We've had a couple of snow games already this NFL season but no "snowmageddons" like the league has seen over the past years. While we can hope that we don't get anymore of those, there's still a game with a whole lot of snow potentially coming this weekend. According to reports, the weather forecast for Sunday's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills at the Bills' home in Orchard Park, New York is slated to get "heavy snow showers" this coming Sunday. Temperatures will be freezing, naturally. But it may take a few more days before we can tell just how much snow Highmark Stadium is going to get. SNOW GAME SNOW GAME 🚨 ❄️ 🥶⛄️ Meteorologists expect heavy snow showers around the time the #49ers face the Buffalo #Bills . A massive advantage for the already favored Buffalo. #FTTB #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/XWZ29ThtKt Fans on social media are already predicting an extremely rough game for the 49ers, who typically don't play in the snow. "This will not favor SF at all, and those dealing with injuries "may" not play at all. Let's see who will and won't play," one user suggested. "Niners are about to get hammered," wrote another. "The snow about to bury the Niners season for good, unfortunately," a third wrote. Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images A big snow game couldn't come at a worst time for the San Francisco 49ers. The team looked listless against the Green Bay Packers in the absence of quarterback Brock Purdy and a slew of other starters and they now sit at 5-6 on the season as a result. While another loss wouldn't mathematically eliminate them from playoff contention given that all of their division rivals are within a game, they're rapidly running out of time. As for the Bills, cold weather games seemingly always favor them - particularly now that they have a more solid running game than usual. Even so, weather can be a great equalizer and at 9-2 on the season - one game behind the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC - they probably don't want any surprises. Who will come out on top in a potential snow game between the two teams? Related: 3 Words Trending Following Bills' Snow Game Decision
Donte DiVincenzo grabbed a defensive rebound under the hoop off a Max Christie air ball, took a couple of hard dribbles to the side of the floor and heaved the ball forward into the frontcourt, dropping his pass over Christie’s out-stretched arms and into the lap of Julius Randle. The result was an easy flush for Randle that extended Minnesota’s lead to 12 in the second quarter of the Wolves’ win over the Lakers on Monday night at the Target Center. ADVERTISEMENT As Randle was putting away the score, Wolves head coach Chris Finch looked back and pointed at DiVincenzo, his way of saying, “Thank you.” Minnesota scored 20 fast-break points Monday, marking just the fourth time this season it’s hit such a total. Nine of those points came off DiVincenzo dimes. “He did a really good job of igniting our break,” Finch said. “We’ve been emphasizing trying to kick ahead more, throw the pass wide, change the angle of the floor, all that. He did a really good job of getting off of it, he and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) connected on a couple. His decision-making was really good tonight, getting off of it quick and finding the open guy and moving it.” DiVincenzo noted there’s a distinct trust factor in basketball, and it’s prevalent in several areas within the game. If you want your teammates to consistently do something, they need to believe you’ll hold up your end of the bargain. If the Wolves want Rudy Gobert to block a shot, they need to be checking the man he is leaving on the defensive glass. If you want your teammates to run the floor hard in transition, you had better be willing to kick the ball ahead. “That’s what we did tonight, everybody,” DiVincenzo said. “And when we do that, it deflates the other team.” Minnesota has infrequently been difficult to play against this season. A piece of that equation is the Wolves often leave the easy money on the table. Fast-break points sit atop that list. According to CleaningTheGlass.com, only 13.1% of Minnesota’s offensive possessions are played in transition. That’s dead last in the NBA, even after Monday’s performance. Transition was a weak point of last year’s team, as well, but the additions of Randle and DiVincenzo were supposed to infuse some pace. But old habits die hard. The Wolves have rarely looked for opportunities to get out and run. They often don’t seem interested in the idea. It requires effort and intention. So, it’s a difficult switch to flip after it spent much of last year in the “off” position. ADVERTISEMENT “Just knowing you’ve got to run the floor at all times,” Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels said. “Even when you’re tired, or if the game is not going your way, just to get easy points and run the floor for your teammates.” Randle agreed that sometimes he’ll dribble up the floor and no one will be running alongside him, but added there are things he should do differently, as well. “I might get the rebound and I’m probing instead of just pushing and throwing the ball ahead and looking to flatten the defense out that way,” he said. “Or you’re probing instead of punching the gaps, or whatever it is, and you’re letting the defense catch up, so it’s just little things like that.” Minnesota’s best transition groups figure to be those that don’t include Gobert. But those lineups have been hindered by an inability to grab defensive rebounds. That has to be priority No. 1 in any instance; but once that’s secured, there needs to be more urgency to go. As Monday showed, transition offense can be a major feather in the cap of a team that sometimes struggles to score with consistency. For instance, in the first quarter, the Wolves scored just 22 points, but six came in transition. The positive sign for Minnesota is that when the issue was emphasized, players like DiVincenzo made a point to answer the call. “I think playing fast, making quick decisions, letting us use our athleticism and our quick decisions (helps),” DiVincenzo said. “I think when you slow down sometimes, guys kind of get out of rhythm. Playing fast, getting the early transition opportunities, gets everybody going, and then we can play both types of games.” ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Greene scores 18, Wagner takes down Maryland-Eastern Shore 63-61
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction
Fox Corp. Cl A stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitorsAmong 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. 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.
