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mega ace88 Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces December 2024 Cash DividendDecember 3, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Delft University of Technology Researchers at TU Delft have discovered that E. coli bacteria can synchronize their movements, creating order in seemingly random biological systems. By trapping individual bacteria in micro-engineered circular cavities and coupling these cavities through narrow channels, the team observed coordinated bacterial motion. Their findings, which have potential applications in engineering controllable biological oscillator networks, were recently published in Small . An audience clapping in rhythm, fireflies flashing in unison, or flocks of starlings moving as one—synchronization is a natural phenomenon observed across diverse systems and scales. First described by Christiaan Huygens in the 17th century, synchronization was famously illustrated by the aligned swinging of his pendulum clocks. Now, TU Delft researchers have shown that even E. coli bacteria—single-celled organisms only a few micrometers long—can display this same phenomenon. "This was a remarkable moment for our team," said Farbod Alijani, associate professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. "Seeing bacteria 'dance in sync' not only showcases the beauty of nature but also deepens our understanding of the microscopic origins of self-organization among the smallest living organisms." Synchronized movement Alijani's team, together with TU Delft professor Cees Dekker and the TU Delft spin-off SoundCell, achieved this by using precisely engineered microcavities that trap single E. coli cells from a bulk population. Inside these circular cavities, the bacteria began to exhibit rotary motion akin to pendulum clocks. By connecting two of these cavities with a tiny channel, the researchers observed that after some time, the two bacteria began to synchronize their movements. "This synchronization occurs because of hydrodynamic interactions induced by the movement of bacteria in the coupled system," explains Alijani. The team quantified this coupling strength and found that the bacteria's coordinated motion adhered to universal mathematical rules of synchronization. Towards a network of coordinated motion The findings hold significant promise, paving the way for designing micro-tools capable of inducing controlled oscillations and synchronization in bacterial systems. Such tools could help scientists study bacterial motility and coordination in confined environments, providing a better understanding of microbial active matter. The team is now exploring more complex systems by coupling multiple cavities to form networks of synchronized bacteria. "We want to uncover how these networks behave and whether we can engineer even more sophisticated dynamical movements," Alijani adds. Possibilities for drug screening While this research is primarily fundamental, its potential applications are wide-ranging. "This could even provide a novel approach to drug screening, for instance, by measuring fluid flow changes and forces caused by bacterial movement before and after administering antibiotics," Alijani suggests. The study was inspired by earlier work where Alijani's team recorded the first-ever sound of a single bacterium using a graphene drum . "We were curious if we could go a step further and create order out of the chaotic oscillations we observed," says Alijani. With this study, they've moved from recording the soundtrack of a single bacterium to orchestrating their "tango." More information: Aleksandre Japaridze et al, Synchronization of E. coli Bacteria Moving in Coupled Microwells, Small (2024). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202407832 Journal information: Small Provided by Delft University of TechnologySnapdeal's loss narrows to Rs 160 crore in FY24

Hodge scores 21 as UNC Wilmington scores 85-74 win over UNC Asheville

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said in an unclassified report released Thursday that it "appears increasingly likely that a foreign adversary is behind some" cases of what officials refer to as "anomalous health incidents" – mysterious illnesses suffered by U.S. national security officials. The House Intelligence Committee concluded in the report that an intelligence community assessment from 2023 of anomalous health incidents (AHI), commonly called Havana Syndrome , "lacked analytic integrity and was highly irregular in its formulation." That 2023 report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence had deemed it " very unlikely " that a foreign adversary was behind the mysterious injuries, though it did acknowledge that some intelligence agencies had only "low" or "moderate" confidence in that conclusion. Until now that has been the government's leading assessment of what's behind the Havana Syndrome. Thursday's report also accused the intelligence community of interfering with the House Intelligence Committee's ongoing investigation. "Sadly, the [intelligence community] has actively attempted to impede our investigation, but we have nonetheless been able to gather significant evidence, and I have reason to believe that its claims of environmental or social factors explaining AHIs are false," said Rep. Rick Crawford, the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Central Intelligence Agency, who led the investigation. What is Havana Syndrome? A total of 334 American officials have qualified for AHI care in the military health system as of January 2024, according to Thursday's report. They have symptoms that scientists say could be caused by a beam of microwaves or acoustic ultrasound. White House staff, CIA officers, FBI agents, and military officers and their families are among those who say they were wounded by a secret weapon. A March 31 60 Minutes report on Havana Syndrome, based on a five-year investigation , revealed new evidence of a potential Russian nexus tied to mysterious illnesses suffered by U.S. national security officials. Calls for a new Intelligence Community Assessment After the 60 Minutes report in March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden calling for a "renewed assessment by the U.S. government" of what officials call "anomalous health incidents." In the unclassified report released Thursday, House officials called for the Intelligence Community to release a new report on anomalous