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Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threatNoneKINGSPORT — After serving up pizza in the Tri-Cities for over a decade, Main Street Pizza Company is closing its doors at the end of the year. These closures include both the Johnson City and Kingsport locations, according to a social media post shared by the owners Tuesday. The post states that the King Center building, where Main Street is currently a tenant in Johnson City, was sold in Spring 2024. With their lease running out on Dec. 31, the business said they made the decision to not renew at that location. “The building has always been owned by local people that we looked up to, great Johnson City business people,” the post states. “ Now the building is owned by an out of town investment group. This right off the bat kind of goes against what we have always tried not to be or support, so After many hours spent contemplating, discussion after discussion, and new information from the new owners, we very recently reached the conclusion that we were not interested in renewing the lease under terms they were offering.” Plans for the building include lots of construction, including on the first floor where the restaurant resides. As for the Kingsport location, construction was also at the heart of the decision. With the ongoing Main Street Rebuild, the owners said dealing with the construction right at their front door “went from a minor inconvenience” to “a serious drop off in sales.” “Again, this is to be expected, but when the other two stores are also coming to a close, it makes it much more difficult to absorb,” the post states. “It also becomes a burden on your staff, who count on that money daily. Therefore, we are going to also hope to become helpful and inspirational building owners for someone with a good idea, and less flood mud to clean up.” The restaurant hopes to keep the Johnson City location open until Dec. 15 and the Kingsport location until Dec. 22, according to the post. “We would like to thank everyone for 15 great years in Downtown JC, 10 years in Downtown Kingsport, and 5 years in Chuckey,” the post states. “We put more local food on plates than every other restaurant in the tri-cities combined during that time, and look forward to continue farming for you.”
Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
Texas will look to win its fourth straight game and carry a measure of momentum into its inaugural season as a member of the Southeastern Conference when it hosts Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas. It's the final tune-up before the SEC gauntlet for the Longhorns (10-2), who roll into Sunday's game with 10 days of rest and after a 98-62 win over New Orleans on Dec. 19. Justin Pope led Texas with a career-high 42 points, the most for a member of the Longhorns since Reggie Freeman had 43 against Fresno State in 1996. Arthur Kaluma added 15 points and Chendall Weaver scored 12 for Texas, which played without star freshman guard Tre Johnson for the second straight game. Johnson has been listed as day-to-day for a return but would be a likely participant to get at least some playing time before the Longhorns' SEC opener at No. 13 Texas A&M on Jan. 4. Texas coach Rodney Terry is looking for focus on the defensive end from his team as it heads into league play. "We want to be playing Texas basketball defensively," Terry said. "We try to protect the paint, we try to keep the guys off the glass, (and be) physical (with our) block outs. Then try to get out and play to a strength of ours. We're a fast team but you've got to be able to get stops to be able to do that and play in transition." Northwestern State (5-6, 2-0 Southland Conference) heads to Austin after an 89-79 win at home over Southern-New Orleans on Dec. 20. Addison Patterson turned in a career performance in the win with 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as the Demons won for the third time in four games. The Demons have played four teams from power conferences -- Texas Tech, Oklahoma, LSU and, most recently, Cal on Dec. 14 -- and have lost by at least 16 points in each game. "Our guys are always ready to play," Demons coach Rick Cabrera said. "We had a really good Christmas break to decompress and recuperate. They are just ready and willing to play anyone regardless of conference. Texas is extremely talented, and we are looking forward to competing with one of the top programs in the country." The contest against Texas is the final non-conference game for Northwestern State, which returns to Southland Conference play at home against Nicholls on Jan. 4. The Longhorns have won all five previous games with Northwestern State, most recently a 105-57 victory at home in November 2017. --Field Level Media
