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President Jimmy Carter may have only had one term in the White House, but he remained a familiar figure on the world stage long after clearing his desk at the Oval Office. Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday said a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won't impact the league's relationship with Roc Nation, the music mogul's company that has produced some of the NFL's entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl halftime show. "We're aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z's really strong response to that," Goodell said after the conclusion of the league's winter meetings in Irving, Texas. "We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl." A woman who previously sued Sean "Diddy" Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations "idiotic" and "heinous in nature" in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. "I think they're getting incredibly comfortable with not just with the Super Bowl but other events they've advised us on and helped us with," Goodell said. "They've been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They've been great partners." Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyoncé, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas. The video in the player above is from a previous report. The Associated Press contributed to this report.best slots game android 。

Chanhassen Awaits Winter Bliss: City Calls for Patience as Ice Rinks Prep Continues Amid Fickle Minnesota Temps

1. Cookie Swap! , a cookbook with 50 recipes: everything from thumbprints and oatmeal to flaky cardamom palmiers and matcha sandwich cookies with almond cream — does anything sound more fun than missing school AND spending the day making cookies?! No way. This snow day is gonna be a core memory you're all sure to treasure forever. I have this book! My husband loves baking and *I* love baking...recipes that are not hard. We make cookie tins for friends every year (I know, how wholesome, right?) and this book was a great way to shake up our ideas! The recipes are clear, the pictures are gorgeous, and this definitely a fun gift. Promising review: "I love the concept for this book! I organize a cookie swap every year for by neighbors at holiday time. This book is absolutely perfect for ideas and recipes. It even tells you how to organize a swap and the recipe yields are all divisible by 12. The author has thought of everything, including advice on a 'bag of tricks,' which includes discussions on chocolate, types of butter, equipment, and types of cookies." — Falmouth Get it from Amazon for $12.09 . 2. And How to Cook Everything Kids — this is a cookbook that'll grow with your kids, encouraging them to participate more and more in the kitchen as they get older. Initially, the book's cute illustrations (such a clever idea!) engage tiny minds and interest them in learning about HOW to cook. After that, the images of kiddos cooking and the meals themselves help readers feel confident that they, too, can make a *real* meal! Promising review: "This book will grow with your children. With it, you can teach them about the utensils used in cooking, how to use a stove, oven, mixer, and food processor. If you have young children they can add and mix some of the ingredients while the adult or older children chop and cook over the stove or oven. This book teaches them how to organize the ingredients needed to make food, prepare it, and cook it. They will enjoy surprising their friends with guacamole, chicken chowder, and chocolate chip cookies! " — Terry Biehl Get it from Amazon for $28 . 3. A 1986 version of Clue , a beloved board game complete with a dark and foreboding mansion, sinister suspects, and hidden weapons sure to be a hit with older kids. You're gonna need to use your powers of deduction to solve the mystery and be the first to identify the killer, the weapon, and the location. Good luck! Number of players: 3-6 Recommended age: 8+ Pieces: Illustrated mansion board, pewter candlestick, knife, wrench, pipe, and gun, plastic rope, weapon cards, character cards, one case file, and six plastic character pawns. Promising review: "We try to get the family one game every Christmas and we chose this one! This retro edition is so fun. My girls love the mystery of this game and we enjoy being brought back to our childhood. Great for family night or rainy day!" — GreenChile33 Get it from Amazon for $21.99 . 4. A portable ping-pong set to turn your dining room table into *the* place to hang out (even when there isn't a crumb of food around). Set includes a retractable net, two paddles, three balls, and case. Promising review: "I got this for my son for Christmas. We don’t have a lot of space for a full ping pong table but I have a long dinning table that is perfect. This is easy to assemble and it changes up family game night. Great fun!!" — Heather Gould Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in three set styles). 5. An indoor-friendly scavenger hunt game that'll save the day when said day is cold, snowy, dreary, and dull. Rather than coming up with specific objects, this game gives your kids a chance to be extra creative by finding things that are "scratchy," "warm," "fuzzy," and more! Promising review: "These are a lifesaver for us during the quarantine. My 7-year-old is enjoying challenges that I time, having to find five things to match five cards in five minutes. There are also two games with instructions that are fun. My kiddos are being so creative finding things. My son found a compact mirror and breathed on it to steam it up for 'steamy.' Hooray for igniting thinking skills. Grandma gets involved finding silly things that make the kids crack up. I love the bag they come in and that it’s a compact card game that can be played anywhere." — Jami Lilo Get it from Amazon for $7.69 . 6. A terribly charming toadstool tent sure to be beloved by imaginative kids who prefer pretend play to structured sets and games. If your family has too much energy for your *regular* house, send your little faeries off into the "forest" and have them scavenge for things to fill up their toadstool home. Promising review: "The mushroom playhouse tent added enchantment to my daughter's 4th fairy-themed birthday party! It became the whimsical centerpiece, creating a magical space where imagination soared. The easy setup was a parent's dream. I will be moving it to her bedroom after the party and probably to the backyard during summer. This mushroom tent playhouse is a must-have for fairy-tale tykes! 🍄✨👧🧚‍♀️" — Gizem Aktan Get it from Amazon for $99.99 . 7. A World Full of Spooky Stories , a compilation of stories that'll give your older kids a cultural world tour *and* keep those little thrill seekers entertained when they're old enough to enjoy a good spooky story. If scary stories aren't your family's thing, you can also get A World Full of Animal Stories and A Year Full of Stories , both are filled with fun folktales from around the world. Promising review: "This book has wonderful short stories from all around the world to broaden a child’s cultural knowledge and imagination." — Jamie Rodriguez Get it from Amazon for $17.97 . 