Gov Alia calls for unity against insecurity in Benue
CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel is dead. Cause of death, achievements of veteran iconic voice of American sportsFans of the Real Housewives franchise might get to see some new faces on a new show sooner than they think. While several installments of the beloved franchise are in various stages of production, rumors are swirling that the network is also planning something new. According to social media sleuths, a new state might be represented on Bravo very soon. Andy Cohen tells fans to “stay tuned” for more ‘The Real Housewives’ news Earlier this month, Andy Cohen refused to say whether another Real Housewives series was in the works. Despite his non-committal answer during a Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show , his words seem to suggest something could be brewing. At the very least, his “stay tuned” comment feels more positive than comments he’s made about the possibility in the past. Cohen might be keeping a secret. It’s possible he seems more optimistic now because a new series is already in the works. At the very least, rumors are swirling that the network is already working on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . Rumors suggest ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ is in the works Neither Bravo nor Andy Cohen have announced a new Real Housewives installment. Still, rumors are swirling that the network has assembled a cast for The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . WJAR , a local Rhode Island news outlet, reported on the rumor this week. According to the media outlet, insiders claim Bravo has been speaking to prominent Rhode Island residents for two reality shows they plan to film in the state. One of those shows, reportedly, is a new installment of The Real Housewives . A Reddit user who claims to be connected to the production alleges Ashley Iaconetti, a member of Bachelor Nation, is in talks to appear. The user also claims Bravo has approached a Rhode Island resident who has a connection to Olivia Culpo. The pausing of two installments could mean the timing is right While we don’t have official word on a new installment just yet, the timing feels right. After all, Bravo has always been dedicated to representing a variety of regions in the franchise. They have recently paused two installments, which could leave room for a new city to be represented. Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Dubai wrapped in September, but there are no plans for another season of the show at the moment. The network’s first attempt at an international city was rife with problems, and it seems probable that a third season won’t be made. The network has also opted to pause The Real Housewives of New Jersey . Executives are trying to figure out the best path forward amid serious cast strife. News on the iconic installment won’t come for many months, claims Cohen. The hole in programming does present an interesting opportunity for a new cast and a new city. For now, only time will tell.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.Participation in the 9th World Oil and Gas Equipment Exhibition WOGE2024 12-11-2024 09:41 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire A professional exhibition focused on equipment in the oil and gas field The 9th World Oil and Gas Equipment Expo (WOGE2024) will be held at the Xi'an International Convention and Exhibition Center. With the profound cultural heritage, superior geographical location, and complete oil and gas industry and equipment manufacturing industry cluster of the ancient city of Xi'an, the exhibition will provide more efficient and convenient services for both supply and production sides.The 9th World Oil and Gas Equipment Expo, abbreviated as "WOGE2024", is the largest exhibition in China focusing on the export of petrochemical equipment. It aims to provide a professional and efficient exhibition platform for global petrochemical equipment suppliers and buyers, offering seven services including "precise meeting, professional exhibition, new product release, brand promotion, in-depth communication, factory inspection, and full tracking". The 9th World Petroleum and Natural Gas Equipment Expo adheres to the cooperation principle of "buying globally and selling globally", with Chinese exhibitors as the main focus and foreign exhibitors as auxiliary. Through the forms of "one exhibition" and "two sessions", it provides professional and practical face-to-face communication for both supply and production sides.Overseas buyers of the 9th World Oil and Gas Equipment Expo are all from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, South America and other the Belt and Road oil and gas countries. The Expo has been successfully held in Oman, Russia, Iran, Karamay, China, Hainan, Kazakhstan and other places for eight times. The exhibition adopts a precise exhibition service model of professional exhibition+buyer meeting, and has served a total of 1000 exhibitors, 4000 VIP professional buyers, and more than 60000 professional visitors. We are very pleased to announce that we will participate in the upcoming World Oil and Gas Equipment Expo (WOGE2024) to be held at the Xi'an International Convention and Exhibition Center in Shaanxi from November 7th to 9th, 2024. As the country's largest exhibition focusing on petrochemical equipment exports, WOGE is committed to providing an efficient and professional communication