Brazilian police indict former President Bolsonaro and aides over alleged 2022 coup attemptCanadian investment fund Brookfield said Wednesday it has dropped its bid for Spanish pharmaceutical firm Grifols following disagreement over its valuation. Brookfield and the Grifols family, which owns about a third of the Barcelona-based company that makes medicine derived from blood plasma, have since July been in talks to take it private. Earlier this month Brookfield made a 6.45-billion-euro bid for Grifols, offering a tentative non-binding price of 10.50 euros ($11) per share. Grifols swiftly rejected the bid, saying it "significantly underestimated the fundamental prospects and long-term potential" of the company. In a statement sent to Spanish stock market regulator CNMV, Brookfield said it was "not in a position to continue with a potential offer" for Grifols. Grifols said its board agreed that "it is not feasible that the transaction goes ahead" and remains focused on "improving the company's long-term value". Its share price plunged in January after US hedge fund Gotham City released a research note accusing the company of "manipulating" its reported debt and operational results to "artificially reduce" its debt ratio, and therefore its financing costs. Grifols has repeatedly denied the allegations. Gotham City is a prominent "short-seller" hedge fund that borrows stock in a company and sells it, hoping to buy it back cheaper to return it to the lender and pocket the difference. Grifols traces its history back to 1909, first as a blood analysis and transfusion laboratory before specialising in products derived from blood plasma. It is present in more than 30 countries including Australia, the United States and Japan. It posted revenue of 6.6 billion euros in 2023, a 10.9 percent increase over the previous year. vab/imm/cw
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:47 p.m. ESTRepublicans gain temporary control of Minnesota House after Democrat decides not to appeal ruling
NoneMinister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha on Wednesday attended the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024 Reception that gathered hundreds of participants and delegates from participating countries. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and Co-Chair I of the APICTA Awards 2024 Working Committee Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, in his welcoming remarks, said, “Brunei Darussalam has been given the privilege of hosting the APICTA Awards 2024, 12 years since we last hosted it in 2012. It is an honour to host this prestigious event in Brunei Darussalam, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA).” He reiterated that Brunei Darussalam “has always been a strong advocate for technological advancement. Today, we come together to celebrate the exceptional innovations and achievements in the world of information and communication technology (ICT) across the Asia-Pacific region and stand proud as a platform for collaboration, learning, and the exchange of cutting-edge ideas”. The APICTA Awards, he described, “have become a symbol of excellence, recognising the creativity, passion, and hard work of ICT professionals, entrepreneurs, and organisations across the region. It is a testament to the incredible strides being made in ICT, from innovative start-ups to established enterprises and from visionary developers to forward-thinking policymakers.” He emphasised that APICTA’s vision and mission align with Brunei Darussalam’s own vision of fostering a knowledge-based economy. “As we navigate through an era of rapid technological transformation, it is crucial that we continue to inspire and support the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators who will shape the future of ICT not just in our region but across the globe. Together, through APICTA, we can create an environment that nurtures collaboration and pushes the boundaries of what technology can achieve for the benefit of our societies.” He also revealed that this year’s APICTA Awards 2024 received the highest number of entries in APICTA’s history, with 279 submissions from 15 member economies. The minister later joined the delegates and APICTA officials for a networking session before heading to the Atrium of The Mall to launch the Digital Brunei Exhibition, showcasing the nation’s innovation progress and commitment to technological advancements. The minister also toured the exhibition following the launch. Held in conjunction with the APICTA Awards 2024, the Digital Brunei Exhibition is open to the public until today, from 10am to 9pm. – James Kon Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha in a group photo at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards 2024 Reception. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof delivers a speec. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show the minister at the event. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI
Airport surfaces most likely to have a deadly virus lurking on themBrazilian police indict former President Bolsonaro and aides over alleged 2022 coup attempt
TORONTO — TD was an outlier during the banks' fourth-quarter earnings season as other lenders released cautiously encouraging outlooks for the year ahead while the beleaguered bank suspended its guidance. The bank said it was suspending financial targets for earnings, return on equity and positive leverage as it works through a wide-ranging strategic review ahead of leadership change next year. "In my role as incoming CEO, we are undertaking a broad and detailed review of the bank strategies and investment priorities," said chief operating officer Raymond Chun, who is set to replace Bharat Masrani in the top job in April. "It's my opportunity to dive deep and make sure that we're putting TD in the best position possible," Chun said on an earnings call Thursday. The review comes as TD continues to grapple with the fallout from anti-money laundering deficiencies that saw it agree in October to pay fines totalling more than $4.23 billion to U.S. regulators, who also imposed an asset growth cap on its U.S. retail banking operations. The bank said it will be challenging to generate earnings growth as it navigates its transition. For TD's peers, the tone was more upbeat but still cautious as CIBC, RBC and National Bank reported profits