health incidents. "The Subcommittee is aware that the IC (intelligence community) continues to withhold valuable information from the Subcommittee," House leaders wrote. "For this reason, a final unclassified report cannot be issued at this time. In addition, the Subcommittee plans to issue a classified report that explains why the Subcommittee finds the conclusions reached in the ICA (intelligence community assessment) dubious at best, and misleading at worst." The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's investigation The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said it conducted 48 interviews of current and former members of the CIA, FBI, ODNI, Defense Intelligence Agency and the U.S. military, as well as interviews of non-government officials. Committee members reviewed more than 7,500 pages of official records and more than 3,400 pages of records provided by whistleblowers. Based on their review, committee members said they believe the intelligence community was involved in "stonewalling, slow-walking, and cherry-picking of information" in its Havana Syndrome investigation. "The Biden Administration and IC (intelligence community) leadership has sought to hinder the Subcommittee's investigation into AHIs to keep the truth about AHIs from Congress and, by extension, the American public," committee members wrote in Thursday's report. "This is unacceptable." The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it disagreed with many of the Committee's interim findings. An ODNI spokeswoman said, "Most IC agencies assess that it is very unlikely a foreign adversary is responsible for the reported AHIs, and the assertion that we are withholding information that contradicts this analysis or would otherwise illuminate this complex subject is unfounded." Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA operations officer who was injured in Moscow in December 2017, spoke out about the Thursday report. "The report indicates to me that not only was there incompetence on the part of CIA, but also willful malfeasance," Polymeropoulos said. He was the first CIA officer to go public about his experience. "They failed to properly investigate the attacks, then cooked the books analytically, while also launching a campaign to belittle the victims as well, denying them medical care. In totality, this ultimately is a staggering betrayal of the CIA's own people. That is very hard to stomach, from an organization that I dedicated my life to. This report seems to open the door for Congress to fully investigate what looks like a truly historic scandal at CIA. I am both angry, but also feel vindicated, in what has been a very long seven year battle," Polymeropoulos told 60 Minutes. The 60 Minutes Havana Syndrome investigation Greg Edgreen, a now-retired Army lieutenant colonel who ran the Pentagon investigation into anomalous health incidents, previously told 60 Minutes that the bar for proof was set impossibly high. He said it was set so high because the country didn't want to face hard truths, like the existence of possible failures to protect Americans. After speaking with 60 Minutes, Edgreen testified before the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence. Havana Syndrome Scott Pelley, one of the most experienced and awarded journalists today, has been reporting stories for 60 Minutes since 2004. The 2024-25 season is his 21st on the broadcast. Scott has won half of all major awards earned by 60 Minutes during his tenure at the venerable CBS newsmagazine.Oilers Have Opportunity to Claim Cheap Goalie, Former World Juniors Star on Waivers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.

D ear Heloise: I’m having a buffet luncheon this month to celebrate the holidays with the women of a club to which I belong. I’m serving ham and roast beef with side dishes. However, several of the members have asked to bring a dish that they make and enjoy. Two want to bring a pie, one wants to bring a pasta dish, and another woman wants to bring her mother’s chocolate cake. Even my sister wants to bring a dish — a large fruit salad. How do I politely say, “No, thanks,” to these kind offers? They mean well, but I’ve already planned the menu. — H.K., in Connecticut H.K., why would you say, “No, thanks”? These ladies want to help you with the cost and work of doing a luncheon for the club. No menu should be so rigid that it can’t accommodate a few additional items. When someone arrives with a dish to share, thank them graciously and place the dish on the serving table. Before everyone starts to serve themselves, announce who brought what. A good host knows how to adapt with grace. — Heloise Dear Heloise: I get paint splatter all over my clothes and in my hair when I paint. What can I do to minimize this problem? — J.D., in Nebraska J.D., I had the very same problem, but I figured it out. First, get an apron made of very thick material. (You can usually find something like this at a hardware store.) Keep this if you like painting or plan to do more painting in the future. Next, get a shower cap to cover your hair. You can either use latex gloves to cover your hands or take a piece of round cardboard and cut a slit or hole big enough to slide the handle of your paint brush through. It acts as a shield for your hand. — Heloise Dear Heloise: There is little to no reason to use throwaway items to open a jar, as gadgets have been made for this purpose for years. For this reason, I’ve had my rubber disc for perhaps 40 years and a shaped grip for 25 or more years. It’s similar to buying plastic bottles; why use them when there are reusable ones available that can be washed time and time again? Thanks for all that you offer us. — R., in California Dear Heloise: My husband and I wear a medical dog tag with our name and phone numbers in case of an emergency. On the back side are our Medicare number and secondary insurance number. It’s just for peace of mind when we’re out in public, walking, driving, at the gym, etc. Don’t forget an ID for your furry friends as well. Love your suggestions. — P., via email Dear Heloise: After purchasing odd-sized toys and finding them too large for some bags but too small for others, I found a solution at the dollar store: plastic holiday tablecloths! They’re sturdy for wrapping and easy to cut with scissors, with the plus of nothing poking through like with wrapping paper. Joy to the world! — J.M., in Connecticut Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.

