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Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl B stock rises Monday, still underperforms marketHARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced significant improvements in the efficiency of its licensing processes, a key milestone in Governor Josh Shapiro ’s ongoing effort to make state government more responsive to the needs of businesses. The Bureau of Food Safety, tasked with issuing licenses critical to food manufacturers, restaurants, and dairy facilities, has substantially decreased the time required to process renewals, ensuring businesses can continue operations without delay. According to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, the Bureau reduced the renewal time for Milk Inspector Licenses by 80%, cutting the process from 20 days in 2022 to just four days in 2023. Similarly, Food Establishment License renewals, covering manufacturers and processors, and Retail Food Facility License renewals, critical for restaurants and other food retail businesses, saw approval times drop by 85%, from a 20-day average to just three days. These efficiencies have been consistently sustained throughout 2024, even as the demand for renewals increased. “Governor Shapiro was adamant that government move at the speed of business,” said Redding. “He inspired our staff to take a step back and look at how we could speed up processes without sacrificing quality. Our staff took those marching orders seriously, and despite major increases in the volume of demand for license renewals, they doubled down and got it done for the businesses who rely on us.” The Bureau of Food Safety faced a surge in license renewal demand over the past year. Renewals for Milk Inspector Licenses—essential for maintaining the safety and quality of dairy product processing—rose from 20 in 2022 to 100 in 2023. Retail Food Facility License renewals increased statewide by 3.3%, from 24,064 to 24,858, while Food Establishment License renewals climbed from 6,200 to 8,292. These figures underscore the growing need for efficient processing to support Pennsylvania’s dynamic food industry. To achieve faster approvals, Bureau staff adopted a data-driven approach. They analyzed existing systems to identify bottlenecks, particularly regarding the inspections required prior to renewal. By prioritizing inspection scheduling for businesses approaching renewal deadlines, supervisors reduced delays. Proactive coordination minimized the need for rescheduling, creating a more efficient operation that has bolstered business confidence across the Commonwealth. The success of the Bureau of Food Safety aligns with Governor Shapiro’s broader reforms to modernize state government and remove barriers to economic growth. Earlier this week, the Governor unveiled a permitting “fast track” initiative aimed at expediting approvals for major economic development and infrastructure projects. Designed to create jobs and stimulate investment, this initiative builds on foundational reforms undertaken during Shapiro’s administration. A central pillar of these reforms is the establishment of the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO), which serves as a one-stop-shop for businesses seeking to expand in Pennsylvania. OTO has worked to streamline complex permitting and licensing processes, enabling businesses to launch and grow with reduced administrative delays. Governor Shapiro also launched the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) to enhance how residents and businesses interact with state government online. By leveraging technology, CODE PA has improved accessibility to state services and accelerated processing times, further demonstrating the administration’s commitment to efficiency. Together, OTO and CODE PA developed PAyback, an innovative money-back guarantee system. This program allows Pennsylvania workers and businesses to check their eligibility for a refund of permit, license, or certification fees. Designed as an accountability measure, it reflects the administration’s pledge to deliver reliable and timely services. The Shapiro Administration’s commitment to “moving at the speed of business” has yielded tangible results, with initiatives like the license renewal improvements demonstrating the practical benefits of government reform. For Pennsylvania businesses, these advancements translate to reduced operational uncertainty and greater confidence in the state’s regulatory framework. “These investments in efficiency and technology are not just about speeding up processes; they’re about creating an environment where businesses can thrive,” said Redding. “By aligning government operations with the needs of the private sector, we’re building a more resilient and dynamic economy for all Pennsylvanians.” The permitting and licensing reforms signify a broader shift in Pennsylvania’s approach, focusing on innovation and responsiveness to maintain its competitive edge. With these measures, the Commonwealth positions itself as a leader in fostering business growth while ensuring essential public safety standards remain uncompromised. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .Energy stocks as a whole delivered an underwhelming performance in 2025. The average one in the S&P 500 has only managed to eke out a small gain (the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund -- an ETF that tracks energy stocks in the S&P 500 -- is only up about 1% on the year). Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has rallied more than 25%. A few Fool.com contributors expect a better performance from energy stocks next year. Chevron ( CVX 0.01% ) , Enterprise Products Partners ( EPD -0.23% ) , and Occidental Petroleum ( OXY 0.75% ) top their lists as the best ones to buy in the new year. Here's why they expect these energy companies to deliver a strong performance in 2025. Chevron has you covered through the energy cycle Reuben Gregg Brewer (Chevron): Energy stocks can be volatile, given that oil and natural gas prices are notoriously volatile. So you have to go in ready to handle the inherent ups and downs of the industry, regardless of whether you buy at the top of the energy cycle or the bottom. Chevron is built to ride the wave -- and keep paying you well throughout. The proof is in the $250 billion market cap energy giant's 37-year streak of annual dividend increases. There are a couple of important reasons for this reliable performance. First off, as an integrated energy company, Chevron has exposure across the energy sector, including the upstream (energy production), midstream ( pipelines ), and downstream (chemicals and refining). Each of the sectors operates a little differently from the others and, as such, having all three in the portfolio helps to soften the broader industry's peaks and valleys. CVX Debt to Equity Ratio data by YCharts Then there's Chevron's rock-solid balance sheet , with a debt-to-equity ratio that's a very low 0.2. That would be low for any company, but it gives Chevron the leeway to take on leverage during energy downturns so it can continue to support its business and dividend until the energy sector recovers, as it always has before. Add in an attractive 4.5% dividend yield , and there's even more reason to buy Chevron right now. Dual drivers should fuel more growth in 2025 Matt DiLallo (Enterprise Products Partners ): Midstream giant Enterprise Products Partners had a very solid year in 2024. The master limited partnership ( MLP ) grew its distributable cash flow by 5% in the third quarter. Meanwhile, it has increased its distribution payment by 5% over the past year. The company benefited from recently completed organic expansion projects, which supplied it with new sources of cash flow . That momentum should continue in 2025. The midstream company has several more organic expansion projects in the pipeline that should enter commercial service over the next year. Those projects will supply more sources of cash flow growth next year. In addition, Enterprise Products Partners will get a boost from its recently closed acquisition of Pinon Midstream. The $950 million deal will be highly accretive to its cash flow. The MLP expects it to add $0.03 per unit in 2025, with further upside potential from commercial and operating synergies. Those visible growth drivers should give the MLP the fuel to continue increasing its distribution in 2025. That would extend its growth streak, which reached 26 years in 2024. Its payout currently yields a very attractive 6.8%, putting it much higher than average (the S&P 500's dividend yield is around 1.2%). Enterprise Products Partners' lucrative income stream and visible growth drivers should give it the fuel to produce a solid return in 2025. That low-risk probability of earning a solid return makes it stand out as a top energy stock to buy for the next year. A compelling bounce-back candidate for 2025 Neha Chamaria (Occidental Petroleum): Occidental Petroleum stock turned out to be one of the largest underperforming large-cap energy stocks of 2024, losing 19% of its value in the year as of this writing. While falling oil prices in the second half of the year hit several oil stocks, Occidental Petroleum stock took a bigger hit partly because of debt, which zoomed after its multibillion-dollar CrownRock acquisition in August. At this point, however, Occidental Petroleum looks like the kind of energy stock you'd want to buy for 2025 for one big reason: Management is laser-focused on cutting down debt. Occidental announced a target of reducing debt by at least $4.5 billion within 12 months of closing the CrownRock acquisition. The company, however, hit 90% of its goal in less than three months, driven by strong cash flow generation in its third quarter. During its third-quarter earnings conference call, management stated that Occidental Petroleum has enough cash to repay debt maturing in 2025, and that it should be able to pare debt further next year even in a low-oil price environment. Meanwhile, CrownRock's key assets in the Permian Basin are already contributing to Occidental's production and cash flows, as was evidenced in the third quarter. Occidental also has other growth catalysts, such as its low-carbon ventures business and its chemicals business, called OxyChem. Given the backdrop, Occidental Petroleum looks like a value stock worth betting on for 2025 .
ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice with Vision was launched during Day 6 of OpenAI ’s ‘ 12 Days of OpenAI’ live demonstration and briefing today. This powerful new feature allows users to interact with ChatGPT using spoken input, images and even video, opening up new possibilities for creativity and problem-solving. Currently, Advanced Voice with Vision is available exclusively to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers. This premium feature is designed for those who want to experience the cutting-edge AI technology with a monthly fee. However, as a bonus, the team mentioned that the option to ‘Chat with Santa’ feature will be made available to everyone even if they have gone beyond the chat limit in the free tier. Accessing the Santa feature is simple; look for the snowflake next to the microphone icon. I have ChatGPT Plus, but the Santa feature is not yet available to me. All of the new features for ChatGPT’s Advance Voice with Vision will be slowly rolling out globally, so don’t worry if you can’t access it yet. When it is made available to you, here’s how to access and make the most of this latest ChatGPT feature. Get a ChatGPT Plus subscription To access Advanced Voice with Vision, you must be a ChatGPT Plus subscriber. This subscription costs $20 monthly and unlocks several premium features, including the latest GPT-4.5 model, faster response times, and Advanced Voice with Vision. If you’re not a subscriber, head to the ChatGPT website, log into your account and select the Plus subscription option. Once subscribed, you can use Advanced Voice with Vision immediately. Log In and activate the feature Once you’ve confirmed your subscription, log in to your ChatGPT account on the web or mobile app. Inside the chat interface, look for the following icons: Voice input : This microphone icon allows you to speak to ChatGPT, transforming your voice into text for more natural, hands-free interactions. Image upload: This camera or image icon lets you upload pictures directly into the chat window. You can ask ChatGPT questions or give commands related to the uploaded image. Snowflake : You might as well chat with Santa while you’re at it. The demo today made it look like a lot of fun. If you see the snowflake, go ahead and give it a whirl (said like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone). All icons are typically located near the text input field and can easily be spotted. Start exploring Voice and Vision With the feature enabled, you can now interact with ChatGPT in a whole new way. Now, instead of typing your queries to ChatGPT, try speaking them. Whether you’re asking for help drafting an email or brainstorming ideas for your next project. Voice input makes the interaction feel more conversational and intuitive. The combination of voice and vision makes ChatGPT an even more powerful assistant for day-to-day tasks and creative endeavors. Next, try uploading images and ask ChatGPT questions about them. For example, you could upload a photo of a plant and ask for care tips or show a math problem from a textbook and request a step-by-step solution. The applications are nearly endless. Today's demo showed the team introducing themselves and ChatGPT responding with the correct answers to quizzes about them. You could use the feature as a cooking assistant. Snap a photo of your pantry and ask ChatGPT for recipe suggestions based on your ingredients. You could have ChatGPT review a document. Upload an image of a handwritten note or printed document and have the AI analyze or summarize it. Another way to help with productivity is by providing ChatGPT with verbal and visual inputs for designing a presentation, editing photos, or crafting stories. Why it’s worth trying Advanced Voice with Vision combines two of ChatGPT’s most dynamic features, making it easier than ever to interact with AI. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user just curious about exploring new technology, this feature takes multitasking and problem-solving to the next level. If you’re a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, this feature is ready for you to explore today. Log in, activate it, and start experiencing the future of AI-powered assistance. More from Tom's Guideecent press accounts indicate that Republican intermediaries— —meddled in the Iranian hostage crisis to benefit Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. This reporting has raised anew one of the major “what if” questions in recent American political history: would Jimmy Carter, who died on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, aged 100, have gotten re-elected if he had secured the release of the hostages? As always, historical counterfactuals are impossible to prove or disprove. But in this instance, while it’s tempting to think that freeing the hostages would have upended the race, a closer look at history reveals that Carter’s political troubles ran far deeper than the Iran crisis. One the best contemporaneous narrators of Carter’s political struggles turned out to be Peter Jay, the British ambassador to the United States for two years of the 39th president’s term. Jay—a journalist by training—was an acute observer, so his secret dispatches back to London ably illuminated Carter’s political rise and fall. Jay’s initial cables from Washington in 1977 described unique historical conditions that had permitted an unknown southern governor to win the presidency. For more than a decade, dating to the assassination of , a constant stream of blows—from race riots to assassinations to Vietnam to Watergate had “shaken profoundly” what Jay called “the pillars of American self-esteem—morality, invincibility, stability, and growth.” In Jay’s mind, Carter’s election expressed “as clearly as anything the yearning of the American people for a fresh start.” After years of unrelenting calamity, Americans were ready for something new and different. Jay recognized that the new president brought to the White House a unique combination of personal attributes: spotless ethics, “a subtle, penetrating and ice-cold mind” and a commitment to tackling hard problems head-on—all