that beat analyst expectations and said there was more growth ahead as interest rates are expected to drop further. Even BMO, which has been struggling with a pool of shaky loans, said it expects its provisions for credit losses to have peaked in the fourth quarter with improvements ahead. Shares of BMO opened down more than four per cent as its earnings came in well below analyst expectations because of the spike in provisions, but shares gained after an earnings call where the bank said it was turning a corner. The bank's share price was also boosted by an announced share buyback of up to 20 million shares, and a four-cent dividend increase from the previous quarter to $1.59 per share. "We're net confident in the U.S. and otherwise, and that's underpinned by the decisions we've made with respect to the dividend increase and normal course issuer bid," said chief executive Darryl White. CIBC showed even more faith in growth ahead as it reported results that were well ahead of expectations. The bank, which saw its provisions fall 23 per cent from last year, said it was boosting its dividend by eight per cent. "This increase reinforces the confidence we have to deliver earnings growth," said chief executive Victor Dodig on an earnings call. While bank leaders all generally saw better days ahead as interest rates fall and credit risks ease, their outlook on the timing is less confident. RBC chief executive Dave McKay said he was cautious but optimistic on the credit picture but still not sure on when it may normalize. "We're just a little uncertain as to how we're going to land this thing, whether it's in the first half or second half of the year, or early into '26." The bank shrugged off the effects of a softening Canadian economy to report a profit of $4.22 billion in the fourth quarter and $16.2 billion for the year. It increased its quarterly dividend by six cents, or four per cent, to $1.48. Scotiabank results fell short of analyst expectations as its results were hit by higher-than-expected taxes and a writedown of its holding in a Chinese bank, while its Canadian operations were affected by the softening economy, said chief executive Scott Thomson. "The realities of a slowing economy and the impact of peak interest rates made for a challenging operating environment," he said on a conference call with analysts. But he too is looking for a turnaround ahead as interest rates fall. "We anticipate additional easing through the first half of the year, which we expect will be stimulative to activity in the domestic housing and mortgage markets and buoy consumer and business confidence," Thomson said. While analysts welcomed the outlooks from banks, they expressed disappointment in TD's silence on its financial expectations for next year. "We would have hoped that TD would have been able to provide a little more concrete guidance to investors here right now," said Scotiabank analyst Meny Grauman in a note. "Waiting another half a year or more for management to tell us what the longer-run implications of its U.S. consent order are leaves the stock without a proper anchor." Jeffries analyst John Aiken said the bank was "throwing in the towel for 2025," and that investors will need to be patient for a catalyst to release pent-up value. Chun said he is optimistic on the road ahead, but it will take time to get there. "I really do believe there are opportunities to get even stronger, more competitive. And so I look forward to sharing more with you in the second half of 2025." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:TD, TSX:BMO, TSX:RY, TSX:BNS, TSX:CM) Ian Bickis, The Canadian PressJonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!International Conference on Entrepreneurship discusses business transformations in the era of AI
Trump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacksAge of Darkness: Final Stand gets 1.0 launch trailerSAN DIEGO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Mynaric AG (NASDAQ: MYNA) securities between June 20, 2024 and October 7, 2024. Mynaric develops and manufactures laser communication products for aerospace-based communication networks for government and commercial markets in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Mynaric AG (MYNA) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Prospects According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (i) lower-than-expected production yields and component supplier shortages of key components were causing production delays for Mynaric’s CONDOR Mk3 product; (ii) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Company’s revenue growth and cause the Company to incur an operating loss; (iii) as a result, Mynaric was unlikely to meet its own previously issued financial guidance for FY 2024; and (iv) accordingly, the Company’s business and/or financial prospects were overstated. Plaintiff alleges that on August 20, 2024, Mynaric issued a press release providing an update to its FY 2024 guidance, advising that “the company now expects full-year 2024 IFRS-15 revenue to range between EUR 16.0 million to EUR 24.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between EUR 50.0 million to EUR 70.0 million”, citing “production delays of CONDOR Mk3 caused by lower than expected production yields and component supplier shortages of key components”; and that “the company now expects full-year 2024 operating loss to range between a loss of EUR 55.0 million to EUR 50.0 million compared to previous guidance of a range between a loss of EUR 40.0 million to EUR 30.0 million”, citing “the lower than expected revenue and higher than expected production costs due to lower yields.” The Company also revealed the voluntary departure of its Chief Financial Officer. On this news, Mynaric’s American Depository Share (“ADS”) price fell $2.32 per ADS, or 55.9%, to close at $1.83 per ADS on August 20, 2024. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Mynaric AG. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by December 30, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Mynaric AG settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/17f52b82-4a1d-4bcb-b219-6b5fc62d9986