platform for global petrochemical equipment suppliers and buyers.This exhibition will bring together overseas buyers from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, South America and other countries along the "One Belt and One Road". The exhibition will provide "precise meetings, professional exhibitions, new product releases, brand promotion, and in-depth communication" for both suppliers and buyers, factory inspection, full tracking" seven major services. We believe this will be a great opportunity to showcase our latest products and technologies, as well as have in-depth exchanges with professionals in the industry. Our booth information is as follows: Booth number: 2A48. Since its inception, the WOGE exhibition has been successfully held for eight times in Oman, Russia, Iran, Karamay in China, Hainan in China, Kazakhstan and other places, serving a total of 1,000 exhibitors, 4,000 VIP professional buyers, and more than 60,000 professional visitors. The ninth WOGE2024 will be held in Xi'an, a city with a long history. Relying on the city's profound cultural heritage and superior geographical location, the exhibition will provide exhibitors and buyers with more efficient and convenient services. We look forward to meeting you at the exhibition to discuss industry development trends and share our innovative solutions. Please pay attention to our exhibition updates and look forward to your visit! Media Contact Company Name: BaoShunChang Super Alloy (Jiangxi) Co., LTD Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=will-participate-in-the-9th-world-oil-and-gas-equipment-exhibition-woge2024 ] Country: China Website: https://www.jxbsc-alloy.com/ This release was published on openPR.
Bukayo Saka has vowed to return stronger than ever from injury after sending a message to Arsenal fans from his hospital bed. The England winger suffered a torn right hamstring in the first half during last weekend’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Saka subsequently underwent surgery , with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitting after Friday night’s 1-0 win over Ipswich that his attacking talisman would likely be sidelined for more than two months as he recovers in a major blow to the club’s title hopes. The 23-year-old has now spoken out on his latest injury setback for the first time, posting a picture of himself on social media giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed following the operation on his hamstring. Writing on Instagram, Saka said: “The majority see obstacles, but few see the opportunities. Recovery has begun and I’m coming back stronger. Thank you all for your messages #GodsPlan.” In a new update on Saka’s fitness, Arteta had told reporters at the Emirates Stadium on Friday evening after watching his side labour for a creative spark without arguably their most important player: “He had a procedure. “Everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks. “I said many weeks so I think it will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. “It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, the mobility of that. Let’s see, it’s very difficult to say.”
Apple's latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (DPI) – The friendship between Guyana and Qatar exemplifies how countries across the globe can come together to drive progress, president Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasised this during a reception on Monday at the Marriott Hotel to celebrate Qatar's National Day. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, shared a vision for prosperity and development closely links the two countries, stating:“I believe that our partnership can serve as a model for international cooperation, driving progress not only for our nations but for the global community as a whole.” President Ali applauded Qatar's remarkable progress and transformation, and its growing role in fostering regional cooperation and international partnerships. With the recent establishment of a Qatari embassy in Guyana, president Ali underscored that a solid foundation for enhanced dialogue, cultural exchange, and mutually beneficial economic collaboration has been created. The president also pointed out that Guyana and Qatar's interests and development paths are aligned, particularly in the energy sector. “Our nation's oil discoveries have opened unprecedented opportunities for sustainable economic growth and inclusive social development. In this context, Qatar's experience in harnessing its natural resources for the benefit of its people aligns close to our own aspirations,” president Ali added.“We're also keen to explore possibilities in climate change mitigation and adaptation, given our shared commitment to sustainable development.” The president highlighted that this partnership has positioned Guyana as a prominent investment frontier for Qatar and pointed out that the Qatari Investment Authority has been mandated to explore every possibility to partner with the local private sector. The head of state further underscored the potential to broaden this partnership into emerging sectors such as renewable energy, tourism, education, and technology. Qatar is already supporting several large-scale projects in Guyana, demonstrating the impact that strategic partnerships can have on the economy. Qatari company, Assets Group Inc., is constructing a state-of-the-art hotel and convention centre, dubbed the Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre, and