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No. 1 South Carolina experiences rare sting of lossNEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
LOS ANGELES — Top-ranked South Carolina felt something it hasn't known in over 2 1/2 years. The sting of defeat after being thoroughly dominated in a 77-62 loss to No. 5 UCLA on Sunday. Gone was the overall 43-game winning streak. Done was the run of 33 consecutive road victories. And the No. 1 ranking it's held for 23 consecutive polls will disappear Monday. "This is what we usually do to teams," coach Dawn Staley said. "We were on the receiving end of it." South Carolina hadn't lost since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat the Gamecocks in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins (5-0) shot 47% from the floor and 3-point range, hit 11 of 14 free throws and had five players in double figures. "They actually executed our game plan to a T," Staley said. The Gamecocks (5-1) were held to 36% shooting, had just two players in double figures and neither was leading scorer Chloe Kitts, who was held to 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. They never led, got beat on the boards, 41-34, and were outscored 26-18 in the paint and 8-1 in fast break points. They only made eight trips to the free throw line. "Our kids fought," Staley said, "but we ran into a buzzsaw." South Carolina did manage to limit 6-foot-7 UCLA star Lauren Betts, who had 11 points and 14 rebounds, despite no longer having a dominant center of their own. The Bruins responded by getting the ball to others and eight of their 10 players scored. "We did an excellent job on Betts and we got killed by everyone else," Staley said. Tessa Johnson was the only other Gamecock in double figures with 14. "We needed a lot more than Tessa today," Staley said. The Gamecocks never got their offense in gear, starting the game 0 for 9 before trailing 20-10 at the end of the first quarter. They were down 43-22 at halftime. "Our shot selection is something we're dealing with on a daily basis," Staley said. The Gamecocks outscored UCLA 40-34 in the second half, but the Bruins' big early lead easily held up. "Beautiful basketball by UCLA," Staley said. "You can't help but to love up on it cause it was fluid on both sides of the ball." Given that it's only late November, the Gamecocks have plenty of time to figure things out. "We had some really good contributions from people that don't play a whole lot and we could probably give a little bit more minutes to," Staley said. "Taking a loss will help us focus on anybody that we play."
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NEW YORK — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"
Negotiators from small island and least-developed nations have staged a walkout at consultations in Azerbaijan, pushing the UN climate negotiations to the brink of collapse.Delegations representing several small and impoverished nations severely threatened by climate change walked out of consultations on Saturday as UN climate talks in Azerbaijan went far into overtime without clinching a deal to help the nations most at risk. Also Read | West Bengal By-Election Results 2024: Trinamool Elated Over Bypoll Results; Studied Response by BJP. "We're here as a group of AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) and LDCs (Least Developed Countries). We've just walked out," said Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the group. Also Read | UP By-Election Results 2024: BJP Retains Primacy in Uttar Pradesh, SP Remains Main Rival, BSP Continues To Lose Ground. "We came here to this COP for a fair deal. We feel that we haven't been heard, and there's a deal to be made, and we have not been consulted ... [W]e've walked out because at the moment, we don't feel that we are being heard," Schuster said. Negotiators in Baku are discussing draft texts, with several countries urging industrialized nations to increase funding for climate change actions and adaptation. DW's Giulia Saudelli who is in Baku reports, "there's a feeling that time is starting to run out, and could play against the most vulnerable countries." "Some developing countries feel like they are not being listened to, and that they have not been included enough in the negotiations so far, with the richer countries talking mostly among themselves, they say," Saudelli reports. 'Still committed' Later, AOSIS issued a statement saying it remained "committed to this process." "We have presently removed ourselves from the stalled NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) discussions, which were not offering a progressive way forward," it said. "We want nothing more than to continue to engage, but the process must be INCLUSIVE," it went on, adding: "If this cannot be the case, it becomes very difficult for us to continue our involvement here at COP29." Germany accuses rich oil states of deceptive manoeuvres The walkout comes as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock slammed rich fossil fuel emitters, whom she accused of having "ripped off" those states most at risk from climate change. "We are in the midst of a geopolitical power play by a few fossil fuel states," Baerbock said. She warned against reversing last year's climate resolutions while trying to increase climate aid for poorer countries. She said that funding for climate aid and reducing harmful emissions are closely linked. "Money alone won't save the world," Baerbock stated. "We have to do everything to come toward the 1.5 degree (Celsius, 2.7 Fahrenheit) pathway," she added, referring to the Paris Agreement target of keeping global warming below that temperature limit compared with preindustrial times. Dissatisfaction among at-risk nations backsliding on commitments to slash fossil fuels Developing nations have asked for $1.3 trillion (€1.25 trillion) to help them adapt to the immediate consequences of climate change, such as droughts, floods, rising sea levels and extreme heat. They say that sum would also help pay for losses and damages caused by extreme weather events, and aid them to wean their energy production from fossil fuels. An official draft on Friday pledged $250 billion annually by 2035. Although that more than doubles the previous goal of $100 billion set 15 years ago, it falls far short of the demands of at-risk nations. A rough draft for a deal discussed on Saturday was for more, sources said, but still not in line with developing nations' demands. tj/lo (AFP, AP) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2024 08:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).