8. Acorn Soup — this cooperation cooking game is sure to be to your *taste* if you're teaching your kids how to take turns. It also provides risk-free family fun because there's no winner (and thus, no frustrated kiddos at the end). To play, pick an ingredient card and place the correct number of each item inside the pot to make Squirrel's favorite meals. Dinner's served! Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 8 recipe cards, 1 wooden spoon, 24 wooden ingredients, instructions, and a parent guide Promising review: "My kiddos (3 and 2) love this game! There are a few different ways to play with different instructions and varying degrees of difficulty, so the game grows with your little one. The ingredient pieces are wooden and feel sturdy in your hand. Even the recipe cards are on thick cardboard, so this game will last you a long time even with players who may not be gentle. :) My kids love just 'making soup' with it even if we are not playing the game as directed. I love that it helps with number recognition, counting items, identifying items, and recognizing colors. There is no real 'winner' which is fine as we are working on teaching turn-taking right now and not necessarily the idea of win/lose. This is a great, fun game for toddlers and preschoolers." — CA gal in TX Get it from Amazon for $21.95 . 9. A Dungeons and Dragons essentials kit so you can finally give this cult-classic a chance and expand your kids' gaming skills beyond screens. It's time to put your creativity to the test by controlling all of your family's fates as THE Dungeon Master. Number of players: 2 to 6 Recommended age: 12+ Promising review: "Honestly, this kit is what the original starter kit should have been. The story is easier to follow for a newer DM. The adventure is a lot more streamlined. The breakdown of character creation is amazing and simplified. It doesn't just toss you some generic character that you have no connection too. It simplifies character creation and allows you to ease into more complicated characters later on. The cards that come with this kit are something I wish I had when I first started. They help with initiative, conditions, and the sidekick cards and magic item cards are awesome. I would recommend this kit over the original to any person wanting to start playing DnD." — Bryan Get it from Amazon for $17.69 . 10. Pokko and the Drum , a laugh-out-loud funny book that's sure to be an instant classic loved by both kids and kids-at-heart who need *drumroll please* ATTENTION. Promising review: " This book is clever and cute and unexpectedly hilarious. The kids and I were all a little surprised at one point when one of the members of the friend group spontaneously eats another member of the group, but, well...that's nature? :D This is a great little story with beautiful illustrations." — Tripp Get it from Amazon for $12.39 . 11. Zingo! , which is a new take on Bingo that's gonna be *extra* fun. It's fast paced and the toy does all the hard work for you! Just slide it and watch the tiles fall down...here's hoping you get your bored covered first! Number of players: 2-7 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 1 Zinger tile dispenser, 6 double-sided Zingo cards (for two levels of play), 72 double-sided tiles, and a parent's guide Promising review: "My 4-year-old loves Zingo! We play almost every night. Not only is this game fun but it teaches kids patience and to take turns. We love playing this as a family." — Bri Get it from Amazon for $24.97 . 12. A pack of Crayola Globbles (sans sticky residue) — these cling to the wall and slowly drop down...tricking your kids into being patient after they've thrown these as high up as their little arms can manage. Promising review : "Amazing toys! My 1- and 2-year-old LOVE them! They scream 'sticky balls!' and run around throwing them on the fridge, windows, cabinets, walls, etc. Easy to wash and air-dry, and don't lose their stickiness! My new go-to gift! Love them!" — Rachel Get a pack of six from Amazon for $7.49 (also available as a 16-pack). 13. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — this'll walk your space rangers through 50 cooperative space missions in a trick-taking format (like Spades) that only gets more difficult as they move along. Spooky! Number of players: 3–5 Recommended age: 10+ Promising review: "I gave this game to my brother for Christmas, and that night we all stayed up until 4 a.m. playing! Takes a little time to learn, but the instructions walk you through it." — Jackie Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 14. A pair of Wackadoo dice for Bluey fans who jump up and dance every time the intro song turns on. One die has a direction, like "dance," "jump," or "floss," and the other has a selection of critters your child will pretend to be while doing the action. Get ready to see a bunch of flossing kangaroos in your basement! Number of players: 1+ Recommended age: 3+ Pieces: 2 large Bluey dice Promising review: "These have provided hours of fun. They are very durable and lots of fun. Gets the kids moving and active." — Kendall & Robyn Nash Get them from Amazon for $19.14 . 15. A jealousy-inducing Melissa & Doug ice cream counter — it'll be a total (ice) scream playing retro soda shop with this fun set. One egg cream please. The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, cup, scooper, tongs, wooden spoon, reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills. Promising review: " Fun toy set for a creative toddler. My newly-turned-3-year-old daughter instantly fell in love with this set! She loves seeing how high she can stack the ice cream cones and pretending to serve Mom and Dad her creations. She's been obsessed with climbing things around the house, and we *desperately* needed a distraction to get her to stop, and this is working so far — she plays with this thing for HOURS! " — West Family Get it from Amazon for $38.99 . 16. A 100-piece set of Picasso Tiles that reviewers say work with and are comparable to Magna-Tiles (which is helpful if your tiny architect already has that brand), because apparently building blocks are now blasé and kids are going wild for these shiny tiles. Promising review: "I wish I had known about these sooner! PicassoTiles are *exactly* like Magna-Tiles but way more affordable. We just received the 100-tile set today - an early birthday gift for our soon-to-be-four-year-old. We have two sets of Magna-Tiles — one with the grommets (purchased new last year) and one without (purchased secondhand [no idea how old they are]). The PicassoTiles are the same weight and size as the MagnaTiles and have the same exact magnets. They do not have metal grommets, but the old MagnaTiles are indestructible, so I know that these will be too. And PicassoTiles are much prettier, in my opinion, because they are slightly more translucent and have brighter colors. They integrate into the collection seamlessly. I highly recommend this product. And if you are considering buying any kind of magnetic tile toy for your child, I recommend purchasing as big a set as you can for versatility of play. Our son has played with these all day and night off and on every single day since we bought them last year. After integrating the new PicassoTile set, he hugged his enormous structure and declared them his favorite...twice. A wonderful toy!" — skater mom Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . 17. A Barbie Dreamhouse so your child's favorite dolls can live in style with a working elevator, a PARTY ROOM WITH A DJ BOOTH, a slide, puppy area, balcony, and a rooftop deck. If we can't have it all, at least our kids... dolls can. Promising review: "I got this for my granddaughter for Christmas, and she absolutely loves it! Putting it together was very easy, all the pieces just snapped together, no tools required, except a screwdriver for the battery compartment. It comes with a great variety of accessories and realistic sound effects with the push of a button throughout the house! There's so much to do; keeps my granddaughter busy for hours at a time! Her favorite part is the dance music and flashing lights for Barbie and her friends to have dance parties! But it's not just fun for my granddaughter, my daughter and I also have fun playing with it. It did cost a lot but it's well worth every penny , and I would highly recommend it! It makes a great gift that would make any little [kid[ very happy!" — Barbara Gratton Get it from Amazon for $224.99 . 18. A 2-in-1 rocking bike from Strider that'll help your baby become confident on the seat of a bike even before they're able to walk! This grows with your child, starting as a "rocking horse" that'll stay in place as they ride it inside your home. Once they're a little bigger, the base can be removed, and you'll have a classic pedal-free bike for your little tyke! My baby started using this around nine months old (pictured above, right) and she is a HUGE fan. She loves this *practical* "rocking horse." I love its durability (her older cousin used it on our deck and was riding it so wildly we were sure he'd end up doing a front flip...this thing held up - and kept the kid intact - like a champ). The bike can be removed from the rocking base as your child starts walking, making it a prime choice for teaching your kiddo how to balance on a bike. Promising review: "The bike paired with the rocking base has been a favorite since day one! Some days he rocks other days we take it off the stand and ride in the backyard! This is learning how to ride a bike made easy!" — Tracy Get it from Strider for $209+ (available in eight colors). 19. Eatz-A-Lotl , a card game for kids who love (even if they can't spell ) axolotls! This is a fast-paced but simple matching game featuring an axolot eating popcorn, pretzels, pizza, Popsicles...and other food that probably doesn't start with the letter P. Probably. This card game is suitable for kids ages 4+ and works with 2-4 players. Promising review: "This is a super cute and fun game! We love Mudpuppy products and this one was no exception. Super cute game, easy to learn, and fun. My axolotl-loving daughter was so happy to get this as a gift. I would totally buy it again!" — Callie Larson Get it from Amazon for $9.39 . 20. A sushi-making kit that'll keep your family's cooking skills on a roll as your kids continue growing comfortable in the kitchen (without an oven...which is a stress-free win for everyone). It comes with two rolling mats, a rice spreader, a rice paddle, and five pairs of chopsticks, along with a downloadable recipe guide! Promising review: "I got this kit on a whim, basically I just wanted to try to make sushi for the first time. For the price, you can't really go wrong! The mats were great and everything else included was helpful. It comes with an online guide which is nice, but you can also go online and find a ton of videos on how to roll sushi. I've made about four rolls over the course of two nights and am really satisfied. Making rolls is a breeze and fun! A great starter kit for anyone interested in trying this out." — J. Leaver Get it from Amazon for $8.48 . 21. A Blipblox synthesizer — a fully functional synthesizer for kids of parents who laugh in the face of quiet time. This has a learning curve so simple that babies can start jamming right away. Turn it on, twist some (kid-friendly, indestructible) knobs, and you've got a beat! It's intended for ages 3+ and a toddler hit, but it's also a great way for older kids to learn the ins and outs of electronic music — next thing you know, your kindergartener will be lecturing you about oscillators and low pass filters. We bought this toy for my daughter's first birthday and it is now the coolest thing in our entire apartment. Recently we were having a party and while I was looking for my daughter I went into the living room and found her surrounded by our friends who were waiting (impatiently) for their turn with this thing. It's TOO cool. Promising review: "The built-in beats and effects are a blast. Super fun to just mess with. For adults you can learn more about how the signal is impacted by each nob to get to some more reproducible sounds. Lastly you can hook it up to a midi keyboard or sequencer to use it as part of your actual musical kit!" — Dreyco Get it from Amazon for $199 . 22. A magnetic shape-shifting puzzle cube that'll bend your kid's brain as they manipulate it into over 70 different shapes, revealing mesmerizing colors and patterns. It's like instant origami, and I'm INTO IT. You can also collect all 12 puzzle box designs to connect different magnetic cubes to build even larger structures and sculptures. Promising review: " Fun for older teens. I bought one each for my 16- and 19-year-old son and daughter for Christmas. It made a great stocking stuffer. It was very intriguing and they enjoyed linking them together for new shapes. The boxes were sturdy enough for teens to manipulate without breaking and the magnets are strong. Not sure if younger hands would be too rough. If forced to move in the wrong direction they could break. The designs were beautiful. I plan to buy a few more for a bigger variety of shapes!" — Shellbug99 Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 19 designs). 23. A 5-in-1 gym so your child can get out their energy without turning *you* into their personal jungle gym. It can be configured in various ways so your tiny rock climber can switch up their routine whenever they want. Check out Avenlur's landing page for more gorgeous kid products and see all that they have for sale this Prime Day! Promising review: "This was easy to put together, my husband and I did it in less than an hour. The packaging is nice and doesn’t feel cheap. It feels very solid and the wood smells like wood, so that’s nice. Also all the holes are drilled where they are supposed to be and only two holes (of about 64 total) were slightly stripped once fully tightened, but it doesn’t seem to impact the structural integrity and nothing is loose." — Gullyfluff25 Get it from Amazon for $179+ (available in three colors). 