slot machine free download W hen the holiday season rolls around, Katherine DeGroot digs out the glue gun, buys craft items in bulk and forages for additional supplies in her refrigerator, pantry and backyard. She then makes her own holiday decor, some of which her family gives as gifts. “We use whatever I have around the house or even outside,” said DeGroot. The Instagrammer also shares her latest projects as part of a growing social media community of DIY decor enthusiasts swapping ideas while keeping sustainability in mind. While the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can also be the most wasteful. According to one Stanford University study, Americans throw out an estimated 25% more trash during the holidays than at any other time of the year. To help reduce a household’s carbon footprint during this time and keep items out of landfills, the University of Minnesota’s Office of Sustainability has created a holiday guide covering tips on sustainable decorating as well as gift-giving and food practices. Carley Rice, university sustainability coordinator, said breaking old holiday habits can be difficult. The key is baby steps. “We don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Start small, and make changes that make sense to you and your family right now,” she said. For starters, try making your own holiday decorations using sustainable materials and supplies that can be purchased in bulk. Going DIY can be more economical. Want to start making a dent toward a more cost-conscious, sustainable holiday? Here are how-tos on making paper snowflakes, dried fruit garlands, candles and potpourri from Instagrammers DeGroot (@katherinelouisedegroot) and Emma O’Connor (@emmaelizabethoconnor). Paper bag snowflakes Katherine DeGroot buys inexpensive brown paper lunch bags to create DIY snowflakes. “They’re festive into the new year,” DeGroot added. “They’re great for gifting, as well.” Makes 1 Supplies: 8 brown paper lunch bags, scissors, hot glue gun. Optional: stapler, string and hole puncher. To assemble: Glue eight bags together by placing the first bag on a flat surface. Make sure the bag’s opening is on top and the smooth surface side of the bag without the crease faces upward. Draw an upside-down T with the glue onto the bag. Stack one of the unglued bags on top, facing the same way as the first bag. Repeat gluing and stacking each of the remaining bags. When you get to the last bag, stack but do not glue the top. To design: Take scissors and create a snowflake design by cutting edges of stacked bags. Creative liberties can be taken here. When finished, open the snowflake by joining the two end pieces together, which will form a circle. Glue end pieces together. Staple for an extra-secure snowflake. Use for holiday decor on mantels, tabletops, walls or windows. If hanging the snowflakes, pull a string through an existing hole or use a hole puncher. Stovetop winter potpourri One of the reasons DeGroot likes to make this as a gift is that the ingredients are versatile. In this batch, she uses cranberries, oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise. However, cloves, fresh rosemary, lemons, apples or vanilla beans also are suitable. Any way you slice it, this spin on potpourri imbues the spirit of the holidays. Makes 4 gift bags Supplies: Generous bundle of evergreen clippings, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, 4 oranges, 8 cinnamon sticks, 12 star anise, 4 paper sandwich bags. To assemble: In each bag, add some evergreen clippings, about 1 1⁄2 cups cranberries, 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks and 3 star anise. To use: Write directions for use by your recipient: Put items in a small pot, add just enough water to cover the ingredients, bring to a simmer, and enjoy the aroma! Dried fruit garland Emma O’Connor’s go-to DIY decor item adds vibrancy and color to her home during the holidays. “I have always admired using natural resources to decorate seasonally. This is also an easy craft to do with little helping hands,” she said. Makes 12 feet of garland Supplies: 4 oranges or grapefruit; 8 ounces fresh cranberries; dishcloth; parchment paper; baking sheets and baking rack; kitchen twine or string; sewing needle. To prepare: Preheat oven to 200 F. Slice oranges and grapefruit into 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-inch round slices. Pat dry with a dishcloth and arrange slices on parchment-lined baking sheets. To dry fruit: Bake for 3 to 4 hours or until dry, flipping halfway through. Let slices cool on a baking rack. To finish: Use kitchen twine or string and a sewing needle to thread through dried fruits and fresh cranberries. Beeswax jelly jar candles DeGroot especially loves this candle-making project because it’s a family activity. And while they like to make a batch during this time of year for that golden holiday glow, the effort pays off far beyond. “I love these beeswax candles because they can be used all year round,” said DeGroot, adding that she prefers beeswax over other candle bases because it burns cleaner. Makes 4 to 5 small/medium candles in jelly-sized jars Supplies: 2-pound bag of beeswax pellets or ends of beeswax candles; 4 to 5 wicks; double boiler or two pots; and 4 to 5 small- to medium-sized heat-resistant, fireproof containers, such as jelly or Mason jars. Optional: Chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks for centering the wick and essential oils for scents. To prepare: Using a double boiler, pour candle wax into the top pot and place on the stovetop. Heat on medium-high until all of the wax is melted, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. If using, add drops of essential oils according to preference and stir into wax. Meanwhile, place one wick vertically in the center of the jar. Your wick should be a few inches taller than your vessel. You can use chopsticks, clothespins or Popsicle sticks to keep the wick in place. To assemble: Carefully pour melted wax into jars, about 1⁄4 inch from the top. If using Popsicle sticks, remove them after the wax and jars have cooled. Set aside until candles are ready to use once the wax has hardened, 1 to 2 hours. Get local news delivered to your inbox!The match in question was a crucial fixture for both teams, with Liverpool vying for the title and the opposing team fighting to avoid relegation. Tensions were running high throughout the game, and it all came to a head when the referee made a controversial decision that went against the club's interests.