1. The super sleek Oura ring , which connects to their smartphone to help monitor their sleep, heart rate, and various fitness goals. It's much more subtle than a bulky smartwatch, so they won't mind keeping this on 24/7. Heads up: The brand recommends buying the Oura sizing kit for $10 first to figure out which size works best — so you might want to gift the kit now to figure out the sizing! Either way, you'll get a $10 credit back for the purchase of an Oura ring! Promising review: "First of all, I love it and never leave reviews. But this needs justice. It looks like a regular ring; nobody would be able to tell the difference. The sleep tracking is super accurate, showing REM, light, and deep sleep, plus heart rate and temperature. The subscription is $6 a month, which is completely worth it, in my opinion. You get detailed info on stress, recovery, and even tips for staying in sync with your body’s natural rhythm. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and comfy enough to wear 24/7. I never take it off. It charges extremely fast, and the battery life is amazing—I only charge mine once a week." — Ethan A. Get it from Amazon for $349 (available in sizes 9–15 and six colors). 2. A magical pen so they can bring their artwork to life in 3D! It's like Harold's purple crayon, except this hopefully won't get a terrible live-action version starring Zachary Levi. Aspiring artists can load the pen with one of the included colored sticks (they're made of plastic filaments), then press the button to release the moldable plastic and create a 3D masterpiece. Their parents might just want to get in on the fun, too! The kit includes the pen, two refill packs, an activity guide, USB cable, and a doodle pad. Promising review: "I will be the first to admit that I thought this was going to be a novelty toy that my kids used once (then it would fall by the wayside). I mean, it’s basically a glorified glue gun! To my amazement, my kids can’t get enough of it. They fight over it. They use it every single day. To be fair, there is no way a kid can make anything like the examples on the box. I realize their projects aren’t going to make it into a fine art gallery, but it keeps them busy and creative. They fix toys with the doodler and are convinced it is a magical tool that can solve any problem. I never imagined I’d be giving this 5 stars, but whoever thought of this device is a genius (and clearly knows kids better than me!) " — Casey C. Get it from Amazon for $32.99 . 3. A pair of AR sunglasses , which is basically a personal wearable TV screen only they can see. It connects to their smartphone, tablet, or laptop so they can see a projected version of the display through the glasses without having to look down. Their neck will be so grateful. It includes buttons to control brightness and focus levels. This works with most USB-C devices right out of the box, though an adapter will be needed for iPhones with lightning ports. Promising review: "I loved my first pair of VITURE glasses, but the latest iteration has blown me away! The image on the screen is even better than the original and I feel like you can really tell a difference at the edges of the screen. I’ve used them for hours at a time and have found them to be exceptionally comfortable. They have definitely helped with neck and back pain from looking down while working with a laptop in my lap. I also find them to be a great option when I need to work on a plane. I avoid the painful and awkward neck gymnastics when I try to work without them because I no longer have to lean down to try to see the screen that’s canted at a weird angle because of the seat in front of me. Another bonus is the privacy they afford while working in crowded public spaces." — James Get it from Amazon for $499 . 4. A digital notebook they can use again and again. The LCD display acts just like normal paper when they use the included stylus, so they can write to-do lists or doodle whatever creation pops into their head. Once they're done, they can hit the "erase" button to clear the "page." It's basically like an adult version of a Magna Doodle, except they won't be embarrassed to use this in a meeting. Promising review: "The boogie board is a great tool for anyone looking to save on paper while jotting down quick notes. It’s wonderful for quickly writing and erasing math problems, shopping lists, or anything in between. It’s also super affordable, making it a cute and cost-effective gift for any age." — Bradley Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors). 5. Or a Rocketbook reusable notebook that lets them take notes they can save digitally, erase, and then use all over again. They can use the Rocketbook app to save all of their "pages" and then erase them with the included wipe. You're essentially gifting them an endless notebook. Promising review: "I am very happy with my purchase of the Rocketbook. I have it set to the side on my desk for quick scribbles when I need to make notes. It has eliminated a bunch of messy scrap pieces of paper all over the place. The pen that came with it works great (I am fussy about that); it feels like normal pen to paper. When I'm done, I just spray a bit of water and wipe clean. Great organizational tool and keeps my office neat and free of extra clutter ." — KMS Get it from Amazon for $36.13+ (available in three styles and 17 colors). 