It seems the Opposition politicians are hard at work these days, trying to whip up a storm over ‘Mahaviru Naa’ celebrations in the North—much like the recent Bay of Bengal depression, which after wreaking havoc here, conveniently blew its cyclonic rage straight into Tamil Nadu. But. the deep depression having intensified into cyclone Fengal over the Bay of Bengal petered out rather predictably before slamming into Indian shores last Monday. As the Indian Meteorology Department had forecast, it faded into a modest low-pressure area over Northern Tamil Nadu—hardly the devastating ending some might have anticipated from a cyclone. Prof. Abeysinghe Lasantha Sandika When a storm dumps enough rain to flood the country, you might think it would spark some collective empathy or at the very least, a serious conversation about disaster relief. But no—welcome to the South, where the political playbook dictates that the best response to agricultural devastation is a healthy dose of communal tension. After all, what is a few thousand hectares of rice and vegetables and crop cultivations going under water when there is ‘tense’ issue such as the ‘Mahaviru Naal’ in the North to milk for political theatrics? Simmer the communal hot pot Never mind the farmers, whose cultivations, including 64,000 hectares of paddy in the Northern and Eastern Provinces alone now resembling lakes going underwater. Forget the fact that these regions bore the brunt of nature’s fury and that over two million farmers in the country depend on rice farming to keep their families fed and the country afloat. Who cares about livelihoods when you can simmer the communal hot pot to cause nationwide discontent? And so, as the water recedes and farmers stare at their ruined fields, the political stage shifts to the tried-and-tested formula: whip up a little communal tension and fan the flames. You would have successfully diverted attention from an agricultural crisis to a convenient political spectacle. Or are we having a South-style master class in political misdirection? So here we are, wading through the aftermath of a devastating flood, while the political scriptwriters dream up their next act. The country has 2.3 million hectares of agricultural land, with 80 percent dedicated to non-plantation food crops such as rice, maize, vegetables, fruits and other crops, according to the Agriculture Department. The sector employs 28 percent of the country’s labour force, with small-scale farmers contributing the bulk of the agricultural output. It’s too early to quantify the full extent of crop damage or the economic fallout from the floods, but assessments are underway, according to Dr. Chamila Chandrasiri, Director of the Socio-Economic and Planning Centre at the Agriculture Department. “Give us a week or two to get the assessments rolling,” she stated, noting that water must first recede from the flood-affected paddy fields and farmlands. Only then will agricultural officers be able to compile a complete report on the affected farmers, farmlands and crop losses. Speculation, however, is rife. Critics argue that the National People’s Power Government may struggle to address the crisis, with murmurs of a looming food shortage due to flood-induced crop damage. Rumours also swirl about potential price spikes in rice, vegetables and fruit during the festive season and possibly well into next year. And if that’s not enough, a so-called ‘coconut mafia’ is reportedly emerging, threatening to hike prices alongside the notorious rice cartels. While these projections aren’t entirely baseless, they remain speculative. The Government has ramped up support for farmers, providing access to fertiliser and better agricultural inputs. The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) has also initiated long-term strategies to promote climate-smart agriculture and ensure food security and resilience. HARTI Director and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Abeysinghe Lasantha Sandika said they did not expect a flood-induced weather during this cultivation season. He said the relevant agenciesat no point of time forecast the kind of heavy rains that triggered floods. According to him the weather forecasters did not forecast the severity of the weather. The recent floods across Sri Lanka have left paddy fields and farmlands submerged, causing significant damage to crops and irrigation systems. While the Meteorology Department issued a heavy rain warning on November 19, HARTI’s Prof. Sandika believes such forecasts need to be communicated at least a month in advance to allow farmers to adapt their sowing schedules. Effort washed away Farmers had sown seeds on November 15, just days before the rains struck. “The entire effort was washed away,” said Prof. Sandika. Now, farmers face the costly task of re-cultivating, with seed paddy and fertiliser costs doubling. This burden extends to the Government, which must support the recovery effort through subsidies and aid. It is essential to study climate changes more closely and reassess when farmers should plant crops, instead of strictly conforming to traditional farming schedules Farmers now face the daunting task of restarting their cultivation processes and repeat the entire sowing procedure. This has effectively doubled their costs, creating additional financial strain not only to farmers but also for the Government, which has pledged to support recovery efforts. Prof. Sandika highlighted that activating the Government’s fertiliser subsidy program was a key step to alleviate the burden. He assured that measures to restart cultivation are already in motion, with the subsidy program set to play a pivotal role. Interestingly, the delayed activation of the subsidy program in certain areas has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Since the initial crops in those regions were destroyed by floods, the program can now be implemented without the risk of losses on the prematurely ruined harvests. This timing allows the Government to focus its resources more effectively on supporting re-cultivation efforts. Paddy cultivation in low-lying areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces has been among the hardest hit by the recent floods. Extensive damage has also been reported to paddy and vegetable fields in districts such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Jaffna, while fruit and vegetable farming in the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla Districts has suffered significant setbacks. The impact extends beyond farmers and their families, affecting urban populations, particularly in Colombo, who rely on rural agricultural produce. Vegetable prices have soared, forcing consumers in urban areas to pay significantly more for basic food items. Nutrient-rich sediment However, there is a silver lining amidst this crisis. According to Professor Sandika, receding flood waters often leave behind nutrient-rich sediment that can improve soil fertility. This natural enrichment can enhance soil productivity, though the benefits depend on factors such as the flood type, the affected region and the pre-existing soil condition. These nutrients deposited by floodwaters have agricultural importance. For example Nitrogen, which is an organic matter from decaying, plants and sediment, is essential for plant growth. Nitrogen is a critical component of chlorophyll, which is vital for photosynthesis. Then Phosperous- which aids in root development and improves flowering and fruiting. Phosphorus is crucial for energy transfer within plants. Also Potassium, micronutrients such as Zinc, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium are also found in this fertile sediment. They contribute to natural soil enrichment, and replenish nutrient-depleted lands, he said. This means once they re-start cultivation, there will be an increase in their crop yield. There will be marked improvement in food security. The floods’ aftermath presents an opportunity for improved agricultural yields in the future, provided the recovery and replanting efforts are managed effectively. This underscores the need for comprehensive support systems and climate-adaptive agricultural strategies. Prof. Sandika said as for crop damage, the Agriculture Department was working on it. Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation has carried out a rough assessment indicating that the floods have significantly damaged irrigation infrastructure, with repairs potentially costing over Rs. 6,000 million. In response to the immediate recovery needs of farmers, the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board will provide compensation through its insurance schemes. Compensation will be available for six key crops – paddy, maize, potato, soybean, onion, and chilli – with a maximum payout of Rs 40,000 per acre. However, many farmers are unlikely to receive full compensation, since their crops were lost shortly after sowing, meaning they could receive less than Rs. 16,000 per acre, depending on their specific insurance agreements. Prof. Sandika said that his personal view was that rice farmers should be compensated more and he is aware that the Government was taking steps to compensate vegetable farmers in the upcountry and the low country. Meanwhile, free seed paddy is to be distributed to farmers. Flood risk When asked about measures to mitigate future flood risks to paddy fields and farmlands, Prof. Sandika said the importance of developing a forewarning system was paramount. He said that even the monsoon patterns were shifting, making it crucial to adapt by adjusting the crop calendar to align with changing weather patterns. “We cannot change Mother Nature, but we must learn to adapt to it,” he said. He also pointed out that it is essential to study climate changes more closely and reassess when farmers should plant crops, instead of strictly conforming to traditional farming schedules such as the Yala and Maha seasons. This approach would help farmers move away from outdated methods and embrace more flexible, climate-resilient practices. To mitigate future climate risks, Prof. Sandika advocates the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, emphasizing the use of technology. While farmers traditionally rely on experience to determine planting schedules, he said that it’s time to shift to farming based on empirical evidence and research. This transition will allow farmers to make more informed decisions and better manage climate-related challenges. He also highlighted the vulnerability of farmers cultivating crops on open land, which are more prone to weather extremes. To address this, Prof. Sandika suggests identifying entrepreneurs and guiding them towards protective agricultural practices. Many young farmers in the country are already using modern technology such as net houses and greenhouses to cultivate crops, to protect crops from adverse weather, pests and disease. Some of them have become successful exporters. Net houses and greenhouse farming are forms of controlled-environment agriculture that optimise growth conditions, improve crop quality, and allow for off-season cultivation. These methods differ in design, materials, and functionality but share the goal of enhancing yields and providing a more resilient farming model in the face of climate change. HARTI is leading a program to promote climate-smart agriculture by supporting young, entrepreneurial farmers. In collaboration with the Government, HARTI helps aspiring farmers’ access loan schemes of up to Rs. 3 million to start greenhouse farming. This initiative is supported by global partners, including the World Bank, which backs climate-protected agricultural practices. Through specialised training programs, HARTI is guiding traditional farmers to embrace modern, resilient farming techniques. These efforts are intended to improve economic stability and the country’s food security. The training helps farmers transition from traditional methods to more sustainable, climate-smart practices. The program is a key opportunity for young farmers to develop skills, boost welfare and contribute to the country’s agricultural and economic growth. By providing guidance, resources, and financial support, HARTI is helping create a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who can tackle climate challenges and enhance food production systems.
