season, but the Philadelphia Eagles running back has other things on his mind at this point in the season. "I'm not overtly trying to get it. I'm not scared of it," he said after the Eagles' win over the Cowboys on Sunday, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo . "But we've got bigger things we're focused on. Whether we play next week or rest, I'm fine with that. I didn't sign here just to break a record. I want to do something special with the team." Barkley is enjoying the most successful individual season of his career, but he's also playing on a team capable of winning a championship for the first time in his career, something that means more to him than a record. His outstanding play this year helped the Eagles win a division title. "My first hat-and-T-shirt game," he said, per Garafolo . "I didn't even know that was a thing." This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .MAA Announces Increase to Quarterly Common Dividend
Dunn with 28 and Carnegie with 24 highlight No. 13 Georgia Tech women's 100-61 rout of PittsburghB&M European Value Retail ( LON:BME – Get Free Report ) had its target price decreased by stock analysts at Canaccord Genuity Group from GBX 600 ($7.52) to GBX 565 ($7.08) in a report issued on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group’s price target suggests a potential upside of 63.15% from the company’s current price. B&M European Value Retail Trading Up 2.2 % LON BME opened at GBX 346.30 ($4.34) on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of £3.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 961.94 and a beta of 1.05. B&M European Value Retail has a 52-week low of GBX 324.80 ($4.07) and a 52-week high of GBX 618.20 ($7.75). The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 398.66 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 449.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 308.86. Insider Buying and Selling In other B&M European Value Retail news, insider Alex Russo sold 8,602 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 424 ($5.32), for a total transaction of £36,472.48 ($45,722.05). 4.22% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. B&M European Value Retail Company Profile B&M European Value Retail SA operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of stores under the B&M, Heron Foods, and B&M Express in the United Kingdom; and stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides property management services. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Munsbach, Luxembourg. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than B&M European Value Retail The Role Economic Reports Play in a Successful Investment Strategy Vertiv’s Cool Tech Makes Its Stock Red-Hot Manufacturing Stocks Investing MarketBeat Week in Review – 11/18 – 11/22 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Explained 2 Finance Stocks With Competitive Advantages You Can’t Ignore Receive News & Ratings for B&M European Value Retail Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B&M European Value Retail and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Lewandowski joins Ronaldo and Messi in Champions League 100-goal club. Haaland nets 2 but City drawsRaheem Morris 'pleased' with Michael Penix Jr. as Falcons control destiny
First downs and second guesses: Volleyball season in Nebraska isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. On Monday the Omaha Supernovas announced their draft class, including Creighton All-America Kendra Wait and Nebraska’s Lindsay Krause. They join former Husker Ally Batenhorst, Briana Holman and Kayla Caffey on the roster of the defending Pro Volleyball Federation champions. A couple hours later, the Love Volleyball League announced the signing of its “LOVB 6,” a rookie class that includes Lexi Rodriguez (Omaha) Jess Mruzik (Houston), Sarah Franklin (Madison), Sophie Fischer (Salt Lake), One Ofoegbu (Atlanta), and Madisen Skinner (Austin). Rodriguez joins a LOVB Omaha roster that already is loaded with local star power in Jordan Larson, Justine-Wong-Orantes, Madi Kubik, Lauren Stivrins and Jaali Winters. Is this town big enough for two pro volleyball teams? We’ll find out in a few weeks. The Supernovas open their season on Jan. 10 at the CHI Health Center. Two weeks later, on Jan 24., Omaha LOVB (team name?) opens its inaugural season at Liberty Credit Union First Arena (Ralston), where it will play four matches and two more at Baxter Arena. The level of play in both leagues will be incredible. But are there enough fans to go around? The “Novas” averaged 9,656 fans last year in 12 matches at the CHI Health Center. They led the rest of the teams by a lot. Now add local heroes Wait, Krause and Batenhorst and attendance should improve. But what if fans also want to go see Larson, Rodriguez, Stivrins and Winters, along with familiar opponents like Franklin and Mruzik? How will it all play out? Apparently, LOVB’s pockets run deep. For old San Diego Chargers fans like myself and John Cook, an easy comparison is the National Football League and American Football League wars in the 1960’s. Which resulted in the creation of the Super Bowl and then a merger. This winter should be a blast. But I can already see a couple of questions that might need asking come April. Shouldn’t these two pro volleyball leagues have a championship series at the end? Wouldn’t a merger be the best possible thing for the sport of