Matt Gaetz is now giving pep talks and holiday wishes on CameoStandard Silicone Cable Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Detroit guard Cade Cunningham left Thursday night’s game in Charlotte in the final minute of regulation due to a left hip injury and did not play in overtime as the Pistons fell to the Hornets. Cunningham fell hard to the floor after getting fouled by Grant Williams with 48 seconds left in the game. He made both free throws to briefly give the Pistons the lead before leaving, and the Pistons lost 123-121. Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff offered no update on Cunningham’s status after the game. Cunningham finished with 27 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, who lost their second straight game to a Hornets team that got a career-high 38 points from Brandon Miller and 35 from LaMelo Ball.
Tensions high as U.N. climate talks result in new deal
That’s why we turned to the experts — professional chefs and caterers and interior designers — to discuss some typical Thanksgiving mistakes and how to avoid them. Not prepping “The overriding first mistake people make is they think they have more time than they do,” said Bistro to Go Cafe and Catering executive chef Kate Kobylinski. She regularly hosts her extended family of 30 and knows “every single problem.” “Food takes longer to cook, the table takes longer to set and houses take longer to clean than you think.” Clean your house on Monday. On Wednesday, dice vegetables so they’re “food-show ready,” as Kobylinski put it. Prepare (but don’t cook) your green bean casserole (leaving off garnishes like fried onions) so it can just be popped in the oven and set the dining room table. Not enlisting help Don’t feel that you have to do everything yourself. But be as specific as possible when doling out the assignments. “Don’t let them make their own decisions!” Kobylinski said emphatically. Thanksgiving is “micromanager’s heaven.” For example, have someone bring ice on Thanksgiving Day because going out to buy it takes time and ice hogs freezer space. If you don’t like making desserts, have someone bring one. If a guest wants to prepare a side dish, great, but decide beforehand what they will bring. Ahead of dinner, interior designer Kacie Cope likes to set out all of her serving platters with Post-it notes attached denoting what will go on them. “You’ll be amazed if you have them labeled,” she said. “People can help in a jiff.” During the evening, Kobylinski gives people assigned jobs, such as serving drinks or taking charge of an after-dinner game. And the chef is forgiving about using premade ingredients, like gravy or cranberry jelly. “There’s no right or wrong way to make any of your foods,” she said. But you might want to give a homemade touch to prepared ingredients, like adding sauteed onions or celery to prepared gravy. Not defrosting your turkey “Everyone goes into Thanksgiving Day with a half-frozen turkey,” said Kobylinski. “And you can’t get the bag of giblets out because they’re frozen in place.” It takes one day for every 4 pounds of turkey meat to defrost in the refrigerator. (No, it is not safe to leave your frozen turkey out on the counter to thaw and breed bacteria.) So if you’ve got a 20-pound bird, you’ve got to start thawing on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. However, there are other methods. Kobylinski suggests submerging the bird and running a thin stream of cold water over it. “It doesn’t have to be a lot of water.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there are only three ways to safely thaw food: In the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. To safely thaw turkey in cold water, the USDA says it takes about 30 minutes per pound. Put the turkey in a leak-proof plastic bag to prevent cross-contamination and submerge it. Change the water every 30 minutes, and cook immediately when it’s thawed. If opting for your microwave, follow its instructions for thawing and cook immediately. Then, if you’re running late and need to speed things up to satisfy the hungry hordes, you can cut the bird in half before cooking (skin side up). This significantly reduces cooking time, requiring about 10 minutes per pound. Kobylinski also recommends resting the turkey on vegetables in the oven to keep the bottom from getting burned. Serving a dry, overcooked turkey Private chef and culinary educator Emily Larsen warns that those plastic thermometers in supermarket turkeys are setting you up for failure. The USDA says you should cook a turkey until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Plastic thermometers don’t pop out until the breast meat is at about 180 degrees, “when your turkey is completely dry,” Larsen said. Plus, people forget that meat continues to cook once it’s out of the oven. She recommends taking a bird out of the oven when it is at 155 degrees — she likes to use an inexpensive instant-read folding probe thermometer — and continue to monitor it. (Insert it