1 jili slot login It’s the holiday season, and locals may be looking for gifts that highlight what makes Las Vegas unique. Small business owners in the area have their own insight. Here are five Nevada entrepreneurs and makers — and their suggestions on what makes a good, locally made gift. Vegas-specific wearable art from Battle Born Pins Iconic Las Vegas signs may have been most famous when they were dozens of feet tall, but one locally born artist keeps the vintage icons alive through very, very small versions. Holly Vaughn runs Battle Born Pins with a mission to commemorate the mid-century modern designs and style that once loomed over Las Vegas streets. “So many things in Vegas are very fleeting, very ephemeral,” she said. “I wanted to have something that I knew I could keep, that would last forever.” It turns out others did, too. Since then, Vaughn has developed more than 100 designs of different signs, landmarks or iconography related to Las Vegas and Nevada. She said many people connect to the small items for what they represent of businesses that have long since been demolished or otherwise changed. “People tell me the most amazing stories,” she said. “They’ll message me on Instagram or email me and just thank me profusely — ‘Thank you for making this pin of the Stardust. My grandpa worked there, and we have nothing to remember that time by.’ That’s my favorite part, hearing great stories from the people who really built this city and make it what it is.” Vaughn’s pins are primarily sold online at LasVegasPins.com but can also be found in retailers around the Vegas valley. Her largest collection is sold at the Antique Alley Mall in the Arts District. Vaughn said she has a special gift package targeted for couples married in Vegas: a $32 “elopement box” with pins, a notepad, key chain and stickers. For other Vegas lovers, gift-givers can pick from several iconic signs — Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Vegas Vic and Vickie to name a few — or purchase one that’s dear to their loved one. Pins range from $10 to $12. T-shirts and trinkets at Tofu Tees Plenty of customers at Tofu Tees don’t believe 16-year-old Kumei Norwood when she tells them it’s her business. “Some people will be like, ‘Oh, do your parents own this and you’re working for them?’ No, it’s all my designs and everything,” Norwood said. “It’s a lot of different reactions — in person it’s a lot of positive reactions. Online it’s a little mixed.” Not only is she running the show — she’s been doing it for eight years. Norwood’s apparel business started with a T-shirt screen printed with an old note of hers, complete with the kid-like scrawl: “Why Are Peepl So Sensitiv?” Her designs focus on social issues, like T-shirts and stickers that declare “racism is trash” and “social issues are not trends.” Norwood said she also uses the store as a way to give back to the community. For instance, a donation box set outside the store will accept gifts to be distributed at The Solidarity Fridge, a mutual aid group in east Las Vegas, on Christmas Eve. Norwood’s business moved into Fergusons Downtown in 2021. A Las Vegas Academy student during part of the business’s open hours, Norwood’s mother runs the shop while she’s in school. Or, other entrepreneurs will host pop-up business hours, selling their products alongside Norwood’s. “I’ve always been surrounded by entrepreneurs ever since I was little,” she said. “We lived out in L.A. when I was 4 or 5-ish, and my mom always made jewelry for photoshoots and sets and stuff, so I was always surrounded by people who are making stuff. That really influenced me from a young age.” Norwood recommends that shoppers look for several small items to make up a larger gift. Tofu Tees is selling three different gift boxes made up of trinkets and other items: the “self-love” box for $18, the “Sensitiv” box for $20 and the “reproductive rights” box for $25. More than a six-pack at Mojave Brewing It’s easy to get a beer lover a six-pack and put it under the tree. But a growler and a gift certificate to their favorite brewery is a great way to get more out of a thoughtful present, according to advice from the owner of Henderson’s Mojave Brewing. John “Griff” Griffith said his business on Water Street is also brewing “Holiday Havoc,” a 5 percent alcohol by volume pastry stout, and the Wu Tang Clan-inspired “Ain’t Nothing To F—- With” imperial stout (with at 17 percent A.B.V. to match the name), both of which could pique the interest of hopheads. A growler costs $10 and the pour to fill it is $20, Griffith said. He also suggested gift cards — or gift poker chips at Mojave — as an alternative to gifting a six-pack. “They’re going on a little afternoon vacation or adventure, if you will, to find where that beer was made and what the place is like,” he said. “And there are so many cool, great breweries in the Las Vegas and Henderson areas.” The teacher-turned-brewer opened the tasting room in Water Street’s old Bank of America building in February 2020 and weeks later, pandemic shutdowns rattled his business. He attributed continued success to city leaders encouraging him to stay open to serve to-go beer and community members who turned the business’ parking lot into a social distanced “tailgate party” by enjoying their drinks in lawn chairs with friends. “People would come to the wall and yell at us what they wanted, and we’d fill a can or we’d fill a growler,” Griffith said. “The locals basically kept us open from that point forward.” A ‘blind date’ with Buttercup Books Bibliophile Kate Stowell has long participated in “blind date with a book” exchanges in her book club, and her new pop-up business takes the viral idea to one-day markets in Las Vegas. Stowell’s Buttercup Books sells pre-wrapped books – no title or author shown — with clues on the story and additional book-related items. She sells the books at Market in the Alley in the Arts District. “It takes some of that decision-making out of it,” she said. “It’s