24. A 1,000-piece video game-themed puzzle that'll combine your love of puzzles with your boo's video game addiction. Romantic! Promising review: "Great puzzle of retro games and consoles. Each piece is unique and fit together snuggly. Image is high quality (text and small details are easy to see/read). Finally, it was fun! Glued and mounted." — AJ Koch Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 25. Azul just might be the only game to convince the craft-lover in your life to put down their crochet and play a game with you! The whole point of this board game is to create gorgeous (and point-scoring) tile mosaics featuring Moorish art-inspired designs. Number of players: 2–4 Recommended age: 8+ Promising review: "This is such a great game for both board game fanatics and non-gamers. It's easy to teach, simple to set up, plays in under an hour, and it's FUN! Azul is an abstract tile placement game that features drafting, set collecting, and pattern building. It's pleasing to look at and the components are well made. The tiles feel especially nice. This is one of those games that everyone we've introduced it to loves and wants to play again right away. It hits the table quite a bit." — Shelly Get it from Amazon for $31.97 . 26. Horizontal Parenting , a laugh-out-loud funny (and surprisingly clever!) book that'll beloved by parents who would happily do ANYTHING if they could lie down for just a minute . Grab this book, draw some roads on one of your old shirts, hand your kid a toy car, and let them play "Back Street" while you fall sound asleep. Promising review: "My kid loves this, and so do I! The games are good and are wonderful for days when you are low energy. It's a must-have." — Miai G. Get it from Amazon for $12.85 . 27. Slapburger — it's sure to be a hit with anyone who has a real appetite for game night! On each turn, a player will lay a card face up in the center of the table, then everyone slaps cards down to make some primo meal combos: like a SlapBurger card, Double Decker or Sandwich. The last player holding all the cards wins. Number of players: 2-6 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 52 cards Promising review: "This is a perfect family game. It's a fun card game that is easy to learn. I got it to play with my 4-year-old daughter and she loves it! It's a perfect gift and compact for traveling purposes." — Zoro Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 28. What Do Machines Do All Day? , a brilliant and bright picture book full of color and information on every machine your child could possibly name. Promising review: "My son LOVES this book. It teaches us so much about various professions and machines and it is a great jumping off point to discuss so many other things !" — Sarah A Get it from Amazon for $13.02 . 29. The Reverse Coloring Book sure to have your child feeling soothed as they sketch out a story about a princess fire-breathing dog living in some watercolor woods...or something like that. Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for you to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if you want a jumping-off point. B onus: the pages are perforated, so you can easily tear them out and frame them! (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) Check out a TikTok of the Reverse Coloring Book in action. And if you've already tried this copy, there are newer Reverse Coloring Books from the same creator to try! Promising review: "Changed my life. So I get anxious doing the adult coloring books. This was so much fun and made me really think outside of the box. I'm not the best at drawing, but I felt like I was when I was a kid doodling in my textbooks in school." — Carley C. Get it from Amazon for $9.90 . 30. A LeapFrog animal book , which is frequently on the Amazon bestsellers chart. The interactive book teaches kids fun facts about all kinds of critters, and it'll even sing songs in both English and Spanish. Promising review: "This talking book is hands down the best thing I bought my daughter. She was a bit delayed in speech and since buying this book she’s been spitting out new words left and right. It responds well to touch and the pages are very durable which is great in the hands of a toddler!" — ApL Get it from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in six styles). 31. Forest Friends , which is a 3D board game that's sure to shake things up during game nights when you're away. You can play two unique games with this set. First is "Hide and Seek," where players help Mia Mouse guess which hole her animal friends are hiding in. If you guess correctly, you get a wooden star. If not, you shout out what you see, and the other players try to remember that info for their own turn. You can also play "Animal Tracks," where the animal tiles are flipped over to only show their footprints. Then you've gotta figure out which animal that footprint belongs to before your search begins! Number of players: 1-4 Recommended age: 2+ Pieces: 1 3D cube board, 8 star tokens, 1 wooden mouse, and 8 unique animal/footprint chips Promising review: "These games are the best for really young kids! We love the wooden pieces. This is a high quality product overall and lots of fun for the youngest board gamers ." — N. Robinson Get it from Amazon for $23.99 . 32. A pair of toddler-sized Unicorse and Bob Bilby hand puppets for Bluey fans who watch these two mischievous characters on television and would love to play with them for real life . Promising review: "Our daughter, her cousins, and my husband love playing with Unicourse and Bob Bilby. They look just like the cartoon characters and have given us hours of entertainment." — Naturecrazed Get them from Amazon for $15.99 . 33. A giant Jenga set to put everyone's stacking skills to the test. This version is 4 FEET, which makes sense, because finding family-friendly games this fun is a tall order. Promising review: "I purchased this for get togethers with friends and family and this is, and always has been, a party favorite. Good quality as well." — Mark Get it from Amazon for $99.95 . 34. Pancake Pile-Up! for the tiny chef in your home who would love starting up their own brunch spot while the parents go out to dinner. They can get their home restaurant-ready by flipping an order card. Once flipped, they make the pancake shown as fast as they can, using the spatula to place it on their plate, race back to the starting point somewhere in the room, and hand the plate and spatula to the next player (like a relay-race). The team or individual that correctly completes the stack shown on the card wins the round! Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 4+ Pieces: 10 plastic pancakes in 5 flavors, 2 plastic patties of butter, 2 plastic plates, 2 plastic spatulas, 10 order cards, and a plastic griddle game board Promising review: " I’m a Preschool teacher and a mom to a 4-year-old and I’ve recommended this game to every parent with young ones! This game is great quality, fun, and teaches so many concepts. Highly recommend" — Chris and Brittany Causey Get it from Amazon for $19.87 . 35. A pop-up tunnel play set — your kids are gonna love crawling in and out of these obstacle course of tunnels. (BTW, it also has a ball pit!) Promising review: "One thing my kids never tire of is hideouts and tents. I'm always hearing, 'Mom can you build us a tent?' So, instead of sticking blankets in drawers and hanging them from bookcases, I ordered this set. They play in them for hours and love them. This play set is great. It has three sections for them to sit and play in and three tunnels." — Stephen schuresko Get it from Amazon for $64.95 (also available in a princess version). 