into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding the bone.) “Ten dollars (for the thermometer) can save your Thanksgiving,” she said. Some feel that buying a frozen rather than fresh bird is another no-no, since freezing leaches water out of the turkey. However, if, despite your best efforts, your turkey is lacking moisture, Kobylinski has a fix: Put warm chicken or turkey stock and clarified butter into a mister and spritz sliced turkey with it before serving. You can do the same with dry stuffing, too. Overcomplicating the menu Thanksgiving Day is not the time to try out a completely new recipe. And you don’t have to lay out 10 side dishes. In addition to opting for a simple menu, Kobylinski also recommends figuring out how long your items will take to cook and what method of cooking they require ahead of time. Your turkey will be monopolizing your oven for four hours, so other oven foods should be limited or be easily reheated during the time that the turkey is resting. (As for resting a turkey, the chef puts her turkey on a hot plate with towels over it so “the meat rebinds itself and stabilizes for a smoother cut.”) “Stovetop items should be staggered,” she said, so you don’t have a frying pan and three pots all going at once. As a sample menu, she suggests you might have one baked potato dish and one mashed. And for vegetables, one baked dish and one that is blanched or grilled. Overcomplicating the decorating Interior designers advise against going too crazy with holiday-specific decor. “There’s a lot that’s being sold to us that we feel like we need,” said Pittsburgh interior designer Amanda Bock. Do you really need a turkey-shaped vase or pilgrim figurines? “They’re out for two weeks, and then you have to figure out where to store them,” Cope agreed. “It takes an already busy season and makes it stressful in an unnecessary way.” Cope says you can take things that are already part of your menu and use them as decor — a bowl of nuts or cranberries, or even removing the label from a cranberry sauce tin and repurposing it as a vase for flowers and fall leaves. Bock adds that dining room table decor should be kept to a minimum, since you’ll need space for your food. You don’t have to have “big chargers and five plates and three different glasses, plus all of your Thanksgiving food on the table,” Bock said. If you do have flowers or a centerpiece in the middle of the table, keep it low, Cope advised. “That way, you can actually see the person who’s across the table from you.” Tableware and tablecloths might be in fall colors, so they can be repurposed throughout the season. Water glasses or wine goblets could be amber-toned, Bock suggests. Inhibiting the party flow Well in advance of your guests’ arrival, think critically about the setup of your home. Don’t be afraid to rearrange your furniture so your guests move to different areas and don’t all congregate in your kitchen. “You want to make sure that there are areas where people can sit and chat, watch the parade or just hang out together,” Bock said. Set up a drinks station and an hors d’oeuvres station in different parts of the house, Bock suggests. Though, she admits, “I can’t do that in my house because my dogs would just gobble up the hors d’oeuvres.” She suggests repurposing a kitchen nook for kid seating, or as a serving area. Kobylinski might set up a half-built puzzle in a side room. She even puts out winter jackets and boots for “the gentlemen” for the moment when she urges them to go out on the porch to smoke cigars and drink brandy so they won’t be underfoot. Forgetting to set the mood As a finishing touch, don’t neglect to set the mood by using lamps around the room instead of harsh overhead lights. Putting out tapers or tea candles establishes an intimate feeling. “That just leans into the cozy fall vibe,” Cope said of low lighting. But don’t use scented candles, Bock warns. Or a smelly flower arrangement. “That can overwhelm you when you’re eating,” Bock said. Putting on a favorite music playlist can set the mood and take away self-consciousness, especially early in the evening. The most important thing on Thanksgiving is simply for everyone to enjoy one another’s company. A little advance preparation can help you, the host, stay relaxed throughout the evening so you can interact with your guests. 