Believe it or not, Cowboys might have hope yet after chaotic win at WashingtonTORONTO (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club said players were forced to walk to their game against the Maple Leafs after their bus got stuck in Toronto traffic Sunday night. The team posted a video on social media of team members walking to Scotiabank Arena, with player Maveric Lamoureux saying the bus was “not moving at all.” Several city streets had been closed during the day for the annual Santa Claus parade. The Maple Leafs earned their fourth consecutive win by defeating Utah 3-2. The viral incident prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call the congestion “embarrassing” and “unacceptable,” highlighting his government’s plan to address the city’s gridlock through bike lane legislation. It wasn’t the first time a Toronto visitor had to ditch their vehicle to make it to an event on time. In June, former One Direction band member Niall Horan had to walk through traffic to get to his concert at Scotiabank Arena. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlMEXICO CITY (AP) — Over 18,000 people in Mexico have registered online to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in the country's contentious new selection process , but a random drawing in the end will determine who gets on the ballot, officials said Monday. The ruling party pushed through a constitutional reform in September to make all federal judges stand for election, replacing the system where court employees and lawyers mainly move up through the ranks. Current court employees and their supporters have staged dozens of demonstrations against the reforms, calling them part of a ruling-party campaign to weaken checks and balances and eliminate independent regulatory and oversight bodies. Now, candidates for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships need only a law degree, a grade point average of 3.2, “five years of professional experience” and five letters of recommendation from neighbors or friends. That, and some luck in the final drawing. Officials rejected criticism that has called the process rushed or amateurish for the often highly technical posts that can hear cases including intellectual property, organized crime and Constitutional law. “The results have been spectacular,” said Arturo Zaldivar, a top advisor to President Claudia Sheinbaum. According to the plan, evaluation committees will have just over a month to review thousands of resumes and whittle the field to about 10 candidates or less for each for the 881 judgeships and nine seats on the Supreme Court. Then 1,793 names chosen at random from those selected will appear on the ballot on June 1. Critics warn that many who land on the ballot will be unknowns who perhaps have never argued a case in the courts they seek to run. “You don’t elect a doctor or a surgeon for an operation based on their popularity, you elect them based on their technical expertise, their ability, their knowledge,” said Sergio Méndez Silva, the legal coordinator for the civic group Foundation for Justice. “That also applies for a judge.” With candidates now having to run election campaigns, critics warn there's a chance drug cartels or political parties could finance them to get friendly judges onto the bench. There are also concerns that the evaluation committees deciding who makes the cut for the selection to appear on ballots may not be impartial. Most committee members were appointed by the legislative or executive branches, controlled by the ruling Morena party. Some critics argue that the current justice system, which is riddled with nepotism, corruption and a lack of accountability, needs to be changed. “We need a justice system that gives results,” said Martínez Garza, an academic and former head of the human rights commission in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon who has registered to run for a Supreme Court seat. Trials in Mexico can last for years, and the ruling party has added to the growing list of crimes for which bail is not allowed, meaning that a large percentage of the prison population is people awaiting trial.