Star of the new film, 'Reagan,' Dennis Quaid, discusses the legacy of the former president, the film's perspective and its audience reception. "Reagan," the first full-length feature chronicling the life of former President Ronald Reagan, topped Amazon's Best Sellers list after becoming available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital earlier this month. The film, which stars Dennis Quaid as the 40th president, was released on Blu-ray on November 19 and immediately rose to the top of Amazon's Best Sellers in Blu-ray charts over the weekend. A press release for the movie said the show leapfrogged past ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’, ‘Despicable Me 4’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy set." I WORKED FOR RONALD REAGAN AND I LOVE HOW LIBERAL CRITICS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE NEW MOVIE Dennis Quaid plays President Ronald Reagan in the new movie, "REAGAN." ((Noah "Nanea" Hamilton/Rawhide Pictures)) "Reagan" outperformed box office expectations in its opening weekend in September, taking the third spot behind "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Alien: Romulus." Despite boasting a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the biographical drama became a target of left-wing outlets who widely panned the film. The Daily Beast called "Reagan" "the worst movie of the year." Brutal reviews were also published in The Washington Post, Variety, The Wrap and The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the film's opening weekend. In an interview with Fox News Digital last August, Quaid brushed off concerns that portraying a Republican president would get him "canceled." "It's a biopic. It's a love story. It's about all of us as America, where we used to be," Quaid said. "A lot of that gets twisted because people have agendas. And so, yeah, they tried to cancel me a couple of times, but so what?" Reagan may have been a divisive figure to some on the left, Quaid said, but the film about his life is not "political." ‘REAGAN’ STAR DENNIS QUAID BRUSHES OFF BEING ‘CANCELED,’ SAYS FACEBOOK CENSORED MOVIE The film is based on the 40th president. (Getty Images) "When Reagan was president as well, you know, they called him a warmonger. But this is the guy who ended the Cold War, by the way, and made peace with the Soviets. But it took a cold warrior like that. ... And they called him a third-rate actor, this and that," Quaid remarked. Elya Baskin, who also stars in the film, described the significance of his casting in an op-ed he penned for Fox News Digital last year. "When I was offered a role in a picture called "Reagan," I read the script and knew right away that I had to play this role. You see, the role I was asked to play was that of a Soviet citizen by the name of B.E. Kertchman, who, in the 1920s defected to the United States," he wrote. "When I came to America 45 years ago, I thought that I had landed in paradise. People I met were friendly and generous, and the abundance of goods was mind-blowing. In the Soviet Union, I had to spend hours in lines to buy simple things like toilet paper and I could not speak openly about ideas that were not state approved. In America, I could openly express my opinions on everything without fear of being prosecuted," Baskin continued. "I always assumed that it would stay like that in America forever. Unfortunately, I was wrong. This new country that I cherished deeply began to change. I started to notice Marxist ideology – discredited countless times around the world – slowly creeping in into different aspects of our lives," he said. "Traditional moral values were being overturned and using simple common sense was becoming anathema to the intellectual elite. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Today, just as in the Soviet Union, I have to hide my true feelings and am afraid to express them openly. Those basking in their subjective opinion of what is politically and socially correct just now control what I'm allowed to say and will soon dictate what I am permitted to think." He described the film as possibly the "most important" of his career, characterizing his role in "Reagan" as a "warning." Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com .
Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothes MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Connecticut couple has been charged in Minnesota with being part of a shoplifting ring suspected of stealing around $1 million in goods across the country from upscale athletic wear retailer Lululemon.Jadion Anthony Richards and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, both of Danbury, Connecticut, were charged this month with one felony count of organized retail theft. Both went free last week after posting bail bonds of $100,000 for him and $30,000 for her. They're also suspected in thefts from Lululemon stores in Colorado, Utah, New York and Connecticut. They're due back in court next month. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road.
Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government fundingAlberta aiming to create test site to support new drilling technologiesShares of Matthews International Co. ( NASDAQ:MATW – Get Free Report ) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $25.49, but opened at $29.75. Matthews International shares last traded at $31.11, with a volume of 113,004 shares. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, B. Riley dropped their price target on Matthews International from $54.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Get Our Latest Research Report on Matthews International Matthews International Stock Up 21.0 % Matthews International Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. This is a boost from Matthews International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 2nd. Matthews International’s dividend payout ratio is -49.74%. Institutional Trading of Matthews International Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Matthews International by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 708,352 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,434,000 after acquiring an additional 55,687 shares in the last quarter. Barington Capital Group L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Matthews International by 18.1% during the 2nd quarter. Barington Capital Group L.P. now owns 385,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,644,000 after acquiring an additional 59,000 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Matthews International by 136.2% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 23,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $582,000 after acquiring an additional 13,399 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Matthews International by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 68,771 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,138,000 after buying an additional 1,063 shares during the period. Finally, Comerica Bank raised its holdings in Matthews International by 73.9% during the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 24,246 shares of the company’s stock valued at $754,000 after buying an additional 10,304 shares during the period. 83.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Matthews International Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Matthews International Corporation provides brand solutions, memorialization products, and industrial technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: Memorialization, Industrial Technologies, and SGK Brand Solutions. The Memorialization segment provides bronze and granite memorials, upright granite memorials and monuments, concrete burial vaults, cremation memorialization products, granite benches, flower vases, crypt plates and letters, cremation urns, niche units, cemetery features, and statues, as well as bronze plaques, letters, emblems, vases, lights and photo ceramics, granite monuments, mausoleums, crypts, and flush memorials. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Matthews International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Matthews International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Mondino Foundation Partners with Kemtai to Pioneer Neurorehabilitation for Parkinson’s Patients with Pisa Syndrome
You’ve got to be a pretty big deal to get an arena like SAP Center to blow up its entire concessions menu. Billie Eilish is that big of a deal. When the Grammy and Oscar-winning for two sold-out shows Tuesday and Wednesday, fans will find only vegan and vegetarian options, in line with Eilish’s advocacy for plant-based diets. So what does that mean? Vegan hot dogs, chicken tenders and pizza will be on the menus, along with popcorn, pretzels and chips and salsa. Vegan Mob will be offering vegan soul food options; Arteaga’s will be making its burritos and tacos with sofritas or veggies and serving them with vegan cheese and sour cream; and Sushi Confidential will be offering veggie rolls, teriyaki veggie bowls and fried tofu for at least Tuesday night. Even the soft serve ice cream at Sugar + Ice will be made out of oat milk. And, the suites will get in on the action, too, by serving a non-meat menu with vegan chicken tenders, Impossible sliders and a crudite with hummus offered along with vegan versions of ranch dip, aioli and ketchup. Vegetarian House, photographed Dec. 6, 2024, is a vegan restaurant in San Jose that originally opened in 1994. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) Good Karma Fine Ales and Food, photographed Dec. 6, 2024, is a vegetarian restaurant in downtown San Jose. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) Tofoo Com Chay, photographed Dec. 6, 2024, is a restaurant in San Jose that serves vegetarian Vietnamese dishes. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) Vegan Bistro and Donuts, photographed Dec. 6, 2024, is a vegan cafe in downtown San Jose. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) Vegetarian House, photographed Dec. 6, 2024, is a vegan restaurant in San Jose that originally opened in 1994. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) SAP Center regularly has some vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, but this is believed to be the first time the arena has changed its entire menu for an artist. (The willingness to do this could even be a selling point for SAP Center should Paul McCartney, who is a vegetarian, decide to bring his “Got Back” tour to the Bay Area next year.) What if you’re not a vegetarian? Well, you could give it a try for the night or at least consider yourself forewarned and make plans to eat before the show. As part of the push, Eilish also has partnered with Google Maps to recommend vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the cities on her tour. For San Jose, her picks are (520 E. Santa Clara St.), (37 S. First St.), and (548 Lawrence Expy. in Sunnyvale). I’ll add to the list , a great Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant at 388 E. Santa Clara St., and , which also houses , on 10th and Santa Clara Streets (though it’s regularly closed Monday through Wednesday). Pizza My Heart at 117 E. San Carlos St. also offers lots of including a vegan version of its garlic-filled Big Sur pizza. If concertgoers want to make their trip even more sustainable, they should remember that both VTA and Caltrain are good, climate-friendlier ways to get to SAP Center. On the subject of Caltrain, state Sen. Dave Cortese can’t believe the transit agency has agreed to transfer its entire retired fleet — 90 gallery cars and 19 diesel locomotives — to Lima, Peru after finally getting its entire fleet electrified this fall. “This is no way to run a railroad by taking the diesel off California’s carbon footprint then putting it right back on in Peru. Are we not all fighting to decarbonize the same air?” Cortese, who chairs the state Senate Transportation committee, said in a release. that states the intent of the Legislature to restrict the resale of decommissioned diesel trains and rolling stock for continued use. I still like the idea of planting a locomotive and gallery car on permanent display at San Jose’s Diridon Station as part of a transit museum. San Jose musician Gus Kambeitz is being a tuneful Santa Claus this season, with his jazzy Nineteen Big Band performing benefit concerts for two downtown theater companies. On Dec. 10, Nineteen will provide the tunes at City Lights Theatre Company for seven actors who’ve performed in “The Rocky Horror Show,” “Kinky Boots” and other City Lights musicals. Go to for tickets. Then, a week later on Dec. 17, Nineteen will be at San Jose Stage Company for its “Sounds of the Season Holiday Bash,” performing jazzy versions of holiday favorites along with some familiar San Jose Stage voices: Adrienne Herro, Allison F. Rich, Will Springhorn Jr. and Jonathan Rhys Williams. Tickets are available at . And if that’s not enough, vocalist Ren Geisick has two chances to at City Lights this month, bringing a mix of classic holiday tunes and originals on Dec. 8 and 15. After the 49ers last couple of games, you might be looking for a less stressful way to spend your Sunday afternoon than seeing if they can beat the Chicago Bears. If so, there is a trio of musical options on Dec. 8 — but they’re all at 3 p.m. at different South Bay venues. Related Articles The San Jose Metropolitan Band will be playing its “Holiday Spectacular” concert at the Hammer Theatre, the San Jose Wind Symphony has “Hollywood Holidays” at the McAfee Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, and the First Congregational Church of San Jose, at 1980 Hamilton Ave., is welcoming chamber orchestra Harmonia California for its Concerts on the Corner series (which will include the world premiere of Bay Area composer Alan Hebert’s “The Orchestra and the Orchard.”) Take your pick. If you don’t get to the First Congregational Church, though, you can always stop by Dec. 13 when it has its holiday program, “Carols on the Corner,” with the church’s Bell Choir, Chancel Choir and Family Band joined by guest musicians. Donations of non-perishable food items will benefit the Campbell United Church of Christ Food Pantry.Given how events unfolded, it was never going to be easy for Kamala Harris. Many Democrats are convinced her campaign saved the party from an even worse result. To be fair, it achieved some real highs: she won the debate. But she never won the argument, at least not with the voters who mattered most. The US election triggered a scary deja vu moment for those of us who had watched the 2019 UK general election from behind our sofas, hands over our eyes. The Democrats lost votes with almost everyone, almost everywhere, but, like Labour in the “red wall”, most dramatically with traditional heartland voters: working-class, low-paid, non-graduates. And, like Labour back in 2019, that lost connection with core voters had not happened overnight. Working with the DC-based Progressive Policy Institute, we conducted post-election polling and focus groups with past Democrat voters who voted for Trump on 5 November. The work laid bare an anxious nation desperate for change. Be in no doubt, this was a change election: any candidate failing to offer the change the electorate craved had become a risky choice. Asking how voters felt about the results on 6 November, “relieved was the word we heard most often. Overwhelmingly, change focused on two issues: inflation and immigration. Trump enjoyed a clear lead on both. Sure, Harris had some popular policies (anti price-gouging, tax cuts, help for first-time buyers and small businesses), but these seemed sidelined in an overcrowded campaign, with voters concluding that she was not on their side and was too focused on “woke” issues. Among working-class voters, 53% agreed the Dems had gone “too far in pushing a woke ideology”. They’ve “gone in a weird direction”, said one, “lost touch with our priorities”, said another. Worse still was the sense that any voter who disagreed with them was “a bad person”. American liberals were out of step with these voters’ views – most importantly, on loving their country. As many as 66% of Americans say theirs is the greatest country in the world, rising to 71% of working-class voters. Liberals were the only group who disagreed. What this patriotism means matters. Voters expressed it in terms of putting US interests ahead of others – it also meant recognising that change is needed and being prepared to act. As one voter put it: “If you’re not championing change, you’re not patriotic.” Hungry for that change, voters yearned for a shake-up in the way that both government and the economy operates. Just 2% said the system needed no change, while 70% believed the country was heading in the wrong direction. The Democrats did not seem to hear this - some even interpreted Harris’ pledge to “protect democracy” as “protecting the status quo”. By contrast, Trump’s appetite for disruption, coupled with his contempt for Capitol Hill sacred cows, seemed to promise change that for once might actually deliver for working class voters. Are there things the Harris campaign could have done differently? Of course. Joyful celebrities seemed tin-eared to an electorate feeling worried, pessimistic, even scared. But what should really trouble the Democrats now is the sense that the party – not just the candidate or the campaign – has, since 2020, parted company with the voters that its electoral success depended on: millions of Americans who work hard, pay their taxes, do the right thing and now feel they are not getting a fair deal. The Democrats can only win by putting those back at the centre of their politics. The same was true for Labour in 2024 and is true for centre-left parties elsewhere. That requires a course correction which needs to start now. As Democrats absorb the result, without an immediate leadership contest to provide direction, local leaders must be prepared to step up, flex their muscles and challenge Trump. Change demands strong leadership – all the more so when voters feel vulnerable. Polling gave Trump a 28% lead on strength. Described as a “powerhouse”, he was likened to “neat whisky – gives it to you straight” while Harris was a “watered down cocktail”. Imagined as a car, he was a “sturdy dump truck owning the road, not to be argued with” while she was a “flimsy Kia”. The grit that took a mixed race woman tantalisingly close to the top job in world politics was just not evident to voters. Having absolute clarity of conviction is a must for tomorrow’s aspiring candidates – and showcasing that must start today. This is eerily familiar ground to those of us who worked hard to distance Labour from what led to catastrophic loss in 2019. It remains to be seen if the Democrats embrace the change their party needs as courageously as Keir Starmer did over the past four years. But there is food for thought for the new Labour administration, too. Labour must continue to channel its powerful change message in government, reflecting the anti-establishment mood that now exists both sides of the Atlantic. It must be prepared – enthusiastic even – about disrupting rather than defending old, tired institutions. It needs a strong overarching narrative and a plan to reform government and the economy so it can truly deliver back to the hero voters that delivered its electoral success in July. That work started last week with the launch of Starmer’s with its powerful emphasis on working people being better off, but there remains much to do.
