Domestic, Foreign Portfolios Investors Push Stock Market Tansactions to N4.9trn YoYEDMONTON — Joe Iginla scored a hat trick and the Edmonton Oil Kings thumped the Red Deer Rebels 8-2 on Sunday night in the Western Hockey League. Iginla, the 16-year-old son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, buried his fifth, sixth and seventh goals of the season. The hat trick goal came at 18:19 of the third period. Roan Woodward added two goals and an assist while Gracyn Sawchyn had three helpers for Edmonton. Gavin Hodnett, Marshall Finnie and Kayden Stroeder also scored. Alex Worthington made 20 saves. Carson Birnie and Ollie Josephson replied for Red Deer. Chase Wutzke allowed seven goals on 33 shots and Peyton Shore stopped eight of nine. CALGARY — Ben Kindel scored twice, including the overtime winner, and the Calgary Hitmen edged the Medicine Hat Tigers. Ethan Moore and Maxim Muranov also scored for Medicine Hat. Anders Miller stopped 22 shots. Ryder Ritchie replied twice and Bryce Pickford also scored for Medicine Hat. Jordan Switzer made 36 saves. LANGLEY, B.C. — Ty Halaburda scored twice, including a short-handed game-winning goal, and the Vancouver Giants beat the Kelowna Rockets. Jaden Lipinski also scored for Vancouver and Matthew Hutchison made 22 saves. Max Graham replied for Kelowna. Rhett Stoesser stopped 24 shots. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. The Canadian Pressubet93 。

Sports world reacts to death of President Jimmy Carter, with Arthur M. Blank, MLB and more paying tribute

On Sunday, former President Jimmy Carter died at age 100, following . The sports world joined the nation in mourning the former president, who was an ardent sports fan, especially with teams in his native Georgia. President Carter was honored by a number of teams based in Atlanta, including the Atlanta Falcons, with the team stating that it mourned Carter's passing. We mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) Arthur M. Blank, the owner of the Falcons and MLS team Atlanta United, put out a lengthy tribute to Carter on social media. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and role model, President Jimmy Carter. He was a great America, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humantarian," Blank wrote in a posted to the accounts of both teams and the Blank Family Foundation. In the statement, Blank spoke about meeting Carter, who he described as a principled humanitarian and "an avid sports fan" of the Falcons and Atlanta United. "Mostly, I will remember President Carter as my friend, a guiding light and someone who served humanity day in and day out - a quality he exhibited daily throughout his remarkable life," Blank wrote. "I join with the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and a grieving nation in mourning the loss of one of the world's most compassionate souls. I will miss his dearly." A statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter from Arthur M. Blank. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, his loved ones and all Americans. — Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (@BlankFoundation) Another local team, the Atlanta Braves, wrote in a on social media that the late president "was a testament to the best America, and Georgia can produce." "While the world knew him as a remarkable humanitarian and peacemaker, we knew him as a dedicated Braves fan and we will miss having him in the stands cheering on his Braves," the team said in the statement. — Atlanta Braves (@Braves) Nationally, multiple leagues honored President Carter on social media. In a , MLB wrote mourned the former president's passing, and wrote about Carter's love of the Braves. "A Georgia native, President Carter was an ardent supporter of the Atlanta Braves. As Governor of Georgia, he was in attendance when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium on April 8, 1974," the league wrote. "Over the years, President and Mrs. Carter would often be seen cheering on the Braves in many Postseason contests. We extend our deepest condolences to the Carter family." We join the nation in mourning the passing of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of The United States. A Georgia native, President Carter was an ardent supporter of the Atlanta Braves. As Governor of Georgia, he was in attendance when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record... — MLB (@MLB) The NBA wrote that the league as a whole mourned the president' passing. "President Carter's extraordinary humanitarian efforts and commitment to public service are an inspiration to people everywhere," the league wrote in a on social media. The NBA family mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter’s extraordinary humanitarian efforts and commitment to public service are an inspiration to people everywhere. — NBA (@NBA) Navy Football also wrote a post in honor of President Carter. The late president graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1947, and played sprint football with the Midshipmen. Rest in Peace President Carter — Navy Football (@NavyFB) The Muhammad Ali Center also put out a statement, with the organization praising Carter for the work he did in his lifetime. The tribute included a photo of the famous boxer shaking hands with President Carter during a visit to the White House. Ali died in 2016, at the age of 74. "President Jimmy Carter was a Humanitarian, a patriot, an advocate. He and Muhammad Ali shared a long friendship, and we share in the country's mourning the loss of this giant figure," said the center in a . President Jimmy Carter was a Humanitarian, a patriot, an advocate. He and Muhammad Ali shared a long friendship, & we share in the country’s mourning the loss of this giant figure. “Our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears & prejudices.”- Jimmy Carter — Muhammad Ali Center (@AliCenter)

NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Joe Biden led US presidents and other world leaders in paying tribute Sunday to Jimmy Carter who died aged 100. "Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian," President Biden said in a statement released by the White House. "He saved, lifted and changed the lives of people all across the globe." To President-elect Donald Trump, Americans owe Carter "a debt of gratitude." "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," he said on social media. Former president Bill Clinton, a Southern Democrat like Carter, said his predecessor had "worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world." He added, in a joint statement with his wife and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, that Carter "lived to serve others -- until the very end." To former president George W. Bush, Carter "dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency." And for former president Barack Obama, Carter "taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service." Among other US politicians sharing their condolences, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Carter "taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others." Carter "was early to recognize that protecting our shared planet and promoting global public health were vital to national security interests," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. In one of the first reactions from abroad, French President Emmanuel Macron said Carter had "been a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace. "France sends its heartfelt thoughts to his family and to the American people," he said. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted Carter's post-presidency work with the nonprofit Carter Center "saved countless lives and helped bring many neglected tropical diseases close to elimination." Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hailed Carter as "a lover of democracy and defender of peace," noting his pressuring of Brazil's dictatorship to release political prisoners. "He criticized unilateral military action by superpowers and the use of killer drones," Lula said. "He worked with Brazil to mediate conflicts in Venezuela and to help Haiti." "He will be remembered forever as a name that defends the idea that peace is the most important condition for development."