Having a dry vagina isn’t exactly a conversation starter at dinner, but there’s a good chance somebody at your table has experienced the burning, itching, and frequent urinary tract infections that can come with it. About 17% of all people who are premenopausal have had painful sex because of it, and that jumps to more than 50% after menopause . One obvious reason, of course, is that you’re just not in the mood (and that’s perfectly, 100% okay!). But fluctuating hormones—say, you’ve recently switched medications—can also play a big role in unwanted dryness. As Lauren Streicher, MD , clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, tells SELF, “There are many more causes than you may think.” Bottom line: Parched private parts are not fun in the slightest, and you’ll probably want to figure out what’s causing yours, as a lot of cases can be helped with the right treatment. Here’s how to know what’s causing your dry vagina and how to deal with it. 1. Tight pelvic floor muscles Your pelvic floor, which includes the muscles that support your pelvis, bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs (a.k.a. your vagina and uterus) needs to relax when a sex toy, finger, or penis enters your vagina. If those muscles are tight, any type of penetration could hurt. You might also have a health condition, like IBS or endometriosis which can cause pelvic floor dysfunction and make those muscles tense. You could also feel dry simply because you’re not ready for sex—perhaps you’re just not turned on (again, nothing wrong with that!) or you’ve experienced sexual trauma. Think of it this way: Lubrication is your body’s way of saying “I’m ready.” If something hurts, whether for a physiological or psychological reason, Dr. Streicher says your body won’t gear up in the same way. Pelvic floor physical therapy—which consists of exercises like Kegels and squats—can help improve pelvic floor muscle strength, power, and relaxation. ( Here are some exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor .) A PT with this type of expertise can help you figure out what’s happening in your specific case and teach you how to do the correct moves to fix it. You might be in need of reverse Kegels, which is a technique to relax and lengthen pelvic muscles. So if a Kegel involves squeezing your muscles as if you are stopping the flow of pee, a reverse Kegel means actively relaxing those same pelvic muscles. If your dryness is due to sexual trauma, a trauma-informed therapist or a sex therapist can help. ( Here’s how to find empathetic mental health support for your trauma .) “You can only imagine what it does to you psychologically when you’ve had years of sexual pain,” says Dr. Streicher “These things are in a vacuum, and you have to treat them physically and psychosocially.” That said, if you’re certain you’re feeling it (even if your body’s not quite there), the right lubrication can help get things moving smoothly again. ( Check out this guide for choosing the best type of lube. ) 2. Perimenopause or menopause Menopause—which is when your ovaries stop producing hormones and you don’t have any more periods—can cause lots of hormonal fluctuations, including a major dip in estrogen. This can make your vagina feel dry and lead to pain or bleeding during sex , along with hot flashes, night sweats, and a host of other not-so-fun symptoms. The three to five years leading up to this point, called perimenopause, can bring similar symptoms, too. Waning estrogen can be a pain—literally—but there are plenty of treatments to help offset menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. Lube ( here are eight of the best ones from 2024 to choose from ) and vaginal moisturizers with hyaluronic acid are the lowest-risk routes, so you may want to try them first. Topical products that contain estrogen like creams or vaginal suppositories, which are like a little pill you insert into your vagina, can also make things smoother, Farinaz Seifi, MD , associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive services at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, tells SELF. Your doctor may also recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help balance out hormone levels, which can come in pill, foam, spray, gel, ring, or patch form. (HRT has some risks, and not everyone should take it, so check out our guide to hormone therapy .) Other medications in pill form, such as ospemifene or dehydroepiandrosterone, can also help offset painful sex from menopause and perimenopause. 3. Hormonal birth control Speaking of hormones: If you’re on birth control and your vagina is dry, you might check your prescription, as types that contain estrogen and progesterone can contribute to problems. Hormonal birth control can also affect your libido, and if it’s hard to get aroused, things might feel dry. In some rare cases, you could have a severe reaction to hormonal birth control that causes vestibulodynia, a type of vulvodynia (or chronic pain in the vulva) that can also stem from breastfeeding (more on that in a minute!), and some other health conditions. In addition to burning, stinging, and raw, tender skin, “it can cause excruciatingly painful sex ,” says Dr. Streicher. If you think the pill is causing problems, bring it up to your doc. They might be able to suggest a non-hormonal contraception that’ll be less likely to irritate your vagina, such as a copper IUD or spermicide. According to Streicher, topical estrogen creams can also sometimes help improve dryness and irritation. ( Here are seven reasons to consider switching your birth control. ) 4. Medications—particularly the hormonal kind Birth control isn’t the only drug-related culprit here: Any medicine that decreases estrogen, such as tamoxifen (a drug used to prevent, and treat, breast cancer), can affect the moisture of your vagina. Some medications for conditions like endometriosis, like dienogest, can also lead to issues. Also, meds that dry out your body in general (think antihistamines or cold medicines) can have the same effect on your vagina, says Dr. Seifi. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications have also been known to reduce overall moisture in the body. Again, lube can be your best friend here. But if that’s not enough, your doctor can step in to find you an alternative treatment that won’t wipe out moisture *everywhere.* If allergy or cold meds are to blame, staying hydrated can help, too. An important reminder: Don’t stop taking meds, especially ones you’ve been prescribed, on your own without your doctor’s guidance. 5. Certain medical conditions Some existing health issues can also reduce moisture in your vagina (another good reason to talk to your doctor). Vaginal dryness may also be a symptom of diabetes . Though it’s rare—affecting only 1% of the population—Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that can affect your eyes and mouth, can also dry out tissue throughout your body, including the vagina. Though it’s not necessarily a condition per se, if you recently had a baby, your postpartum period could be another (temporary) reason. That’s because, if you’re breastfeeding, you may not be producing enough estrogen to keep your vagina well-lubricated—but when you stop, it should increase again. Plus, if you’re sleep-deprived because you are taking care of a newborn, your sexual drive may be non-existent —which means you might be dry down there, too. Again, this is not a health condition—more a frustrating choice—but stop smoking if you do it. On top of increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, Dr. Seifi says smoking can mess with your hormone levels—specifically, your lubricating friend, estrogen—and it’s a known risk for early menopause. Treating whatever condition you have can usually help take care of some dryness (and help you feel better in general). If you’re up for penetrative sex, again, a little lube and some extra foreplay before the big act can’t hurt, which can help stimulate blood flow and keep your vagina moist. If you’re still uncomfortable, opt for a vaginal moisturizer. Importantly, skip douches, which contain harsh soaps and other ingredients that’ll likely irritate your bits even more. Speaking of harsh chemicals: It might also be worth sorting through your medicine cabinet and clearing it of any chemical-laden soaps. Your vagina is a self-cleaning oven—you don’t need to (and shouldn’t) use harsh soaps down there. “Just use water to clean, a regular shower, and regular soap. That will take care of it,” says Dr. Seifi. Also, don’t keep trying to have sex if it hurts, as that can cause your pelvic floor muscles to tighten up even more, intensifying dryness and discomfort. “Pain is your body’s way of saying ‘stop,’” says Dr. Streicher. Vaginal dryness can be uncomfortable to talk about, but it’s even more uncomfortable to deal with. But talking to your doctor is the first step in figuring out what’s going on and, hopefully, feeling better, both in and out of the bedroom. “If you haven’t been given a solution, that doesn’t mean there’s not one,” says Dr. Streicher. “You just need to get in the hands of someone who knows.” Related: 11 Sneaky Causes of a Low Sex Drive in Women What to Do If Your Antidepressants Are Killing Your Sex Drive How to Prepare for the Emotional, Physical, and Social Realities of Life Postpartum Get more of SELF's great mental health advice delivered right to your inbox—for free .
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after the president-elect's threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City . It was unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada from Florida, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. A person familiar with the details of the leaders' hastily arranged meeting Friday night said it was a “positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast and pipelines, as well as the the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. As he was leaving his West Palm Beach hotel, Trudeau stopped briefly to answer a reporter’s question about the dinner meeting, saying it was "an excellent conversation." Trump’s transition team did not respond to questions about what the leaders had discussed. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Among those at the dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick for commerce secretary; North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, in line to lead the Interior Department; and Mike Waltz, Trump's choice to be his national security adviser. Accompanying Trudeau were Canada's public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau's chief of staff. Trudeau had said earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs issue by talking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a day earlier after speaking with Trump that she is confident a tariff war with the United States will be averted. Trudeau said Trump got elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now he's talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said before his leaving for Florida. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. To Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, Trump "doesn’t need convincing that new tariffs on Canadian products would not be in U.S. interests. He knows that, but cannot say it because it would detract from what he has said publicly. His goal is to project the image that he gets action when he talks.” Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. Trump made the tariff threat Monday while citing an influx of migrants entering the country illegally, even though the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to those at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump also spoke about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison to the Mexican border. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.PlayStation Black Friday Deals: Score Epic Discounts on Games, Consoles, and Accessories!