Musk causes uproar by backing German far-right party ahead of key electionsNEW DELHI: When the verdict of the Lok Sabha elections was announced in June, resentment among farmers in Maharashtra was seen as a major factor behind BJP's dismal performance in the state, along with nervousness among Scheduled Caste voters who feared the party might amend the Constitution if it returned with 400-plus seats. Changing the perception was part of the NDA govt's agenda, especially in the wake of protests in Punjab. Over the next five months, the BJP-led Centre and the Mahayuti 's "double engine" coalition sought to address these concerns, especially those related to onions and soybean - issues that agitated Maharashtra farmers this summer - with tur growers too coming into the focus. Unlike the general elections, when the Centre waited until May to lift the ban on onion exports as it sought to comfort consumers, by early Sept, it had decided to lift the minimum export price -another tool deployed to check the shipment ofsensitive commodities out of the country. At the same time, it built a stockpile of the politically-sensitive kitchen ingredient, procuring 4.7 lakh tonnes of onions directly from farmers, instead of 3 lakh tonnes last year. And, this came at a higher average price of over Rs 28 a kg - 64% higher than the Rs 17 paid to farmers last year. Maharashtra Jharkhand Maharashtra Alliance View i Party View Seats: 288 Results Majority: 145 BJP+ 229 MVA 47 OTH 12 Results : 288 / 288 BJP+ WON Jharkhand Alliance View i Party View Seats: 81 Results Majority: 41 INDIA 56 NDA 24 OTH 1 Results : 81 / 81 INDIA WON Source: PValue Similarly, within days of coming to power at the Centre, the Modi govt announced a 6% increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for soybean to Rs 4,892 a quintal with an eye on Maharashtra, the second-largest producer after Madhya Pradesh, at a time when market prices were near the lowest levels in a decade due to excess supply in the global market. Besides, the agriculture ministry decided to procure a quarter of the produce from the western state through govt agencies, even relaxing some of the norms. While dairy was the other area of unease, the Centre has focused on tying up contracts with tur growers, where India is a major importer, along with other pulses such as urad and masur. Although market prices for tur are higher than the MSP, the move has sought to comfort farmers and send a positive message amid the constant complaints of sugarcane growers.