also kind of fun when you get a lot of goodies wrapped in with your book.” Stowell’s business name is inspired by her late daughter, Frances Buttercup. Nearly two years ago, Stowell went into pre-term labor and her daughter lived 12 days. Stowell said launching her book-reselling business has been a way to her to “put a piece of her out there.” A portion of sales is donated to March of Dimes, a nonprofit focused on ending preventable maternal health risks and death and preterm birth. Hardcover books are $25 and paperbacks are $20. Most are fiction, and Stowell collects books to wrap and sell through online sources and offering discounts on future purchases for customers who donate a book. Additional tchotchkes sold with the books could include highlighters, annotation tabs, bookmarks, dried flowers, teabags and other items. For gift-givers who want more control in their present, Stowell recommended giving bookworms personalized reading accessories like a reading log or monogrammed bookmark. Or, give a book by a beloved author and introduce the recipient to something you love. If in doubt, the mystery book gift can also be a bonding experience, she said. “There’s a lot of freedom in the idea that, ‘I didn’t really pick this book either,’” Stowell said with a laugh. Eclectic styles at Akin Cooperative Jen Taler started Market in the Alley in 2017 while developing the Fergusons Downtown space . She said it started with less than 20 vendors and about 200 shoppers and has since grown to as many as 900 vendors in the database and crowds as large as 4,000. The markets are now held in four locations on select weekend dates: UnCommons in southwest Las Vegas, The Village at Centennial Springs, the Arts District and The Green at Green Valley Ranch. Additionally, her retail shop Akin Cooperative in the Arts District is like a stationary Market in the Alley, where some makers also sell their wares. A self-described “maker of spaces” and a former Zappos buyer, Taler said her desire to create unique retail experiences comes from previous work experience in boutiques, working overseas in Australia and her family background. “I think that collaborative and people-person (focus), being in a diverse family unit spilled over to who I am in my day-to-day,” she said. Holiday shopping at Akin Cooperative or a Market in the Alley could give customers a wide selection of gift options, including some traditional ideas like handmade candles, jewelry and home goods. One unique option at the shop on Commerce Street is the KGB personal fire pit for $55. “You can have this beautiful flame if you want to keep warm,” Taler said. “But I have a 4-and-a-half-year-old, so we were making s’mores last night off of it.” Taler said her years in retail have given her the guiding questions for gift-giving. First and foremost, consider that person’s style and interests. “My curation is very eclectic in the style of stuff, and our city is very eclectic on what we make,” she said. “I think we can hit a lot of different styles with what’s in the store.”

Recounting the history of San Gabriel Nursery & FloristPhilippe Clement couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed despite Rangers securing a credible draw against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League . Striker Hamza Igamane put the hosts ahead just 81 seconds into the second half, expertly converting a cross from captain James Tavernier . However, Spurs' Dejan Kulusevski levelled the score with a well-placed left-footed shot following an impressive team build-up with 15 minutes left to play. Both teams created opportunities to secure a victory. One of the closest calls came when substitute Cyriel Dessers was thwarted by former Celtic shot-stopper Fraser Forster in the dying moments. Despite several chances, resolute defending and excellent goalkeeping ensured the game ended in a 1-1 draw. With this result, both teams now sit on 11 points, placing Rangers in eighth and Tottenham in ninth in the Europa League league phase standings as they vie for an automatic spot in the competition's last 16. Read more: "The grabbed the challenge with both hands and they showed what we want them to show everybody," the Rangers manager told TNT Sports. "But I still leave now after this game thinking we should have won this game. We deserved to win this game. "I think it was a very good advertisement for Scottish football and for sure Rangers to compete against a Premier League team at full strength. Okay, they had some injuries but there was still a lot of quality players on the pitch. "Our young guys, our experienced guys, everyone together showed a lot of quality today. "I want that mentality every week. I saw that they were not satisfied with a point, they wanted to win and they felt also that we were really close to winning this game. We need to keep this hunger and desire for more to become better. "Like I've been saying over the last month's and week's, there's a lot of potential in this squad. It's about working with them and getting experiences for them like evening like this. It helps a lot in that way. "I've said they need to play fast and they need to be more aggressive and react faster, and they all did. It's about keeping this hunger and desire to become better as players." Read more: Rangers sweating over fitness of key defender after Spurs withdrawal Rangers boss keen to watch Nedim Bajrami in his 'best position' The Ibrox crowd were kept on their feet for large parts of the 90 minutes, and after the relationship between supporters and the squad appeared to turn sour earlier in the season, Clement reckons he's got them back on side again with performances like tonight. "The synergy is totally back with our fans," the Belgian commented. "They see all the work the team is doing, they see the way we want to play and the way we want to impose our play. It's going to be a massive final against Celtic at Hampden, 50/50 with supporters so everybody is looking forward to that."

The Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University (UMYU) is one of the top public learning institutions. It was established in 2006 and is located in Katsina, Nigeria, by the Katsina State Government. The UMYU admission portal offers seamless access to the institution's services online. This guide will take you through the process of checking and accepting admission. TABLE OF CONTENTS About the UMYU portal How to register on the UMYU admission portal How do I accept admission to UMYU? What is the acceptance fee for UMYU Edu Ng? Is Umaru Musa Yar Adua University private? UMYU is recognised by the National Universities Commission of Nigeria (NUC). Like most learning institutions, it admits prospective students who meet its requirements yearly. The UMYU admission portal is a key platform for managing admissions, checking admission status , and ensuring a smooth application process. Learn about the UMYU admission portal and how to manage the application process. About the UMYU portal UMYU online portal caters for undergraduate, graduate & professional studies and continuing education & summer studies students. Through this portal, new and returning students can perform various activities, including: Read also OOU portal guide: how to check admission, results and other student functions Register a new account. Make payments. Fill out the application form. Edit your application details. Check your screening status. Print your admission letter and other forms. Check the admission requirements for various courses. Check the duration of the school's programmes. How to register on the UMYU admission portal Logging in to the admission portal is straightforward, but you must register first. Below is a step-by-step guide on the registration process. Visit the official admission UMYU portal . Click on 'Register a new Account'. If you have registered on the platform before, go straight to login. On your right, fill out the registration form. You will be required to pay the registration fee. After payment, log on to your profile and edit your application profile by uploading passport photos and biodata. Click on Print to print your Screening acknowledgement details. Continue checking on the platform to see if you have been accepted. Once accepted, log in and pay the acceptance fee. Print out your admission letter and other school forms. It's essential to print all the payment receipts for future reference. Read also McPherson University admission portal, requirements and procedure How do I accept admission to UMYU? Once you apply to UMYU, you must check their portal to see if you are accepted. Once your name is shortlisted, follow these simple steps to accept the offer. Visit the official UMYU portal. Click on log in. If you are a new student without a Matric Number, you should log in using your JAMB number as your username and password. Check if you have been shortlisted. Accept the offer. Once accepted, you will be required to pay the acceptance fee. Print out your admission letter and Form 01. It's essential to print all the payment receipts for future reference. Proceed to the Registrar's Office, Academic Division, for the screening exercise. Ensure you have the following documents: Admission letter. Completed Form 01. Acceptance fee payment receipt. Original and photocopies of credentials. O-level results. What is the acceptance fee for UMYU Edu Ng? Read also Fountain University admission portal, requirements and procedure The higher learning institution charges a fee of N5 000 for indigenous students and N10 000 for non-Indigenes. The fee should be paid after your name has been shortlisted and you accept the offer. Is Umaru Musa Yar Adua University private? The institution is a public university founded by the federal government in 2006. It is located in Katsina, Nigeria. UMYU has existed since 2006 and nurtures students in a conducive learning environment. Potential students must register through the UMYU admission portal to join the university . The portal streamlines activities like making payments and printing admission letters. Legit.ng published an article about the Fountain University admission portal . Fountain University is one of the many private universities in Nigeria. The higher learning institution is located in Osogbo, Osun State . Potential students can register and apply for admission through the Fountain University admission portal. Fountain University has become a premier hub of advanced learning. Founded in May 2007, the university has acquired a high status due to its technological advancement. Learn all about Fountain University's admission portal, requirements, and process. Source: Legit.ng

