MAGA Republicans and their billionaire backers like Elon Musk have finally honed-in on a ten-point formula that works for obtaining political and economic power. And they are never going to ditch it. Pandering conspiracy theories to high school grads rather than trying to impress college grads with knowledge of history and science is one key. Those blue-collar kids never paid much attention to social studies during their 12-year ordeal in school. Education was too boring compared to skating the internet on their phones during class. They want crazy gossip, and the more the better. Falsely blaming others for exhibiting one’s own manifest faults works extremely well too. This is called “projecting” in the parlance of psychology and “smearing” in communist political science. Doing this upsets Democrats to no end and causes them to swoon with great anxiety and lose sight of any reasonable path to success. Lying is the new truth-telling. We told the truth for 400 years on the North American continent and this people are clearly getting tired of it. No fun at all. Very slow path to power. We also covered up the flesh in public places, and men and women are so over that too. Republicans will steadfastly keep AR-15s legal for the many mentally unstable citizens of our country to purchase and utilize at their own pleasure. Those violence-minded folks provide almost nightly entertainment for law-abiding citizens looking for ever-more insane true-crime stories and reality TV. All this anti-civic entertainment in turn is necessary for preventing America from returning to serious participation in democracy on any level of government. Why participate if you are just going to get shot to bits when you step out in public? In addition, all the blood and guts make us want to lean on Republican despots, authoritarians, dictators, and tyrants for security because they are the only ones who can fix things. They create the problems for sure, but then they alone can solve the problems. Republicans will continue to elaborate the political philosophy of autocracy and monarchy. This is the idea that one human being is just so much more special than others that he must make all the laws instead of Congress making them. Furthermore, his DNA is the key to keeping stability in the nation, so it is clearly best for him to pass on the reins of government to his first-born son and establish a hereditary-style government. Making barrels of money and thus becoming an untouchable celebrity is the only cherished path to personal success for Republicans today, and even a few Democrats. Encouraging everybody to become a gold digger by investing in new kinds of currency and supporting wild new technologies is the perfect answer to the plodding, science-based small-business capitalism that built this country. That is so passe. We must also turn America into a false advertising mecca. If propaganda works in Republican politics, it surely works just as well in Republican business and banking. Marketing departments must build fantastic new fantasy worlds through advertising campaigns in order to marginalize the competition and become a monopoly in the industry. Those monopolies can then more easily use the Citizens United decision to purchase the budding new Republicans they want to see governing things on national and local levels. Religion must maintain all the doctrines that theologists and politicians cooked up during the Dark Ages to make the Roman Catholic church the ruler of all of Europe. Citizens must be charmed into swallowing them whole, never bothering to digest them, for that might cause alarm and insight. Protestant churches must also move forward toward to an authoritarian system of church government that will allow them to quickly marshal their members to support Republican candidates on the national, state, and local levels. Republicans must double-down on the idea that childless cat ladies are a problem. Those who avoid child-rearing do not understand the imperative of the aristocratic class and the monarchy to produce heirs to pass along their wealth to. Besides, child rearing in the commoner class is meritorious because it populates the underclass that must do the economic bidding of the Republican aristocracy. If DNA works in aristocracy and monarchy, it also works in race relations. White DNA is much superior to off-white or colored DNA. That’s just obvious to every MAGA cheerleader. Besides, colored folk tend toward communism, and that must be stopped.

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The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — EJ Neal had 12 points in Sacramento State’s 63-61 win against Air Force on Wednesday night. Neal had five rebounds for the Hornets (2-4). Julian Vaughns shot 5 for 8, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc to add 12 points. Jacob Holt had 10 points and shot 3 of 5 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Falcons (2-5) were led by Jeffrey Mills, who posted 19 points. Ethan Taylor added 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for Air Force. Vaughns scored eight points in the first half and Sacramento State went into halftime trailing 33-22. Sacramento State used a 12-0 second-half run to take the lead at 34-33. Lachlan Brewer scored 10 second-half points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .HOUSTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OptiSigns, a leader in digital signage software solutions, is thrilled to announce its participation as a Platinum Sponsor in this year's Digital Signage Experience (DSE) 2024, taking place this December in Las Vegas, Nevada . The highly anticipated event, a premier gathering for digital signage innovators, professionals, and enthusiasts, will provide the perfect stage for OptiSigns to unveil its latest advancements and engage with industry leaders. Visitors of DSE 2024 will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how OptiSigns' powerful and user-friendly platform is transforming how businesses communicate, engage, and inform their audiences. From dynamic content scheduling to seamless integrations and real-time updates, OptiSigns' solutions are designed to meet the needs of businesses across industries, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more. "At OptiSigns, we are passionate about empowering businesses with technology that engages audiences and drives results," said Head of Sales John Shelley. "We are excited to connect with industry professionals at DSE 2024, showcase our solutions, and demonstrate how digital signage can transform