a new stadium, funded by the Qatari government, will be constructed in Region Three. Last September, the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani embarked on a state visit to Guyana for fruitful discussions in areas of mutual interest. Recently, the two countries also signed an MoU to establish a framework for regular political dialogue and cooperation. Qatar's Acting Charge d'Affaires to Guyana, Mohammed Ebrahim Al Rumaihi also delivered remarks at the ceremony, emphasising the country's dedication to strengthening ties with Guyana across a range of sectors. Qatar National Day is celebrated annually on December 18. It commemorates the unification of Qatar under the leadership of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani in 1878. This day marks a significant moment in Qatar's history, symbolising the country's unity, independence, and cultural heritage. The post Guyana – Qatar partnership can serve as a model for international cooperation, says president Ali appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN17122024000232011072ID1109004894 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.Australian Senate begins debate on world-first social media ban for children under 16
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The Washington Commanders are facing some uncertainty at the running back position due to injuries in Week 12 to Brian Robinson, Jr. (ankle) and Austin Ekeler (concussion protocol). In the meantime, they've signed Chris Rodriguez, Jr., who was just waived by the team days ago. Rodriguez was a sixth-round pick by the Commanders in 2023, and had spent most of the 2024 season on Washington's practice squad prior to this past week. Now he'll have a chance to join the active roster, and may be asked to play a featured role depending on the health of Robinson and Ekeler. Rodriguez has only appeared in four games for the Commanders this season, and only taken non-special teams snaps in two of them. In one of those games, against the New York Giants in Week 9, Rodriguez rushed 11 times for 52 yards. Jeremy McNichols would presumably get most of Washington's carries if both Robinson and Ekeler are unable to go on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, but Rodriguez would likely be asked to chip in with a sizable workload. It could be the best opportunity of his young career. What Rodriguez's signing means for Robinson and Ekeler is unclear. There's a chance that either of them could still play and Rodriguez's presence is merely precautionary. If not, though, it's next man up.
1. A WD-40 pen (A pen! Genius!) to enjoy the squeak-quieting, hinge-lubricating, rust-preventing powers that you know and love from traditional WD-40 but in an easy-to-maneuver precise pen tip. Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." — BBP623 Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.99 . 2. A ceiling fan carbon filter for grabbing dust, pollen, smoke, dander, and other allergens as the fan spins. It sticks to the fan blade and is unnoticeable — but you may notice the difference in the air! Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!" — Haylee Marez "We have these on every ceiling fan in our house and have noticed such a difference since installing them! There is less dust on our furniture, and the general air quality in our rooms has improved. There is no longer dust build-up on our fan blades. Super easy to install!" — Hannah McClam Get a three-pack from Amazon for $21.99 . 3. A moisturizing saline gel that'll probably come in handy if you're a drippy, sneezy mess thanks to allergies (me right now!) and are constantly blowing your nose, which has led to some not-infrequent nosebleeds (so fun!). Reviewers who use CPAP machines swear by this stuff, as do airplane travelers (dry airplane air!). Promising review: "So thankful for this gel. Was having nosebleeds daily with the dry air and this stopped them! It doesn’t make your nose feel sticky, and it’s not really smelly. Easy to use. It was everything I needed." — Danica Get it from Amazon for $3.62 . 4. A vacuum LED light because it'll show you all the pet hairs, spilled kibble, human crumbs, kitty litter crystals, and dust bunnies that you probably didn't even notice were lurking on your "clean" floors. Promising review: "I love being able to see all the dog hair on the floor. Makes vacuuming so satisfying." — Andrea H. Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 5. A pet hair roller if you love your fur babies but hate how much they shed...on everything. Roll it over your couch, bed, favorite blanket, you name it, and watch it lift the fur away. See, we can own nice things!! Promising review: "Where has this been all my cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes, but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-pound tabby, and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it's snowing — he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using the ChomChom, I can wear a black dress and roll around on my bed without getting a single hair on me. It's absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don't have a pet. I don't care, it's THAT good. " — DH Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three colors). 