WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. From left, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., gather after Senate Democratic leadership elections for the next session of Congress on Tuesday in Washington. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. In a statement, Schumer, of New York, said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” “Our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families,” Schumer said. “However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.” While Schumer remains popular with his colleagues, it is a bleak moment for Senate Democrats, who were hopeful they could hold the majority for the third election in a row. Instead they lost four seats and will be in the minority, 53-47, as Trump takes office. Trump dialed in Tuesday with Senate Republicans as they began laying the groundwork for control of government. The brief call was more celebratory than a prescriptive policy agenda, according to those attending the private GOP retreat, urging senators to confirm his Cabinet nominees as they launch an agenda of tax cuts, deportations and other priorities. "It was a love fest," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. “There was a real sense of unity in the room.” Republicans want to notch an early accomplishment after Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20. Incoming Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota outlined a potential roadmap during the private retreat at the Library of Congress, detailing a potential strategy that would have senators working on an initial legislative package — energy, border security and defense priorities — that could be approved in the first 30 days of the new administration. Next, he explained that the senators would turn to reviving the expiring tax cuts from Trump's first term. The new Congress convenes Jan. 3, and the Senate expects to quickly begin holding confirmation hearings for Trump’s top Cabinet nominees. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also addressed the GOP senators — noting his slim majority in the House. He “emphasized the need for unity heading into the first 100 days agenda,” his spokesman Taylor Haulsee said. Unlike eight years ago, when opposition to Trump’s narrow election win fueled enthusiasm in their party, Democratic lawmakers and many of their voters are exhausted and looking for answers. So far, Democrats stayed relatively quiet on Trump’s nominees and plans for office. Schumer declined to comment on specifics of any nominees, instead allowing Republican reaction to dominate the conversation. On Monday, Schumer wrote a public letter to Thune, asking him to resist Trump’s pressure to allow him to appoint some of his nominees without a Senate vote and to insist on full FBI background checks for all nominees. But he has said little else about Trump’s upcoming presidency. While some have been more aggressive — Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a former chairwoman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, said that Trump’s nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department is “dangerous” and “nothing short of disaster” — several Democratic senators say they are saving their strength and figuring out a focus. “Everybody’s in kind of a wait-and-see mode right now,” said Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, part of Schumer’s leadership team. “Under the previous Trump administration, there was chaos all the time, all the time. And I do think it is important to pick your battles.” It’s still unclear which battles they will pick, and Democrats have differing opinions on how to fight them. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who is also in Democratic leadership, says “anyone who has a grand strategy is full of crap” but thinks Democrats, for now, “need to keep things simple.” “We need to talk about people, protect people, advocate for people,” he said. “Do not talk about protecting institutions. Do not talk about advocating for institutions. It’s a not just a rhetorical shift, but an attitudinal shift. We have to remind ourselves, that we’re not fighting for programs and projects and line items and agencies or norms. We’re fighting for people.” Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said he’s spent a lot of time reflecting, and “I don’t think anyone can claim this was a policy election,” and Democrats need to look at cultural issues. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman says Democrats just need to “pace ourselves” and avoid the “massive freakout” of Trump's last term. Democrats should be preparing, says Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal. He says Schumer is picking his battles “very thoughtfully and strategically.” “We’re thinking about how we protect against using the FBI, or the prosecutorial authority of the Justice Department for retribution against critics,” Blumenthal said. “How we elevate these issues in a way that American people understand them.” Democrats know better now “the extraordinary challenges we’re going to face,” Blumenthal said. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. compete in the ice dance rhythm dance program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competition in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A discarded plastic bag floats in the waters of Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) China's President Xi Jinping, left center, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, walk into the Alvorada palace after attending a welcoming ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova competes against Great Britain's Katie Boulter during a Billie Jean King Cup semi-final match at Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) A surfer rides on an artificial wave in the river 'Eisbach' at the 'Englischer Garten' (English Garden) downtown in Munich, Germany, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) A woman carries a gift basket as she arrives at a park to attend a friend's birthday party, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris looks at a monitor backstage, just before taking the stage for her final campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President-elect Donald Trump listens during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) A resident returns to his burned village, Monday Nov. 25, 2024, one day after a fire broke out leaving about 2,000 families homeless at a slum area