The following is a speech of video message in honour of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar delivered by SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing on 22 November. Everybody, Mingalaba! To all distinguished officials, esteemed traditional medicine practitioners from various regions and states, related professionals, and guests bound for the Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and Seminar, I wish you all great blessings and happiness. May you all enjoy good health and peace of mind. May you continue to cherish, preserve, and elevate the cultural heritage of Myanmar’s traditional medicine. With these heartfelt wishes, I extend my warm greetings to you all. The conferences and seminars have been held annually since 2000, and this year’s occasion is the 23rd time. This year’s conference will be held with the objectives of: Achieving quality recognition in traditional medicine education; advancing the development of traditional medicine and ensuring the production of traditional medicines in line with modern standards; turning out more highly qualified traditional medicine practitioners; and promoting respect and appreciation for Myanmar’s traditional medicine heritage and cultural legacy. The annual organization of conferences and seminars aims to enhance public health in line with Myanmar’s traditional practices of effectively caring for the health of the people through indigenous medicine and remedies. This initiative is intended to further strengthen healthcare for the population using the country’s traditional medical knowledge and medicines, continuing the long-standing tradition throughout Myanmar’s history. In this era, the nation’s focus is on promoting the healthcare sector to ensure the longevity and well-being of all citizens, aligning with the national objective of fostering a healthy and fit population. In this endeavour, human resources play a pivotal role, as only through knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced professionals in the field of healthcare can the nation achieve greater development. To modernize and elevate the standards of Myanmar traditional medicine, a prestigious Traditional Medicine University dedicated to traditional medicine has been established. This institution produces skilled human resources annually, contributing to the advancement of Myanmar’s traditional medicine. I would like to urge traditional medicine practitioners and entrepreneurs to actively participate in the traditional medicine sector to help improve the life expectancy of the people and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services. The traditional medicine of Myanmar, based on the four pillars of cultural heritage – Desana Naya, Bhesajja Naya, Vijjadhara Naya, and Nakkhatta Naya – has enabled effective treatments and cures. The texts, records, and medical writings passed down through generations, including ancient prescriptions, therapeutic methods, and medical scriptures, hold immense value. Therefore, Myanmar’s great traditional medicine practitioners must preserve and protect these cultural heritages of traditional medicines, while also sharing and further developing them for the benefit of future generations. It is understood that at this year’s seminar, thirteen papers will be presented. These papers include traditional medicines and therapies used by ethnic people, and it has been observed that these medicines and therapies are actively used by ethnic communities. It is hoped that everyone will work together to ensure that these traditional medicines and treatments become widely known and accessible to the public. Furthermore, to ensure that high-quality, safe, and beneficial traditional medicines are accessible to the public, more research on traditional medicine needs to be carried out and documented. To facilitate the review of these research efforts, an annual paper-reading event has been organized. This year, the 13th Traditional Medicine Research Paper-Reading Session was successfully held. Therefore, traditional medicine practitioners, researchers, medical professionals, related experts, and traditional medicine producers must all diligently study and make efforts. I am pleased to see that the proceedings of the 22nd Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Conference and the Seminar held last year have been compiled into a record book. Our country is actively collaborating with international organizations and various sectors, including the traditional medicine sector. To modernize and advance traditional medicine, we need to send scholars abroad to learn new technologies, share knowledge, and apply these insights in a way that aligns with the needs of our country for further development. I am pleased to see that on 25 June 2024, the University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay) of the Department of Traditional Medicine and the Yunnan Traditional Medicine University of China, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a step forward in the development of traditional medicine. The government is providing strong support to integrate traditional medicine into the country’s healthcare system. With the government’s encouragement, traditional medicine practitioners have continuously cared for the health of the people. Additionally, in the face of natural disasters and epidemics, traditional medicine practitioners have been seen helping and providing care, which is highly appreciated and commendable. In addition, as part of the country’s economic objectives, which include enhancing and driving economic growth, efforts are being made to support and promote MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in the manufacturing sector and the export industry. In this regard, there is ongoing support for the manufacturing of traditional medicine, to ensure their long-term sustainability. Efforts are being made not only to boost the domestic industry but also to elevate these businesses to the local, national, and international levels, aiming for greater production of high-quality traditional medicines. This will contribute significantly to the national economy. According to Myanmar traditional medicine, to live a long, healthy life and be free from diseases, it is important to follow a system based on four pillars: fate, mind, environment, and nutrition. If one lives and eats in accordance with this system, they will experience the benefits of good health. Traditional medicine practitioners, even in remote rural areas, not only provide herbal treatments but also promote the daily practices of traditional health systems to ensure people are knowledgeable about maintaining proper diet and health. This makes me feel grateful and pleased. I encourage further efforts to continue and expand these initiatives. In conclusion, the purpose of organizing the annual conference and seminar for Myanmar’s traditional medicine practitioners is to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the people through traditional medicine. It is also aimed at fostering greater trust, respect, and reliance on traditional medicine among the people. May representatives from the Ministry of Health, Traditional Medicine Department, Traditional Medicine University, relevant ministries, Myanmar Traditional Medicine Council, Advisory Board for Traditional Medicine, Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, Myanmar Traditional Medicine Entrepreneurs and Medical Entrepreneurs Association, and all traditional medicine practitioners across the nation come together with love and harmony, and be able to discuss and consult in unity. I wish for the development of Myanmar’s traditional medicine to be accelerated so that we can further improve the health and well-being of the people with high-quality care. With this, I conclude my remarks, wishing for success and good fortune. Thank you all.
Jonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. More from this section "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro
On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nro
VERIFYING photos claiming to show South Korea protests against martial law