6. A genius humidifier tank cleaner so you can go longer between washes. Hate refilling the water tank only to realize it's coated with a thin layer of slime and sludge? Same! This fish-shaped cartridge swims around the water tank, inhibiting the growth of buildup for up to 30 days. Promising review: "Just drop this in your humidifier and it keeps the water pretty darn mildew and mold free. Super easy to use, no smell, and safe. I have already repurchased and given a few to other people as well." — Kristine Get it from Amazon for $5.98 . 7. A mascara remover you apply just like mascara to lift even the most stubborn waterproof formulas with ease. This stuff is MAGICAL. I have stick-straight Asian lashes that refuse to hold a curl with wetter mascara formulas. As a result, I have to use waterproof mascara, which is a total pain to remove at night. Instead of rubbing my eyes raw with makeup removers that burn, I apply this like mascara, let it sit for a few minutes, and my waterproof mascara MELTS. Then I go in with a micellar water–soaked cotton pad, and my mascara is gone in 1–2 passes. Promising review: "I was skeptical because I have always struggled with removing waterproof mascara 100% on the first wash/wipe. I applied it to both my lashes and then immediately washed my face with my normal cleanser, and I felt nothing on my lashes! Like I never applied anything to them. I am still amazed and in shock by this magical formula and invention! Best creation ever! " — Chrisy Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 8. A set of DEET-free mosquito-repelling bracelets you'll wanna keep in stock for every outdoorsy adventure. No more slathering yourself with sticky, stinky bug sprays! Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action. Promising review: "I bought these for my Costa Rica trip and was not sure if they would work. I was very surprised. All six days in Costa Rica, which included hiking in the forest and other activities, I didn’t get bit. Not even once. Amazing and worth buying." — JbJ Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $9.99 . 9. A digital luggage scale that'll save your wallet from any overweight baggage fees. You'll also be spared the embarrassment of having to repack your bag in the middle of the airport. You can switch between pound and kilogram measurements. Promising review: " Works great, a must-have when flying. Very accurate scale. Easy to read with the light on it. It's a must if you have a wife like mine who loves to shop for clothes and fill up her suitcase along with mine, or if you want to stay under that 40 pounds and avoid paying the extra for overweight baggage fees. Easy to use, very accurate, well made, and a nice design. Very pleased. Saved me money." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors). 10. A Hydro Flask silicone boot because the whole house can hear when you set down your water bottle. This soft sleeve will help protect the bottom of your bottle and make it less slippery. And, of course, it will help prevent that awful banging sound. I have one for my Hydro Flask and love it! Promising review: "I was tired of hearing this heavy tumbler banging around, so I bought the boot, and it’s fantastic! No more loud placement on the table, silicone has some grip so not as slippery, and the color is super cute. May buy in more colors! **If you own a 32oz or 40oz tumbler of this shape, BUY A SMALL. Slightly snug pulling on, but it’s perfect and will not fall off." — Griffyyy Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in two sizes and five colors). 11. An outlet extender if your bed, couch, cabinets, etc., can't lie flat against the wall because a pesky cord is in the way. This adapter has three outlets, so you can push your bed flat against the wall and still plug in the charger. Promising review: "I have been looking for a solution that would allow for a nightstand and also a dresser to be pushed up against a wall even with things plugged into the outlet behind that furniture. I FOUND IT. This wall outlet extender does exactly what it says it will do. I have a fan, clock radio, and watch charger plugged into it and can still move the nightstand right up against the wall. The light on the dresser no longer forces the dresser to be out a couple of inches; it, too, can be pushed right up against the wall, and the cord is not in danger of getting crushed and becoming a fire hazard. A game changer! I will be ordering a few more." — Lynda L. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two styles and multi-packs). 12. A time-saving fruit and veggie divider so you can quickly prep a snack for your kiddo instead of spending what feels like ages quartering grapes by hand! Parents swear this thing is so convenient because it is easy enough and safe enough for their kiddos to use — and the little ones find it fun to use, too! Check out a TikTok of the fruit and veggie divider in action. Promising review : "If you have toddlers, get it — especially if you're on the fence. I needed something for grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and other small fruits and veggies we go through so much. My breakfast was getting cold long before I was done cutting fruit for two toddlers. Most cutters only do one grape or berry, but this one can do several grapes and a small handful of blueberries. We will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it in this house." — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $13.06 . 