36. An open-ended marble run set for inquisitive kiddos who would love creating a massive marble run all on their own — no rulebook included! Promising reviews: " My 5- and 3-year-olds (and me) have spent hours building towers and watching marbles clatter down these chutes, steps, gears and spirals, HOURS! And they’re not bored yet! It’s also educational learning the physics of slopes by experience. Plus, it comes with enough marbles so that losing a few doesn’t matter." — Joyce Parker " This is a really neat toy that has provided literally hours and hours of enjoyment for my 4-year-old nephew (and me!). The pieces fit well together, it is very sturdy and stands up well even on carpet. There are an infinite number of ways to build these runs, and this toy never gets boring. Highly recommended." — Becca Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in four kit sizes). 37. A modular kids' couch made with sturdy foam and easy-to-clean fabric so you can take your family's play fort skills to the next level, while saving your own sofa from destruction. Promising review: "This 'couch' is wonderful — exactly what we had been looking for. The covers are super soft and the color is gorgeous. We have built several different forts and tunnels so far and the kids love it! We had a tiny problem with one of the arches but customer service took care of it. I would definitely buy from this company again." — Chris and Charly Get it from Amazon for $168.99 (available in 10 colors). 38. A Play-Doh restaurant for parents who can't bear to wait another year for the next season of, well, The Bear . Okay, okay, this is actually gonna be a gift for your kid . But will the two of you have a ton of fun making meals and filling orders together? Yes, Chef! This set includes 2-oz. tubs of red, yellow, blue, green, and brown Play-Doh. It can stamp up to two food shapes at a time and make burgers, pizza, chicken, or spaghetti! Along with the prep table, this comes with a spatula and plate. This is suitable for kids ages 3+. Promising review: "This is a fun activity. Just great overall! It's a fun gift idea or to keep at home. Lots of variety in shapes and molds. And the pieces clean easily. Definitely worth having." — Em Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 39. A children's digital camera with 32 GB of storage, photo and video capabilities, sticker filters they can add to their photos, and even games (watch yourself steal this from your kid to play a nice game of old-school Snake)! After a full charge, your kid can take nonstop photos for 1–2 hours. Enjoy watching your kid run all over the place, taking creative photos of the world from their own special POV. This is suitable for children ages 3–8 and it's a HIT with reviewers! It has over 18,000 five-star reviews . BTW, it's shock-proof and includes a lanyard to keep it secure around your kiddo! Promising review: "I purchased this for my 3-year-old grandson. It is far more high tech than any 3-year-old will fully take advantage of but taking simple photos was accomplished with ease. I was astonished at the quality of the photos as well as the storage capacity. It is a fantastic value for the money. " — KayBee Get it from Amazon for $26.39 (available in five colors). 40. Flushin' Frenzy , a game specifically made for families who are *very* pro potty-humor. Players must plunge away and do their best to catch the, ahem, flying poop before anyone else. Number of players: 2-4 Recommended age: 5+ Pieces: 1 toilet, 1 plunger, 1 die, and 10 score tokens Promising reviews: " My 5-year-old niece loves it! What can be said really? It's a game where you use a toy plunger to make a smiling rubber poop fly through the air to be caught for points. My niece, like many little kids, is going through a phase where anything related to poop is absolutely hilarious, so I thought this game would be just the thing for her. She loves it! The game is very easy to pick up for 4- and 5-year-olds, the components are well-made, and the poop is...oddly realistic, except for its smiling face of course. This is without a doubt the cleanest option for playing with poop on the market. Your kids'll love it." — Brendan Williams Get it from Amazon for $39.86 . 41. Ooko , a clever character you'll be thrilled to introduce your family to. This savvy little fox's heart is searching for something that can't be stored in a tree trunk (which is already full of everything a fox could need; a stick, leaf, and rock)...Ooko simply wants a friend. Promising review: "I want to be Ooko's friend! Esme Shapiro is a very talented artist/writer. In a brief and successful journey, Ooko finds what he's (or maybe he's a she?) been missing his whole little fox life. With fanciful illustrations and the best fox dialogue around, Shapiro takes the reader into the world and psyche of a carnivorous mammal with a yearning heart. " — Brody Madrid Get it from Amazon for $13.85 . 42. And finally, a talking, singing, rainbow poop , which, upon first glance, may not be the toy you want in your house. Think again! This thing plays hide-and-seek with your kids — which means a piece of poop just saved you from hiding inside the bathtub until your five-year-old finds you. Ugh, they are so bad at seeking. Look, potty humor is the funniest thing this side of the second grade. BTW, this runs on two AA batteries (which are included). To play someone hides the toy and it will, ahem, "fart" to give the seeker hints as to where it is. Once it's found, it sings a victory song! Promising review: " I was looking for a game to play at our 5-year-old's b-day party, which had ages 5-15, and this was an absolute hit! All the kids loved it and we even got in on the fun for a few rounds. I can see this being very popular in our house on a regular basis. It's nice to get the kids up and active looking for it rather than just sitting playing a game. Countless people of all ages can play. When it was just the two older boys they timed themselves to see who could find it faster. It was very entertaining just to watch them too!" — Lisa Meade Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (also available as an egg). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah

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From 'ghost guns' to gangs, 5 lessons from Canada for NZ firearms reformRome, Nov 25 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met his counterparts from several countries, including the UK, France and Ukraine, here and discussed ways to deepen cooperation in multiple sectors as well as regional and international developments. Jaishankar, who arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit, started the day by meeting British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Rome. "Appreciate the steady momentum in India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussed deepening cooperation in technology, green energy, trade, mobility, as well as ongoing developments in Indo-Pacific and West Asia," he said in a post on X. He also met France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and global issues. "Nice to meet FM @jnbarrot of France in Rome today. A useful stock taking of our bilateral partnership. Also discussed Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and global issues," the minister said in another post on X. Jaishankar also held a useful exchange with Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha on advancing bilateral cooperation. "Good to meet FM of Ukraine @andrii_sybiha in Rome today. Useful exchange on advancing our bilateral cooperation. Reiterated India's support for dialogue and diplomacy," he posted on X. On his part, Sybiha said he held meaningful talks with Jaishankar on several bilateral and international issues. "I appreciate India's support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. India’s global role is critical to advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine," he said in a post on X. "I informed about the latest developments, Russia's strikes on our energy system, including nuclear objects, and its use of an IRBM. We discussed the implementation of our leaders’ agreements and agreed to hold the next intergovernmental commission meeting in the coming months," the Ukrainian minister said. Jaishankar also interacted with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman. "Appreciate seeing FM @grlicradman of Croatia at the @RomeMEDialogues. His sentiments for our ties are always positive," the minister wrote on X. During his visit, Jaishankar will participate in the Outreach session of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiuggi, where India has been invited as a guest country. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Capitals are rolling along without Alex Ovechkin thanks to depth that has kept them a contender

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He's just always there when you need him.” Sutton's size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he's in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix's first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe's 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton's hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn't targeted a single time in Denver's 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn't pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he's caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we're just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. What’s working The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. What needs help The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders' run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. Stock up OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Stock down Once again, the Broncos' special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn't missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Injuries Payton isn't saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they're not serious setbacks for either player. Key number 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. Next steps The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Arnie Stapleton, The Associated PressEx-Colorado footballer Bloom dedicates time to fulfilling wishes for older adults

For the last two decades, scientists at Posit Science working on BrainHQ have been unlocking how human brains can be improved both functionally and as healthier organs. This work began with a focus on cognitive aging — the slowing in brain function and brain health begins in your late 20s. The tools discovered for aging brains also have applications across various health conditions (brain injuries, mental illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases), and researchers found they could also improve already high-performing brains. Recent research has centred on how brain plasticity serves as the next frontier of human advancement. Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science/BrainHQ spoke at the What’s Next Longevity Innovation Summit at the National Press Club in Washington DC on December 10. In a statement sent to Digital Journal, Mahncke states: “Since the 1960s, we’ve seen how America’s investment in NASA has resulted in all sorts of innovations that impact our daily lives. It’s a seemingly unrelated and endless list, including GPS, local weather forecasts, digital photography, wireless headsets, self-driving cars, cell phones, memory foam, computer chips, air purifiers, cordless tools, shelf-stable foods, CAT scans, LEDs, athletic shoes, modern home insulation, and freeze-dried food.” “My own journey with the neurotechnology we first developed to help aging older adults is filled with the same sense of wonder about all the unexpected innovations it has led us to,” Mahncke adds. The BrainHQ neuroplasticity-based technology was first developed in the early 2000’s to address the cognitive decline associated with normal aging. At the same time, Posit Science established a global network of independent university-based researchers to run studies evaluating the efficacy of the brain exercises. There are now published studies on the efficacy of BrainHQ cognitive assessments and brain training. Studies in aging have shown significant improvement in standard measures of cognitive function (attention, speed, memory, reasoning, decision-making) in standard gerontological measures of quality of life (maintaining independent living, general health, health-related quality of life, mood, confidence), and in real world activities (gait, balance, fall risk, driving safety). Furthermore, over 100 studies have been published across many health conditions, including, brain injuries (mild to severe traumatic brain injuries, and brain fog associated with cancer, COVID, and HIV, and heart failure); mental illnesses (depression, anxiety/stress/fatigue, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar disorder) and neurodegenerative diseases (MCI/pre-Dementia, Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis). Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.