6. A high-tech planter pot for the green thumb on your list who has trouble keeping track of their plant children. The adorable display on the front lets them know how happy their plant is (i.e., if the soil is moist enough and if it's getting enough light), and it even has a self-watering feature they can control through the smartphone app. This is basically a grown-up Tamagotchi. Promising review: "I got this as a gift, and they love their Ivy planter! The digital expressions are cute and adorable, but aside from that, the size and quality of the planter itself make this an excellent planter. The app it comes with is easy to use and makes it easy to take care of your plant. I look forward to getting this for myself in the future!" — Mario Get it from Amazon for $75.04+ (available in five colors). 7. A gorgeous water bottle that keeps track of their daily water intake and glows when they're running behind on their hydration goals — because we could all use some help being a little less thirsty. It even connects with a smartphone app so they can have a snapshot of their weekly hydration habits. Promising review: This is the most amazing water bottle ever! I don’t drink water, I don’t like water. I have a health condition that requires me to drink 60+ ounces of water a day. This is coming from a person who drinks one glass of water every two weeks. When my doctor told me I had to drink 60+ ounces of water a day, I was literally freaking out. I didn’t know how to do it! So I started searching water bottles that will track what you drink because otherwise I wouldn’t know how to track my water intake. When I found this bottle, I thought, okay, I’ll give it a shot and see how it goes. It literally has changed the way I drink water. Getting on the app and connecting to the bottle was super easy. The bottle tracks your water intake, and if you’re not drinking enough, it will light up to remind you that you need to drink water. I’m really busy during the day, and most of the time, I don’t drink water, and I sure as heck don’t pay attention to my water intake. The light up reminder, which is really neat, and you get to select the color, makes you very conscious of needing to drink." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $49 (available in four colors). 8. Or a self-cleaning water bottle — it uses a UV-C LED light in the cap to help purify water and keep the inside clean. Tap the button on the top to activate, and then it'll run a cleaning cycle every two hours to keep things clean and fresh. The insulated design keeps drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. Promising review: "Yes, this bottle is pricey, but having purchased it for travel, I found it very comforting knowing whatever water source I was filling up from, my water would be clean due to the interior UV sanitizer. And I actually saved money instead of buying tons of plastic water bottles for a month-long trip. Highly suggest the insulated bottle, as I purchased the slightly cheaper non-insulated bottle as well, and although lighter, preferred the contents staying nice and cool while traveling through the summer." — Mike L. Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in two sizes and seven sizes). 9. A smart bird feeder with a camera inside so they can see all the delightful visitors who stop by for a snack. It connects to the accompanying smartphone app and can send them an alert when a bird has appeared so they can see a live feed of their new flying friends. They can also save videos and photos, so be prepared to see so many bird pics on their Instagram story. Promising review: "The bird feeder is easy to assemble and very easy to set up. The motion detection is just the right amount and reliable. I enjoy getting notifications of birds at my feeder. The product is durable and not cheap feeling. This feeder brings a lot of joy to my day. It's easy to share your videos with friends, so many of my friends get to enjoy it as well." — Robert F. Get it from Amazon for $149 (available in two colors). 10. A pet camera that adds a distinctly 2024 upgrade: they can play with their pet via a smartphone app! The app lets them control a laser pointer so their ball of fluff can tire themselves out and get some mental stimulation even when their hoomans aren't at home. This is the future Nintendogs promised!!! Promising review: "I didn’t know what to expect when I got this as far as quality of video or laser toy or connectivity away from the house. All I can say it has far surpassed my expectations in every way. Let me give you an example. I was on my way down to the ground on a plane. I thought, let me check on my cat. Using the Wi-Fi on the plane, I was able to access the video feed in my home living room and see my cat was there bored and needing to play. I enabled the laser toy and proceeded to play with her for five minutes while we finished landing. She had a great time and I was reassured she was ok. The quality of the video was great, almost no lag, and the laser toy worked like a charm! There is a little lag for the laser toy but it still is great. A+ for this. I would gladly recommend to anyone." — B. Mann Get it from Amazon for $79.99 . 