Beyond Bank Australia leverages Cognizant's expertise to modernize IT infrastructure and enhance operational resilience. SYDNEY and TEANECK, N.J. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) has announced a collaboration with Beyond Bank Australia , one of Australia's largest customer-owned banks, to help revolutionize the digital banking experience. The collaboration aims to enhance operational resilience, streamline processes and improve customer experience through the implementation of innovative technology solutions. Cognizant's engagement is expected to uplift Beyond Bank's End User Compute (EUC) teams, automate patching processes, enable self-service and extend the value of existing licenses. These initiatives aim to create an even more resilient and secure environment for Beyond Bank's operations. Additionally, this collaboration seeks to modernize the bank's IT infrastructure, establish a Security Operations Centre (SOC) and strengthen vendor assurance frameworks to help align with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) standards. Beyond Bank's digital transformation focuses on several key workstreams, including cloud and API architecture modernization and an enterprise-wide Windows 11 migration. These integrations will be designed to be flexible, scalable and secure technology ecosystems that enable the introduction of new products with enhanced speed to market, further preparing Beyond Bank for future growth. Cognizant will also help develop a comprehensive data and information management strategy for Beyond Bank. Leveraging AI, this strategy aims to optimize structured data from core banking systems and organize unstructured data from knowledge management sources for organization-wide insights, enabling more tailored services for its customers. Leveraging Cognizant's deep banking expertise, Beyond Bank will introduce new products and services designed to better serve a younger demographic, while simultaneously enhancing the overall service experience for all customers. "Our partnership with Cognizant is pivotal in advancing our digital transformation," said Stevie-Ann Dovico , Chief Information Officer, Beyond Bank Australia. "Their expertise allows us to modernize our IT infrastructure and enhance security, aligning with our values as a customer-owned bank. Cognizant's comprehensive approach makes them the ideal partner to help us better serve our customers." "Beyond Bank is a lighthouse client for us in the customer-owned banking sector," said Rob Marchiori , Australia Country Manager at Cognizant. "By enhancing their digital capabilities, we will help them provide better services to their customers and support paving the way for a resilient banking model that addresses current and future market demands." The customer-owned banking sector is navigating increased regulatory burdens, economic pressures, and the need for digital transformation. With increased cost-to-income ratios and net interest margins, banks need to modernize operations and enhance customer engagement through innovative technology. The collaboration between Beyond Bank and Cognizant highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in supporting innovation and maintaining service standards in the evolving financial sector. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences to stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we're improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant. About Beyond Bank Australia Beyond Bank is one of Australia's largest customer-owned banks with branches and offices in New South Wales , South Australia , Western Australia , ACT and Victoria . We partner with more than 6000 community organisations around the nation to create and return value for our customers and communities. Beyond Bank is a B Corp, a business that is certified as meeting high standards of social and environmental impact, ensuring their practices benefit people, communities and our planet. To learn more, visit beyondbank.com.au For more information, contact: globalcommunications@cognizant.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beyond-bank-and-cognizant-join-forces-to-lead-the-future-of-customer-owned-banking-302328856.html SOURCE Cognizant Technology SolutionsSurvey on isolation: Nearly half of Minnesotans report feeling left out at timesThe NBA has a problem. When the playoffs expanded to include a play-in game, making it so 20 of 30 teams make the postseason, the league had further de-emphasized the importance of its 82-game regular season. While the two months of NBA playoffs are some of the most dramatic must-watch TV of the year, it’s the six months of regular season live-event programming that is the league’s bread-and-butter when it comes to ticket sales and TV revenue. Last season, in an effort to create some in-season excitement, the league created an in-season tournament, the second edition of which was rebranded the Emirates NBA Cup and tipped off last week with group play before eight teams advance to the knockout round on December 10-17. The in-season tourney is, objectively, a meaningless competition. Each game still just counts as a regular season win or loss, and winning the Cup carries no competitive advantage to the winning team (although players advancing to the knock-out round earn bonuses ranging from $100,000 to $500,000). Is the NBA Cup a cheap gimmick or a worthy experiment? For an entertainment business, that evaluation will be left to its consumers to decide via the metrics of ticket sales, TV ratings, and online engagement. But the one aspect of the NBA Cup experiment that should have quickly been deemed a failure — and killed off like that grating character on your new favorite show before the start of Season 2 — is the specialty basketball courts designed in bold colors that scream, “YOU ARE NOT WATCHING A NORMAL GAME!” The problem with the NBA Cups’ colorful courts is not a question of style, taste, or some conservative need to cling to tradition. The NBA Cup was a business decision, and for the NBA, that means TV, having just signed a mind-boggling $76 billion deal with ESPN/ABC, NBCU, and Amazon Prime Video. At a time when those same studios are cutting content costs across the board, the NBA just received a 160 percent pay raise. And it’s from this perspective of the NBA as TV programming that the colorful courts are an objective failure, shattering basic Filmmaking 101 principles