of which stood in stark contrast to the failings of his immediate predecessors from both parties. Carter’s chief virtue was “his boldness” in identifying big policy problems and proposing solutions guided largely by “his perception of the national interest, with little regard to short-term or narrow sectional political considerations.” When presented with conventional wisdom to avoid political pain, Carter’s standard rejoinder to those around him was, effectively, “Don’t chicken out.” Jay lauded Carter’s assessment of “the bankruptcy of pressure group politics ... and his commendable determination to take the high road of national leadership.” If given an array of options ranging from “the most immediately unpopular but, on the merits, correct” to “the most popular, but, on merits, wrong,” Carter could be reliably counted upon to choose the former. Perhaps the best manifestation of this trait came in September 1977, when Carter’s aggressive lobbying secured ratification of the Panama Canal treaties. The president was convinced that the national interest was best served by conveying control of the canal to Panama—despite vigorous opposition to what conservative critics called a “giveaway.” His opponents were by Carter’s lights either ill-informed or ill-intentioned. While he sensed that their arguments were potent politically, any price he had to pay at the polls was an acceptable consequence of doing the right thing. A mere two months later, however, Jay began to detect significant unease with the president’s unique approach. In a confidential cable to London titled “Is Mr. Carter in Trouble?”, the ambassador observed increasing doubts about the president’s capacity to translate his high aspirations into political reality. This cable remarked how quickly Carter, as president, had become buffeted by problems that, ironically, emerged from those very forces that brought him into office. He came to the presidency at a moment when it was an impaired institution. “The abuses of the Vietnam War, the scandal of , and the changing structure and attitudes of the Congress” all combined to “hamper the work of the would-be active President.” A huge class of independent legislators elected in 1974—the “Watergate babies”—was intent on reasserting the authority of Congress in governing the nation. This surge of legislative independence included members of the president’s own party, who seemed more comfortable in opposing the White House than in doing Carter’s bidding on Capitol Hill. According to Jay, some of Carter’s aides privately acknowledged that when they came to the White House “they had no idea ... how deeply the [institution of the] Presidency has been damaged.” But Jay also acknowledged subsequently that Carter’s problems weren’t all structural. Instead, there was “a muffled and uncertain quality” about how he handled “people and problems,” which left “even those who are best disposed to him puzzled, disappointed, and occasionally irritated.” The president lacked “the imagination to see how things will affect and look to others” who didn’t share Carter’s habit of considering “all sides of every issue.” Carter exacerbated this lack of perceptiveness with what Jay termed a “dangerous proclivity” for seeing truth as “its own messenger.” Rather than explaining himself or selling his policies, Carter thought it was “enough to have a good reason [for policy].” In sum, Carter had “proved [to be] a better statesman and a worse politician than could have been expected.” These observations came while Americans were enduring a constant parade of negative news, especially on the economy. Significant successes for Carter, capped by the Camp David Accords in September 1978, at best merely interrupted this steady stream. What Reagan started calling the “misery index”—a sum of the inflation and unemployment numbers—reached an all-time high in Carter’s term. The president seemed increasingly powerless to reverse the misery. In July 1979, Carter’s most famous speech confirmed Jay’s tepid assessment of his political instincts. While the president’s main focus was supposed to be energy policy, he chose to delve simultaneously into a deeper “crisis of confidence” among the American people (later lampooned as a national “malaise”). Although the speech was received far better than history remembers, Carter, in his own words, “frittered away” any advantage he might have gained from it by immediately insisting that his entire Cabinet resign, which communicated instability. Once again, he had miscalculated political optics in such a way as to undermine his policies. Jay’s outlook by the end of his term as ambassador had considerably darkened. Carter was “not much loved in America," Jay admitted. "Nor has he yet inspired full confidence in other world leaders, friendly or otherwise.” Carter’s insular, “highly unconventional style of Government,” plus his lack of sensitivity to politics, were at the root of these problems. In over two years as president, he had failed “to win sufficiently widespread understanding of the virtue and necessity of this radical departure.” Carter’s approval rating when Jay filed this final cable sat at 29%. Importantly, this was five months the hostages were seized in Tehran. Carter’s polling numbers remained in that rough neighborhood for the balance of his presidency—except for a temporary jump, just after the hostages were taken, when Americans rallied around the flag. Massive interest rates (the Federal Reserve’s painful antidote to inflation), rising gas prices, and a primary challenge from Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) all also hurt Carter in 1980. But as Jay had observed, the president was plagued by increasing doubts about his unconventional leadership and his ability to combat any of these problems in a way that would satisfy the public. So, would the hostages’ return have made a difference? The evidence suggests probably not. A more persuasive case might be made that had the Republican efforts to interfere become public, it would have generated sufficient outrage to torpedo Reagan’s chances. But whatever did happen in those secret conversations, the Reagan campaign made every effort, successfully, to preserve deniability. On his way out the door, after being replaced by new prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Jay predicted that even if Carter lost, the United States “is most certainly not going to disappear ... Give it only a visible enemy and a fast horse, and you will still see all that old American ‘can-do.’” This prediction proved prescient. Carter lost in 1980 to a man who specialized in fast horses and visible enemies.