in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Isaac Young rests his cheek on the family horse Rusty's forehead during farm chores before homeschooling, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Sunbury, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Students from anti-discrimination movements attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) A young girl holds a "Black Voters for Harris-Walz" sign outside of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) A man looks from a damaged building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Ramat Gan, central Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Venezuelan migrant Alvaro Calderini carries his niece across a river near Bajo Chiquito, Panama, after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia on their way north to the United States, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) An aerial view shows a packed parking lot at Citadel Outlets in Commerce, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, as early Black Friday shoppers arrive at the mall. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Israeli soldiers holding their weapons bathe with residents in a hot water pool coming from a drilling project which exposed a subterranean hydrothermal spring near Mount Bental in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Voters stand in line outside a polling place at Madison Church, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Molten lava flows on the road to the Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, after the volcanic eruption that started Wednesday, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco) Firefighters and sheriff's deputies push a vintage car away from a burning home as the Mountain Fire burns in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Supporters of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) celebrate the victory of candidate Yamandú Orsi in the presidential run-off election in Montevideo, Uruguay, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) People gather at the site where former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israeli airstrikes late September during a memorial ceremony in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Katia, 11, with her grandmother and mother sit in an armored minivan during en evacuation by the "White Angels" police unit in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Anton Shtuka) People clean mud from a house affected by floods, in Algemesi, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Cattle stand on a heap of textile waste at the Old Fadama settlement of Accra, Ghana, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu) Family members accompany the coffin that contain the remains of Mexican actress Silvia Pinal, during a memorial service at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Pinal, an actress from Mexico's Golden Age of cinema in the 1940s and 50s, died Thursday. She was 93. (AP Photo/Aurea Del Rosario) A family arrive to cross into Lebanon through the Jousieh border crossing, between Syria and Lebanon, Nov. 28, 2024, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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Q-Less: The Crossword Solitaire Game Revolutionizing Entertainment and Brain Training 12-03-2024 10:48 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Titans Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733251262.jpg Nashville, TN - December 3, 2024 - Meet Tom Sturdevant, a remarkable octogenarian who has redefined the concept of retirement. A lifelong inventor, musician, and songwriter, Sturdevant is proving that creativity knows no age limits. His latest invention, Q-Less: The Crossword Solitaire Game, has become a nationwide sensation, captivating players of all ages and redefining how games can entertain while sharpening minds. Q-Less: A Simple Yet Addictive Concept Q-Less is a word game that combines the thrill of dice rolls with the challenge of crossword puzzles. Packaged in a portable tin, the game features twelve dice that prompt serious fun for players at home, in the office, or on the go. Players craft words using dice letters, balancing strategy and vocabulary skills in every move. The app version of Q-Less extends this experience to mobile platforms, available for Apple and Android devices, offering even more accessibility. The game has been recognized as a fun, educational pastime for families, a brain-training tool for seniors, and a refreshing "brain break" for professionals. In a world dominated by screens, Q-Less also provides a much-needed diversion for kids, encouraging them to engage in creative, tech-free play. From NPR to Viral Sensation The game received a major boost when it was featured on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, leading to an avalanche of 5,000 orders in just 24 hours. NPR producer Andrew Limbong became a fan, joining a growing community of enthusiasts who rave about the game's clever design and addictive appeal. This widespread attention has even led to the appearance of knock-offs, but none match the quality and charm of the original Q-Less. A Storied Career in Innovation Tom Sturdevant's journey to Q-Less started decades ago. At age 52, with no prior experience in the gaming industry, he developed LETRAS, a word game that merged rummy and Scrabble-like mechanics. The game was a commercial hit, earning the Parents' Choice Gold Award and a Top Ten Award from Doctor Toy. It was sold nationwide, with over 2,500 units moving in just three weeks during its Nashville debut. His next creation, The Blockbuster Movie Game, was a collaborative success with Blockbuster Video, which licensed the game and distributed it across all their locations. Despite retiring from the gaming industry years ago, Sturdevant couldn't stay away. In 2018, at age 75, he resurrected Q-Less from a prototype into a thriving product, proving once again that his inventive spirit is unstoppable. Innovation Meets Technology The launch of the Q-Less Crossword Solitaire App has further expanded the game's reach. Whether you prefer rolling the dice physically or tapping your screen virtually, Q-Less offers an engaging experience. The game is sold exclusively through its website, www.q-lessgame.com [ http://www.q-lessgame.com ], and the official TikTok Shop. A Game for Everyone What sets Q-Less apart is its universal appeal: * Seniors: Provides mental stimulation and promotes cognitive health. * Professionals: Serves as an excellent