13. A pack of double shower hooks to save you time when you wanna toss your dirty shower curtain liner in the washing machine. Now you don't have to remove the shower curtain too (and then inevitably hang it up backwards). And one certified genius even used the hooks as pant hangers . *mind blown* Promising review: "Wow. Game-changer. I have to change my shower curtain liner a lot because of a humid bathroom (yes, even with a fan on 😬). Though there are greater issues in the world, why wouldn't you want to save yourself some time with these hooks? Not having to take the curtain off each time I change the liner has really been more satisfying than I had anticipated. An added bonus is the rings themselves: The balls that were added hug the shower curtain rod, so they never pop off. Something I never knew I needed either. Love these!" — Jdbouchart Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 12 finishes). 14. A dog paw scrubber for all-in-one paw cleaning that won't bother your pooch and certainly won't bother you now that your floors will be free of muddy paw prints. Promising review: "I wanted something that would clean my baby’s paws after our walks because I didn’t want germs or dirt coming into the house. It smells great, it works well, and I can see that the rubber part doesn’t bother my doggy! It’s super easy to use, and I use it to keep her paws clean and my house clean! 10/10, especially for the price point!" — Thia Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 15. A pack of towel clips that'll prevent kids and pets from pulling down the towel. Or, maybe you have neither of those things, yet your hand and kitchen towels always end up on the ground. Promising review: "This clip is amazing. No more towels falling on the floor. It was becoming a routine thing since my cat thinks it's fun to pull the kitchen towels off the oven. Not now, bad kitty! Great product...wish I had bought one sooner!" — Joanna Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99 . 16. A mold and mildew remover gel because you can set it, forget it, and come back in a few hours to see grout that looks like new. I'm talking basically every speck of black mold is gone! *Cues up "Do You Believe in Magic"* Check out our Skyalrlife mold and mildew removal gel review for more deets! Promising review: "Wow! I would give this 10 stars if I could. We've had issues for a few years with the caulking behind the handle of our kitchen faucet turning black from mildew. We've scrubbed with what seems like a million different products with no luck. We were actually just talking about ripping out the caulking and doing a total replacement. But my husband saw this online the other day and decided to order it. Almost immediately, when he applied it, you could see it was starting to work. We left it on overnight, and the black is COMPLETELY GONE! It's incredible. It's 1,000% worth the (small) investment. Seriously — just buy this. It's amazing!!" — Nicole D. Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 17. And a bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray if your cleaning fantasies usually involve watching soap scum and shower grime buildup vanish without you ever having to wipe. Rinse it clean the next day, and you'll be amazed to see those hard water stains on your shower door are *poof* gone. Promising review: "We cannot BEGIN to tell you what a lifesaver this is! We have two old fiberglass tubs with vinyl shower enclosures that, no matter what amount of scrubbing we have done with everything from bleach to cleanser to vinegar and baking soda, would NOT come clean. After I took my shower last night, I sprayed down the tub and walls. Within minutes, all the built-up water deposits, dirt, and grime began to melt away in front of my eyes. I left it on overnight, and when I got up this morning, it did not look like the same tub and shower. This product is a godsend, especially for old folks like us who have difficulty getting down on our hands and knees and scrubbing anything. More importantly, it performs as advertised. We plan on using it as part of our weekly cleanup routine. This is truly an overnight sensation!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $20.98 (available in two scents). 18. Some restorative wipes so you can rehab weatherworn front doors and shutters. These wipes are saturated with a solution that revives oxidized, faded, and sun-damaged surfaces, bumpers, siding, mailboxes, grills, garden tools, painted surfaces, and more. Promising review: "My metal barstools were left on the balcony all winter because of a surprise three-day blizzard. After being buried in snow all winter, I thought for sure I would have to throw them out when I saw them in the spring. Looking at them now after using the product, no one would suspect that they weren’t new ones! " — Mom@home Get five wipes from Amazon for $12.83 . 19. A creamy under-eye brightener to conceal evidence of a stressful work week, broken sleep, or just genetic dark circles. And the $6 price tag? *chef's kiss* Promising review: "I often fall for those cheap beauty recommendations, but they are often huge fails. Not this! I love this stuff. I don’t know how it works, but it’s amazing. I swipe an eye stick on, dab this stuff on, and I don’t look like I had five hours of sleep . Even on 'no makeup' days, I find myself still applying this. Love it!!" — Jill Fulton Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 20. A Mac keyboard shortcut sticker for the person googling the force quit shortcut several times a week when their finicky computer shows the spinning wheel of death. (It's option + command + esc BTW!) Promising review: "Literally for any new or old Mac user, or even an user that’s used to any type of device other than Apple! Super helpful for how to copy and paste and do other minor tasks! I mainly use the mouse pad on the laptop so as my hands rub or grace over the sticker, it has never came off or never ripped off at any point in time. It is perfectly still down to the computer part, and I’ve had this for over a year now!! 10/10 recommend!