“You need to start dressing your age; you look like a skater,” a co-worker jocularly told me as I let out a whiny chortle to disguise my unease. I felt momentarily disarmed by the comment because the only skater I knew of was pioneering board rider Tony Hawk – and he dressed like a Mormon. Radical, dude: Brendan Foster was left puzzled after some unprompted fashion advice. Credit: WAtoday I wasn’t deeply wounded by the parting barb, but it got me marinating on what toggery was befitting for someone tumbling into their late 50s. Granted, there was something transparently pretentious about the outfit I was wearing that warranted a bit of ribbing: a $100 pair of Converse boots, designer shorts, and a check western shirt from the funky, clothing outlet Get Lucky in Fremantle. There’s a good chance I would punch someone in the ear if they called me an ageing hapless hipster, but if the shoe fits. But is there a cut-off point for men of my vintage when it comes to frocking up like a more sophisticated Dude (minus the bathrobe) from the brilliant Coen Brothers movie The Big Lebowski ? There was probably more symbolic value to my outfit than I was willing to admit, and most psychiatrists would have a field day with my wardrobe. But should I just ungracefully step into a pair of elasticated trousers as my body starts to betray itself? Whatever threads I cobbled together, there was a premeditated plan and that was to feel good. At the risk of sounding reactionary, it’s a pretty harmless way to elevate your style and wellbeing, regardless of your age. I doubt the people who created the labels I sport had my demography in mind when they were coming up with a new summer range. And I haven’t stumbled across any mannequins dressed in homeless chic. (Before I go any further, I just want to sincerely acknowledge the brutal, constant ugliness women have endured from online trolls for donning certain attire. I am nothing more than a non-playing character in the game of fashion cruelties). So, what the hell should I be wearing as I reluctantly wobble into my autumn years? Remarkably, given the endless disappointing dross you can find online, there is bugger-all advice when it comes to age-appropriate apparel for chaps like me. Maybe the lack of meaningful information is because there is just an expectation, hat we decrepit dudes will morph into Alf Stewart from Home and Away . I mean, when you turn 65, does your WA Seniors Card rock up the mail with a free pair of brown sandals, grey supermarket slacks, white singlets, and handkerchiefs? The pants come with clear instructions on how to hitch them above your navel and an ankle bracelet that sets off an alarm if you attempt to enter any designer stores. There is a secret sect of khaki-dressed, police that re-educates Bohemian Boomers who dare rock a bucket hat, knee-length shorts, and old-school Puma runners. Or maybe men don’t grasp what sociologist Julia Twigg calls “the changing room moment” when it comes to us blokes realising we are too old for certain items. Professor Twigg interviewed men aged between 58 and 85 who were surprisingly comfortable in the kit they’d worn most of their lives. “It is clear men have a different relationship to dress from women, and the research shows that this continues into later life,” she said. “There is less in the way of age anxiety in their choices.” It’s not uncommon for the male species to adopt a certain look in their early 20s and be buried in the first suit they bought 60 years ago. If you disregard the nexus to money, which has allowed me to buy clothing that isn’t from charity shops, my style hasn’t changed since the early 90s. I still have an unhealthy amount of corduroy pants and jackets in my wardrobe and retro shirts and sneakers. There is something comforting and reassuring about finding your own style and a certain empowerment for not caring (and caring) about what you wear. We can delude ourselves that the rags we pluck from the cupboard are not calculated pieces of composition because the pair of tracky-dacks and favourite band T-shirt you just reached for, still make you feel content. The right duds give us confidence. No matter what our age. Hey, if you’re unconvinced, here are some scientific facts. In a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , Adam Galinsky and his co-author Hajo Adam coined the term “enclothed cognition”, which describes the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes. The pair believed our garbs had the power to not only impact our mood but also influence the way we feel and interact with the world. “With enclothed cognition, the key idea is not just the wearing of clothes, but the symbolic meaning of the clothes one is wearing,” Galinsky says. I’m not sure the method worked on existentialist thinker John-Paul Sartre, who spent most of his life dressed as a Parisian bus driver. Adam and Galinsky’s theory could also be applied to the workplace, where our cognitive functions or moods shift when we see a person in certain professional attire. I, for one, would feel more assured about getting a rectal exam from a person wearing a stethoscope and lab coat than someone in high-vis. Despite our persistent denial, our clothes send out signals. They play a critical role in shaping our perceptions of who we are. Whether or not my clobber signified to my colleague that I may have missed the “changing room moment”, it didn’t matter. Whatever our generation, the get-up we choose to wear can make us feel attractive, stylish and jolly. As the Shakespeare saying goes, “apparel oft proclaims the man”. Even if that person chooses not to dress their age. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

What to know about Brooke Rollins, Trump's pick for agriculture secretaryNone

Top Countries Making the Best Use of AIJim Alexander: They talk about “winning the press conference” – shorthand for an acquisition or coaching hire that’s more splash than substance. Given Bill Belichick’s historic reticence with the media, I’m not sure that’s what the University of North Carolina did Wednesday. But win the announcement? No doubt. Hiring the 72-year-old Belichick , winner of six Super Bowls in New England and also famously reluctant to share decision-making duties, to his first college coaching job seems weird at first glance, and also at second and third. Asking a guy who referred to America’s favorite photo sharing app as “Instaface” a while back – which is actually, I believe, a Belichick running joke – to try to connect with young people for whom social media is almost more important than eating? Good luck with that. But this isn’t as nutty as it appears, in my mind, for one reason: College football is becoming more professionalized by the day. NIL agreements, the transfer portal, players represented by agents, a future where schools themselves will pay the players, and maybe even unionization down the road? Guys whose whole careers have been spent in college football are starting to wonder if they can handle these changes. So why not bring in an NFL coach to help with this transition? Especially one with the résumé of Belichick? It’s a risk, but who’s to say he can’t handle the transition to coaching 18- to 22-year-olds better than college football lifers can when it comes to dealing with agents, rustling up NIL money, etc.? And yes, I realize there’s a slight flaw in that logic, because Chip Kelly was both a college and a pro head coach, and we saw how little energy he directed toward NIL matters and how far back it set UCLA’s program. Will Belichick lean into it with more energy? We’ll see. What do you think, Mirjam? They’re already putting up betting propositions – in this case, at BetOnline.ag – on not only North Carolina’s record under Belichick this coming season but how many power conference transfers will come to UNC (the over/under is four), how many years he’ll stay (21⁄2, or half his contract), and – get this one – What will happen first with Bill Belichick’s 20-something girlfriend? Enroll in classes at UNC or date a UNC football player? Yeesh! Mirjam: Wait, are there really odds on that last one? Oh boy. You mentioned Chip Kelly, and I’ve also been thinking about his up-and-down track record, in college and the pros, since he caught lightning in a