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David Stratton, 85 years old and going strong ish – is one of Australia’s two most iconic movie reviewers, along with Margaret Pomeranz. I spoke to him on Thursday. Fitz : Mr Stratton, thank you for playing. As you know, the rules are you have to come up with 10 superb films that are lost and lesser-known masterpieces – with the only rider being that you can’t pick films that your great on-air partner, Margaret Pomeranz, picked a fortnight ago . Your time starts ... shortly. Before we get to that though, how did you get into films in the first place? David Stratton, now 85, pictured in Wentworth Falls: “I had a friend in Sydney, and he was saying, ‘You should come as a ten pound Pom, and I can sponsor you’. And so I did.” Credit: Rhett Wyman DS : Growing up in England during the war, my parents were both otherwise occupied and my grandmother took me to all sorts of films three or four times a week. I loved the way the cinemas smelt, the moment when the lights dimmed, the curtains opened and the film began. I was just captivated by it all. And that thrill has stayed with me ever since ... Fitz : Was there a particular film back then you were just transfixed by, that stays with you? DS : There were the Bob Hope comedies, and Mickey Rooney in a series of films about Andy Hardy. And we saw some very unsuitable films. Jane Russell in The Outlaw was, I think, very unsuitable. Interestingly enough, many years later, I was actually invited to a brunch with Jane Russell in San Francisco. Fitz : Was she every bit as unsuitable as you had hoped? DS : [ Laughs. ] She was lovely. And I told her I had fallen in love with her watching The Outlaw at the age of six. Fitz : If you care, I see your Jane Russell, and raise you Jane Fonda. She was most unsuitable for me to see in a famous poster on my brother’s wall when I too was six, and I was thrilled to meet her when she was 75 and get to tell her how wonderfully unsuitable I had found her. A fabulous woman and even more impressive in person. But ... moving on. I read that you came to Australia as a 10-pound Pom? Stratton with long-time colleague and fellow movie reviewer Margaret Pomeranz. Credit: Jacky Ghossein DS : Yes, but I had no intention of staying. My family had a long-established grocery company started in the UK in the early 1800s and my father wanted me to take the business over, as he had taken it over from his father and so on. It was one of those nepotistic things, and I thought I’d never be able to do anything else. I mean, I loved films, but I thought I’d have to be a grocer, but when it came to the crunch I said, “Hang on, I’m going to take two years off before I really come into the company.” I had a friend in Sydney, and he was saying, “You should come as a 10-pound Pom, and I can sponsor you.” And so I did, but during the two-year mandatory stay in Australia, I became involved with the Sydney Film Festival, one thing led to another, and I took over as the festival director. Fitz : And you got into a little trouble with ASIO, as it turned out? DS : Yes, because of censorship. I was used to seeing films in the UK that were basically not censored, at least if they were shown at a film society or a festival, but in Australia, they definitely were. But I thought, “Well, I’m not going to stay so what does it matter?” And because I was travelling to lots of Eastern Bloc cities to gather films – including Moscow, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Sofia, Bucharest and so on – it turns out ASIO started a file on me. Fitz : Clearly, you were a danger to shipping. ASIO must have said, “This is a guy to watch, this might be Australia’s answer to Kim Philby, an Englishman in a sleeper cell, in touch with the Soviets and he’s about to turn on us all!” DS : Well, of course, I didn’t have any of the secrets that Philby did, and all I could tell the Soviets was about Australian films or the lack thereof at the time, but, yes, that must have been their view. Honestly, though, I think it was the same in England at the time, and MI5, like ASIO, was suspicious of people in the arts. Fitz : And you weren’t even in your most dangerous and influential position of all yet, hosting The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz and able to steer the entire Australian population to some of your filthy commie flicks under the guise of them being good to watch! Sophie Lowe in Rachel Ward’s Beautiful Kate. ‘A great film’, according to Stratton. DS : [ Laughs. ] Fitz : So, let’s get to your list of top 10 lost masterpieces ... DS : OK, let me just go to my computer – first, I have got to get there, though. These days I use a walking frame. My eyesight’s gone. My mobility’s gone, my hearing’s gone. Actually, I’m in a bit of a wreck. Fitz : But you sound great? DS : Yeah, hopefully that will continue, but who knows? Last Friday night I was able to go into Sydney to receive a lovely award as Cinema Pioneer of the Year, and I was able to get up to the podium and make a speech, which I didn’t think I’d be able to do a couple of weeks beforehand. But there we are ... Anyway, the first one on my list is an Australian film, Blessed , (Australia, 2009). Directed by Ana Kokkinos, this poignantly beautiful film is divided into two parts – Children and Mothers. It’s about mothers who are alienated from their children for one reason or another. It has Frances O’Connor, Miranda Otto and Deborra-Lee Furness playing three of the mothers, and they are wonderful. The whole thing is very touching, beautifully active, beautifully written, and beautifully directed. Fitz : Locked in at No.1! Next? DS : No.2 is Taking Off (US, 1971). Also about parents and their kids, this bittersweet comedy was the