NoneThe draw for the first 32-team Club World Cup brought us approximately 172 mentions of how “amazing” next summer’s tournament is going to be, a very drawn-out trophy reveal and a message from Donald Trump. But after an hour and 40 minutes in Miami, Florida on Thursday, we finally found out which clubs will play each other in the group stage of the competition next June and July in the United States. Here, our correspondents James Horncastle, Felipe Cardenas, Jeff Rueter, Seb Stafford-Bloor and Dermot Corrigan debate the pick of the opening-phase games and which teams and players will catch the eye and share their predictions for the tournament overall. GO DEEPER Club World Cup draw: Inter Miami vs Al Ahly opens tournament, Man City to face Juventus Which group game stands out? James Horncastle: River Plate-Inter in part because Inter are, perhaps, the European club most identified with Argentinian players. Javier Zanetti, Inter’s vice president and a former Argentina international, applauded today’s draw from the audience. The barbecues at the Inter training ground are legendary. Zanetti has a couple of Argentine steakhouses in Milan. Advertisement Felipe Cardenas: I’m with Horncastle on this one. River-Inter will feature great kits, nostalgia, and two footballing cultures that have a lot in common. My pick though is Monterrey vs River. Monterrey’s newly-minted manager Martin Demichelis facing off against the club he was previously in charge of and their coach Marcelo Gallardo, the man whose shadow he couldn’t escape there. It could be a very petty match-up. Jeff Rueter: Benfica-Boca Juniors. Two teams who are among the very best in legacy footballing nations but are more often viewed from Europe’s top levels as developmental clubs burgeoning with promising talent. Getting to see them square off is a delight, and could be a way for Boca to issue a particularly poignant reminder of their caliber. They’ll also likely be competing to advance from Group C, as Bayern Munich is a favorite to win the whole tournament. And if nothing else, it’s a tremendous kit match-up. Seb Stafford-Bloor: River-Inter for me, too. There’s so much shared culture between those two sides and even if we don’t know quite what the atmosphere will be like, that could — if it’s allowed — be one of the most colourful occasions of the group stage. Bring all your flares and tifos. Dermot Corrigan: Atletico Madrid versus Paris Saint-Germain in Group B will definitely provoke interest in Spain. PSG ’s Spanish head coach Luis Enrique talked to Atletico about possibly replacing Diego Simeone a few years back. Simeone survived and Atletico won 2-1 at PSG in the Champions League , with a late Angel Correa goal, just a few weeks ago. Which team could emerge as the hipsters’ favourite? Horncastle: Monterrey. Their stadium is on my bucket list. Sergio Canales, one of the first young talents to have their skills hyped up and set to EuroTechno on early YouTube, plays for them along with former Porto duo Oliver Torres and Jesus Corona. Although the long hair of his playing days has gone, Demichelis still looks mean. I would love to see him in a remake of From Dusk Till Dawn. An easy choice. Cardenas: Inter Miami ’s pink uniform is about as hipster as it gets, but my pick is newly-crowned South American champion Botafogo. This is a good team that loves to attack and score goals at will. They’re young. They’re creative. And they’re showmen, who are led by American owner John Textor . It’s a new-money side with some really good players. Advertisement Rueter: The Seattle Sounders could rightfully feel hard done by being overlooked as tournament host, as FIFA ’s eagerness to ensure Inter Miami showed up to the party snubbed the 2022 North American champion. Winger Pedro de la Vega has had a tough first year in MLS , but a tournament like this could remind the league why he was so coveted. Otherwise, the likely answer is “whichever non-European team is able to beat more familiar opponents without fully committing to anti-football.” Let’s say Flamengo, as they’ve been drawn in a group with Chelsea . Stafford-Bloor: The financial disparities between the continents being what they are, it’s hard to know how many true underdogs will stick around long enough to win those hipsters’ hearts. So, we need someone possessing a bit of romance, who is good enough to last and make it through the group, but who will ultimately be crushed mercilessly under the foot of Champions League capitalism in the quarter-finals. I’ll take Boca Juniors and River Plate. Corrigan: I’m not going to claim a deep knowledge of Liga MX, but Monterrey have a very interesting mix of former La Liga talents. Ex- Real Madrid , Valencia , Real Sociedad and Real Betis playmaker Canales will be 34 when the tournament starts but can still run a game from No 10. Former Sevilla trio Oliver Torres, Lucas Ocampos and Jesus Corona are also talented, if erratic. And 36-year-old (37 by tournament time) Hector Moreno brings grizzled experience at the back. One-time Argentina centre-back Demichelis is already building a reputation as a coach, having presumably picked up a thing or two during his playing career under managers including Manuel Pellegrini, Louis van Gaal, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jurgen Klinsmann, Alejandro Sabella and Diego Maradona. So, on their day, Monterrey could give anyone a game — including Inter and Demichelis’ previous employers River. While there’s also potential for it all blowing up spectacularly for them against Urawa Red Diamonds. Which player could put himself in the transfer shop window? Horncastle: Instinct brings us to the South American teams. Until, that is, you realise Chelsea and Real Madrid have bought all the teenage Brazilians, and Brighton and Manchester City have already signed the