11. A pair of smart goggles I bet even Michael Phelps would be impressed with. The display on the inside displays their heart rate, time, distance, stroke count, and pace — and they can connect them to the accompanying app to keep track of their workouts. Note: This requires a $99/year subscription service to access guided workouts and a digital compass. Promising review: "I’ve been using the goggles for the past few weeks, mostly in the pool. The goggles capture everything I need (i.e., heart rate, stroke rate, and pace) without having to wear a sports watch. Accuracy and reliability for heart rate are impressive. I train with HR while running, so it’s nice to bring this approach to the pool." — Elliott Get it from Amazon for $249. 12. A spinning ball decked out with LED lights that flies around on its own. They can channel their inner Doctor Strange and make it hover over their hand, or they can throw it and watch as it boomerangs back to them. I don't know how they managed to make a ball futuristic, but I tip my hat to the designers. Promising review: "You control where this flies by the tilt you put into when releasing. Really fun to play catch with someone by tilting it toward them and gently releasing. You can also boomerang it back to yourself by tilting it backwards and tossing it up diagonally away from you. The cage around it is effective in protecting both you and it." — Dem Get it from Amazon for $28.80+ (available in seven colors). 13. A five-panel clock that looks straight out of Blade Runner . It features five small screens that can be customized to display everything from the time (duh) to the weather and stock market performance. The accompanying app even lets them create pixel art to display on the screen if they're feeling creative. Promising review: "I was skeptical before buying this thing but it actually works really well. There is tons of pixel art you can download and display and it can do really cool, useful stuff like show you the weather or stock prices, too. I'm a huge fan!" — Trevor Get it from Amazon for $113.99+ (available in two colors). 14. A USB fan with an LED clock face that looks like it's levitating in the air, which will make everyone in the office stop in their tracks when they walk by their desk. It also displays the temperature, so they can basically go ahead and delete the Weather Channel app from their phone. Promising review : "Fun at work. I got one of these for my husband at his office. Now EVERYONE has one at his office, including me at home!" — Laurette Triick Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 15. A UFO-shaped Bluetooth speaker that hovers and spins around while playing all their favorite alien-themed podcasts. Functional and a conversation starter? This is guaranteed to win you some major points with that one family member who is just a little too obsessed with extra-terrestrial beings. ~Cute the X-Files theme song~ Promising review: "I wanted this mostly cuz I thought it looked really cool! It was pretty easy to set up and was going in no time! Everyone that sees it wants one and I am already on my second order! For a small speaker it has decent sound as I am using it for background noise and don't want it loud. It does, however, go up to a nice volume! It is very cool, and I'm so glad I bought one...well two now LOL!" — Karen Get it from Amazon for $99.99 . 16. A mirror with features every mirror should have in the future: built-in lighting, a Bluetooth speaker, and an anti-fog button. If they seem a bit more chipper in the morning than usual, it's because you just massively upgraded their routine. Promising review: "This thing is absolutely neat as all can be, hands down. I've seen the other ones, but this one has JUST enough functionality to make it cool and modern, but not so much that it is fully IOT/Wifi connected, and you have to worry about it potentially spying on you. I love the Bluetooth speaker functionality and the defogging/backlight. I love that this doesn't need to connect to Wi-Fi, doesn't require an app, and just WORKS out of the box, with no fiddling around . For the price, I think I'm going to get a few more of these for my other bathrooms. Wonderful job on this." — Mike Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in nine sizes and three shapes). 17. An electronic upgrade to the classic Rubik's cube , which I strongly feel Elroy Jetson would play with all day long. It features four different games to choose from, or they can choose the "light show" setting to enjoy the glow from the colorful lights once their brains are too tired to play anymore. Promising review: "This little dude is a lot of fun for sure. It keeps my brain occupied and my fingers moving when I can't sit still. Not to mention, the music that plays in the menu is a certified BOP. My only tiny criticism is that the buttons are a tad too stiff when pushing on them, though; I suppose that's a good thing when you're twisting it around in your hands, and you don't accidentally push a button and ruin your score. I love the mute feature during gameplay." — Jennifer Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 18. A super sleek lamp with a small globe that ~magically floats~ in the air — and it will even spin for up to 20 minutes if they give it a quick tap with their finger. I suspect all lamps in the future will feature some sort of gravity-defying feature. Promising review: "Globe is lightweight. This is a great thing to gift someone. It's fun to watch spin, and the light in the back is beautiful. It doesn’t spin on its own; you have to gently spin it, but once you start it, it lasts for quite a while." — Emilly Get it from Amazon for $32.39+ (available in three colors). 