designed to make it so the audience can follow the action, the drama, and the characters. To understand just how wrongheaded the choice is to introduce these bold new colors, it’s worth analyzing why the boring old hardwood floor courts work so well. First off, it is boring — the floor isn’t the exciting part of the game, the 10 players battling on the 90-foot court are the show, while the 18,000 screaming fans supply the energy. The floor, which reflects light, and is intentionally constructed of a subtle mix of light and darker pieces of maple wood, increase visibility, so that the players and the ball stand out. This is production design 101: Certain backdrops, combined with lighting, make the stars stand out from their backdrop — creating a sense of depth so your eye is drawn to and can clearly delineate the action the director wants you to track. On Tuesday, the NBA had its first marquee matchup of the young season: The 15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers versus the reigning champs, the Boston Celtics. And because Cavs/Celtics was a Cup game, the Boston home court was green — you can take a look at the featured photo at the top of the page to get a full sense of the design. Over the last three seasons, even the most casual NBA fan has become familiar with the core cast of the Celtics team. Flip on the game, and one instantly recognizes the smooth reserve of Jayson Tatum, the explosiveness of Jaylen Brown, the lumbering 6’ 11” frame of crafty 38-year old veteran Al Horford, and so on. Except against the green colored court, even on my carefully calibrated 4K OLED TV, I struggled to tell who was who — the distinguishing features of the players, their faces, size, movement, style of play, skin color, haircuts, was lost against the sea of green. If the NBA was a TV show, and it is, the production designer would be fired. Movie stars would refuse to work with them, and they’d be out of the business. And I know what you are thinking: Equating Stephen Curry shooting a 3-pointer and Angelina Jolie playing Maria Callas is a false equivalent, and I’d agree. Movie stars like Jolie no longer drive box office, while Curry (even when his Warrior teams are mediocre) has consistently and significantly driven increased tickets sales and TV ratings. The NBA’s huge advantage over other sports is the intimacy and familiarity we have with its players. Compared to baseball and soccer, the NBA court is relatively small, and like Anne Hathaway sitting courtside we are up-close-and-personal. Compared to football and hockey, NBA players’ faces and bodies are not covered up with helmets and other protective equipment. Our familiarity with the players is not unlike that with movie stars. Each player not only possesses a distinct skill set, they have a style, a swagger, a rhythm, and a source of physical self-expression. Their personality, intelligence, relationship with teammates, friction with coaches, and determination are laid bare on the court. And most importantly, their true character as competitive athletes is revealed in the climactic fourth quarter of a close game. One of the defining moments of Michael Jordan’s career, and the NBA as dramatic television, was Game 5 of the 1997 Finals . Jordan had food poisoning. We were told by the announcers he was flu-stricken and might not play. When Jordan did appear, one look at his sunken face, his shuffling feet, and we all instantly related to what the best athlete in the world was going through — we had each been there ourselves, that 24-hours of not being able to hold down food or water and feeling like a wet dish rag. Jordan scored 38 points that game, and during timeouts leaned on teammates like a drunk using a wall to prop himself up. In the fourth quarter, as he willed the team to victory, what was revealed was not Jordan’s insane basketball skill and athleticism but an inner fortitude and competitive drive that defied our understanding of human capacity. What was revealed that day was how a dramatic human moment could be captured by the distinct storytelling art of the modern sports filmmaking of the NBA. Basketball is the perfect TV show. Modern camera technology and NASA-like equipment designed for professionals to smoothly move it places the viewer in the battle. An unappreciated craft is that of the sports directors who cut between angles in real time with incredible precision and storytelling instincts. Maybe the most infuriating thing about the colored Cup courts is it prevents these directors from cutting between angles. Why? Because the shots don’t match. It’s jarring to go from a high angle master shot of the game with the bright colored back drop, to a closer eye-level shot without it. “Gladiator II” opens this weekend, and director Ridley Scott ’s ability to do much the same thing with his army of cameras capturing characters fighting to the death in the Roman Colosseum will bring millions to the cineplexes . A thought experiment for NBA executives: Can you image Sir Ridley changing the color of the Colosseum’s sand to fire-engine red to attract more viewers? Oklahoma City Thunder Turquoise? Celtic Kelly Green? This year, teams are making an effort to make color court choices that complement or contrast with their home jerseys, as if the NBA is now in the pink-green colorful world of “Wicked” — a cinematic world that took months of careful planning among set dressing, props, costumes, VFX, and lighting design, all of which required a level of precision and testing and control to execute (basically, the exact opposite of a 48-minute basketball game). The problem with the NBA taking this approach is, by definition, complementary colors make both colors pop, and so while it might be more pleasing to the eye, it only heightens the emphasis and draws attention to the floor color itself. And by the way, there are five other players on the court wearing a different color jersey. Again, the advantage of the traditional blended maple wood floor is that regardless of uniform, shoe, skin, or hair color, or the orange basketball itself, it showcases and lifts what matters most. It’s the flexible and durable canvas for the multi-cultural, fashion-forward (flashy throwback jerseys! signature sneakers!), unpredictable drama of the NBA to be painted. And how an entertainment business that has gotten Hollywood to fork over tens of billions of dollars to show it on TV doesn’t recognize that is truly mind-blowing.