Defence Force to stop 'raft' of things due to financial crunch

A rally that drove stocks to a series of all-time highs showed signs of exhaustion, with investors awaiting this week’s key jobs report and Jerome Powell’s remarks for clues on whether Federal Reserve officials will cut interest rates in December. Wall Street traders also refrained from making riskier bets amid intense volatility in South Korean assets as President Yoon Suk Yeol said he will lift a martial law decree, just hours after his dramatic move imposing it. US equities struggled to make headway, following an over $11 trillion surge in the S&P 500 this year that drove the gauge near overbought levels. With a negligible gain on Tuesday, the index notched its 55th record in 2024. Positioning in S&P 500 futures is “completely one-sided,” according to Citigroup Inc.’s Chris Montagu. “Things are getting extremely crowded on one side of the boat — the bullish side,” said Matt Maley at Miller Tabak Co. “Valuation levels are a lousy timing tool. However, sentiment and positioning are better tools. So it’s not out of the question that today’s extreme readings on these issues could create a surprising pick up in volatility before year-end.” Just a few days ahead of the US payrolls report, data showed job openings picked up while layoffs eased, suggesting demand for workers is stabilizing. Fed Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said a rate cut this month isn’t certain, but remains on the table. “The question for investors isn’t ‘will the Fed cut again.’ but rather ‘will the next cut be in December or January’,” said Lauren Goodwin at New York Life Investments. “Our base case is that the Fed cuts 25 basis points in December, but we have much higher confidence that another cut is coming in December or January as the data evolves.” The S&P 500 was little changed. The Nasdaq 100 added 0.3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.2%. Treasury 10-year yields advanced four basis points to 4.23%. Oil rose as the US imposed more sanctions targeting Iranian crude and OPEC made progress on a deal to keep output off the market. Bank of America Corp. clients continued to pile into US equities last week as post-election enthusiasm persisted, with purchases made by hedge funds and retail investors. Net inflows by the bank’s clients totaled $800 million in a holiday-shortened week ended Nov. 29, quantitative strategists led by Jill Carey Hall said Tuesday. The foundation for US stocks is still firm, but it’s starting to show minor signs of cracking as 2025 approaches, according to Gina Martin Adams and Michael Casper at Bloomberg Intelligence. Their latest market-health checklist summarizes the state of 17 timely indicators in three categories — technicals, earnings trends and bonds/macroeconomic signals — and shows two red flags at this time — in revision momentum and economic regime. There are eight mixed signals and seven all-clear ones. “Technical cues are less than perfect given shifting leadership to smaller-cap stocks, but the price trend is still very strong,” they said. “Earnings cues have weakened a touch as comparisons get more challenging and margin forecasts wobble. Macroeconomic indicators remain decidedly muddled, as all cues in our economic regime model show sputtering momentum.” History suggests a Fed easing cycle could offer resolute support for stocks, and clearly more if it’s accompanied by steady economic conditions, according to Nathaniel T. Welnhofer at BI. Since 1971, the S&P 500 posted an annualized return of 14.9%, and since the late 1970s, the Russell 2000 gained 17.2% in periods when the central bank cut rates, he said. The results were much stronger during rate-cutting cycles in non-recessionary periods: Large caps averaged a 25.2% annualized return vs. 11% in recessionary periods, while small caps averaged 19.6% and 16.5%, respectively. “If the Fed stops easing early, the pace of gains for stocks will likely depend more on the state of the economy,” Welnhofer added. The S&P 500 has posted a 0% return on average in the three months just after the end of easing cycles, but is down 9.9% when the economy was in recession, compared with 3.3% when it wasn’t. “The US economy continues to hum along, the Fed is on its path to lower interest rates, and earnings growth remains strong,” said Bret Kenwell at eToro. Kenwell notes that’s a scenario that could continue favoring the small-cap space — with the Russell 2000 being the top-performing major index since the US presidential election. The gauge gained more than 10% in November alone — the second time it has done so this year after accomplishing the feat in July. Going back to 1979, when the Russell 2000 posted a monthly gain of that magnitude, it was higher 90% of the time six months later with an average gain of 11.4%. “While the statistics are favorable for small caps moving forward, so are the fundamentals,” he said. “Even the recent spike in 10-year Treasury yields has done little to deter small-cap investors.” “US stocks are likely to continue grinding higher into next year. In our view, the exuberance synonymous with frothy financial markets is far from widespread,” said Solita Marcelli at UBS Global Wealth Management. “While we expect bouts of volatility and corrections in the year ahead, we continue to believe that the S&P 500’s next leg up to our December 2025 target of 6,600 will be fueled by solid economic growth, the Fed’s easing, and AI advancement.” Within the US equity market, she favors technology, utilities and financials. A New York University professor known