volleyball? See you next month, ladies. I can still sense a Nebraska volleyball hangover with Husker fans. That’s the impact that team had on folks. Those ladies reached in and grabbed them by the heart. It was an incredible ride and they celebrated all the joys. But that pain at the end is going to leave a mark. The four College Football Playoff quarter final match-ups look terrific. Like, get-me-to-a-TV on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 terrific. So, is eight the right number? Don't give up on 12 yet. I still like 12. I’m a brand name sports guy. I like watching the big boys battle for championships. But I also want the non-brands, the little guys, in there. Underdogs bring a lot to the postseason. They bring the "what if" factor. What if the long shot gets on a roll? That's why we watch. You wouldn't just want a playoff with all SEC and Big Ten teams would you? That's not a national championship. The first-round blowouts weren’t good. But it happens, and it happened in the four-team playoff era. But one day there will be upsets, too. Football can't be basketball. But upsets are the magic in the NCAA tournament. When the field was announced, I thought Indiana and SMU belonged. A loss on an opponent's home field can't change that. Alabama’s problem was its loss to Oklahoma. And who would have imagined that OU would drag mighty Bama out of the playoff? I’m real tired of the SEC whining. It just hurts more. Hey, you guys wanted OU and Texas. You got ‘em. There has been arguing and debates over college football's national champion forever. Expansion to 12 was never going to change that. Until the college game goes to 32 teams and puts them into divisions, ala the NFL, with equal scheduling, there's going to be arguing. I would only change one thing with the first weekend: no first-round byes. The campus atmospheres were fabulous. Give me more of ‘em. One of the great things about the transfer portal is when an athlete settles in and makes the community better. Creighton senior Steven Ashworth is doing that. Ashworth is headlining a local charitable initiative called “Light The World.” The unique project features vending machines, or “Giving Machines,” which are located in Westroads Mall near Von Maur. The machines offer items (10 Blankets for $50 for a homeless shelter) that people can swipe a credit card and donate the item of their choice. The machines will be at Westroads until Dec. 31. Ashworth and a group of Creighton athletes from men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball will be at Westroads on Dec. 28 between 5-8 p.m., to visit and sign autographs. Bill Belichick is used to coaching the best of the best. The majority of college football players are not NFL players. They work hard, and they can make mistakes. Belichick will recruit well at North Carolina, but he’s not going to have an NFL roster. There are going to be mistakes. How will he deal with that? I bet this caught Belichick’s attention: Tulane redshirt quarterback Darian Mensah hit the portal and wound up at Duke. According to CBS Sports, Mensah received an NIL deal at Duke reportedly worth $8 million over two years. When did North Carolina and Duke start spending like Ohio State and Alabama for football? The New Year is upon us. I’m taking nominations for top sports stories in 2024. Send them my way this week. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Scottie Scheffler named PGA Tour player of the year
MAA Announces Increase to Quarterly Common DividendNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high . They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. AI has been a big source of growth that’s helped many companies’ stock prices skyrocket. Oracle’s stock had already leaped more than 80% for the year coming into Tuesday, which raised the bar of expectations for its profit report. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third cut to interest rates . The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Even though the Fed has been cutting its main interest rate, mortgage rates have been more stubborn to stay high and have been volatile since the autumn. That has hampered the housing industry, and homebuilder Toll Brothers’ stock fell 6.9% even though it delivered profit and revenue for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. CEO Douglas Yearley Jr. said the luxury builder has been seeing strong demand since the start of its fiscal year six weeks ago, an encouraging signal as it approaches the beginning of the spring selling season in mid-January. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays has been stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul . Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane , the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. Vail Resorts rose 2.5% after the ski resort operator reported a smaller first-quarter loss than analysts expected in what is traditionally its worst quarter. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in China after the world’s second-largest economy said its exports rose by less than expected in November. Stocks rose 0.6% in Shanghai but fell 0.5% in Hong Kong. Indexes fell across much of Europe ahead of a meeting this week by the European Central Bank, where the widespread expectation is for another cut in interest rates. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.View: India is sacrificing growth. It needs to stop.