19. An app-controlled moon-shaped dock that functions as a lamp, wireless charger, and a bluetooth speaker because the future is truly all about multiuse products and saving outlet space. I suspect this is what Zenon uses to charge her SpacePhone and listen to "SuperNova Girl." Promising review: "The vibrant colors of the lamp look really beautiful!!! The speakers and the lights that dance to the beats are perfect for a mini disco atmosphere . It works great as a bedtime lamp for my bedroom, and the app is really convenient to control the light and music (white noise included!). This is a fun gadget for my teens. I give 5 out of 5 stars, satisfied." — Vanshika Sharma Get it from Amazon for $46.99 . 20. A smart meat thermometer — it will basically be their very own personal electronic sous chef. It connects to the Meater app to help configure cooking times and tell them the temperature right on their phone. The days of continuously opening the oven door to check on their roasted meats will be far behind them. It works for meats cooked in the smoker, grill, rotisserie, oven, pan, and air fryer! Promising review: "The Meater works so well, you hardly have to do anything while you cook any sort of meat. Once it alerts you the meat is ready, you remove it from any heat, and when the app says you’re ready to dig in, there’s no second guessing whether or not your meat is fully cooked. No under/overcooking with this; it’s perfect EVERY time. Couldn’t be more happy with this product and app." — Pam Walter Get it from Amazon for $79.95 . 21. A "Worky" station , the on-the-go desk they never knew they needed. Once they unfold the suitcase-style design, they'll have plenty of space for their laptop and office supplies, and there are even USB ports to charge their devices. Perhaps best of all, the top portion (which also functions as a whiteboard!) has LED lights, so they'll be in perfect lighting for all of their Zoom meetings. This is truly the ultimate gift for the remote workers on your list. Check out a TikTok of the Worky station in action. Promising review : "I've had my Worky for three months now and have loved it. I love that everything is in one place, and then I can close it up and work disappears. The compartments are great for tucking away piles of paperwork, the multiple charging outlets are convenient, and the LED lights are helpful on Zoom calls when lighting in the room is not ideal. Everything in one place, simple and convenient. Just the way I like it." — Amy Worky is a small business that specializes in products to improve remote working experiences. Get it from Amazon for $119.99 . 22. A Bitzee — it puts a 3D spin on the traditional virtual pet from our childhood. Simply open the capsule to reveal one of 15 pets that respond to touch, tilts, and swipes. There's even a Disney version with characters like Stitch, Wall-E, and Lightning McQueen! When their pets evolve into Super Bitzees, they can find cool outfits and mini-games. In a rare turn of events, batteries are included! Promising review: "My 8-year-old loves this thing so much that she hasn't put it down since she got it. It was the star of the show for Christmas, and I got so many hugs for getting it for her. This is basically the modern take on the old-school Tamagotchis, but it has a fluttering LED bar that zips up and down at an extremely high rate of speed to mimic the appearance of an actual digital pet floating in midair. Seems weird at first, but that fluttering light bar also allows you to feel like you are really touching the animal — very cool in action. If you are a parent looking for the perfect gift for a 5-10-year-old child, then do yourself a favor and grab one of these; you will not regret it! Really awesome toy for a very reasonable price." — M. Myers Get it from Amazon for $24.49+ (available in four styles). 23. A hybrid digital food scale and measuring cup which is some next-level baking tech even Paul Hollywood would be impressed with. Now, they can accurately measure all their ingredients directly in the cup, and they can also use the handle attachment as a stand-alone food scale. Promising review : "I absolutely love this measuring cup!!! What a great invention. I love that I can put flour in, reset it and add sugar, reset it and add milk, etc. One cup for measuring several things at the same time. Love, love, love it!!!!" — wolfpause Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three colors). 24. A touchscreen toaster to replace the crusty one they've had in the kitchen for longer than they'd like to admit. It heats much faster than a traditional unit and has a touchscreen that lets them choose their preferred level of crispiness. This is the future carb connoisseurs want. So why does a toaster need a touch screen? Because this one has some impressively specific toasting options for their carb of choice. It features fresh, frozen, and reheat options, and they can swipe between bagels, toaster cakes, English muffins, waffles, and bread. They'll probably text you "thank you!" every morning for gifting them with perfectly toasted bagels every time. Promising review: "I have to say, this toaster was well worth the investment. This one beat my old toaster by a mile in terms of how fast it toasts, and it adjusts easily and well to waffles and bagels. The toaster has a fantastic digital display, too. I love the 10-second countdown feature so I can get my butter in place and slather it on while the toast is hot. The design is sleek and elegant, and my favorite surprise is the analog clock display. This makes my old toaster obsolete (it's now collecting dust in the bottom cupboard)." — Rob Get it from Amazon for $299.95+ (available in two colors and with various accessories). 