communication strategies." DSE 2024 will take place from December 9, 2024 , to December 10, 2024 , at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada , and promises to bring together key players and thought leaders in digital signage, offering a unique platform to explore the latest technologies and network with industry professionals. What to Expect from OptiSigns at DSE 2024: Live Demonstrations: Visitors of DSE can visit OptiSigns booth #3134 to explore the intuitive features of the OptiSigns platform and learn how it can simplify and enhance digital signage management. Using OptiSigns innovative technology like the Pro Player and Android Stick, visitors will be treated to LIVE Demos of unique OptiSigns features like Audience Intelligence, the OptiSync Data Management System, and the Lift and Learn Interactive Kiosk Experience. New Product Announcements: Stop by OptiSigns booth #3134 and be the first to see the newest innovative Pro Max technology designed by OptiSigns and learn more about unique updates that will redefine the digital signage landscape. Our newest Pro Max technology is our most powerful digital signage player that supports 8K or 4x4K video walls. With OptiSigns experts onsite, visitors will have the opportunity to discuss trends, best practices, and strategies for maximizing the impact of digital signage. Exclusive Giveaways and Promotions: Attendees visiting OptiSigns booth #3134 will have access to special offers, giveaways, and prizes. This year, OptiSigns will unleash their interactive Opti Claw Machine, tantalizing visitors with a chance to win OptiSigns Android Sticks, Pro Players, Optibot Keychains, and more. One lucky winner will win a brand new PS5 Pro via a LinkedIn competition, and the winner will be announced LIVE at DSE! For more information on the PS5 giveaway, check out OptiSigns' LinkedIn page. About OptiSigns OptiSigns is a leading digital signage software provider dedicated to helping businesses create engaging, impactful content experiences. Focusing on simplicity, scalability, and innovation, OptiSigns empowers organizations to communicate their message effectively and captivate their audience through digital displays. For more information on OptiSigns, visit www.optisigns.com or follow us on all social media @OptiSignsInc. Media Contact: Aisha Albritton Director of Trade Show Strategy and Event Marketing Aisha.Albritton@OptiSigns.com | (404) 641-0613 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/optisigns-to-showcase-cutting-edge-digital-signage-solutions-at-the-digital-signage-experience-2024-in-las-vegas-302320107.html SOURCE OptiSignsImagine this: You wake up one morning, crusty-eyed, having wrestled crocodiles all night in a restless sleep, memories of last night's nightmares. As you try to peel your eyes open, the first thing on your mind is your portfolio. "It's time, baby", you think to yourself, eyes still glued shut, smile stretched sideburn to sideburn. Bed covers in situ. And of course, it is dividend time. That time of the year when companies return their hard earned profits to shareholders, with no further use for them to grow their business. That business you've lasered in on for the past three months is set to pay a set of fat, chunky, mouth-watering dividends to shareholders in the coming weeks. Just in time for Christmas. "Think I'll buy a plane", you joke, smirkingly. You've run the numbers. The business is solid. Bastion-like in fact. Profits are growing, and it looks "undervalued" based on sound analysis of the figures. Ka-ching! Bonus. You've got this nailed. "Ah", you mumble out loud confidently, swiping your phone to unlock, "I'll just buy that stock today, and I'll qualify for that handsome divi...". Checking your brokerage app, you instantly freeze, ice piercing through your spine and permeating throughout your distal limbs. Again you mumble, this time with shame and regret. "Oh dear". "Why?!" you moan repeatedly; Buster, your British Bulldog, staring, head tilted at your manic state. You realise it in full. You forgot to buy the stock before the . Not all ex's are bad news The above story might seem far-fetched, but it's all too common a phenomenon for investors who aren't up to speed with key dates. The ex-dividend date is the last day you can purchase shares in a business to qualify for its upcoming dividend payment. Miss that date, and you end up like the gentleman in our scenario above. No shares, and no payment for the income account. And you would have missed some of the in recent years. With that, two shares are set to go ex-dividend next week, ( ) and ( ). Here are the key details on each ex-dividend When do these shares go ex-dividend? Both Incitec Pivot and Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure have ex-dividend dates on December 3. To be eligible for their upcoming dividends, you'll need to own the shares by 2 December. Importantly, it by the 2nd. Missing this cutoff means you'll forgo the distributions this period. Incitec Pivot is as a fully franked dividend, with payment scheduled for 18 December. Meanwhile, Dalrymple Bay – owner of the Hay Point coal terminal in Mackay, the world's largest – is per share distribution. This consists of a fully franked dividend of 3.8551 cents and a partial loan note repayment of 1.7699 cents, payable on 20 December. A nice little Christmas present for shareholders in these businesses if you ask me. What does ex-dividend mean for investors? Dividend stocks like these often experience share price adjustments equivalent to the dividend amount on their ex-dividend dates. For instance, Incitec Pivot's share price will dip slightly on 3 December to account for the 6.3 cents per share payout. After all, that cash (also known as capital in investor circles) is leaving the company and entering shareholder hands. Meanwhile, dividend trends for both companies are interesting. Dalrymple Bay's quarterly payout management's guidance of "total distributions for TY24/25 of 22.5 cps representing a yield of 6.7%". And despite Incitec Pivot's payment history from 2021 to date, the stock has been choppy this year. CLSA Incitec Pivot to a hold with a price target of $3.20, citing limited upside at its current valuation. These two companies are set to go ex-dividend next week, so if you intend to qualify for their payments, don't miss the key dates. Keep an eye on the price action following the respective dates as well. In the last 12 months, Incitec Pivot is up 12%, whereas Dalrymple Bay shares have rallied 24%.

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