Montana women's basketball suffers blowout loss at undefeated Minnesota
Barclays Issues Positive Forecast for Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO) Stock PriceIn January, 2024, Bret Stephens writing in the NYTimes attempted to understand the issues that the United States was facing in this presidential election year. “As writers like Tablet’s Alana Newhouse have noted, brokenness has become the defining feature of much of American life: broken families, broken public schools, broken small towns and inner cities, broken universities, broken health care, broken media, broken churches, broken borders, broken government. At best, they have become shells of their former selves.” He could have also included broken concepts of our own history. There are many times we have had to confront the brokenness of our own past, and we will continue to face these challenges, but we should remember those who endured incredible hardships to give us the institutions and the ideals that helped create this country...and not allow them to “become shells of their former selves.” With so many broken areas in our society, what should we celebrate and be thankful for this Thanksgiving? We might begin to recover some realistic view of our history by reading the story of John Smith, the English soldier, explorer, Governor of the Jamestown colony in Virginia and the man who gave the name New England to the area where the Pilgrims would land in 1620. Having gone to sea at the age of 16 to seek his fortune, he had served as a mercenary soldier for France, Holland, and Austria before he was captured and sent as an enslaved gift to a woman in Constantinople. Smith killed his slavemaster who beat him regularly and escaped to return to England in 1604. This was all before he began his adventure in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia, where starvation and political infighting awaited him causing him to issue the Biblical decree that “he who will not work, neither shall he eat.” Or we might look at the life of William Bradford, (1590 – 1657) who led the Pilgrims from England to New England in 1620, after a 12 year stay in Holland. Bradford became an orphan at the age of seven and was sent to live with two uncles. He later noted in his journal that he suffered from a "long sickness" and was unable to work, but he began reading the Bible and great works of literature. Some historians have suggested this was a key factor in his adopting the Separatist branch of Puritan theology. Bradford would become the main force behind the writing of the Mayflower Compact which bound the Pilgrims to “live by the laws they enacted” because they had landed in New England, further to the north than their charter allowed. “In the name of God, Amen, Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.” He would go on to serve as the Governor of Plymouth Colony for over 30 years and would chronicle the beginning years Of Plymouth Plantation. He would also lose his wife as one of the first casualties of the hardships they had to endure on a daily basis. And if the life stories of John Smith and William Bradford aren’t sufficient to stir a sense of pride in the courage and commitment of our early forefathers, perhaps we should close with the advice of John Winthrop, the lawyer and the leader of the Puritans who would establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. He reminded these Puritans that they were to be governed by the laws of their Creator. • By the first of these laws man as he was enabled so, withal is commanded to love his neighbour as himself. Upon this ground stands all the precepts of the moral law, which concerns our dealings with men. • Thus stands the cause between God and us. We are entered into Covenant with Him for this work. • the only way to avoid this shipwreck, and to provide for our posterity, is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God. • For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. • Therefore let us choose life that we, and our seed may live, by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our prosperity. We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, including those who shared their religious faith in a land that Thomas Jefferson called the world’s best hope. Blanche Henderson Brick, Ph.D., retired Professor of History, Blinn College, Bryan, Texas. Blanchebrick@gmail.com
Texans claim WR Diontae Johnson off waivers from Ravens
Yankees reportedly agree eight-year, $218 million deal with pitcher FriedIn Blake Lively ’s bombshell sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni , the fixers are now part of the problem. On top of the laundry list of accused misconduct on the set of the film “ It Ends with Us ,” Lively’s surprise weekend filing against her director and costar Baldoni lays bare a show business process that’s meant to operate in the shadows – the hiring of expensive crisis communications experts to sway opinion and uplift clients. Attorneys for Lively obtained numerous text messages between Baldoni’s personal rep Jennifer Abel and the crisis team he retained this summer, led by Melissa Nathan. Documents and texts said Baldoni did so to prepare for a scenario where Lively would come forward with accusations from the set, as well as narratives that key cast members were distancing themselves from Baldoni during the promotion of the Sony Pictures release. The exchanges reveal candid – or “cringeworthy,” as one competing crisis expert told Variety – efforts to counter Lively by enlisting friendly journalists and allegedly hiring a digital whiz to fabricate and amplify unflattering content about her. Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman blasted the claims and supporting documents, like text messages and a multi-page strategy, as “cherry-picked” to build a narrative that forgoes crucial context and, in what would be important for Baldoni in this case, inaction in coming after Lively. While the complaint is under investigation by Freedman, the attorney said he is confident the full picture will reveal “nothing untoward happened” when it comes to Lively and Baldoni’s team — and that “reputation management,” as its commonly referred to in the digital lives of celebrities, is routine for countless public personalities. This weekend, Abel addressed the Lively complaint in a private Facebook group for PR and marketing professionals. The post, verified by Variety , said that texts and documents obtained did not intend to smear the actress. “No negative press was ever facilitated, no social combat plan, although we were prepared for it, as it’s our job to be ready for any scenario, but we didn’t have to implement anything, because the internet was doing the work for us,” Abel wrote. In a statement, Freedman added that Nathan “operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources,” referring to Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on.” Some power players were dismayed by the tough tactics being floated by Abel and Nathan to “smear” Lively. Nathan pitched a four-month battle plan with a $175,000 price tag to “start threads of theories” on platforms like Reddit and TikTok in Baldoni’s favor, and to create “social fan engagement to go back and forth with any negative accounts, helping to change [sic] narrative and stay on track,” Lively’s complaint said. There was also the contracting of Jed Wallace, operator of a firm called Street Relations. One source described him as a “Ray Donovan” type fixer employed by powerful people. Freedman, who knows Wallace well, said he would not describe him as a fixer but rather someone with deep resources for unusual circumstances (he knows how to get a chopper for medical evacuation in remote parts of Italy, for instance). Lively’s complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department said Wallace weaponized “a digital army around the country from New York to Los Angeles to create, seed, and promote content that appeared to be authentic.” While the suit does not specify which stories might have targeted Lively, numerous unflattering pieces about the actress were resurfaced during the press tour for “It Ends with Us.” They included problematic past comments about the trans community (using the phrase “trannies”), and an attempted lifestyle brand launch in which Lively promoted the “allure” of an Antebellum South aesthetic . Most importantly, Nathan stressed in early days, these efforts would be “untraceable.” Not anymore. “It’s quite common for crisis people to be reactive, to monitor and respond to situations,” said one veteran media broker who has hired crisis firms on behalf of clients. “But to stage this entire campaign? To put this in writing?” The source added that “fix-it shops usually employ some cyber warriors who come in to manage chatter, but it’s an unwritten code that you will not hire companies or social media agitators to go out and script a new narrative.” Crisis PR is common in many sectors for individuals, corporations and political parties. What has industry insiders aghast over this conflict is the nature of the correspondence. “You know we can bury anyone,” Nathan wrote to Abel in a February text cited in the complaint, ironically in an exchange about how she could not put such things in writing to Baldoni. The quote wound up in a New York Times headline. In an early Monday statement, Freedman said it was “ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context – the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing.” Some PR pros were empathetic to Abel and Nathan, given the unusual disclosure of private texts and documents which were likely subject to nondisclosure agreements. “There are two smear campaigns going on here,” said one top studio executive. “One against Lively, and one against the PR people. It doesn’t mean that Jen Abel and Melissa Nathan didn’t do anything wrong, but who sold them out? There’s a code you don’t breach.” Another industry figure frequently involved in high profile conflicts said, “That’s crisis PR talk, right? Everybody talks like that. Everybody loves to talk a big game.” The severity of the proposed campaign against Lively has led to some questions about how actionable these kinds of services could be in court. “I think people might see what Baldoni did as at least unfair, if not harmful or possibly illegal in terms of further harassment or retaliation,” said Ryan Baker, co-founding partner of legal firm Waymaker LLP. “It puts this under a little more scrutiny, because all of these things clearly happened in a dynamic where Lively and Baldoni are going back and forth.” Yet another highly sought after PR guru, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the sensational nature of the complaint is distracting from an industry reality. “These days, all PR is crisis PR,” they said.
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