first film made in America by Milos Forman. Flower power, marijuana and free love have resulted in many teenagers “taking off”, leaving their bewildered parents completely at a loss to know what their kids are up to, and are completely alienated from their kids. The film centres around an audition and there are songs from Carly Simon, Kathy Bates and Ike and Tina Turner. Judy Garland and Tom Drake in Meet Me in St Louis in which Garland sings Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Fitz : Hang on, the great Kathy Bates, the fabulous Oscar-winning actress sings, on the same platform as Carly Simon, and Ike and Tina Turner? DS : Yes. A song about horses. Fitz : Wow. I never knew she could sing. What’s next? DS : No.3 is Advise and Consent (US, 1962). Recently, the Herald ran a piece on the best films about US politics , but amazingly they omitted this one. Otto Preminger’s drama centres on the attempt of an ailing, Joe Biden-like president ... Fitz : Standing up against evil! DS : ... if you will, wanting to nominate as secretary of state a left-wing academic played by Henry Fonda, and the determination of a right-wing Southern Democratic senator – Charles Laughton, magnificent in his last screen role – to block the nomination because he thinks that the Henry Fonda character would sell us out to the communists. It’s a dirty game, a wonderful political thriller and an edge-of-your-seat movie. Fitz : ASIO and I will watch that with deep interest to see if your slip is showing. DS : [ laughs ] Next is Night of the Hunter (US, 1955) , also with Charles Laughton, who was not only a great actor. With this, the one film he directed, he proved to also be a master behind the camera. Robert Mitchum plays a serial killer in the Depression who poses as a preacher. Shelley Winters is a rich widow who falls for his charms, and silent star Lillian Gish plays a kindly woman who fosters and protects children. Hard to believe that the film was once banned in Australia on the grounds of blasphemy. Fitz : And quite right, too! DS : [ laughs ] Beautiful Kate (Australia, 2009) is next, an Australian film directed by Rachel Ward – the first film she ever directed – and all about the lasting effect on a rural family of tragic events that happened years ago. Ben Mendelsohn gives an effortlessly fine performance as a son who returns home to his father’s outback property after hearing that he (Bryan Brown, never better) is gravely ill. The visit brings back memories of a past summer, and the alluring presence of the prodigal’s sister, Kate (Sophie Lowe). A great cast including Rachel Griffiths and Maeve Dermody. Fitz : If I can just stop you there, David. You’re a man of great authority, and you say it’s a great film, and we know they’re all great actors, so we can take you at your word. But how is it that a film like that, with such a brilliant cast, is not better known and widely celebrated? GS : Well [ spoiler alert ], it’s actually about incest between brother and sister and ... Fitz : Oh! I speak on behalf of the readership when I say, ewwwwwwww . GS : That was mentioned in a review by your colleague, Garry Maddox. The audience just dropped away, which I can understand, but it’s still a great film. Fitz : I love Garry Maddox, and I’m with him. I still say, ewwwwwwww . DS : And so to No.6, The President’s Analyst , (US, 1967). Political comedies are fairly rare, and this very clever one performed so poorly at the box office back in the day that it’s little surprise that it didn’t start a genre. James Coburn plays a Washington psychiatrist who dabbles in hypnosis. One of his patients is the president himself. What if, under hypnosis, the commander-in-chief reveals state secrets? Both the CIA and the Russian KGB are interested in the president’s analyst. A Lion Returns writer-director Serhat Caradee (left) pictured with actors Maha Wilson (right) and Danny Elacci (centre) in 2020. Credit: Rhett Wyman Fitz : Again, ASIO and I will watch. DS : A Lion Returns (Australia, 2019). Turkish-born writer-director Serhat Caradee’s riveting film deals with a different kind of family reunion. In a suburb of an Australian capital city, a family whose members have migrated from the Middle East congregates. The reason for the gathering is that the elderly matriarch is very ill, but everyone is startled when one of the old lady’s sons, who has been away in an unknown location, unexpectedly returns too. Has he been radicalised by IS? One of the rare Australian films that’s really political. It’s gripping, beautifully made, and with a cast that nobody’s ever heard of because they’re all Arab-Australian. Fitz : Great. Does your list have a great Christmas film? It’s that time of year David. DS : Meet Me In St Louis (US, 1944) isn’t really a Christmas film because this story of a St Louis family spans an entire 12 months. But I adore the scene in which a ravishing Judy Garland sings the immortal H ave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to her younger sister (Margaret O’Brien). When I