bright young Argentinians. It’s perhaps symptomatic of where the world is at right now that the second coming of John Kennedy is not in the White House, but on the Fluminense team sheet. He scored their winner in last year’s Copa Libertadores final against Boca. Advertisement Cardenas: If Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios is still on their team come next summer, the playmaker will certainly be a name to follow. Rios, 24, was excellent during Colombia’s run to the Copa America final this past summer. He’s a player whose skill and flair stand out, but whose work rate is equally as impressive. Rios has been unnerved by the pressure of playing at Palmeiras, which has placed him on the scouting boards of several European clubs. Rueter: Seattle boasts an incredible midfield prospect who could benefit from the Club World Cup. Obed Vargas (pictured below) is a precocious 19-year-old holding midfielder who can play as either a No 6 or No 8, a product of Seattle’s academy who’s already a vital starter for the perennial MLS contender. Vargas is also a rarity: despite being born in Alaska, he has opted to represent Mexico rather than the United States, making him the first Alaskan member in the team’s history. It’s a matter of when, not if, he follows this summer’s departure of Aidan Morris from MLS to Europe, either in a similar tier as the English (second-tier) Championship , or a larger league with a loan-led development plan in mind. Stafford-Bloor: Jamie Gittens. His market value seems to be rising week-by-week at Borussia Dortmund and his performances in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season certainly qualify him as one of the most destructive players in Europe. If that form continues into next summer, he could easily be one of the most watchable players at this tournament and someone who clubs start viewing less with interest and more as a player they urgently need. GO DEEPER How Dortmund's 'golden boy' Jamie Gittens is becoming one of Europe's most destructive players Corrigan: Borja Baston had only played for Atletico Madrid, Murcia, Huesca, Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza, Eibar, Swansea City , Malaga, Alaves, Aston Villa , Leganes and Oviedo, before arriving at Mexican outfit Pachuca in July. The Spanish centre-forward with a good touch for a big man has scored goals wherever he went (except for Villa, and so far with Pachuca). And his career history, presumably there’s a decent chance that, still just 32, he could well be on the move again next summer. But what better way to secure an interesting and lucrative next adventure than by banging in a few goals against Real Madrid, Al Hilal or Red Bull Salzburg with the world watching? Who’s your predicted winner? Horncastle: To be consistent with my picks over the past year: Inter. To be eclectic: Al Hilal. Cardenas: Inter Mia... kidding! I’ll say Chelsea. Enzo Maresca’s young crew of talented and hungry footballers will raise the Club World Cup trophy. Will anyone care, though? Rueter: Erm... FIFA? On the pitch, Bayern has long wanted to become among the best-supported clubs in the United States, and winning a Club World Cup could help get over that rare missed Bundesliga title from last season. Stafford-Bloor: Real Madrid. More than the two Premier League clubs, they can be trusted to take this competition seriously. Clearly, they have the footballing tools — maybe Kylian Mbappe will have found some form by then, too — and this is the kind of title that they would pursue with real vigour. Advertisement Corrigan: Atletico are one of the European teams who actually look really excited to be involved in this — both CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin and club president Enrique Cerezo travelled to Miami for today’s draw. The club’s owners are keen to promote their brand in the United States, coach Simeone needs another trophy to maintain his position of power, and Conor Gallagher could become England ’s first football World Cup winner since 1966. Does football need a revamped Club World Cup? Horncastle: In abstract, now that technology has made the world a much smaller place, the Club World Cup should be the extracurricular activity outside of domestic competition. The summer scheduling makes it feel important and not an inconvenient league interruption, like other winter tournaments. All that being said, the financial disparities between continents and the way FIFA president Gianni Infantino has forced this vanity project on the game at a time when players are playing more than ever makes it hard to be enthusiastic. Cardenas: It’s actually very American to supersize an international club tournament. ‘The bigger, the better’ seems to be FIFA’s new mantra, and clearly, the U.S. is the ideal market for an expanded format. To be honest, I like the concept. But I also really liked the old Intercontinental Cup, or the Toyota Cup, that pitted the South American club champion against its European counterpart. Was that too exclusive? Probably. But Sao Paulo versus Milan in Tokyo in 1993, in those classic kits, will never get old. Rueter: Not one bit. Players, coaches, staff — to say nothing of journalists — are gasping for time off between competitions. There’s a