🩷" — Reyn Get it from Amazon for $5.95 (available in eight styles). 21. A trio of sunglasses that'll protect your eyes from the sun and your wallet from your ability to lose absolutely everything you own. Three pairs of stylish sunnies for less than $20? Now, you don't need to fret when you settle into your Uber on the way to the hotel and realize you left your sunnies on the plane. Promising review: "These sunglasses are inexpensive and very durable. The polarization on them is very good and keeps it very dark on those super sunny days. The style looks good on most face shapes and I loved the colors. They are very lightweight and don’t irritate behind my ears. They definitely stand up to scratches and little baby hands grabbing at them constantly." — Amazon Customer Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in 11 color combinations and packs of one and two). 22. A pack of carborundum sponges because these are the heavy hitters you'll want for stains and gunk that no other sponge is strong enough to handle. Promising review: "Nice and thin. You'll find so many more uses for these around the house than just getting stuff off the underside of cookware! I had hard, scaly water deposits on the glass surrounding our powder room faucet (one of those fancy, highfalutin modern-looking things). I've tried everything for 4 years to get this stuff off. One day, I thought, maybe I'll try my sponges. Took it all off super easily!!!! The faucet looks like new. My only rec is to spot-test your item first before using it because it will scratch certain surfaces if you scrub too aggressively (for example, it gets the burned-on, weird stuff off of the bottom of my fave Our Place pan, but I rubbed too hard in one spot and it took the color right off lol)." — Hoarder Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sponge thicknesses). 23. A pack of slow cooker liners if you have a lot of hungry people to feed. With the disposable liners, you can cook different recipes at the same time, reducing your overall cooking time *and* saving you from having to wash a huge stack of dishes. PS: They also come in handy with dishes going into a water bath (think cheesecakes, custards, and puddings). Promising review: "We constantly use our crockpot for easy meals. I'm a teacher and my husband is a firefighter, and it's just easy for our family of five. No real cleanup. I toss the bag in the trash after use and will just run a wet rag around the inside of the pot for good measure. Never have a problem with holes or burning." — Ashley Matthews Get a pack of six from Amazon for $3.48 . 24. A pack of towel bands so you don't have to spend your vacation chasing your towel down the beach or the pool deck after the wind blows it away. Reviewers say they take less space in your bag and do a better job of holding down your towel than bulky clips. Promising review: "Last-minute purchase for a trip to Jamaica. So happy I bought them. They always kept our towels on the chairs correctly. It was also easy to tell our chairs apart from others on the resort. Will definitely be recommending them to others." — RG Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four colors). 25. A bag of Liquid I.V. electrolyte drink mix to help you stay hydrated during a sweaty day in the sun or after a grueling workout. Bonus: It's Popsicle Firecracker flavored! FYI, depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! Read more about electrolyte-enhanced drinks and hydration at Cleveland Clinic . Promising review: "Liquid I.V. does an amazing job hydrating. I purchase their product for 40+ employees who work in a construction-related industry. Hydration is so important while working in the hot Georgia Sun, and this product aids in this 100%. Now, let’s talk about the firecracker flavor! When we produced these for our crew, ages 23–60, all of their eyes lit up, and they were super excited . Many of them did not know this flavor existed. Quite honestly, I didn’t either until I came across them on Amazon. They all loved the flavor. In particular, the ones who were older kept telling me it tasted like their childhood. Seriously, who hasn’t stood outside an ice cream truck ordering the Firecracker Popsicle?" — Disney Diva Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $23.98 . 26. A portable door lock for added security in a hotel or Airbnb if you're traveling alone. It jams the door so it's impossible for an intruder to force themselves in using the door handle. Promising review: "I took my first solo trip and ordered this for extra security. Was super easy to install and didn't require me to leave my hotel door ajar for an extended amount of time for installation. My hotel door didn't even move when I tested out the lock. 10/10 recommend for a peace of mind. "— Haley Gribble Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 27. A lip balm keychain cap that'll save you from misplacing that $24 lip balm before you can even use it. Each cap is designed to replace the original packaging and conveniently attaches to your keychain, purse strap, etc. Foundry Prints Co. is a small business based in Ocala, Florida. Caps are available for a variety of popular lip balms, including Aquaphor Lip Repair, ChapStick, Glossier Balm Dotcom, Laneige Lip Glowy Balm, Lanolips Tinted Lip Balm, Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment, Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, Topicals Lip Salve, and Vaseline Lip Therapy. Promising review: "This is the perfect addition to my bag! I can always easily find my lip gloss now. Totally recommend. Would be a great gift or even stocking stuffer! " — Amber Get it from Foundry Prints Co. on Etsy for $5 (available in 9 styles and 11 colors). 