was taken to see the film in 1945 at the age of six, I wept during this scene. I still weep every time I revisit this glorious Vincente Minnelli movie, and that’s probably once a year. Fitz : OK, go on ... DS : The Meyerowitz Stories (US, 2017) had a brief cinema release before streaming on Netflix. It’s the delicious story of a dysfunctional family reuniting when the patriarch, an artist played by Dustin Hoffman in one of his best performances, is about to receive an honour. Emma Thompson plays the artist’s wife and Ben Stiller is one of his two starkly different sons who lives in LA and is a success. The other is struggling, lives in New York and is played by Adam Sandler. Fitz : I am guessing Adam Sandler dreams of making excellent movies, only to make execrable schlock? DS : He’s good. They’re all very good. Witty, smart and original, this is a family movie like no other. Anyway, next up is Supernova (UK, 2020), an immensely moving drama in which Sam, played by Colin Firth, and Tusker, played by Stanley Tucci, portray a gay couple who’ve lived together happily for a very long time. But Tusker is in the advanced stages of dementia, and Sam, a concert pianist, decides to take his partner on a final road trip to say goodbye to family and friends. This is a 10-handkerchief weepie, but a wonderfully acted story of a couple facing a challenging future. Superbly directed by Harry Macqueen. Fitz : Which brings us back to you and Margaret Pomeranz, starting out, all those years ago and often challenging each other. Over all those years of doing the show, is there a stand-out moment when you vehemently disagreed? DS : Too many to remember, but the first one was The Castle (Australia, 1997) because it was the first film made by a team that worked in television, and it looked to me like a telemovie, whereas I’m very much into the visual side of cinema. And I also found the humour a little bit patronising. But I obviously completely misunderstood it, as I have watched it a few times since, and I now think it’s very funny. Fitz : To which I would say, and I know I am joined by ASIO in these remarks, “Welcome to Australia, Agent Stratton! It took you a long time to come in from out of the cold, but it’s great to have you. Put your bags down, your work here is done.” And good luck with your new book, Australia at the Movies, The Ultimate Guide to Modern Australian Cinema.Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY) Shares Sold by JPMorgan Chase & Co.The State Planning Commission (SPC) has drafted the ‘Tamil Nadu State Water Policy’ to address challenges on water management, and provide strategies to ensure equitable access to clean water for all as a basic human right. The need for the policy arises because the State’s annual per capita availability of water resources is just 900 cubic metres. It falls behind, when compared with the national average of 1,486 cubic meters in 2021. The draft, which was submitted to the Chief Minister recently, has flagged a serious cause for concern — the rapid growth of private commercial water extractors and suppliers in the State. Gaps in water supply The demand-supply gap in domestic water supply is addressed by private water suppliers through tanker lorries and other measures. These private suppliers, however, are not regulated. Though the gap is filled by private water suppliers, the quality of water and extraction of groundwater without regulation raise concerns. The SPC has called for a mandatory registration of all types of wells, water transport vehicles, rigs, and drilling agencies with the local body concerned. Recommendations The draft policy suggests creation of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Authority, a Water Policy Research Centre and a unified Tamil Nadu Water Information System, among others. It further says that the State could establish the Tamil Nadu Water Policy Research Centre through an Act of the Legislature to undertake water resource planning, and advise on the policy decisions that will ensure social justice, and judicious, equitable and sustainable management of water resources. “The centre shall evaluate the impact of the policy decisions, and advise the State on policy matters with changing scenarios. It will also collaborate with national and international water institutions, and act as a centre for excellence in water resources planning for the State,” the SPC mentions in its detailed report. Another proposed plan was to use the centre as an incubation hub to conduct research for water resource development, and undertake pilot projects before they are implemented across the State. The Commission further highlights that industrial sectors consumed huge quantities of water. “The State shall mandate industries and urban local bodies to treat wastewater. At least 80% of the water used for domestic purposes would be available for reuse,” it added. Another proposal was to create a single nodal agency to collect all water-related data in digital format for enhancing water management