point where there’s just too much of a good thing, and an oversaturated market dilutes the product. I would argue we are well past that point. Stafford-Bloor: Of course not. I actually quite like the idea in theory, but it feels 30 years too late. Imagine some of these teams facing each other in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before all the talent was plundered by European clubs, and snatched away before it was old enough to grow a bad moustache. If this tournament was introduced instead of another — displacing something currently in the calendar, rather than simply adding to it — then it would be a different conversation. Corrigan: If you were starting organised football from scratch, there could well be a place for a World Cup of clubs. The idea of the best teams from all continents coming together sounds quite exciting. It could also help big, historic teams outside Europe to attract and retain a better standard of players in their home countries for longer. But the reality of the game’s current calendar means there is just no room to fit in a new competition of this size. GO DEEPER Club World Cup: Inter to Chelsea to Auckland City, all 32 teams at 2025 tournament profiled What does it need to make it succeed? Horncastle: Not DJ Khaled saying: “Another one” feat: Gianni Infantino. In all seriousness, FIFA needs to really hype this thing up and generate interest. Now that the games are going to be free-to-view on DAZN, I want ticketing to be accessibly priced, travel to be subsidised and for fans from Tunisia, Argentina and South Africa to be able to show up. If the games are corporatised, atmosphere-less and fail to sell out, it’ll look and sound terrible. These supporters are already squeezed enough as their clubs demand international travel for the Champions League, Copa Libertadores and so on. The Club World Cup only adds to that cost. Last but not least, given how much casual transcendental interest is tied up in his star system, it’ll need Lionel Messi to step up and drop ‘Another one’ for Gianni . Advertisement Cardenas: Good football. Blood, sweat and tears. Underdogs, upsets, and breakout stars. That has always been the recipe for success at any international tournament. If the new Club World Cup looks like the pre-season competitions we already see some of these European clubs playing here in the U.S. every July, it’ll flop. Or if the minnows are thoroughly beaten and humiliated, the tournament will fail. If the world’s top players and teams believe that it could jeopardise their club seasons, it will carry on with very little interest. In the end, what is the incentive here for Europe’s top teams? The UEFA Champions League is the pinnacle of the club game. In South America, the Copa Libertadores defines greatness. I don’t see how the Club World Cup can eclipse those realities. It’ll take time. Rueter: Players and coaches to treat it with full seriousness. That’s the sole metric, no matter how much money is at stake or pomp and grandeur is pumped into venues. If those involved don’t appear bought in and the games more closely resemble the fervour of a charity match or pre-season friendly, why should those of us on the outside looking in care? Stafford-Bloor: Credibility. There must be the sense that this is actually competitive and that the participating teams are bothered by the outcome. If not, then the results do not matter and the fans will not care. An enormous prize fund would be a good motivator but the market seems lukewarm at best and Infantino is some way off delivering on his bold promises. Perhaps one of his new, deep-pocketed friends will step in to make up the shortfall? Corrigan: Structural changes to the existing match calendar, to give it some space. But that would mean FIFA and UEFA both ceding some power and money. As well as agreement from regional and national federations and leagues. Which all seems quite unlikely. What should organisers be fearing most? Horncastle: Salt Bae? Elon Musk? Elon Musk and Salt Bae? Frankly, I am disappointed that the draw did not involve Infantino beaming in from a Space X flight while particles of salt, gold leaf and a rib-eye float around him in micro-gravity as Salt Bae mouths, ‘Wooooooow’, when Al Hilal are suddenly paired with RB Salzburg (or FC Salzburg, to use the new name FIFA has given them). A missed opportunity. Cardenas: Security issues. The Copa America final in Miami back in July was a near-tragic event , when thousands of fans (both with and without tickets) were jammed against the Hard Rock Stadium gates as they attempted to enter. Stadium security, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL officials all looked overwhelmed, and frankly, terrorised, by their lack of preparation for a major final. There was also a notable episode of fan violence in the stands during the Colombia vs Uruguay semifinal . Several Uruguay players, including Liverpool ’s Darwin Nunez , climbed into the stands and clashed with Colombia supporters. They proved that American organizers are still naive when it comes to the security responsibilities that are a part of international football. Preparing for altercations between rival ultras or barras bravas must be part of the scouting report next summer. Rueter: Apathy, but this feels like a brave venture of sorts for FIFA. Although the diehard fans of the sport loathe its global body, its tournaments and ventures still always carry a bit of aura. That’s beginning to crack, though. For all of its efforts to bloviate the importance of The Best FIFA Football Awards — yes, that’s its fully serious branding — we still fixate on the Ballon d’Or as the calendar’s hottest award series. If this competition becomes little more than an afterthought to the average fan, that’s an outright calamity: too big to fail, no more. Advertisement Stafford-Bloor: Indifference. Mexican Waves. Paper aeroplanes. More than anything: experimental line-ups. If teams approach this as an exercise in collecting as much money as possible while risking as little as they can get away with — second-choice goalkeepers, third-choice right-backs, star players being subbed off after 55 minutes — it will be harder to sell the broadcasting rights next time around in 2029. Corrigan: Figures at clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester City are already openly complaining about the length of the season . Top players either crying off early from this due to injury or fitness problems, or looking disinterested and even rebellious if they do arrive in the States, would be a real problem for the tournament’s credibility. Individual shock results in the group stage, with high and mighty European giants being sent home early, might entertain the neutrals but a knockout phase mostly featuring smaller teams and lower-profile players will not attract a big audience. Organising the next iteration of the tournament in 2029 would become even more difficult. (Top photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino and draw host Alessandro Del Piero; Eva Marie Uzcategui/FIFA via Getty Images)

Propaganda comes direct from Satan, for it first fills its victims with hatred based on hellish distortions of reality. Then, when the consequences of their hatred begin to mount, victims often cling to the propaganda in pathetic, heartbreaking ways. Wednesday on the social media platform X, the prominent conservative account “Libs of TikTok” shared a TikTok video from Idaho salon owner Tiffney Prickett, who admitted that her viral rants against supporters have cost her clients and left her searching for work in the fast-food industry. “So, I’m just continuing to lose clients,” Prickett said. “And I’m — I would rather go work at Chipotle, and I was not lying when I said that I was headed to my Chipotle interview because I did apply to Chipotle.” Moments later, she explained why she had no problem surrendering her career as a stylist to work in fast food. “But I would rather go and do what I need to do and work at Chipotle after my 22-year career in this industry and refuse to let people feel comfortable in my space, to support racism, homophobia and misogyny — and rapist, a rapist — I would rather go work there than have people feel comfortable in my space with that and that mentality,” the deluded salon owner said. Wednesday’s clip came on the heels of an earlier rant, which “Libs of TikTok” shared on Sunday. In that earlier rant, Prickett proudly declared her willingness to sever ties with a 15-year client. Never mind that said client had treated the salon owner with kindness. “I didn’t want to deal with them anyway because I knew — I knew that that whole family were Trump supporters because I’ve been doing her for 15 years. I’ve been to her family functions and family events. She’s given me gifts over the years. She was a very good client,” Prickett said. Readers may watch both clips below. The owner of a beauty salon in Idaho says her customers are “dropping like flies” after her hate filled rant about Trump supporters went viral. FAFO — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) Of course, decades of conditioning via schools and popular culture prepared Prickett and many other victims to receive anti-Trump propaganda. One marvels, in fact, at her programmed-sounding recitation of those familiar charges against supporters: racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc. Above all, however, nothing strikes the viewer with more force than Prickett’s jaw-dropping refusal to engage in introspection. She simply does not recognize the people who filled her head with those lies as her true enemies. Some might dismiss her behavior as stubbornness, but the problem of propaganda runs much deeper. In fact, while listening to Prickett I was reminded of a passage from the incredible 1991 book “ ,” by Jung Chang, a woman who came of age as a teenager in China during Communist dictator brutal Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. In 1972, Chang and her mother visited a family friend named Tung. Mao’s regime had recently released Tung from prison after five years in solitary confinement. When his wife brought him new clothes on the day of his release, Tung chastised her. “You shouldn’t have just brought me material goods. You should have brought me spiritual food,” he said, referring to Mao’s writings. Years later, the author still did not feel like mocking Tung. “I was staying with his family at the time,” Chang wrote, “and saw him making them study Mao’s articles every day, with a seriousness which I found more tragic than ridiculous.” Tung, of course, had so internalized the Maoist regime’s propaganda that even five years in prison did not awaken him. Instead, he continued to mistake his enemy for his savior (“spiritual food”). In like manner, not even the loss of clients — good people who treated her with kindness — and the subsequent destruction of a 22-year career could persuade Pickett to look inward and begin to question the people who lied to her about Trump and his supporters. If that kind of propaganda does not come straight from , then one wonders what does. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .Politics of bloodshed cannot continue in country: Maulana Fazlur RehmanBig dreams: He's the founder of a leading African photobook library

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NoneCivilization 7 is officially 2025's Most Wanted PC game, and the creative director told us how he’s going to get you to finally finish a Civ campaignNEW YORK , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCRN)'s sale to Aya Healthcare for $18.61 per share in cash. If you are a Cross Country shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE: ENLC)'s sale to ONEOK, Inc. for 0.1412 shares of ONEOK common stock for each common unit of EnLink. If you are an EnLink shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Manitex International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTX)'s sale to Tadano Ltd. for $5.80 per share in cash. If you are a Manitex shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-ccrn-enlc-mntx-on-behalf-of-shareholders-302330624.html SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP

MORGANTOWN — As we sit here still a number of hours shy from a Thanksgiving feast, no college basketball team — men or women — has yet to play its 10th game of the season. In that sense, the national rankings mean very little to any team. By nature, that’s what coaches and players of any team will tell you, as they should. “It’s still very early,” is the way WVU women’s coach Mark Kellogg put it Tuesday, as his 12th-ranked Mountaineers prepared to hit the road to play in the Gulf Coast Showcase, a tournament that could eventually lead WVU to a showdown with No. 5 Texas. Yet there is a story to be told here with this group of Mountaineers and their No. 12 ranking, the highest WVU has been slotted since hitting No. 9 during the 2017-18 season. It’s a story that is simply told by simply scanning WVU’s roster. The Mountaineers (6-0) are a mixture of, well, just about everything. There are freshmen, junior-college recruits and international-born players. There are players who came to Morgantown from the portal and then there is star guard J.J. Quinerly, who came to WVU as a 4-star freshman four years ago and stuck it out through two coaching changes. If you were to break all of that down, what makes this team and its ranking special is the Mountaineers are mostly a collection of athletes who never had this type of opportunity before. “I feel like its a testament to how hard everyone has worked, whether its individually and getting to the gym to get up extra shots and stuff like that,” WVU forward Tirzah Moore said. “I feel like it brings us all back to the team. We’ve worked hard in practice. We see each other day in and day out coming in and working hard. “It’s a good number to see. It’s encouraging.” Moore came to WVU last season from Oral Roberts, where she could have scored hundreds of points and grabbed hundreds of rebounds, but none of them were going to get the Golden Eagles ranked No. 12 in the country. Jordan Harrison would have been a star at Stephen F. Austin. Kyah Watson once beat a powerhouse Baylor team in the 2022 NCAA tournament as a sophomore at South Dakota. Stephen F. Austin and South Dakota — as solid as those mid-major programs are — will never experience the feeling of being ranked No. 12 in the country. So, you’ll have to pardon me for calling hogwash on the whole rankings-don’t-mean-anything-now type of talk. Not with this team. Not with these players. “I think we have a lot of kids who are in that similar situation,” said Kellogg, who came to WVU last season from Stephen F. Austin. “You have a coach, too, from the mid-major level who has worked his whole career to be in this situation. “There are a few times I’ll sit back and say, ‘That’s pretty cool, we’re the 12th-ranked team in the country.’ I still think it’s hard to get there, but harder to stay there. We just want to continue to try and get better and win big games whenever they come.” It’s easy for the schools like UConn or South Carolina to take the rankings for granted. It’s become a birthright of sorts for those programs, deservedly so. WVU is on a climb to get there. There is nothing taken for granted, at least that’s the message Kellogg preaches to his players. That includes the top 25 ranking, in that this WVU bunch knows there is work to be done, but it doesn’t hurt to enjoy the scenery at the moment. “I think this is definitely a special group,” Quinerly said. “It’s special for us to look and see our name in the top 25. I think that’s a good look for us and will give us a lot of confidence moving forward.”