for his expertise on valuations says the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps are a buy during corrections as most of them will keep generating money. “As a value investor, I have never seen cash machines as lucrative as these companies are,” Aswath Damodaran, a finance professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, said in a Bloomberg Television interview. “And I don’t see the cash machine slowing down.” There will be corrections and “I’d suggest that when that happens you find a way to add at least one, maybe two or three of these companies, because these are so much part of what drives the economy and the market,” he added. Corporate Highlights: Key events this week: Some of the main moves in markets: Stocks Currencies Cryptocurrencies Bonds Commodities This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.LOS ANGELES — Historically, before they find their rhythm, Eric Musselman’s teams have never quite stacked the deck. For three consecutive years, when Musselman arrived in Fayetteville, Arkansas didn’t play a single top-25 team across their nonconference slate before diving into SEC play. That changed, into 2023-24, when the Razorbacks took on powers North Carolina, Duke and Oklahoma in November and December as part of a rough-and-tumble season. But with Musselman’s return to Southern California roots this spring, and a roster carefully pieced together from transfer-portal remnants, he returned to a softer slate in the early months. That’s come in matchups and in travel, as USC hasn’t and won’t travel beyond Palm Desert for a single nonconference game this season. “When you take the two games in Palm Springs, and 20 league games, and Cal, that’s a good enough strength of schedule,” Musselman said, after USC’s early November opener against Chattanooga. The Trojans’ early-season slate, though, was as cushy a Musselman-led team has had in recent memory. And they bounced, quickly, to a 5-1 record, with four games against teams currently under .500. Then they traveled two hours east to the desert, and came away thoroughly embarrassed. USC’s 71-36 loss to Saint Mary’s on Thursday was the worst loss in program memory since Andy Enfield’s Trojans were smacked by TCU by 35 points in 2018. The underlying realities, too, were even uglier than the final score: USC shot 26% from the floor, went 0 for 12 from deep, recorded a total of six assists and were doubled in rebounding. After a subsequent loss to New Mexico on Saturday, any fuzzy feelings from Musselman’s early tenure have quickly faded, with the Trojans sitting at 5-3 entering their Big Ten debut against 12th-ranked Oregon on Wednesday night. With a roster of new faces, USC’s defensive identity still hasn’t clicked, and their offensive identity looks even more fragile. Entering conference play, here’s a breakdown of three key takeaways from the Trojans’ nonconference slate. Who are the late-game closers? USC’s roster was constructed on versatility, with Musselman often emphasizing that USC would turn smaller or bigger based upon game flow and style of opponent. But eight games in, it’s abundantly clear Musselman’s still tinkering, a development that suggests his program hasn’t yet found a consistent identity. Twelve Trojans have seen stints, of one form or another, in Musselman’s rotation in this early part of the season. In an 83-73 loss to New Mexico that had ballooned to a 20-point deficit with six minutes to play, USC closed with freshman Isaiah Elohim and sophomore Kevin Patton Jr., both of whom had rarely played for extended stretches. Center Josh Cohen is USC’s top scorer through eight games, but wasn’t on the floor late against Cal and New Mexico. It’s clear, at the moment, Musselman trusts USC’s wings to finish games more than relying on Cohen or another big. But precisely which wings, still, is yet to be determined. More Saint Thomas More does not mean more production. Through eight games, the Northern Colorado transfer is USC’s leader in rebounds, assists and steals, playing the kind of 6-foot-7 do-everything role Musselman saw early in his blend of ball-handling and physicality. “When we got the commitment, we felt like he was going to have to carry a load,” Musselman said in early November. But one key ingredient is missing: The fiery Thomas hasn’t been the go-to scorer he so often showed in exhibition games. He’s averaging just 8.3 points a game, shooting 37% from the floor and 25% from deep while often passing up shots in the flow of USC’s offense. These Trojans desperately need shot creators. Thomas consistently taking 10-plus shots a game and finding a rhythm would go a long way. Young Trojans in waiting For long stretches in USC’s first few games, Washington transfer Wesley Yates III has looked like USC’s best player and completely unaware of the concept of shot selection, a maddening conundrum that saw him score in double figures for four straight games before falling in Musselman’s rotation. “Wes has a great ability to score the ball, but he’s got a lot of things – as a lot of young players need to grow – and understand how to play with discipline on both ends of the floor,” Musselman said earlier in the year. Elohim, a Sierra Canyon product, has gotten a few looks but little consistent run to establish himself as a scorer. Patton Jr., a San Diego import, has seen some opportunity since returning from injury. Freshman Jalen Shelley looked dynamic in a preseason scrimmage, but has barely played. Musselman, thus far, has shown much more trust in his veteran transfers – keep an eye on the stock of USC’s youth quadrant.