systems. Separate fund A separate fund — Water Fund — shall be created. Funds can be raised from corporate social responsibility initiatives, the corporate sector, industrial bodies, and urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions. The money shall be utilised for conservation, protection and management of waterbodies, the SPC says. The State, through water resources authority or the Planning Commission, shall create a plan to identify discriminatory practices in society, and arrive at solutions to mainstream gender in water resources management. Published - December 30, 2024 12:27 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Eagle-eyed fans spot major error on college basketball team's jerseysOne key differentiating factor of being a cryptocurrency investor is that the markets never close. This is a 24/7 game, with trading open at all hours -- and some of the biggest moves often take place during Asian trading hours. The idea that money never sleeps is not lost on many traders with short-term positions in many tokens. And given the intense volatility in this sector, following the price action on even the most "stable" crypto projects isn't going to be possible for most investors (we have to sleep at some point). But for those doing a Sunday portfolio review, investors may notice that three of their potential holdings have skyrocketed since Friday's stock market close at 4 p.m. ET. Stellar ( XLM 7.87% ) , Polkadot ( DOT -1.65% ) , and NEAR Protocol ( NEAR 6.55% ) have surged 45.9%, 33.2% and 13.7%, respectively, as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, justifying a deeper look into what's driving these impressive moves. Key catalysts to watch Aside from marketwide macro drivers taking many tokens higher over the past weekend (the overall market capitalization of the entire crypto market continues to hover around an all-time high at $3.26 trillion), there are token-specific catalysts at play for each of these projects that investors certainly want to be aware of. In the case of Stellar and its very impressive surge of more than 45% this weekend, there's a particular growth catalyst investors are paying close attention to right now. In particular, a filing from Grayscale in regards to its Stellar Lumens Trust has sent investors scrambling to ramp up leveraged positions on the XLM token (Stellar's native crypto). In a 10-K filing on Friday, Grayscale announced that net inflows into the trust amounted to 10% over the past quarter, a number that clearly surprised the market. Investors looking for key fundamental catalysts as reasons to place bullish bets on top tokens are increasingly looking at supply and demand factors, with capital inflows into various investment vehicles remaining a key bellwether for how the market feels about a particular asset over a given period of time. Polkadot's weekend rally appears to be a continuation of strong momentum seen from Wednesday, when it was announced that Polkadot is exploring a blockchain integration with Cardano ( ADA -7.44% ) . Investors may note that Cardano's founder Charles Hoskinson has been tied to the Trump administration's plans to create the most crypto-friendly regulatory policies to date, so this tie-up is of particular interest to investors. Suppose Polkadot is able to reinforce its status as a leading network of connected blockchains, building this network with top-tier existing platforms like Cardano. In that case, growth expectations are likely to continue to improve. Investors appear to be pricing in much more significant network effects from this potential integration into the project's market capitalization, which currently sits at around $12 billion at the time of writing. Finally, NEAR Protocol is a unique crypto project, in that this particular token has not only benefited from many of the marketwide catalysts driving most cryptos higher since the outcome of the election was announced earlier this month, but it's also a top cloud and AI beneficiary in the crypto sector benefiting from broader tech-related tailwinds. This project has seen particularly strong TVL growth over the past month, and recently implemented sharding on its network in September to improve efficiency. If users and developers continue to flock to this layer 1 network as a result of the various improvements the NEAR Protocol team has made to its network, fundamental growth could be the key catalyst driving this token higher in the coming weeks and months. Bottom line Stellar, Polkadot , and NEAR Protocol may be three crypto projects investors don't pay enough attention to. I'd put myself into this category. I follow these tokens, but they don't get enough love for the sort of behind-the-scenes work that can drive investor returns. Each project has unique catalysts that could propel continued momentum over time. I wouldn't be surprised to see these three tokens atop the list of weekly movers through the end of the year, given the quality of these catalysts.
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