28. An exfoliating towel because reviewers with keratosis pilaris (aka "chicken skin" and "strawberry skin") swear it helps clear up those pesky reddish bumps. Promising review: "Worth the hype. Took off an embarrassing amount of dead skin. Very satisfying, though. I can’t describe how soft my skin feels now!!" — Jordan Nichols Get four towels from Amazon for $4.80 . 29. A pack of self-heating soothing foot masks if you just spent a long day on your feet and the dogs are barking. Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord says, "I'm a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!" Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" — KS2018 Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $14.67 . The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.A newly-leaked internal Ministry of Health report appears to show more than 200 communities across Ontario do not have family doctors who are taking on new patients, a fact Ford government critics have jumped upon. The internal report, leaked to the Ontario Liberals on Wednesday and published by the party, shows 205 Ontario communities don’t have family doctors taking on new patients, and also reveals more than 2,000 physicians are likely to retire over the next five years. Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said the new figures suggest the province’s family doctor shortage is worse than the Ford government has been willing to admit. “It says the situation is far worse and getting worse each and every day,” Crombie told reporters. “This is something that we should have been planning for for six years now... they don’t have a plan to take care of it.” Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said plans were already in place to increase access to primary care and family doctors, even if there is a surge in retirements. “That is exactly why we have made the investments that we are,” she told reporters. “Expanding access to medical schools, expanding the number of seats, expanding the number of medical schools in Ontario.” The report also lists a range of municipalities where family doctors are not taking on new patients, with many located in parts of rural and northern Ontario. It reveals that just under half of the communities in the province, but not necessarily half the population, don’t have access to a new family doctor. “It’s like the Hunger Games out there, in communities all across Ontario, who are trying to fight over attracting family physicians,” Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said. “You can’t attract a family physician to a community when you don’t have adequate housing and schools and infrastructure for those folks. So this is a government that is failing on so many fronts.” The data doesn’t necessarily mean the 205 communities don’t have access to any kind of primary care, but rather that family doctors are not taking on new patients. Nurse practitioners or walk-in clinics could be available where family doctors are not. Jones admitted the province is struggling to get doctors into parts of Ontario but said a plan was in place to ultimately fix the problem. “There is always an additional challenge when you’re recruiting individuals in more rural and remote communities,” she said. “But those are the programs that we have in place to ensure that as individuals practice and choose to practice in northern Ontario, they have additional funding. Because we understand that it becomes more challenging in northern communities and remote and rural communities.” Ontario Liberal health critic Adil Shamji, however, said the government needs to ensure that people training as family doctors go on to work in the profession. “We also need to improve the circumstances that family doctors are working in so that when they graduate, they don’t go off to practice anesthesia or emergency medicine or sports medicine,” he said. “And then we need to make sure that those doctors are incentivized and supported not just to work in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, but to work in these 205 municipalities in counties that don’t have a single doctor that’s rostering patients.” Jones said that, along with plans to train more doctors, a move to other forms of primary care and health teams would help close the gap geographically and if more doctors retire. The primary care team model, the minister said, can be better than a family doctor in the long run. “Frankly, it is what clinicians and patients want,” Jones said. “They don’t just want a phone number (and someone to say), ‘Go somewhere else to learn about your diagnosis of diabetes.’ They want to sit down and have those deeper conversations with a dietitian, with nurse practitioners, with an RN so that they can understand what that diagnosis is and what the impacts are for their families.”