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson wasn’t all that interested in discussing any bright spots or reasons to have hope for the Chicago Bears. The star cornerback made his feelings clear. “I’ve been in slumps four, five years in a row now,” Johnson said Monday. “So, I mean at the end of the day, I don’t look for, ‘OK, what is going to be better in the future?’ ... It will be better when it’s better. So, right now, it’s not better. That’s all I can go off of.” The Bears (4-7) are last in the NFC North and have five straight losses after falling 30-27 to Minnesota in overtime. They wiped out an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation, only to come up short again when the Vikings’ Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal. It was the third game during this skid that came down to the final play. The Bears also lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8 and had a game-ending field goal attempt by Cairo Santos blocked by Green Bay in Week 11. Players have openly questioned some of the coaching decisions in recent weeks. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired before the game against Green Bay. And coach Matt Eberflus’ game management came under more scrutiny against Minnesota. RELATED COVERAGE Rams WR Demarcus Robinson arrested on suspicion of DUI after loss to Eagles Jackson accounts for 3 TDs, John Harbaugh moves to 3-0 vs. brother as Ravens beat Chargers 30-23 Chargers struggle to score after RB J.K. Dobbins hurts his knee in his reunion game with Ravens With the Bears trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, there was some confusion on a fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 27. Eberflus said he didn’t do a good enough job communicating on the previous play that they would go for it on fourth down. That led to a chaotic sequence in which Santos and long snapper Scott Daly ran onto the field, only to get waved off by a lineman. Quarterback Caleb Williams had to rush to get everyone lined up properly in order to avoid a delay of game. He wound up barking out the wrong play because he misheard the call from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and threw an incomplete pass. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . Receiver DJ Moore said Eberflus had not addressed that play with the team. The Bears were scheduled to meet later Monday. “That moment was just like, like a ‘what is going on’ moment that we could have avoided,” he said. What’s working The passing game. Williams has clearly looked more comfortable in the two games since Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The No. 1 draft pick followed up a solid performance against Green Bay by throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. What needs help Field goal protection. One week after his game-ending 46-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay got blocked, Santos had a 48-yarder rejected on his first try against Minnesota. It happened from the same area, in the middle of the line, when the Vikings’ Jerry Tillery knocked down the kick. “I just think it’s technique,” Eberflus said. “It’s getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. ... We just have to do a better job there with that.” It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. He had a 43-yard try blocked in a win over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. Stock up Moore. The Bears have done a better job getting Moore involved under Brown. Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games, compared to 13 for 104 yards over the previous four. Johnson’s 27-yard catch down the middle set up Santos’ tying field goal at the end of regulation. But it’s not just deep shots. The Bears are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, allowing him to turn short passes into bigger gains. He also had a 13-yard run. Stock down RB D’Andre Swift. After a string of solid outings, Swift had just 30 yards on 13 carries. To be fair, he has been dealing with a groin issue, and he was going against the NFL’s No. 1 run defense. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number 5-18 — The Bears’ record in one-possession games in nearly three seasons under Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. They are 14-31 overall during Eberflus’ tenure. Next steps The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with a Thanksgiving matchup at NFC North leader Detroit. The Lions (10-1) have won nine straight since losing to Tampa Bay in Week 2. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Daily Post Nigeria Ministry to boost arts, tourism with Renewed Hope Creative Villages Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Ministry to boost arts, tourism with Renewed Hope Creative Villages Published on December 12, 2024 By Williams Anuku Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced plans by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy to establish historic sites to be named Renewed Hope Creative Villages. The governor explained that the initiative aims to create hubs for culture and tourism as part of the Tinubu administration’s agenda. Speaking to reporters, Sanwo-Olu stated: “The whole idea is for the ministry to collaborate with sub-national governments to identify these sites and historic locations and integrate them into the creative villages as one-stop shops. “We’ve discussed the enormous opportunities within the creative industry, particularly leveraging our rural historic sites and monuments. The presentation by the ministry aims to bring this vision to the forefront and encourage sub-nationals to identify locations that can become