Creators are set to beat the algorithm with direct connectionsMichigan House gallery closed mid-session due to security concerns

1. An LCD doodle tablet that will inspire some serious creativity all while saving paper. (Trust us, the trees will thank you.) Promising review: "My son is 4-years-old, and once he got it, he played with it for two hours. We played Pictionary, tic-tac-toe, and practiced his writing. Great for being stuck inside. Just wish I bought more for gifts." — Mindy Ciglar Price: $13.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes) 2. A Silly Poopy hide-and-seek game that'll get the giggles going just by saying its name. And where's the grown-up hiding while the kids are occupied? In the kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee (while it's still hot!) as the kids are independently playing. Promising review: "This hide-and-seek game is so fun. We randomly hide Silly Poopy in the house all the time. The song will get stuck in your head and never leave, so be prepared for that. But also hours of fun both inside and outside. We also do a little dance when we find Silly Poopy, and he plays the song. My 6-year-old loves it, and it’s so fun and silly. Great gift!! I had this in my cart for a while before I bought it and wish I would have sooner." — Schub22 Price: $12.99+ (available in two designs). 3. A 22-pack of Mr. Sketch scented markers , which will take you right back to your own childhood with just one whiff of blueberry or apple. Promising review: "I loved these as a kid and was excited to give them to my kids. Happy to say they love too! Good markers overall and the different scents make them fun!" — Matthew Fullmer Price: $14.29 4. A touchless forehead thermometer that will make sure you don't wake your sweetly sleeping dragon to check their temperature after they have FINALLY gone to sleep. Promising review: " We have owned four different touchless thermometers now, and this one has lasted the longest. Others did not last, or they occasionally provided random, unlikely readings. We have had this for almost two years, and we haven't had to replace the batteries yet. That isn't due to lack of sickness either. I have two toddlers who seem to trade bugs every couple of weeks. I would definitely recommend." — Cheyenne Price: $19.99 5. A pack of Crayola Globbles fidget toys to help with the wiggles and keep little hands busy. No judging if you happen to snag one or two of these for yourself — they're great! Promising review: "These are great! Kids love them! I love them! They do NOT leave that stain on your wall, and when they get dirty, you wash them off, and they are sticky again! 10/10" — Elizabeth M. Price: $10.99 6. A Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game deck that is so fun you might just find yourself clearing your schedule for the day and joining in. Work? Meh, that can be done later. Promising review: "This is the funnest game we own, and we own a lot! It's a high-speed, physical game, and anyone can play it! You just have to remember the order of the words and the actions you have to make for certain cards. It's a blast, and we've played it with kids aged 4, all the way up to 19, and us adults as well! I highly recommend it! I think the value is great, especially since it's a go-to game that we play often!" — Janet Duran Price: $9.99 7. A copy of 642 Tiny Things to Draw , so your kiddo will have 642 fewer reasons to say, "I'm borrrrrrrred." Promising review: "My 11-year-old artist really loves this. It’s easy to carry around to restaurants or in the car. The prompts can be drawn simply or with more detail. Definitely a great purchase!" — Annie Price: $9.25 8. A 100-piece set of Picasso tiles , a magnetic building system that will get used over and over and over again. Pro tip: Commit to one building toy type and then just keep adding to it! It will still feel new to your crew, and cleanup will be MUCH easier. Promising review: "These tiles are amazing! So many different ways to be creative. Our 2-year-old loves it so much and even the adults can have hours of fun with it. These are great for individual play for our toddler and can keep her engaged for 15-30 minutes at a time. They are also amazing for interactive and pretend plays, from building houses to car ramps. Love these so much and highly recommended!" — Buu nguyen Price: $39.99 9. A set of four parachute toys that are simple but brilliant. How many times can your kids run up the stairs and throw them down? The limit does not exist. Promising review: " These paratroopers are great! My boys are so used to getting the ones that are poorly made with thin, cheap plastic and thin string. These are not those at all! They are super sturdy and very durable. I got these as stocking stuffers, and they're still going strong! They've been thrown, dragged, shoved in toy bins, etc. They are still good as new! They work great as well. Our boys enjoy throwing them over the side rail on the stairs and watching them fly down. I absolutely would recommend!" — Amber Price: $9.99 (available in two colors) 10. A pair of GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars so you can encourage your crew to start exploring the amazing world around them — whether that's inside or outside of your house. Promising review: "Bought six of these for all the kids in the family for Christmas. My 3-year-old thinks these are the cat's pajamas. He took them hiking to look at everything. I tell you, my kid is one to let you know when something doesn't work the correct way. These were worth every penny. He was able to look at everything from leaves and rocks to butterfly wings with a closer view. Plus, they are light enough for him to carry without complaining. Parent win!!" — Holly Price: $9.69+ (available in two colors) 11. A Fisher-Price record player toy , which gives your kiddo some freedom to choose their own music to sing and dance to. And you? You'll feel like a total parenting rock star. Promising review: "Got this for my 3-year-old as a birthday gift . She loves my 'grown-up' record player and loves to ask me to 'play songs' on it. I thought this would be a fun thing for her to play with so she could play her own songs, but I didn't expect her to have as much fun as she has with it! Each one of the records has two songs on it, one on each side, and each record has a different style. She loves the hip hop record the most, and the pop rock comes in a close second. What's nice is that there's no needle on the arm of the turntable, so there's nothing to worry about her hurting herself with. It has cool features like when you stop a record mid-song, it 'scratches' and makes the sound of a vinyl popping, which I love! You do have to monitor it, though, as we learned that, unlike a real record player if you don't move the arm off the record after a song ends, it just keeps playing that song over and over and over and over and over and over and over." — John Jeziorski Price: $25.99 12. A Melissa & Doug scissor skills activity pad with kid-safe scissors that will occupy their focus — giving you the cutting