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Senate on Thursday began considering a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. The world-first bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts is likely to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, the Parliament’s final session for the year and potentially the last before elections, which are due within months. The major parties’ support for the ban all but guarantees the legislation will become law. But many child welfare and mental health advocates are concerned about unintended consequences. Unaligned Sen. Jacqui Lambie complained about the limited amount of time the government gave the Senate to debate the age restriction, which she described as “undercooked.” “I thought this was a good idea. A lot of people out there thought it was a good idea until we looked at the detail and, let's be honest, there's no detail,” Lambie told the Senate. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly carried the bill 102 votes to 13. Once the legislation becomes law, the platforms would have one year to work out how they could implement the ban before penalties are enforced. The platforms complained that the law would be unworkable, and urged the Senate to delay the vote until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how young children could be excluded. Critics argue the government is attempting to convince parents it is protecting their children ahead of general elections due by May. The government hopes that voters will reward it for responding to parents' concerns about their children's addiction to social media. Some argue the legislation could cause more harm than it prevents. Criticisms include that the legislation was rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, is ineffective, poses privacy risks for all users, and undermines parental authority to make decisions for their children. Opponents of the bill also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of the positive aspects of social media, drive them to the dark web, discourage children too young for social media to report harm and reduce incentives for platforms to improve online safety.Beed Sarpanch Murder: Actress Prajakta Mali Files Complaint Against BJP MLA Suresh Dhas For Dragging Her Name In Political ControversyVICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby says 25-per-cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would be “devastating” for the province’s lumber and forestry industries. He made the comment ahead of a meeting with fellow first ministers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Eby was scheduled to participate in the virtual meeting on Wednesday to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to imposethe tariffs unless Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent illicit drugs from entering the United States. Eby said the lumber and forestry sectors are already strained by a recent increase in duties amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada dispute over softwood lumber. He said after the first meeting of his new cabinet in Victoria that the tariffs are “unjustified,” and they would hurt Americans as much as they would Canadians. The premier said B.C. is a source of natural gas, wood products, minerals and other products that U.S. businesses depend on, and the tariff would hinder jobs and opportunities in the province while making “life more expensive for Americans.” Eby and Ottawa have called for a united front dealing with Trump’s tariff plan, which he announced on social media on Monday. Eby said B.C. officials had repeatedly raised concerns with Ottawa over organized crime and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, in relation to border security. “It’s a priority for us. It has been for a while, we’ve written to Ottawa about it. Doesn’t justify the tariffs, but it does mean that we can talk about those issues as well.” Eby said Trump’s proposed tariff “doesn’t make economic sense,” and the measure is not necessary to address issues at the border. The premier said he believes B.C. has a strong case to make for the tariff being “badly placed” if Trump’s priority is to reduce costs for Americans. “I think the premiers are unified,” Eby said. “There are 13 of us plus the prime minister. It’s a big group of people with different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we’re protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we’re completely in line on that question.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024.
CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.com