thriving cultural hubs. “We recognise that this sector has the potential to create hundreds of thousands of jobs.” In a related development, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed that the indebtedness of states to the Federal Government stands at N16.6 billion. He also provided an update on the nation’s financial accounts as of December 10. He said the Excess Crude Account amounts was $424 million; Stabilisation Account, N33.3 billion; and Natural Resources Account, N23 billion. Edun added: “Additionally, states’ surplus positions with the Federal Government currently amount to N363.4 billion, while their deficit stands at approximately N16.6 billion.” Related Topics: Babajide Sanwo-Olu Renewed Hope Creative Villages Don't Miss Niger: Gov Bago presents appropriation bill of N1.56trn for 2025 You may like Tinubu da Gwamnoni sun yi jimami kan rasuwar sheikh Muyideen Bello Lagos Govt commissions Red Line Rail commercial operations Cut your expenses -Sanwo-Olu’s aide, Oba tells Nigerians MURIC opposes Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term bid Non-functioning street lights worsen insecurity in Lagos Lagos to get 3000km optic-fibre cable for ease of doing business Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
DEAN McCullough celebrated his best ever Bushtucker Trial result amid backlash from I'm A Celebrity fans. It was the sixth time the public had voted for the Radio One presenter - despite accusations he's faking his fears. 5 Radio One presenter Danni Diston Credit: Instagram/@dannidiston 5 Dean climbing up to the top of the beanstalk Credit: ITV 5 It was a heights-based challenge Credit: ITV 5 Dean celebrated his record number of stars Credit: ITV Host Ant McPartlin moaned on Unpacked: "Who's still voting for Dean? I don't get it" as frustrated campmates voiced they desperately want the public to stop voting for him to do trials. "I've got no fears left to face," insisted Dean as he embarked on Jack and the Scream Stalk during Monday night's episode. He went on to achieve his personal best score of 10 out of 12 stars. Now his BBC Radio One pal Danni Diston has defended Dean against allegations he was previously acting up for the cameras with his terrified screams. READ MORE ON I'M A CELEB LOOSE LIPS Danny Jones' weird sleep routine revealed by his wife - and what he'll miss jungle buddy Helen Flanagan reveals who she's rooting for in I'm A Celeb & it's NOT Alan Explaining why Dean is performing better than when he twice called out I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Danni exclusively told The Sun: "He's probably dealing with the fact that he's hungry himself. "Maybe that's giving him more adrenaline to get it done. "I think when you've done one trial, it's hard, then when you do two you get used to it and three and four and so on. "I think it helps when he's got someone there to really cheer him on. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 team jane Jane Moore’s Loose Women co-stars reveal real reason for her I'm A Celeb outburst VARDY VERDICT Coleen Rooney smashed her first trial says Rebekah Vardy in I’m a Celeb diary camp exit? I’m A Celeb fans fear star has ‘gone missing’ as they ‘forget’ he’s on the show trouble brewing Shock moment I’m A Celeb feud is revealed as star ‘side eyes’ Dean "He's done so well when he's been with Coleen and when he was with Danny. "I think having an extra person with him clearly boosted his confidence. "He's getting better. He's definitely getting better. Him and Ant even had a handshake. "As Dean likes to say they're besties. He loves it." The heights trial included a large beanstalk and a castle with 12 stars up for grabs in 12 minutes. He started by climbing up the beanstalk, collecting stars as he went. I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." When he got to the top of the beanstalk, and to the highest point in the Trial, he had to collect and assemble the golden egg, before moving to the castle to collect the rest of the stars. Dean moaned: "I'm knackered lads. I hate heights. I'm so tired." As he made his way up the beanstalk, Dean had to put his hand in various hell holes containing the likes of green ants, cockroaches, giant mealworms and spiders to collect each star. Next up, he had to piece together the golden egg which constituted star number 5. Finally, he had to conquer the castle, where the remaining seven stars were up for grabs, with Dean needing to climb the castle wall to reach each of the hell holes. But as Dean grew higher up the castle wall and it began to tip, he grew tired and ran out of strength to hold on, meaning he let go of the hand hold - dramatically falling and losing out on the final two stars. However, it was still his highest number of stars so far - without rallying support from another campmate. Ant and Dec gave Dean a round of applause and the elated radio personality made his way back to camp to let them know the good news. Asked if Dean now deserves a break from doing more Bushtucker Trials, Danni said: "I think he he deserves a break, but also it is fun to watch him. "He's funny, he screams, and we love it so I'm kind of up for both. He probably wouldn't want me to say that, he'd probably say 'stop voting', but it's great telly." Read more on the Scottish Sun 'DISAPPOINTED' Harry Potter steam train blasted by passengers who 'dreaded' return journey COLD BEERS SPFL side spotted going for a PINT after their bus got stuck in the snow From January, Danni is moving to a new slot on BBC Radio One with her co-host Sam MacGregor. Sam and Danni, who previously held the Weekend Breakfast slot, will now host an afternoon show that runs from Friday to Sunday, 1-4pm. 5 Danni with her co-host Sam MacGregor Credit: BBC
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It’s only during a wilderness camping trip or a PG&E outage that 21st century Bay Area residents might get a sense of how humans lived for hundreds of thousands of years, before they gained access to a powerful and readily available source of artificial light. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To login in, click here.ASHFORD HOSPITALITY TRUST ANNOUNCES CONVERSION OF LE PAVILLON NEW ORLEANS TO MARRIOTT'S TRIBUTE PORTFOLIOBless their hearts—Fox News tries to spin Trump's first Cabinet fail