edge in accomplishing your to-do list for the day. Promising review: "I gave this to my 4-year-old when he was sick at home, and it's a great way to pass the time. More importantly it's a great way for him to practice the work with scissors. The scissors are great, without any blade, and the plastic is sharp enough for the pages in the notebook. The pages have different difficulty levels, some with straight lines, some with curves, which is a good challenge for kids." — Tamar Price: $7.99 13. A 5-pound tub of Crayola air-dry clay , which keeps fidgety hands busy and will lead to hours and hours of creativity. Promising review: "This clay is great. I bought two of them. My girls made lots of animals and bowls with it and painted them. Very nice to work with and dries very nicely. The kids spend hours playing with it. Definitely buying it again." — Andrew M Cavallo Price: $10.96 (available in three colors and four sizes) 14. A three-pack of liquid bubbler pens the kids will love because they are totally mesmerizing to watch. NGL, some boring adult things (like writing checks) would be WAY more fun with these. Promising review: "For my kids, these pens are such a treat. The ink is bright and runs smooth, and they are also entertainment in themselves!" — Marcia Price: $19.99 15. A Play-Doh Kitchen Creations restaurant play set , so your little can whip up the tastiest pretend creations...and you might have a few minutes to get the real deal ready in time for dinner. Promising review: " This and the coffee shop set keep my daughter entertained for hours. And when you think she would get tired she asks for a different color and starts all over again. Even the extra utensils help keep her amused longer. Gives me enough time for mom projects like dinner and dishes, and it's actually very easy to clean up — she does most of it herself, and she's only 3!!" — Lizzie Price: $16.89 16. A fruit and veggie divider that is going to chop time off prepping lunch and snacks for the kiddos. With this in your tool belt, you'll be ready to make some fancy after-school crudités! Promising review: "Ever since we got this, it has been used quite frequently!! We have two young kids at home (5- and 3-years-old) and by using this fruit/veggie cutter, we have increased their fruit and veggie intake! We would give them fruits/veggies to cut, and they would cut and eat them! It is very easy to cut as our kids can do it by themselves (with adult supervision). It cuts small cucumbers with ease. It is also very easy to clean!" — Payal Price: $9.95 17. A bottle of Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater spray , which will take those spaghetti sauce stains right out of their clothes. Don't forget to take a picture of their sweet self covered in sauce because that will last longer than those stains. Promising review : "I recently tried Miss Mouth's stain remover spray, and I am impressed! This spray effortlessly removed tough stains on my clothes, leaving them spotless. This spray has removed oil stains from cooking, baby formula, breastmilk stains from newborn spit-ups, and many other stains — the list is long . We have yet to find a stain that this spray doesn't tackle. Its pleasant scent and quick action make it a must-have for anyone dealing with messy eaters or accidental spills." — Tiffany B. Price: $6.19+ (available in multipacks) 18. A Yonanas Classic soft serve maker that's going to magically turn "eat your fruit" into "enjoy your dessert!" You don't even need to tell them how healthy it is! This, as you can imagine, is a major parenting win. Promising review: "Bought this on Prime Day as an impulse buy, but it is now a kitchen staple. My kids (5 and 8) LOVE the sorbet that comes out of this just as much as ice cream, and it is just 100% ground-up fruit. We now buy more bananas than we can eat, cut them up, and freeze them once they start to turn brown. We mix these with different frozen fruits, and it is a great frozen treat. You don't have to use bananas, but they add a creamy consistency to the final product that we like. I would definitely read the directions and follow the thawing guidelines, as I am not sure how it would hold up over time if required to grind up completely solid frozen fruit, but it has held up well since we bought it. Also think it is pretty easy to clean. Just twist off the attachment, unscrew it, and rinse off the blades (not sharp enough to cut me) and gasket. Definitely recommend, even at full price." — N. Whelpley Price: $39.99 (available in four colors) 19. A super durable and leak-proof kids' Bentgo box that will actually help you organize your brain and figure out what you need to put in there. (Pssst — if you want to include a sweet treat, M&Ms look pretty cute in the circle compartment.) Promising review: " I purchased two of these, one for each of my elementary children, and they work wonderfully. I can easily pack a sandwich, veggies with dip, fruit, and a snack in the box. If they would like chips or crackers, I simply place those in the lunch box, along with an ice pack, to keep things cool. The Bentgo Box, a slim ice pack, and a small bag of chips or crackers easily fit in a children's lunchbox. The gaskets work well, and dressings/liquids do not leak to other compartments. So far so good!" — Erin Price: $27.99 (available in eight colors) 20. A tried-and-true baby gate that's super easy to install, won't mark up your walls, and, most importantly, works! Keep your little ones out of the spaces they aren't supposed to be so you can have peace of mind for their safety. Promising review: " This is a great fit for our home. We have a very active 1-year-old who stands against this and pushes on it. It is very sturdy and hasn’t budged since we installed it. The lock is very easy to use but not too easy for our son to figure out! Highly recommend." — Heather Price: $34.99 21. A three-pack of Melissa & Doug jumbo coloring books , which will keep your mini Monets and petite Picassos totally occupied. Hey, your fridge needs a new masterpiece! Promising review: "The jumbo books are awesome for our kids. The pages are nice and thick and do not bleed onto the next page. You can easily rip out pages they want to color, and they also fit nicely into the art frames we have on the walls. Would 10/10 recommend!" — K Price: $16.89 22. A Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat , the perfect throne for your petite prince or princess. It's comfortable for baby, easy to install, but also has seatbelt hooks to hold the straps back so you're not digging for them with one hand while holding down a wiggly baby with the other. Promising review: "I wish they had this car seat when my oldest was a baby! It is super comfy and hella easy to adjust with the strap height adjusting via a level on the headrest, instead of you having to remove straps and feed them back through the holes — something I have always hated doing. The car seat itself was also super easy to install in our car. In addition, baby can stay rear-facing much longer in this car seat due to an extendable foot piece, which I adore . It also has little pockets to slide the seatbelt hooks into to keep the straps open while placing baby in, reducing the amount of frustration caused by having to constantly fish the straps from under and behind a squirming baby. It also comes in various color options and comes with shoulder strap pads to keep the straps from digging into baby's neck." — H.F. Desi Price: $159.99 (available in five colors and two styles) 23. A 150-piece marble run set that is ideal for those times when you're stuck indoors and about to lose YOUR marbles if those kids don't find something to do IMMEDIATELY. Promising review: " My kids played for HOURS with just three pieces of tracks. Love the independent play this facilitates, and the sturdiness means mommy can get housework done while the kids play! Great quality. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. We even purchased the super set the very next day after receiving this set; the kids (and mom and dad) love it so much." — Karen Price: $49.99 (available in four sets) 24. A crawling crab baby toy , which will make tummy time and learning to crawl feel as easy as a day at the beach. Promising review: "I’m sure I’m not the only mom saying this, but this is great for tummy time. Grab a Hula Hoop and put Mr. Crab inside so he doesn’t run away and turn him on (we like raving with him on music mode). There’s different settings for slow and fast, so that’s perfect for your little one to keep up with him as their little necks get stronger. Tummy time becomes an ease! " — Savanna Hulsey Price: $19.99 (available in four colors) 25. A pack of over 500 puffy stickers so your littles can create scenes, cards, and whatever else their imaginations can come up with! And because these are no-trace, you won't be left with sticky situations when one or two end up on your wall. Promising review: "My daughter loves these stickers! They are easy for her to remove from the sleeve, to get them off the backing, and stick well. The stickers themselves are cute, high quality, and are a good variety. My daughter will spend hours having fun with stickers, and these are my go-to!" — Bree Price: $7.99 26. A cute, starry-eyed Furby that will interact and play with your kiddo. These little guys have gotten a major upgrade since you had one. In addition to talking to you, it can lead you through mindfulness exercises, tell your fortune, put on a light show, and throw a dance party. How do you say, "That's impressive" in Furby? Promising review: " Furby is such a fun toy! My 5-year-old has played and played with her Furby. The phrases are easy to learn, so she has had the best time laughing, dancing, and playing with Furby. Would definitely recommend getting this toy for your child!" — Katie Momberger Price: $48.59 (available in three colors) 27. A five-piece set of absolutely adorable outdoor play figurines because these open-ended toys encourage kids to get creative using natural elements — like leaves, flowers, and twigs — they find during outdoor play. Who's up for an adventure? Promising review: "These are amazing. My 3-year-old and 18-month-old love to pick up leaves, flowers, pine cones, etc., and this gives us something to do with all of our foraged goods. Great for imagination play and creativity." — Dana Price: $39.99 (available in six colors) 28. A perfectly sized (and durable!) kids' digital camera so you can give your phone a break from your kids. Not that you don't love those 400+ up-the-nose selfies in a row, but ya know. Promising review: " This has been such a hit with my 3- and 4-year-olds and keeps them entertained for hours. It operates JUST like an adult digital camera but has some fun added filters like a mustache, kid face, and different border designs. It is a small size that allows them to operate it with ease. My kids walk around the house taking pictures of random things and then love to come and show me. Battery life is great and it seems pretty indestructible! I have purchased this three times now for birthday party gifts as it’s an affordable great gift!" — Above and Abode Price: $32.99 (available in five colors) 29. A Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes musical toy , which will keep your mini Mozart or baby Beethoven entertained while you do what you need to do. Who's the genius now, huh? Promising review: "This has been one of our favorite toys for a while now. It is so cute, it’s small so it’s easy to take with you, baby fingers can easily push the button, the different classical songs and corresponding lights are super entertaining, plus I love that baby is listening to classical music. The batteries have lasted a long time, and it’s fallen off of many a surface, so it’s durable . Get this toy!" — Park Price: $8.88 30. A TikTok-famous grape cutter that will seriously ~cut~ down on your prep time — and your anxiety — when you're feeding your littles. It can also be used on tomatoes! Promising review: "Whoever said that you shouldn't buy kitchen tools with only one function didn't have toddlers/young children. I spent three years cross-cutting grapes, grape tomatoes, or hot dog chunks with a board and chef's knife . I saw this tool about a year in and did without it until finally, after having my second baby, I realized that cutting up the food phase would be starting for her in about a year. I finally got this grape cutter, which does exactly what it should. Why did I go without this for so long? 😂 If you doubt whether you need this, either stop giving your kid grapes or similar-sized foods or buy it already. 😂" — Morgan/Branson Price: $11.99 31. A Frida Baby electric nail trimmer because baby nails are absolute DAGGERS, and nothing should even lightly scratch that perfect, squishy face. NOTHING. Promising review: "From day one, I’ve been able to use this on my newborn, now infant, son without worrying about whether or not I’m going to hurt him or make him bleed. It is safe to touch skin and really only eliminates excess nail growth. Almost impossible to trim nails too short unless you actually intend to do that. Comes with a battery and instructions as to which buffer to use for the age of your baby. Easy to use, easy to store, and a simple design that will make grooming your baby’s nails so easy and go by super fast!" — Brielle Price: $34.99 32. A National Geographic Break Open 10 Geodes kit that comes with safety goggles, which might just inspire the next generation of geologists. Bonus: Use it as a teachable moment to show your kids that it's what's on the inside that really counts. ✨ Promising review: "My 9-year-old is obsessed with all things gems and geology. We bought this for Christmas. He opened it tonight and it was so beautiful we ended up cracking them all! He even got an amethyst (he was thrilled as that's his favorite!) — I am very impressed. I will definitely be buying again. One tip — definitely score them before cracking, and be a little gentle if you want two halves. My husband was a little heavy-handed. 