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'Crooks' target Leander neighborhood for vehicle break-insCARACAS — Six Venezuelan government opponents who have sheltered for months at the Argentine embassy in Caracas decried Sunday that local police and intelligence agents were stationed outside of it for hours. The move prompted the U.S. government to call it a serious violation of international law and Argentina’s Foreign Ministry to describe it as an act of harassment. Most of the opponents belong to the Vente Venezuela party led by former legislator María Corina Machado. It denounced what it called “a new siege by hooded officials” that began Saturday night and extended into Sunday. The incident occurred hours after Machado called for a massive mobilization on Dec. 1, prompting Venezuela’s minister of the interior to accuse the political leader of being part of a new conspiracy attempt against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Vente Venezuela said in a statement that the diplomatic headquarters remains without electricity and is surrounded by “regime vehicles” that are preventing traffic from circulating in the area. It said communication signals also were scrambled. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday that the deployment of armed troops and the closing of streets in the vicinity “constitute a disturbance of security.”. It also called on the international community to condemn the incident, which the U.S. did. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela posted on X that the U.S. “strongly condemns the acts of harassment against asylum seekers.” “The deployment of armed forces and blockades seriously violate international law,” it said. “We demand that the Venezuelan regime respect its international obligations, cease these intimidating actions and guarantee safe passage for asylum seekers.” Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2019. The opposition members entered the embassy in March after the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office issued arrest warrants and accused them of promoting alleged acts of violence to destabilize the government. In August, Brazil accepted Argentina’s request to guard its embassy after the Venezuelan government ordered the expulsion of Argentine diplomatic personnel following statements by its president, Javier Milei, that he would not recognize “another fraud” in Venezuela after the controversial elections in Jul y. A month later, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorization to guard the embassy, alleging it had evidence of the use of the facilities “for the planning of terrorist activities and assassination attempts.” Brazil and Argentina have rejected those accusations.
Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar emphasized Sunday the importance of FBI background checks for Trump’s Cabinet nominees, which she said was necessary for their confirmation. “I want to make a decision on each one of them on the merits, as I've done in the past, and I can't do that without the background checks,” Klobuchar told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “Why wouldn't we get these background checks for the most important job in the government?” Klobuchar expressed concern that the Trump transition committee has not yet agreed upon the background checks, and she believes further delay will create “a delay in getting these Cabinet officials in.” In regards to Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who Trump selected for his attorney general after former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrew from consideration, Klobuchar said she “of course” had concerns, but plans to meet with her and hear her out. “Does it concern me that revenge would be part of [Bondi’s] mission? Of course it does,” she said. “I hope that's not the case. I hope that what she wants to do is uphold the Constitution, because that is a really important job.” Klobuchar expressed concern over Trump’s other cabinet picks as well, including Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host nominated for defense secretary, and whether their views align with those of the American people. “In this case, I am concerned with all these nominees,” she said.Lawmakers edge closer to deal on government fundingIt's holiday season, but that doesn't have to mean waiting in long lines for big sales to buy the hottest toy or newest game system. Whether you're a parent, relative, teacher, librarian or just a friend to a young person, consider a book that you can enjoy together. 'I Like Your Chutzpah And Other Yiddish Words You'll Like' Written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman “I Like Your Chutzpah and Other Yiddish Words You’ll Like," written and illustrated by Suzy Ultman Sweet, funny and infinitely readable, this board book contains 12 Yiddish words and their meanings, each accompanied by a simple, colorful illustration that will inspire fun reading voices. Recommended ages: 1 to 3. $9.99, RISE x Penguin Workshop ___ 'The 13 Days of Swiftness: A Christmas Celebration' People are also reading... Written by Tiffany Garland, illustrated by Brooke O'Neill "The 13 Days of Swiftness: A Christmas Celebration," written by Tiffany Garland, illustrated by Brooke O’Neill For the littlest Swifties, a play on the classic Christmas song — except instead of 12 days there are 13. Each page has bright illustrations and lots of Easter eggs for the fandom. Recommended ages: 3 and up. $10.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 'Into the Uncut Grass' Written by Trevor Noah, illustrated by Sabina Hahn "Into the Uncut Grass" by Trevor Noah and illustrated by Sabina Hahn Trevor Noah tells a story of a boy and his teddy bear who venture into the uncut grass, picking up bits of wisdom along the way. Long and quotable, with humor and gentle watercolor illustrations. Per the intro, "it's a picture book, but it's not a children's book. Rather, it is a book for kids to share with parents and for parents to share with kids." All ages. $26, One World ___ 'Proper Badger Would Never' Written by Lauren Glattly, illustrated by Rob Sayegh "Proper Badger Would Never" by Lauren Glattly and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Badger was determined to be a perfectly proper guest at his first party, but his instincts may have gotten the better of him. Shred the gift wrapping paper? Never. Dig into the cake before it's served? Of course not. A colorful, texture-rich picture book that leans into joyful chaos. Recommended ages: 4 to 8. $18.99, Flamingo Books ___ 'Attack of the Scones' Written by Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney "Attack of the Scones: Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast" by Josh Funk and illustrated by Brendan Kearney In the sixth installment of the series, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast take on an alien invasion with the help of their fridge friends. Told in rhyming couplets with whimsical, expressive full-page illustrations. Recommended ages: 5 to 8. $8.99 paperback, $18.99 hardcover; Union Square Kids __ 'Bog Myrtle' Written and illustrated by Sid Sharp "Bog Myrtle" by Sid Sharp One sister loves the forest and its splendors; the other is more interested in money. Sharp uses literary devices from irony to alliteration to puns, taking on topics like worker rights and environmental sustainability. "This graphic novel is perfect for the quirky, goofy child in your life who loves deadpan humor and 'The Skull' by Jon Klassen," says Sarah Bradley, lead bookseller at Powell's Books. Recommended ages: 6 to 11. $22.99, Annick Press ___ 'My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast' Written by Zoje Stage and illustrated by J.E. Larson "My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast" by Zoje Stage and pictures by J. E. Larson Stage's book reimagines the monster under the bed as something far cuter and weirder. One day while cleaning her room, Pru finds a shy little creature called an UnderSlumberBumbleBeast. Includes crosshatch drawings and a glossary of the trickier vocabulary. Recommended ages: 7 to 10. $15.99, Bad Hand Books 'Otto Normal's Monsterton: The Disappearance of White Pine Beach' Written by Danielle McKechnie, illustrated by Simon Estrada "Otto Normal's Monsterton: The Disappearance of White Pine Beach" Otto moves with his mom from his normal California town to Monsterton, where they're the only humans among zombies, ghosts and sirens. Otto soon finds himself on a quick-paced adventure. With chunks of text broken up by beautiful digital color illustrations, blurring the line between chapter book and graphic novel, this glossy volume feels special to hold. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $22.99, Simon & Schuster ___ 'The Wild Robot' Written and illustrated by Peter Brown "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown Roz the robot is the sole survivor of a shipment gone overboard and has to adapt to the wild. She becomes the de facto mother of Brightbill the gosling, and the forest animals that shunned her otherness begin to form a community around her. Short chapters are punctuated by black-and-white illustrations. The trilogy saw a theatrical adaptation this year, and a special edition of the first volume features full-color inserts from the movie. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $8.99 single paperback, $54 box set, Hatchette Book Group ___ 'The Young Green Witch's Guide to Plant Magic' Written by Robin Rose Bennett, illustrated by Rachel Grant "The Young Green Witch’s Guide to Plant Magic: Rituals and Recipes from Nature" by Robin Rose Bennett and illustrated by Rachel Grant This herbalist's chapter book with watercolor illustrations imparts how to use different plants, along with lessons of appreciation and self-acceptance and breathing meditations. There are also recipes for handy concoctions kids can make with minimal adult supervision, such as oatmeal scrub, lavender honey and dandelion pesto. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $16.99, Running Press Kids ___ 'The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science' Written by Kate McKinnon, illustrated by Alfredo Cáceres "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" by Kate McKinnon Kate McKinnon of "Saturday Night Live" and "Barbie" fame tells the story of three adopted sisters who, having zero interest in perfecting the 85 ways to properly sit on a velvet fainting couch, find themselves expelled from etiquette school. Their new, extremely uncouth school puts them at the heart of a mystery in which the town is at stake. With fun fonts and the occasional illustration, the novel is a wildly imaginative celebration of strangeness with humor a la Lemony Snicket. Recommended ages: 8 to 12. $17.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ___ 'Plain Jane and the Mermaid' Written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol "Plain Jane and the Mermaid" by Vera Brosgol The recently orphaned Jane has a week to get married and get her dowry before she'll be kicked to the streets. Handsome Peter might have accepted Jane's proposal if he hadn't been kidnapped by a mermaid. This full-color graphic novel challenges gender roles and beauty standards through an underwater adventure full of snark and hilarious characters, rivaling Jeff Smith's "Bone." Recommended ages: 10 to 14. $14.99, First Second 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' A trilogy by Holly Jackson "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson Pip investigates a murder that she thinks another student was wrongly accused of. It's an ambitious project for a high school capstone, but Pip's an ambitious student. A TV adaptation of this true-crime-style story was produced by the BBC and released on Netflix over the summer. . Recommended ages: 14 and up. $14.99 single paperback, $47.97 box set, Ember ___ 'The Calculation of You and Me' By Serena Kaylor “The Calculation of You and Me" by Serena Kaylor Marlowe has great grades and a loving family, two best friends who understand her and all her autistic quirks, and a romantic boyfriend — until he breaks up with her, sending her perfectly categorized world into a tailspin. This sweet, funny, page-turning novel celebrates romance as an act and a genre. Recommended ages: 13 and up. $14 paperback, $24 hardcover, Wednesday Books ___ 'Lunar New Year Love Story' Written by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham "Lunar New Year Love Story" by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham Valentina has one year to prove she doesn't share her family's fate of all romances ending in misery. If she doesn't find lasting love by then, she will give her heart to Saint Valentine and be forever protected from heartbreak. The graphic novel celebrates Asian culture alongside the ups and downs of love. Recommended ages: 14 and up. $17.99 paperback, $25.99 hardcover, First Second Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more More consumers hope to cut out self-gifting this year. They may be making a mistake. More consumers hope to cut out self-gifting this year. They may be making a mistake. Americans are heading into the first holiday season in years where buying less may be the first thing on their minds. And this year, gift lists may exclude one important person: you. Stacker dug into Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey to explore the psychology behind Americans' reluctance to self-gift this year. In the modern era, holiday gifting includes a practice that may seem rooted in consumerism—giving ourselves gifts. However, "self-gifting," psychologists say, carries its own importance. It's one consumers intend to cut back on or eliminate entirely this holiday shopping season, according to Deloitte's 2024 holiday retail survey of over 4,000 U.S. consumers. We've all done it. With hard-to-resist Black Friday deals and hypertargeted advertising, it can be difficult to resist shopping for yourself when doing so for others. Meanwhile, the cost of goods and services has risen faster than usual every year since 2021, when post-COVID-19 pandemic inflation took root in the U.S. economy and altered how we consume. Even so, Americans expect to spend more on gifts this holiday than in the previous five years. Deloitte found that the average person anticipates spending $1,778 this year, a 19% increase from 2019, when the average expected spend was $1,496. Baked into that figure are consumers' expectations of higher prices this season, according to Deloitte. In response, some Americans are signaling they may do less for themselves. About 1 in 3 consumers intend to self-gift this year, down from almost half of all consumers last year, Deloitte found. At least 2 in 5 (43%) won't spend on themselves at all, up from 25% last year. Today, the appeal of giving gifts around winter holidays is nearly universal. The holidays have long been an occasion to show our love for others in the exchange of gifts. Though giving gifts may have emerged from the biblical story of the three wise men, Christmas celebrations were among the first to lean into a commercialized version of the winter holidays. Other religious traditions like the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah have evolved to include gifting as a part of its observance over the winter holiday. Even workplace culture has adopted gifting as a way to foster connections and lift moods with traditions like Secret Santa. This holiday season, though, our modern treat-yourself-culture could be on pause for many Americans. You may also like: How to increase your credit limit and keep a good credit score More Americans prepared to remove themselves from holiday gift lists Dr. Steve Westberg, a professor of marketing and consumer psychology at the University of Southern California, suggests that the uptick in surveyed adults who say they hope to scale back self-gifting this year may be due to consumer pessimism and financial concern. Faced with more limited options during the pandemic years, Americans bestowed themselves with material goods—some out of practical necessity, others not. Over the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons, Americans hunkered down at home to avoid catching or spreading the latest COVID-19 variant. They bought lots of furniture, electronics, and other items in lieu of spending on travel, outings, and live events. In 2022 and 2023, consumers embarked on so-called " revenge travel " to catch up on international and domestic trips. They attended the live music and sporting events they had missed out on. Today, there are signs that all of that spending is beginning to cause stress for the typical American consumer as prices remain painfully high . Americans' total amount of credit card debt is at an all-time high, and default rates for vehicle loans and credit cards are rising. In almost every major poll leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the economy and inflation were consistently the top issues driving voters to the polls. However, as consumers pull back, there's evidence that self-gifting can positively impact personal well-being . Jacqueline Rifkin, an assistant marketing and management communications professor at Cornell University, describes the practice as a way to self-regulate emotions. Self-gifting can express positive emotions in a way we may recognize as a celebration. "You just got a promotion, or you won some big award, you're feeling good, and you want to extend or amplify those good feelings. You can use self-gifting to achieve that," Rifkin told Stacker. Self-gifting can also be a way to deal with negative emotions. Rifkin published research in the Journal of Consumer Research on self-gifting, which revealed that people were least likely to gift things to themselves when under stress or feeling constrained—even though self-gifting can help us regulate during stressful moments. "If you're going through a rough time ... you can use self-gifting to pick yourself back up. One of the colloquial ways we think about this is 'retail therapy,'" Rifkin said. Can self-gifting and retail therapy veer into wasteful self-indulgence? Potentially, according to Westberg, who says the reasons we self-gift are similar to those that drive compulsive shopping habits. The act generates a positive emotional response. There's an important distinction, however, that experts draw between the two. Westberg and Rifkin agree that self-gifting stands out from other forms of shopping in that it incorporates intentionality. "You could define self-gifting as being a little more thoughtful in your choice," Westberg explained. Consumer advocates suggest that shoppers looking to cut back on spending create guardrails to help them shop more intentionally. Removing credit card information from our web browser's autofill function or delaying the impulse to "buy now" and creating a wish list instead can elongate the purchase process. Putting space between the initial urge to buy and the purchase can be revealing, too: It clarifies what's really meaningful and worthy enough to justify buying. For others, like Westberg, shopping satisfaction is derived from researching items to self-gift in the future. Westberg's initial inclination when it comes to self-gifting, like many of us, is to reward himself with some kind of "big ticket" item. "On the other hand, I don't know that I'll ever actually do that because once I have it, the anticipation aspect is going to go away," Westberg said. "So while I do think about self-gifting myself a car ... I get a lot of enjoyment [from] doing the research. ... [It's] the thoughtfulness that I can put into it rather than having the physical thing." According to Rifkin, our reluctance to give ourselves gifts isn't always born of financial constraints but also a belief that giving ourselves something won't actually make us feel better, even though it can. She advises consumers to remember that gifts can take on different forms this holiday season, and many of them don't cost a thing. "It's this intentional behavior that we engage in. It's something you do, you do it on purpose, and you do it for yourself," Rifkin said. "Could it be going for a walk around the block? Absolutely. Could it be dusting off a book that you hadn't read in a while and spending an hour reading it? Yes." Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Kristen Wegrzyn. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