(The Center Square) – Adoption of institutional neutrality is supported by better than 6 in 10 tenured and nontenured faculty at the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University and Duke University, a report says. Nationally, 66% of faculty say “colleges and universities should not take positions on political and social issues,” says Silence in the Classroom, the 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report. At Duke, the percentage is 71%, at Carolina 65%, and at Wake 64%. Higher education is facing mounting challenges, from the costs to the positions it favors. Silencing students or faculty has drawn sharp criticism from Capitol Hill to every corner of the nation sending people to the ballot box. Carolina, established in 1789, is the nation’s oldest public university. It also earlier this year became embattled in free speech controversy tied to the war between Hamas and Israel. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression , as FIRE is more formally known, is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization billing itself as “defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought.” Surveys on topics related to free expression and academic freedom were made of 6,269 tenured, tenure-track and nontenure faculty at 55 four-year colleges and universities in America. In North Carolina, the sampling was of 145 at Carolina, 80 at Duke, and 55 at Wake Forest. For each campus, respondents said the top “difficult issue to discuss” is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asked for top three issues, the Middle East saga was 79% at Carolina, 71% at Wake Forest and 68% at Duke. Each campus was split on the second and third choices. At Duke, 57% said affirmative action and 51% transgender rights. At Carolina, 54% said affirmative action and 53% racial inequality. And at Wake, 63% said racial inequality and 55% transgender rights. All were talking points of various candidates, particularly the presidential race, in the election cycle climaxing last month. In response to faculty feeling “they could not express their opinion because of how others would respond,” the choices of “occasionally,” “fairly often” and “very often” drew a combined 69% at Wake Forest, 69% at Duke and 67% at Carolina. Fairly often and very often were 35% at Duke. Statements pledging commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is rarely or never justified of faculty job candidates, said 61% at Duke, 44% at Carolina and 42% at Wake Forest. Nationally, the response was 50%. Academic freedom leaned more toward secure than not at all three institutions on a split of about 60%-40%. As for faculty feeling a need to “hide their political beliefs from other faculty in an attempt to keep their job,” answers of “never” were chosen by 43% at Duke, 42% at Carolina and 36% at Wake Forest. Among the national findings of the FIRE survey: • More faculty (35%) than during the McCarthy era (9%) say they toned down their writing for fear of controversy. • Threats of discipline for teaching, research, academic talks or other off-campus speech was incurred by 14%. • Faculty feeling unable to speak freely for fear of how others would respond was 27%. • Fear of damaged reputations because of misunderstandings with something said or done was 40%. • Fear of losing jobs because of misunderstandings with something said or done was 23%.
Generating Public Support For State Climate Policy During Trump 2.0The usual rule of thumb is that stories sell; data, not so much. But new research suggests that’s not necessarily true. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that numbers are dull and uninspiring, numbers dominate our decisions — on what to buy, whom to hire and where to donate money. A paper published last month in the journal PNAS shows that numbers are so compelling that when making a decision, people will put more weight on relatively trivial attributes if they’re expressed numerically, factoring them in above more relevant information expressed in qualitative form. The researchers call the phenomenon “quantification fixation.” “I think it helps explain why there’s such a move to put a number on everything,” said Katherine Milkman, a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the authors of the paper. For example, think of online purchases — it’s so much easier to compare customer star ratings than to sort through a bunch of descriptive reviews. Right up top, Amazon gives you not just the average rating as a number and a graphic, but also gives you the number of ratings. The paper itself starts out with an impressive number — the researchers conducted 21 different experiments to bolster their conclusions and explore how quantification fixation works in different contexts. In one, volunteers were put in the position of a boss being asked to choose a summer intern. They were told two candidates were comparable in every way except one got a higher grade in management and the other, a higher grade in calculus. When they offered the calculus grade as a number, people tended to hire the candidate with the higher calculus grade, and when they switched and only offered the management grade as a number, the preference flipped. In another experiment, the researchers wanted to see if a fixation on numbers might nudge people to make unprofitable choices. So they asked volunteers again to play the employer and choose from prospective employees to assist them in a game. The winning pairs would get a cash reward. The prospective employees were scored in three skill areas — math, trivia and a geometric reasoning assessment called the angles test. People were again more likely to choose the candidate whose skills had been expressed as a number (rather than, say, as a bar graph with no numbers). They did this even when told that the numbered skill was less relevant to winning — and, as a result, those teams won less money. “I think it’s a brilliant paper,” said Ellen Peters, a former engineer turned psychologist at the University of