25. A fancy smart mug that will keep their coffee, tea, or other hot beverage of choice at the perfect temperature. It lasts for 90 minutes on a single charge, and if they have enough self-control to make a cup of coffee last longer than that, I simply cannot relate. Promising review: "Best thing since sliced bread! I hate it when my coffee gets cold. I was originally looking for one of those warming coasters, but then I saw the Ember mugs...there was no turning back. I can take my coffee with me into my boss's office, and it still stays hot?? Yes, please. I used that app and have adjusted my temp down to 127 degrees. It stays at that temperature the entire time. I’ve not had an issue with battery life either; it doesn’t take me more than an hour to polish off a cup of coffee. I HIGHLY recommend." — Mathews Get it from Amazon for $92.62+ (available in 11 colors). 26. Oral-B's Genius X Limited electric toothbrush equipped with AI that adapts to their unique brushing style so they can ensure they're getting a deeper clean. It even connects to their smartphone to help keep track of their daily brushing habits. Promising review: "Amazing clean. I was at first hesitant to spend that much on a toothbrush, but it’s worth every penny. It works at least 10x better than my $20 Oral-B electronic toothbrush. The motion sensing is very cool and helpful. After just one brush, my teeth feel almost like they do after a professional cleaning as opposed to how they felt after brushing with my cheap electronic toothbrush. " — Anne E La Perla Get it from Amazon for $190.31+ (available in three colors) 27. A fingerprint padlock so they'll never have to rummage around in their pocket looking for their key before realizing they left it at home. This also connects to a smartphone app if they prefer to control it remotely. Promising review: "This is a superb lock! I got it to use in the gym. I didn't want to use the honor system and hope my locker would be safe without a lock... and I know I am not the best with traditional combo locks. This lock does everything you need. It's easy to set up as many fingerprints for verification as you want ... and you can even just use your phone to unlock it alternatively." — J Z D Get it from Amazon for $36.99 (available in two colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen enters Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix on the verge of clinching his fourth consecutive Formula 1 world championship. There are various scenarios that will land Verstappen his fourth title on Saturday night, the most basic of which is him simply finishing ahead of Lando Norris at the race's conclusion. Verstappen can still finish behind Norris in the race and clinch the championship however, as Norris would need to outscore Verstappen by at least three points to keep his hopes alive. Prior to the Miami Grand Prix in May, it would have seemed like a fever dream that another driver would be competing with Verstappen for the title this late in the season. Despite McLaren having the best car since Red Bull engineer Adrian Newey departed four days prior to the Miami GP, Norris felt he wasn't fully prepared for a championship battle of this magnitude. "I probably wasn't outright ready to go up against Red Bull and Max," Norris said. "I think I am now, and it's probably too late (for that). ... Maybe there are other drivers in the past that were ready for such an occasion. But no one has gone up against Max so early in their career, halfway through the season, and put up, I think, a pretty reasonable fight. "I mean, I'm there, but there's no one else doing it, you know? So I've done my best. I've not done well enough. I've always admitted that. I think Max is probably one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1. I don't think you'll get a much better driver than Max in Formula 1 ever again." Saturday's foray in Vegas will also be the penultimate race for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, as the sport's most popular driver heads to the legendary Ferrari outfit to partner with Charles Leclerc next season. Hamilton had a fiery response to Mercedes' principal Toto Wolff's comment that "everyone has a shelf life" in regards to Hamilton's exit to Ferrari potentially being a positive for Mercedes. "Honestly I feel like I'm in the best place I've been all year mentally and considering how bad the last race was," Hamilton said. "I think that says enough. Nothing can take me down. I'm still here, I'm still fighting and I'm going to continue to push. I've got a team that I generally still love, even though I'm leaving and I want to make sure to give them the best I can in these next races." Hamilton drove with the same fire in Thursday's free practice, finishing first in both sessions. To sweeten the deal for Mercedes, Russell finished second to Hamilton in the first practice session and third behind Hamilton and Norris in the second session. Norris' second place finish in FP2 capped off a relatively successful day for the Brit as he also finished third behind Russell in FP1. It wasn't as good of an evening for Verstappen, who finished fifth in FP1 before tire issues forced him to a P17 finish in FP2. Sergio Perez provided little encouragement for Red Bull either, finishing behind Verstappen at 19th in the second practice session. --Field Level Media