break from daily routines. * Families and Kids: Offers a shared, screen-free activity that's both educational and fun. Q-Less: A Cultural Phenomenon In just a short time, Q-Less has become a pop culture phenomenon, selling tens of thousands of units this year alone. Its unique combination of strategy, portability, and accessibility makes it a perfect gift, travel companion, or everyday brain teaser. About Tom Sturdevant Image: https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf4FBz2WK5yZqoiSyLFCMafs3vUEw-GMqj5m482PAMPYR5Su-Bt4pAaxJ2KPMJaakR9qC-nzti7yThz4pqTMhzNVnB7lCGkp85Vj572-fBRSniUMqJmoP0ov-o8HkCztkopBXIz?key=_jEJNban_HH5RGMefgUJf6iv Photo Courtesy: Tom Sturdevant Tom Sturdevant has had a varied career as a foreign service officer, Peace Corps trainer, farmer, filmmaker, and award-winning game inventor. Most recently, he has added songwriter and TikTok-savvy entrepreneur to his extensive resume. At 80-plus years young, Tom exemplifies the idea that passion and creativity can lead to success at any stage of life. Discover the magic of Q-Less and join the growing community of players keeping their minds sharp and their spirits high. Visit www.q-lessgame.com [ http://www.q-lessgame.com ] today or follow the game on TikTok and Instagram: * TikTok: @qlessgame [ https://www.tiktok.com/@qlessgame ] * Instagram: @qlessgame [ https://www.instagram.com/qlessgame/ ] Media Contact Company Name: PLA Media Contact Person: Claire Ratliff Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=qless-the-crossword-solitaire-game-revolutionizing-entertainment-and-brain-training ] Phone: 615-476-3200 Country: United States Website: http://www.plamedia.com This release was published on openPR.
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UTICA — The search for solutions continues for a Utica Com ets squad tr ying to string together positives during the 2024-25 season. Utica is mired in a team-record 13-game winless streak eight weeks into the regular season. It has put Utica in a difficult situation before the Comets have played a quarter of the 72-game American Hockey League season. How does the team get on the other side of the results? “I think we just got to keep sticking with it, keep believing,” said winger Max Willman, who recently surpassed the 200-game mark between the AHL and NHL. “I think our game is trending in the right direction and we’re in a lot of these games that we’re losing. But, I think it’s just sticking to the kind of process that we’ve been working on during the week and going from there.” With a quirk in the schedule, the Comets have played twice over a 12-day stretch. Utica interim head coach Ryan Parent said practice time has had a focus on special teams. The team’s power play unit (17%) is 19th in the 32-team league. The penalty kill, meanwhile, is last at 71.4%. “You’ve got a good idea of what the team does, but an area you can really get a lot tighter is special teams when you’ve got a week to look at them,” Parent said. “It’s an area that we need to improve.” Parent said the players have had “good energy” recently despite at tough time on the ice. Utica is already 13 points behind fifth-place Syracuse and the eventual playoff line for the North Division. The struggles have persisted for Utica following the extremely rare in-season coaching change earlier this month by officials from the parent New Jersey Devils. “It is hard when maybe on an individual basis, guys are disappointed with how they’ve played as a team,” Parent said. “What we’re trying to do is, you can’t look at the past. You can’t have a ‘woe is me’ feeling during a game if they score a goal. It’s how you respond to that goal that’s important. We can’t continue to talk about what’s happened. The only way we’re going to get out of it is to learn from it and move on.” He said the Comets’ focus is “a fresh start regardless of the situation we’re in.” “We can look forward on it and we can get positives from little plays during games. There’s little victories that we can celebrate so we’re not constantly looking at the negative results that we’re having,” Parent said. An unpleasant league winless mark looms in the background three years after the Comets made AHL history with 13 consecutive wins to start the season. The Baltimore Skipjacks started the 1987-88 campaign with a 21-game winless streak, an AHL record. This weekend features road games against North Division rivals Syracuse on Friday and Rochester on Saturday. The contests begin a stretch in which Utica has 10 of the next 13 games on the road. Utica has three home games remaining in 2024, including Wednesday vs. Providence. If the Comets aren’t able to find a level that team officials believe they can play, the situation could quickly get worse. Willman believes the Comets have a good group of players that gets along well. The team, which has had its share of roster change in recent days, has a m ix of experience including captain Ryan Schmelzer, alternate captains Joe Gambardella and Sam Laberge and defensemen Colton White and Andy Welinski. There’s also Max Willman (career-best 12 goals last season) and Brian Halonen (25 goals in his last 48 games) mixed in with top prospects in defensemen Šimon Nemec and Seamus Casey and forward Chase Stillman, who had a solid rookie season with Utica. There’s also goalies Nico Daws and Isaac Poulter, who have had up-and-down seasons so far. “It is sticking with it and not deviating from it, just because a couple of things have not been going our way,” Willman said. Parent said the team is healthy — he knocked on the wooden podium he was standing near when asked Thursday — which would mark the first time this season for the Comets. All 14 forwards and seven defensemen on the roster were present Thursday. One one of the biggest struggles is on offense as the team has been shut out four times in 13 games. That includes the last two games against Cleveland and Syracuse, pushing a goalless streak to more than 132 minutes. The team has scored just 21 goals, fewest in the AHL. Conversely, five teams have already accumulated more standings points. How does the team score more goals? “That’s a good question,” Willman said. “If we increase the (offensive) zone time and possession time, you’d like to think things would start going in for us whether they’re dirty goals or shots from the point or just lucky bounces that start going our way. We’ve definitely had a lot of chances in these games to score and they just haven’t been going in. I think we just kind of stick with it.”