Letter: Students concerned about climate change need to take action'Web security must be boosted to stop the theft of personal details'

Amazon, the e-commerce giant known for its vast ecosystem of third-party sellers, has recently announced a strategic partnership with Intuit, the software company behind QuickBooks, to offer QuickBooks Online accounting software to millions of Amazon sellers. The collaboration aims to streamline financial management for third-party sellers on the Amazon platform, enabling them to better track their sales, expenses, and profits with ease and efficiency.

The southern potatoes, known for their resilience and adaptability to warm climates, initially raised concerns about the unfamiliar cold weather. Yet, their supervisors, who were determined to ensure the well-being of the potatoes, insisted on the cotton pants as a precautionary measure.President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. She's been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. Matt Gaetz speaks to media outside the U.S. Capitol on June 11. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he looks “forward to continuing the fight to save our country,” adding, “Just maybe from a different post.” Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Screenshot of Donald Trump’s Truth Social post on Nov. 21 announcing Pam Bondi as his new attorney general nominee. Last week, Trump named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible attorney general contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif criticized ongoing anti-state activities like sit-ins and long marches, asserting that people will no longer heed such disruptions. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kachhi Canal Rehabilitation Project, she condemned those who, she said, obstruct Pakistan’s progress, labeling their actions as “anti-state” and incomprehensible. “Why interfere when Pakistan is on the path of prosperity? Those who truly love their country cannot indulge in such practices,” she remarked, calling for unity against both internal and external adversaries. Maryam Nawaz also highlighted the swift completion of the Kachhi Canal Rehabilitation in just 45 days, a project she credited to the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his commitment to connecting Punjab and Balochistan through development initiatives. She further acknowledged the positive impact of the canal on Balochistan’s agricultural prospects. Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent economic progress, the CM emphasized a significant decline in inflation and the stock market’s rise to record levels. She attributed this progress to the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and the dedication of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “The days of economic hardship are behind us,” she said, noting a decrease in inflation from 38% to 7%. In her address, Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed that the PML-N government remains committed to economic and social development, recalling the party’s efforts to bring the provinces closer through shared projects. She also expressed regret over the recent attacks on Punjab Police, pointing out that such actions harm Pakistan’s image and hinder foreign investment. The CM warned that protests and violence would no longer be tolerated, reaffirming the government’s determination to continue the path of progress under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Moving on to the second competition zone, situated in the picturesque Alps, snow sports will take center stage. Alpine skiing and snowboarding events will push athletes to their limits as they navigate challenging slopes and ramps. The fierce competition and adrenaline-pumping action are sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The case first gained widespread attention when Yang Niuhua accused Yu Hua of plagiarism and copyright infringement, claiming that he had stolen and published her works without permission. Despite Yu Hua's denial of the allegations and his insistence that there was no wrongdoing on his part, the legal battle between the two has continued to escalate over the years.