Oregon. “The stereotype is that people hate numbers, so they’re going to run away from them,” she said. But this and other studies show people prefer using numbers to make decisions. Peters took part in a recent study that showed people were much more likely to share social media posts on climate change if they included numerical information. The numbers made people think the posts were more trustworthy, she said. There’s a lesson here for those of us trying to sell things, or get hired, or even to get elected. If there’s a quality you want people to value, put a number on it. If there’s something you’d rather people ignore, make it qualitative. Perhaps some degree of numeric fixation can explain why, when asked if they’re better off than they were four years ago, voters focus on what’s most quantifiable — the price they see on a carton of eggs. And there’s a lesson for making better decisions about where to spend our money. Do we really care about a 4.5 versus a 4.4? Or are we ignoring other important information — like whether an item suits our kitchen or our wardrobe? Sometimes we imbue more authority in numbers than they deserve. There are some caveats to the “quantification fixation.” Most people have poor intuition for big numbers, so when faced with the cost of a Mars mission or a foreign war, it all sounds expensive whether it adds up to $7 million or $270 billion, let alone anything in the trillions. And numbers don’t work to inspire compassion. Whether it’s deaths from cancer, COVID or natural disasters, people generally don’t muster more compassion for a million than they do for 100,000 or 10,000. But ratings are on the upswing. In the prescient 2010 novel “Super Sad True Love Story,” by Gary Shteyngart, a future somewhere in the 2020s has become so ratings-obsessed that every time the protagonist walked into a bar, other patrons used a smartphone-like device called an apparat to rate his hotness (always low) and his potential as a long-term mate. What follows is an all-too-plausible scenario of crass consumerism gone wild, economic collapse and terror when all the apparats stop working. The book only got 4 out of 5 Amazon stars, but don’t be turned off by that. It’s just a number.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Cl B stock rises Monday, still underperforms marketJimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's brotherhood is still strong after 30 years with new album 'Missionary' LOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to music, there’s one person in particular Snoop Dogg trusts to steer the ship without question: hit-making producer Dr. Dre. Their bond, built over 30 years of brotherhood, began when Dr. Dre shaped Snoop’s game-changing debut, “Doggystyle,” a cornerstone of hip-hop history. From young dreamers chasing stardom to legends cementing their legacies, the duo has always moved in sync. Now, the dynamic pair reunites for Snoop’s “Missionary,” his milestone 20th studio album, which releases Friday. The 15-track project features several big-name guest appearances including Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, Jhené Aiko and Method Man. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.BJP kickstarts process to get new national president
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Boys Town Nebraska, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys Town today announced the filing of patents for two groundbreaking AI-integrated innovations in virtual training & mixed reality technology. Boys Town is a leader in changing the lives of children and families across the country. Boys Town's success comes with teaching caregivers researched-based strategies to effectively change the behaviors of at-risk children. Boys Town is also a leader in helping children with hearing loss and communication disorders. This new AI model will help to effectively teach more caregivers across the country and aid those using American Sign Language (ASL). "Boys Town is known for its groundbreaking research informed care that serves children and families nationwide," said Rod Kempkes, CEO. "This new technology will help us share the Boys Town mission with even wider audiences across the world and sets Boys Town apart as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector." The first system is an AI-driven training application designed to instruct individuals on effectively implementing the Boys Town Model for teaching social skills to children. This new technology can help train caregivers how to respond when working with children. The system features AI-powered characters designed to simulate children's behavior, enabling realistic and dynamic interactions. Users can engage with these AI characters through natural language while the system leverages computer vision to interpret and respond to user cues. These teachings can then be used when dealing with real world scenarios and provide AI-driven feedback on how the interactions were handled. The second technology facilitates seamless communication between individuals using American Sign Language (ASL) and those communicating verbally. It translates ASL into speech and converts spoken language into text, which is displayed as captions on smart eyewear, allowing both parties to communicate effortlessly. Boys Town is a leader in communication disorders research along with treating those with hearing loss. This technology will be an asset to helping children and families navigate communication barriers. About Boys Town: For over a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of America's children and families through innovative youth, research, and healthcare programs. Boys Town provides compassionate, research-proven education, prevention, training, and treatment for behavioral and physical problems in multiple locations throughout the United States, with a comprehensive array of services. In 2023, more than 715,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.boystown.org . Attachments Artificial Intelligence in Training Boys Town Reality Coach © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100
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