Gone are the days of relying solely on traditional cable TV or physical media for our viewing pleasure. Instead, we now have a plethora of options at our fingertips, thanks to the advent of media streaming devices. These devices, ranging from streaming sticks to set-top boxes, have revolutionized the way we consume content, offering unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Whether it’s catching up on the latest Netflix series, streaming live sports events, or accessing a vast library of on-demand movies, media streaming devices have become an integral part of modern entertainment setups. Table of Contents The Rise of Smart TVs and Integrated Streaming Services With the proliferation of smart TVs in recent years, many consumers may wonder if dedicated media streaming devices are still necessary. After all, most modern televisions come equipped with built-in streaming apps and internet connectivity, allowing users to access popular services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video directly from their TV screens.However, while smart TVs offer a convenient all-in-one solution for streaming content, they often lack the advanced features and customization options found in dedicated media streaming devices. Moreover, the user experience and performance of built-in streaming apps can vary significantly depending on the TV manufacturer and model. The Need for Dedicated Media Streaming Devices For avid streamers and home entertainment enthusiasts, dedicated media streaming devices offer several advantages over built-in smart TV apps. These devices typically provide a more responsive and user-friendly interface, along with a wider range of streaming options and features.Additionally, dedicated media streaming devices often receive more frequent software updates and support for new streaming services, ensuring a more future-proof entertainment experience. Whether it’s accessing live TV channels, streaming music, or playing casual games, these devices offer a versatile and customizable entertainment solution for users of all preferences. Exploring the Best Media Streaming Devices of 2024 In the ever-expanding market of media streaming devices, several standout options have emerged, each offering unique features and capabilities to cater to different user needs and preferences. At the forefront of the media streaming landscape is the Google Chromecast with Google TV. This device stands out for its intuitive interface, intelligent search functionality, and comprehensive support for various streaming formats, including Dolby Vision HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio.Unlike traditional streaming platforms that rely on a grid-based app layout, the Google TV home page prioritizes personalized recommendations and recently watched content, making it easier for users to discover new shows and movies. Additionally, the inclusion of a live TV interface further enhances the viewing experience, allowing seamless integration of live channels from multiple apps. Another top contender in the media streaming market is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. This compact HDMI stick offers a clean and simple interface, making it easy to navigate and access a wide range of streaming services.One of the standout features of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is its ability to draw power from the TV’s USB port, eliminating the need for an additional power source. The inclusion of AirPlay 2 support also allows users to stream content from their iOS devices with ease.While the Roku interface may not be as visually polished as Google TV, it offers extensive customization options and support for all major 4K HDR video standards. Additionally, the RF-based remote provides added convenience, with dedicated power and volume controls for the TV and a built-in microphone for voice search. The Amazon Fire Stick provides a seamless and intuitive way to stream a vast selection of movies, TV shows, music, and more directly to your television. With its compact design and plug-and-play functionality, the Fire Stick transforms any standard TV into a smart entertainment hub, offering access to popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video. One of the key advantages of the Fire Stick is its integration with Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant. Users can use voice commands to search for content, control playback, and even access other smart home devices, making for a hands-free and convenient viewing experience. Additionally, the Fire Stick’s user interface is designed for ease of navigation, with personalized recommendations and curated content tailored to individual preferences. The Future of Media Streaming Devices As technology continues to evolve, we can expect media streaming devices to become even more advanced and sophisticated in the years to come. With the ongoing development of high-resolution video formats, immersive audio technologies, and enhanced user interfaces, the future of home entertainment looks brighter than ever.Moreover, as streaming services continue to proliferate and compete for consumers’ attention, media streaming devices will play a crucial role in delivering a seamless and integrated viewing experience across various platforms and content sources. Conclusion: Embracing the Era of Media Streaming In conclusion, the world of media streaming devices offers a wealth of options for consumers seeking to enhance their home entertainment setup. Whether it’s the sleek and modern interface of the Google Chromecast with Google TV or the versatility and convenience of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, there’s a device to suit every preference and budget.As we look to the future, the role of media streaming devices in shaping the way we consume content will only continue to grow. With their advanced features, customizable interfaces, and seamless integration with streaming services, these devices have become indispensable tools for modern-day entertainment enthusiasts.So, whether you’re binge-watching your favorite TV series, catching up on the latest blockbusters, or discovering new music and podcasts, media streaming devices offer endless possibilities for entertainment at your fingertips. Embrace the era of media streaming and unlock a world of entertainment like never before.Tweet Facebook Mail Scuffles and fistfights broke out between ruling party and opposition lawmakers in Serbia's parliament overnight, weeks after a deadly rail station roof collapse that ignited tensions in the Balkan state. The opposition wanted to discuss who is responsible for the crash that killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad on November 1, while governing officials, who have a majority in Serbia's legislature, sought to adopt a bill on next year's state budget. The opposition displayed a banner showing a red hand print reading "blood is on your hands". The ruling party responded with a banner accusing the opposition of wanting "war while Serbia wants to work". READ MORE: Special counsel Jack Smith drops election subversion case against Donald Trump A fight broke out in Serbia's parliament amid a heated debate. (AP) Scuffles erupted when the two sides tried to grab each other's banner. The rail station, a major hub, was recently renovated as part of a Serbian-Chinese partnership. Critics allege that corruption, poor oversight and inadequate construction work contributed to the tragedy. The collapse has fueled widespread anger toward the government and protests, becoming a flashpoint for broader dissatisfaction with Serbia's authoritarian rule. There are growing public demands for transparency while the country undertakes large infrastructure projects, mostly with Chinese state companies. READ MORE: Tourist yacht sinks in high waves, 17 people missing The opposition accused the government of having blood on their hands. (AP) Serbia's parliament speaker Ana Brnabic yesterday accused the opposition of wanting to come to power by force with help from outside. "There is not a hint, not a grain of doubt, that these are people who are well organised, who were trained quite well, I believe paid well, to create chaos in Serbia and destabilise our country," she said. Serbia's autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that the "daily bullying" and "the savage behaviour" of the opposition would not be tolerated. READ MORE: Judge delays sentencing decision for killer Menendez brothers "I want to reassure the citizens and tell them that we will respond to their rudeness, rudeness and arrogance with even more work in the future." he said. "Today they tried to prevent pensioners from receiving their increased pensions, public sector employees from their increased salaries. They won't succeed." Opposition leader Dragan Djilas said the speaker had "shut down" the parliament by refusing to allow a debate on who's responsible for the tragedy. "She started with that when she refused to put on the agenda the request of more than 80 members of the opposition for a debate on confidence in the government because of the murder and crime in Novi Sad," Djilas said. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Sebastian Thomas' 19 points helped Rhode Island defeat Providence 69-63 on Saturday. Thomas shot 7 for 14 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Rams (9-0). Jaden House scored 18 points and added five rebounds. David Green shot 4 for 11 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points, while adding eight rebounds and three blocks. The Friars (6-4) were led in scoring by Bryce Hopkins, who finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Bensley Joseph added 16 points and two steals for Providence. Jayden Pierre also had 12 points and three steals. House scored 14 points in the first half and Rhode Island went into halftime trailing 35-28. Thomas scored 17 points down the stretch in the second half to help lead Rhode Island to a six-point victory. NEXT UP Both teams next play Tuesday. Rhode Island visits Brown and Providence squares off against DePaul on the road. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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Paul Leonard, a resident of the Seminole Springs Mobile Home Park, looks at destroyed property on Nov. 11, 2018, after wildfires tore through the neighborhood in Agoura Hills, Calif. Leonard said his own property was spared. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press) A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crew buries utility lines in Paradise, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2019. (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2018. (Noah Berger/Associated Press) Paul Leonard, a resident of the Seminole Springs Mobile Home Park, looks at destroyed property on Nov. 11, 2018, after wildfires tore through the neighborhood in Agoura Hills, Calif. Leonard said his own property was spared. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press) By Alejandro Lazo Diane Moss lost her home in the Santa Monica Mountains after power lines ignited the apocalyptic Woolsey Fire in 2018. Since then, she’s pressed for a safer electric grid in California. “It’s so easy to forget the risk that we live in — until it happens to you,” said Moss, a longtime clean energy advocate. “All of us in California have to think about how we better prepare to survive disaster, which is only going to be more of a problem as the climate changes.” In recent years, California’s power companies have been doing just that: insulating power lines and burying lines underground, trimming trees, deploying drones and using risk-detection technology. As wildfires across the U.S. intensify, California is on the leading edge of efforts to prevent more deadly and destructive fires ignited by downed power lines and malfunctioning equipment. Customers have shouldered a hefty price for wildfire safety measures. From 2019 through 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission authorized the three largest utilities to collect $27 billion in wildfire prevention and insurance costs from ratepayers, according to a CPUC report to the Legislature in July. And the costs are projected to keep rising. The three companies — Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — continue to seek billions more from customers for wildfire prevention spending. Rates are expected to continue outpacing inflation through 2027. Fire safety projects are a big part of the reason that Californians pay the highest electric rates in the nation, outside of Hawaii. Other reasons include rooftop solar incentives, new transmission systems and upgrades for electric vehicles. Higher electric bills have helped fuel a statewide affordability crisis alongside soaring housing prices, expensive groceries and costly gasoline. Small businesses are feeling the burden, along with the state’s poorest residents: One in three low-income households served by the three utilities fell behind in paying their power bills this year. California’s three investor-owned utilities are regulated monopolies, so when they spend money on costs related to wildfires, they recover it through customers’ bills. The price of electricity has ignited debate about how much California families should bear for the cost of wildfire prevention, whether utilities are balancing risk and affordability and whether the money is being spent wisely. Loretta Lynch, a former head of the state utilities commission, said lack of oversight is a problem, with the commission “rubber-stamping outrageous costs” and allowing the companies to “address wildfires in the most expensive, least effective way possible.” One of the biggest controversies is whether the utilities should be spending so much on burying power lines, an extremely costly and slow process. Last year, a state audit concluded that the utilities commission and the state’s advocates office must do more to verify whether utilities were completing the work they sought payment for. PG&E has buried 800 miles of power lines since 2021, with each mile costing between $3 million and $4 million. Last year the company’s $3.7 billion plan to bury 1,230 miles of lines through 2026 was approved. The three companies say the billions of dollars in spending is necessary as climate change worsens wildfires across the state. Utility equipment has caused less than 10% of the state’s fires but nearly half of its most destructive fires, according to the utilities commission. PG&E, which a few years ago came out of bankruptcy triggered by its liability for several deadly, destructive fires, has adopted the stance that “catastrophic wildfires shall stop.” The company, which serves the most high-risk areas in California, is the state’s largest spender on wildfire prevention. PG&E plans to bury 10,000 miles of power lines in its highest-risk areas — work that is highly contentious because it is costly and slow. The company has buried 800 miles since 2021, with each mile costing between $3 million and $4 million. Last year, the commission approved a $3.7 billion plan for PG&E to bury 1,230 miles of lines through 2026. Sumeet Singh, PG&E’s chief operating officer, told said the utility is concerned about rates, too. He said the company is “very committed to stabilizing our customer rates as we go forward without compromising safety.” “I think that’s clear, that it’s a non-negotiable,” he said. “There’s a pretty robust process, and oversight, that we are under.” Kevin Geraghty, chief operating officer of SDG&E, called the wildfire spending process “the most highly-scrutinized, regulatory utility process I have ever been involved in, in my life.” Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in October aimed at tackling the high costs of electricity, asking state agencies to evaluate their oversight of wildfire projects and ensure that the utilities are focused on “cost-effective” measures. He is seeking proposals for changes in rules or laws by Jan. 1. The spark for the increased spending came seven years ago, after California suffered one of its worst droughts and a series of devastating wildfires in 2017 and 2018, many ignited by utility equipment. Sixteen fires were caused by PG&E equipment during a rash of October 2017 fires that decimated Napa, Sonoma and other Northern California counties. That December, the Thomas Fire, sparked by Southern California Edison equipment, engulfed parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. But the devastation of 2017 was only a prelude to an even graver year. On Nov. 8, 2018, the Camp Fire leveled the town of Paradise, killing 85 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in state history. The Camp Fire was caused by the failure of an old metal hook attached to a PG&E transmission tower. An intense wind event pushed the fire at a rate of roughly 80 football fields per minute at its peak. The company in 2020 pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for its role in the disaster. The same day as the destruction in Paradise, another fire ignited some 470 miles south. In the Simi Hills of Ventura County, Southern California Edison wires in two separate locations made contact with others, triggering “arc” flashes that rained hot metal fragments and sparks onto the dry brush below. These triggered two blazes, which soon merged to form the Woolsey Fire. Santa Ana winds spread the conflagration across parched terrain, with swaths of the nationally protected Santa Monica Mountains reduced to ash. Moss, the clean energy advocate, evacuated her home with her son that day. Her husband, clinging to hope, stayed until the blaze threatened to swallow him whole. Their neighborhood near Malibu, with its heavily wooded surroundings, was no match for the inferno. “My husband stayed until the last minute, when it just — it looked like it could cost him his life,” Moss said. “Everybody else left, and