🤣 Also, one of them at first we thought wasn't much, but I had a feeling there was more inside, so we cracked it in half again, and lo and behold, it was a beautiful geode. Highly recommend!" — Andrea Green Price: $19.99+ (available in packs of 4, 5, or 10) 33. A 40-piece wooden puzzle that has lots of different solutions and honestly, is just really fun to tinker with, even for adults. It's exactly what you need to get some piece, err, peace in your day. Promising review: "I bought this as one of the toys to get my 6-year-old son off screens during the summer. Now we are all playing it and we have competitions to see who can solve the fastest. Who knew? You can also do designs, so it's leveled fun and appeals to different interests. It would be nice if it came with a carry case or tin, but you can use a zip lock to keep the pieces together. Going to buy more so we can battle with the cousins." — Haydee Gordon Price: $8.99 34. A 30-foot roll of road play tape because life (aka your entire house) is a highway, and your kids are gonna be cruising to a good time. Promising review: "Sticky level is about equal with painter's tape, so there’s no worry about restricting where to use. It’s great for cars, pretend play, etc. A perfect rainy day distraction!" — Jennifer Horne Price: $9.47+ (available in four patterns and quantities) 35. A 42-pack of Pay-Doh so you can keep a perfectly sized container in the car, in your bag, in the playroom, in the kitchen... you get the point. Promising review: "I bought this for my son’s birthday goody bags and kept the leftovers for my son. He’s 3, so these are perfect because they are small and come in handy for car trips, running errands, or just anytime. The colors are so vibrant and fun. Super easy to mold. Would recommend and would most likely purchase again." — Mariela Price: $16.99 36. A LeapFrog 100 Animals toy , which will teach your little words in English AND Spanish — all while they're happily playing and learning about the world's fauna. That's a win-win. Promising review: " This smart book is wonderful! I got it for my 2-year-old granddaughter for Christmas. She loves animals, and this is a perfect gift for any child. I highly recommend it. It is well made and even says the animal's names in Spanish. A great deal." — Jim Price: $12.97 (available in six colors) 37. A USB rechargeable whale bath toy so your little fish can have a splashin' good time and — hopefully — get in a good mindset for bedtime. Fingers (and fins!) crossed! Promising review: "It’s such a fun toy! I love this one because it doesn’t take batteries, it comes with a charger and takes no time to charge. I have two kids and it gets used twice a night, it stays charged for about a week. It’s very cute, and I haven’t noticed any mold or gunk buildup which is great! Quality toy!" — Carolyn Cracchiolo Price: $9.99+ (available in six colors) 38. An absolutely adorable sewing craft kit that will have everyone so quiet and focused, you'll wonder if their mouths were accidentally sewn shut, too. Promising review: "I'm so impressed at the thoughtfulness of this craft!! This is a beginner level, perfect for my 6-year-old's attention span; the only sewing is to attach the front of the fox to the back in order to stuff it. I was worried it might be too easy, but it was great, the instructions are clear, the holes all line up, there is plenty/extra yarn. The accessories and clothing are too cute and perfect, and the details and variety are awesome for a beginner sewing craft. The only part that she needed extra help with was the tiny little backpack to hold the baby fox. If you think about the time it would take to design and cutout all of these pieces, it's definitely fairly priced. I hope they come out with more animals because we want to make another!!" — Amazon Customer Price: $19.99 (available in two designs) The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.In the lives of public figures a tale often takes hold and that narrative becomes their story. In the case of Jimmy Carter, it goes like this: A humble peanut farmer and former Georgia governor defies extraordinary odds and wins the White House, through a combination of virtue, decency and a post-Watergate political cleansing. Over the next four years he is overwhelmed and over-matched by inflation and Iran’s ayatollah. He scolds his countrymen and wears a sweater like a hairshirt. He’s attacked by a “killer rabbit” and loses reelection — in an electoral college landslide — to the buoyant and swaggering Ronald Reagan. But, then, in a great and noble second act, the former president travels the world spreading goodness, peace and light while helping build safe and affordable housing for the needy and fighting the twin scourges of poverty and disease . There is much that is accurate about that account. But it also overlooks a good deal, and distorts some of the rest. “There’s been this easy shorthand about him that is actually a real disservice to the complex truth,” said Jonathan Alter, a political journalist and author of the 2020 biography “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life.” In Alter’s considered judgment, Carter, who died Sunday at 100 , “was an underrated and under-appreciated president and an appropriately appreciated but slightly overrated former president.” Politics is a zero-sum profession, its score-keeping writ in black and white. Either you win or you lose. “If you’re president and you’re defeated for a second term — that, in our system, is the definition of failure,” said Les Francis, a California Democratic strategist who worked in the Carter White House and both his presidential campaigns. Francis, now retired in the Sierra foothills, is quite mindful of the Carter narrative — lousy president, sainted ex-president — and reacted to its mention in a tone that mixed weariness with resignation. “It rankles those of us who worked for him,” Francis said, “and I know it rankled him because it ignores the substantial accomplishments of his presidency.” Those include a doubling of the national park system; the first national legislation funding green energy; major civil service and government ethics reforms; creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency ; the Middle East peace accord between Egypt and Israel; normalization of relations with China; and moves that helped bring about the end of the Soviet Union. In their most recent survey, released in February, presidential historians ranked Carter’s performance 22nd among the nation’s 46 presidencies. To give some perspective, Abraham Lincoln was first and Donald Trump came in dead last. Of course, there were plenty of reasons that Carter lost his 1980 reelection bid. A stiff primary challenge from the liberal leviathan, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. The toxic mix of high inflation and high unemployment, dubbed “stagflation.” Gas lines. The Iranian hostage crisis and, in particular, a failed rescue attempt that ended in wreckage and humiliation in the country’s Great Salt Desert . Carter also had a self-righteousness that could present as starchy and sanctimonious, a trait he exhibited even in his good works once he left the