S ince the dawn of civilisation, bells have chimed for the benefit of communities the world over. A bell can symbolise the commencement or the end of an event. It can call to order, give a command, provide a warning and even convey a message. In his metaphysical poem, For Whom the Bell Tolls , John Donne used the tolling of a church bell to express the idea of interconnectedness of humanity. Edgar Allen Poe’s poem The Bells depicts the different sounds of bells and the events they symbolise. There is a popular legend about the Tamil king Manuneeethi Cholan who had hung a giant bell within his palace for anyone needing justice. Apart from the large temple and church bells, there is a wide range of smaller bells commonly used from alarm clock to fire alarms. My childhood days was filled with the tintinnabulations of the bell toys and wonderful nursery rhymes like Jingle bells. I also grew up with the sound of sublime prayer bells at home. However, the one that made a lasting impression on me was my school bell. It was a simple device: a piece of iron bar suspended from a wooden beam which would be struck with a hammer by our school peon, Perumal. Every 45 minutes when the bell rang, we picked up our stuff, and scurried on to our next class. Our first lessons in time management perhaps were rendered to us by this bell which was initially not a friendly sort of sound, but later became a part of our growing years. At the end of the evening session, the much-awaited moment was that of the school peon, Perumal going towards the bell with his hammer, to ring the long bell which meant that we were free to go home. After I moved to the school hostel, the dinner bell became the most welcome one. The other bells that interested me in my early days were the calling bell in offices and the door bell at homes. Those days, only the head of an office sitting in an air- conditioned room used an electric calling bell. Other officers had on their tables calling bells to be pressed to create a tinkling sound to call the peons. They had several bell codes. One of my colleagues had instructed his peon that, whenever there were visitors in his room, and he pressed the bell once and asked for tea, he should bring tea for all in the room. If he pressed the bell twice and asked for tea, the peon need not bring anything till the visitors left. Knocking on the door with one’s knuckles has been the traditional practice followed by one calling on someone else’s dwelling. Most of the knocking sounds are recognizable by the inmates of a house. If a knock sounds somewhat unfamiliar, the household ignores it and the unwanted visitor gets away. The system of door bell which is popular now is relatively of recent origin. The doorbells range from jarring buzzers to chimes that produce musical notes. Smart video door bell possessed by a relatively small number of people, is a sign of class and upward mobility. While a buzzer sound is aggressive, demanding immediate attention, a musical bell seems to politely ask: “Could you please open the door”. I have noticed many prefer to knock or call “Sir”, rather than use the bell. It is partly due to the habit of not looking for the bell and partly due to out-of-order bells they encounter. All said and done, a bell, big or small, plays a key role in our lives and deserves to be called an ordinary thing which is extraordinary. ramaraon2014@gmail.com Published - November 24, 2024 02:43 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditIt's no secret the New York Giants have been bad at winning games this season, but on Sunday, they were bad at losing. The Giants came into Sunday's contest with the Indianapolis Colts in position to earn the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April. All they had to do was lose to the Colts and drop their final game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, New York had its best offensive display of the season as it downed Indianapolis 45-33. Quarterback Drew Lock completed 17 of his 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Lock also scored on the ground. Star rookie Malik Nabers was his favorite target as he hauled in seven receptions for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton also found the endzone through the air. After he scored, Slayton had an emphatic message for those wanting the team to tank for the top pick. With the Giants' loss, the New England Patriots can now claim the top pick with a loss to the Buffalo Bills next week. The win is impressive and likely would have made fans very happy earlier this season, but with nothing to play for, the Giants cost themselves the top pick in the draft and were met with trolling on social media. There might not be a No. 1 pick for the Giants this year, but at least they avoided being the first team in NFL history to go 0-9 at home.Adjacant to the River Churn, Cowley Manor is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland (look out for llamas grazing) in the Cotswolds . Woods, meadows, natural springs and a lake create a magical setting. In fact, Lewis Carroll was inspired by the hotel’s grounds when writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland . The regency spa town of Cheltenham is a 15-minute drive north, while the quintessentially English villages of Burton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter and Bibury, as well as the bustling market town Stow-on-the-World, are a mere 20 minutes away. Cowley Manor offers a base for exploring the popular honey-hued stone villages , while being able to escape the crowds when you bed down at night. Drive 50 minutes drive east and you’ll land at the Cotswolds hotspots of Soho Farmhouse, Chipping Norton, the Daylesford empire and Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm shop (be prepared for a two-hour queue). Read more: How the Bull became the Cotswolds’ hottest hotel Built in the 17th century, Cowley Manor was once owned by the kings of England. A refuge during wartime, it became a hotel two decades ago before the slick French Experimental group took over in 2022 and overhauled the interiors. There are on-the-nose nods to Alice in Wonderland – think Queen of Hearts print dining chairs, miniature doors and checkerboard carpets and wallpapers. Maximalists will love the rattan textures, coloured glossy lacquer and lava stone set against original features. The hotel has a relaxed but exclusive atmosphere, reflected in the stylish and sophisticated interiors. Bold details are balanced with comfort – rugs are soft under feet while the bar and lounge have plush armchairs and sofas to sink into in the evening. There’s even a games room with a pool table, chess sets and draughts tables that creates a communal vibe. Check in is smooth (your bags are in the room before you are) and check out is equally effortless. Polite but not intrusive, staff are always close by to assist, whether it’s serving drinks to guests in the deckchairs across the lawn or assisting with spa treatments. While breakfast service is attentive, dinner was not plain sailing (the starters came out before the long-forgotton bottle of wine) and room service was a tad too long. Read more: Why you should explore the Cotswolds by bike The hotel’s 36 rooms are in the main house and the converted stable block. Entry level rooms are spacious (some come with an outdoor terrace), while families are well catered for with space-saving sofa bunk beds. The treehouse rooms are spread across three floors and a mezzanine, which makes them ideal for a longer stay. All rooms have a well-stocked mini bar, La Bruket toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines. The bathrooms are the real standout, with large tubs for soaking, rainforest showers and colourful glossy surfaces are as inviting as the expansive four-poster beds. Patterned headboards and checkerboard motifs are repeated in the rooms, with houseplants and natural rattan pieces creating an airy feel. The suites are vast and look out onto a romantic view of the manor’s gardens, complete with terrace balconies, sun loungers and bathrooms bigger than your average London living room. Brunswick House chef Jackson Boxer heads up the kitchen at the award-winning restaurant, where the dining hall’s interiors are as much of a draw as the food. Original dark wood panelling has been restored, with 70s-style shiny rounded tables, geometric cushioning and gentle lighting thanks to low-hanging tasseled lamps. Inspired by the local area along with salutes to French cuisine, caviar and crisps are served with old spot croquettes and moorish honey brioches. Mains span classics like lobster and chili taglioni, fresh trout from nearby Bibury and indulgent Hereford sirloin steak. Breakfast on the manor’s terrace combines superb food with views across the lake. Granola bowls and local jams sit alongside smoked fish, meats and pastries on the continental buffet – or opt for Boxer’s elevated spin on a full English breakfast. Experimental is famous for its cocktails, so the Cowley Manor bar has a lot to live up to. The mood-lit space is striking, with a huge enamelled lava-stone bright blue bar, matching low tables and patterned armchairs and stools. There’s a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, but the hotel is yet to match the lively atmosphere of the group’s European outposts. The cocktails try to bring the party spirit, with the Saint Germain des Pres and Brandy Sherbert packing a punch. Read more: 10 of the cosiest Cotswolds cottages to stay at Cowley Manor’s outdoor pool is heated all day, year-round (meaning even a January swim is possible). Tucked away behind concrete walls that shield against wind, the 15m pool is flanked by attractive white scallop umbrellas, sunbeds and a bar. There’s also a 17m indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling glass that gives the sense that you’re swimming in the middle of a forest. There are both adults-only and kids hours at the pool. The serene spa has four treatment rooms offering facials, body wraps, massages, hydra-lifts and more, as well as a gym, relaxation area, steam room, rainfall showers and a sauna. The hotel makes the most of its grounds – in summer you can swim in the lake or watch open air cinema screenings on the lawn, while audio tours are available year-round to enjoy as you wander the gardens. There are accessible ground floor rooms and wheelchair access to most public areas on the ground floor. Unfortunately, the spa and pools are not wheelchair accessible. Dogs and cats are allowed in rooms with a £25 per pet/night fee, but are not accepted in the restaurants and bars. Check in from 3pm; check out by 11am. Yes. There are family rooms and suites, plus baby cots, bunk beds, open air cinema evenings and children’s hours in the pool. Best thing: The outdoor activities – be it the heated pool or the idyllic 55 acres to explore. Perfect for: Couples and families looking for a quiet yet stylish countryside break. Not right for : Party people – you won’t find the same clientele here as you would at Soho Farmhouse. Instagram from: The literary-inspired dining hall. Address: Cowley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NL United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 1242 870900 Website: cowleymanorexperimental.com Read more: Best boutique hotels in the CotswoldsTokyo Electron Limited (OTCMKTS:TOELY) Short Interest Update

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