just about all of us lost.” Three people died. Moss’ home was gone, reduced to a hollowed out structure and charred rubble, along with about 100,000 acres of parkland and wilderness, more than any other fire in recorded history for that area. In 2019, downed PG&E lines ignited Sonoma County’s Kincade Fire. Then two years later, the Dixie Fire, also caused by PG&E equipment, became the second largest wildfire in California history, burning 963,000 acres north of Chico. The 2021 Dixie Fire, which claimed one life and destroyed 1,311 structures, was the last catastrophic wildfire in California confirmed to be caused by utility equipment. The number of fires triggered by the companies’ equipment fluctuates from year to year, driven by the huge variability in California’s weather. But data from 2014 through 2023 indicate there were substantially fewer fires last year than in other recent years. SDG&E equipment caused 16 fires after its high of 32 fires in 2015, Southern California Edison had 90 fires, compared to a 2021 high of 173, and PG&E reported 374 fires after a high of 510 in 2020. PG&E also reported that fires in its highest-risk areas trended down every month of 2023 compared to the same months in previous years. But that progress reversed this year, with 62 fires reported by August in high-risk areas, compared to 65 in all of 2023. PG&E would not provide 2024 fire data to CalMatters. Caroline Thomas Jacobs, inaugural director of the state Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, established in 2021 to oversee utility safety, said progress can be hard to measure. Nevertheless, she said she has seen a cultural shift at electric companies in recent years, with a more focused approach in high-risk areas and an environment that empowers workers to prioritize safety. “It just takes the wrong ignition ... under the right conditions, to have a catastrophic fire,” Thomas Jacobs said. “But are we in a better place? The numbers seem to indicate we’re moving in the right direction.” PG&E has installed more than 1,500 weather stations and 600 AI-enabled cameras to detect severe weather and ignitions, Singh said. Enhanced safety systems now cut power to lines within a tenth of a second. The utility also has cleared vegetation, ordered power shutoffs during high-risk times, insulated lines and buried some lines underground. “Where do we see the greatest risk?” Singh said the company asks itself. “What is the most cost-effective way to be able to reduce that risk for every dollar that’s spent?” Southern California Edison said since its investments began in 2019, the risk of catastrophic wildfire in its system has dropped between 85 and 90%. The company plans to bury 600 miles of lines in high-risk areas but it is relying much more on less-expensive insulating technology, which already has been used on more than 6,000 miles of lines. SDG&E began prioritizing wildfire prevention, including underground and insulated lines, a decade ahead of the other two utilities, after its lines sparked three major fires in 2007. The company has avoided a catastrophic fire since 2007, despite operating in one of the nation’s most fire-prone regions. “We continue to double down, and do and do more tomorrow than we did yesterday,” said Brian D’Agostino, the utility’s vice president of wildfire and climate science. “We don’t take a single day without a fire for granted.” Critics say the scramble to address the wildfire crisis has left the state vulnerable to overspending by utilities. About two months before the Camp and Woolsey fires, outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 signed a $1 billion plan to thin forests and clear out the tinderbox of California’s dead and dying trees. That measure came too late to prevent the devastation. But it opened the door to increased spending by utilities beyond limits set in the highly deliberative process known as their general rate cases, which determine what Californians pay. Newsom and the Legislature in 2019 created a $21 billion wildfire fund paid for by Wall Street investors and California ratepayers to help PG&E exit bankruptcy and protect utilities from being financially threatened by the wildfires they cause. The utilities cannot access the state’s $21 billion fund unless their wildfire plans are approved by the energy safety office. One problem, critics say, is that the safety plans are approved by one government entity while the spending to carry them out is approved by another. “We now have this very odd system,” said Lynch, who served on the utilities commission from 2000 through 2004. “The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety reviews the plans, puts out guidelines, but then the (commission) still has to ratify the plans, so that the utilities can take money from their ratepayers.” On a temperate, clear morning in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of Placerville in October, a PG&E construction crew donned yellow jackets and safety helmets and went about the work of burying power lines along a narrow, wooded road. Overhead lines snaked through thick trees in this area — prime fire risk territory. The workers buried the lines in a trench that had been dug using a heavy piece of equipment designed to cut hard concrete and soil. Once those power lines are buried and activated, their risk of fires are all but eliminated. Burying lines in high-risk areas improves reliability amid rising wildfire risks and extreme weather, PG&E’s Singh said. Though it’s pricier up front, it eliminates the yearly expense of trimming trees and vegetation, which makes it a better, long-run value for customers, he said. “Underground is a no-brainer when you look at it from that lens,” Singh said. But the high cost and the time it takes to do the work has left some skeptical. The company has buried 800 miles of wires underground since 2021, and plans to bury more than 1,600 by the end of 2026. It aims to get the cost per mile down to $2.8 million by the end of 2026 from $3 million at the end of 2023. Michael Campbell, assistant deputy director of energy for the California Public Advocates Office, a state entity that represents utility customers, said PG&E should consider other means of preventing wildfire, like insulated wires, otherwise known as “covered conductors.” This can be deployed more quickly and at a lower cost, he said, and is effective when combined with operational techniques like fast trip settings and power safety shutoffs. “In some areas, (burying power lines) really is the correct approach to minimize risk. But it’s also very slow and very expensive, and so there’s a need to address safety in as many miles as quickly as possible, to reduce overall risk,” Campbell said. The utilities commission has taken a proof-of-concept approach: The commission scaled back PG&E’s plan to bury 2,000 miles through 2026 to 1,230. The commission approved installing covered conductors, or insulated power lines, over 778 miles. Lynch is skeptical of utilities and their big projects because they can profit from them, and Mark Toney, executive director of the Utility Reform Network, says too much spending is going unchecked. The sense of urgency following fires paved the way for the multi-billion surge in spending. The commission authorized PG&E, for instance, to spend $4.66 billion on wildfire costs from 2020 through 2022, but the company ultimately spent $11.7 billion and is seeking payment through utility bills, according to the Utility Reform Network. Audits of nearly $2.5 billion in 2019 and 2020 wildfire spending found some costs from PG&E, Southern California Edison and SDG&E may already have been covered by previously approved rates, or more documentation was needed to confirm they had not been covered. The utilities challenged many of the findings, saying they didn’t plan to claim some of the costs, and disputed the auditor’s conclusions as well as some of their calculations. In interviews with CalMatters, representatives for all three utilities said the process in place to oversee wildfire spending at the utilities commission was robust and thorough. Geraghty, of SDG&E, said the process is transparent, with public comment periods and hearings. Regarding critics who say wildfire prevention should be cheaper and faster, “every one of them had that voice, had that say, had that transparency through this entire process,” he said. Some expenses, such as operating costs, have an immediate impact on how much people pay in their bills. But other costs, such as long-term investments in insulating or burying power lines, are stretched out over years, meaning they add to bills for decades to come. Over time, these capital costs are growing due to factors like depreciation and the returns utilities are allowed to generate. This creates a compounding effect, meaning wildfire-related capital costs will take up an increasing share of what California customers are charged in the future. The rate hikes have alarmed climate activists who fear rising power bills in California may trigger a backlash against the state’s effort to switch to renewable energy, and influence other states, too. “The state, we fear, will start to lose the political will to keep pushing on,” said Mohit Chhabra, a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The problem with that is not that California will be a few years late — we can handle that. But the impact on all the other states who are looking at California.” Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett and Miguel Gutierrez Jr. contributed to this report.
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