White House. “Sometimes, as a former president, he operated as a kind of freelance secretary of State and he did some things to complicate the lives of his successors that don’t look so great in retrospect,” Alter said. “I think he sometimes let his own ego get in the way a little bit.” The body language on those occasions Carter gathered alongside presidents past and present was telling. He stood among them but always seemed somehow apart. At bottom, Carter was a fundamentally good and caring man, who lived his Christian faith and whose uprightness and personal probity offer a model for those who’ve followed him into the Oval Office. (His more than yearlong survival after entering hospice and refusing further medical treatment was both stirring and surprising. Carter’s last public appearance came in late November last year, at the funeral of his wife, Rosalyn, who died two days after entering hospice at age 96.) In 1976, during the presidential campaign, there was a flap when Carter told Playboy magazine he “looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The controversy seems quaint now, compared to the criminally convicted Trump’s 2016 boast of grabbing women “by the pussy” and getting away with it. It’s just one example of how low our politics have sunk , and it casts some of the criticisms of Carter in a fresh light. Maybe being a micromanager and a little uptight weren’t such horrible things after all. After news broke that Carter had entered hospice, writer and GOP political consultant Stuart Stevens was one of many offering public reappraisals of the former president. “The first article I published in a national magazine was a snarky piece ... calling Jimmy Carter a failure,” Stevens said on Twitter, as the site was then known. “Looking back on it, my smugness was disgusting. I can’t imagine he read it & if he did, I’m sure he didn’t care but still, I wish I had found a way to apologize.” In a follow-up email, Stevens said his original piece came “from the perspective of a Southerner who felt that Carter was an embarrassment. Not in a policy sense but just his manner and approach. “There was no appreciation,” Stevens said, “for the basic decency of a man trying to do what he felt was right.” In the summer of 1984, after his forced exit from the White House, Carter paid a return visit to Washington. It was a rarity. The former president was never much liked inside the Beltway, and the feeling was mutual. But Carter, as dutiful Democratic soldier, headlined a reception and chicken dinner to raise money for his f ormer vice president, Walter Mondale , while Mondale prepared to accept the party’s presidential nomination. (And, it turned out, the opportunity to be buried a few months later in yet another Reagan landslide .) With the leadership mantle passing from the former president to his understudy, Mondale offered a laudatory summation of the Carter administration. “We told the truth,” he said. “We obeyed the law and we kept the peace. And that’s not bad.” Not bad at all. (Mark Z. Barabak is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, focusing on politics in California and the West.) ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Joe Burrow may be the Bengals ' MVP this year, but there aren't too many Cincinnati players as valuable to the team's success than wideout Tee Higgins . The Bengals are 6-4 this season with Higgins in the lineup, and just 1-4 when he doesn't play. Higgins has been labeled as questionable for Saturday's pivotal Week 17 showdown against the Denver Broncos . He was limited throughout this week's practices as he is dealing with knee and ankle injuries. Higgins played in Cincinnati's Week 16 win over the Browns after not practicing that Thursday and being limited on Wednesday and Friday, then hurt his ankle in the second half against Cleveland. He has not practiced beyond a limited capacity in any practice since returning from a quad injury in Week 11. Despite the injuries (which has kept him out of five games this season), Higgins continued to produce. He's already matched his career high for touchdown catches in a season and is having his second most productive season as far as average receiving yards per game (72.7). The former Clemson standout has caught a touchdown in five of his last six games. If Higgins is out, Bengals will certainly lean more on No. 1 wideout Ja'Marr Chase , who is currently on pace to become the 13th receiver in league history to win the "triple crown" by leading the NFL in catches, receiving yard and touchdown catches. Cincinnati will also need clutch efforts from running back Chase Brown, No. 3 wideout Andrei Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki if Higgins can't go. Fantasy football players will surely be monitoring Higgins' status leading up to Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. While his status is indeed up in the air, rest assured that Higgins will do whatever he can to be able to suit up. The Bengals' season in on the line, after all, need to win out, have the Broncos lose out and have the Dolphins and Colts lose one of their final two games in order to make the playoffs.

Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivaljumped into in the standings with a , with , twice, scoring. came off the bench to inspire Barcelona to a fifth win in six games and push Dortmund, last season's runner-up, out of the top eight. Torres came on in the 71st to replace , who had a quiet game against his former club. Just four minutes later, Torres scored a goal on the rebound from 's shot. 's second goal of the game leveled the score at 2-2 but Torres scored again in the 85th off s pass on the counter. gave Barcelona the lead before equalized from the penalty spot. Raphinha and Guirassy are tied for second place in the scoring chart on six goals, behind Lewandowski's competition-high seven. The top eight qualify directly for and the teams placed No. 9-24 go into a two-legged playoff. Danger for City Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by on Wednesday, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to standings, with only the top 24 advancing. Progressing to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2022 and has won the last four Premier League titles. But not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. City has won just one of its last 10 matches in all competitions, with goals by inflicting the latest defeat and igniting Juventus' qualification hopes. In-form Julian Alvarez Man City could sure do with at the moment. With a brilliant curling finish to open the scoring, the Argentina striker helped beat and provide a timely reminder of what City is missing after selling him for more than $100 million in August. Alvarez has 12 goals for the season, with four coming in the Champions League. scored Atletico's other two goals at Metropolitano stadium as the Spanish team climbed to 11th place after a 10th straight win in all competitions. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 mainly thanks to two goals by Bukayo Saka to move into third place.