bottle at Oregon. Also about Deion Sanders, who has been anything but traditional in how he’s approached his job at Colorado – making recruits come to him, being up front about treating the transfer portal as free agency – and how that has transformed the Buffs from doormat to contender in two short years. And how before that, he was at Jackson State from 2020 to 2022. But Belichick doesn’t have the charisma Coach Prime does. Sure, he’s got his own aura as the NFL’s greatest modern coach, and if he wants control – which is a large piece of why he hasn’t been invited to coach another NFL team – he’d have it as a college coach, where reports are that UNC will increase its NIL package for football to $20 million from $4 million. But will he be too blunt for today’s college player, who isn’t contractually obligated to stay anywhere longer than a year? Too honest and critical in his assessments? Will he simply pass on the fanfare and glad-handing that’s supposed to be required of college coaches? We’re gonna find out. But if I were betting, I wouldn’t bet on North Carolina becoming a powerhouse under Belichick. Or even on Belichick loving the gig, because you can take the amateurism out of college football, but still it’s not the NFL. Jim: I’d take the under on the 21⁄2 years, and that has nothing to do with age or energy. Trust me, I’m the last guy who would call someone too old to do whatever. But college football is different, especially in that region of the country. I saw something a while back in the Washington Post which suggested that the hatred for rivals in college football is a feature and not a bug. And that intensity of emotion extends to everything involving the sport, which is why alumni and boosters play such a large role. Let Belichick start out, say, 2-4, and see what the reaction is. Yeah, NFL fans can be rabid, but it’s nothing compared to the way emotions seesaw in college football nation. All of that said, I stand on the premise that the changes in college football – in all of college sports – require an adjustment in the way coaches and athletic departments do business, and I’m not sure the old idea of the program as the coach’s fiefdom applies any longer. More programs in football and basketball are hiring “general managers,” which are positions to oversee NIL payments and the groups that make them – and, ultimately, the disbursements from the schools themselves – and probably also will have a role in player personnel matters. As an aside, the one guy I’m sure – positive, actually – could handle this transition seamlessly has been teaching classes at USC this fall. Pete Carroll made the switch from pro to college the first time and built a dynasty, made the switch from college back to the NFL and built a Super Bowl champ in Seattle, and if he wanted to and felt up to it I’m sure he could handle the new era of college football. (And let’s hear no talk about extra benefits or the like during Carroll’s USC run. You really don’t think stuff was happening elsewhere? The beauty of today’s system is that everything everywhere is above the table now.) Next subject: Is the transfer portal out of control? Is it approaching, or has it already gotten to, the point where there’s too much movement and requires some additional limitations? Old friend Lane Kiffin came out and said what I’m sure lots of other people in the game are thinking: The timing – the combination of the transfer portal opening and early signing day right around the time teams are preparing for bowl or playoff games – is “dumb.” He’s right, but it’s another consequence of a sport that has no leadership and thus has become pure chaos. How do we solve this? I say the first step would be to make Kiffin college football’s first commissioner, but that’s just me. Mirjam: It’s a whirlwind, for sure. Utter chaos. And that free agency is happening on the eve of bowl games tells you everything you need to know about how little college football values bowl games anymore. There’s something to be said for giving athletes agency in a game where coaches come and go all the time. There’s something to their being categorized as employees and given rights as employees, free to give notice and change jobs when they find a better one. Shoot, the non-athletic regular people studying on college campus known as students are free to transfer schools whenever they like, too. But there’s also something to be said about the grass not always being greener. We’ve heard stories about programs allegedly reneging on payment promises, for one. And despite whatever tampering abounds, athletes have to be careful before jumping into the portal with both feet – and it’s doubtful most of them are, considering how incredibly many are transferring. Like, will starting from scratch – or maybe not scratch, but as a player whose last situation didn’t work out – be for the best? Will they really end up in a better situation when the music stops and everyone’s fighting for a seat? Maybe, every case will be its own. It’s hard to know in a scene so chaotic. So, yes, Lane Kiffin, or a conference commission – as Chip Kelly suggested – or some entity helping create and enforce transfer guidelines would sure help everyone. Jim: My suggestion, beyond having someone – anyone – fully in charge of all of the sport’s various stakeholders? Employment, and contracts. This is something the NCAA is resisting with all of its might, while hoping for Congress to hand out an antitrust exemption. But it might be the only way to restore sanity to the process. Make players employees, with signed contracts – could be one year, could be two, could be four years for true stars, could include option years. The system would allow players free agency but would also give programs a certain amount of certainty from year to year, as opposed to a coach walking into the locker room after the final regular-season game and wondering how many of these guys will opt to stay. Another advantage: Those contracts would include bowl games, and there would be no more sitting out just because. That’s something that drives college football people crazy. And we have to understand: College football is a different beast from every other sport on campus. Other sports may come up with different rules. Other levels – Group of Five, mid-major basketball schools, etc. – will have different needs and require different rules as well. But again, a leadership vacuum at the top helps nobody, aside from FOX and ESPN. Before we go, however, we must note that 2024, the first year without the Pac-12 as we knew it, turns out to have been a statement on behalf of college football in the West. Oregon – your alma mater, Mirjam – is the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Fellow Pac-12 refugee Arizona State is in the mix as champion of the Big 12 and the Sun Devils’ coach, Kenny Dillingham, is a former Oregon guy. Boise State will represent the Mountain West (and future reconstituted Pac-12) in the field. Meanwhile, three of the four Heisman Trophy finalists are from the West – Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. Makes me miss the old Pac-12 a little more. Mirjam: Right?! How ’bout them Ducks? Both top-ranked/seeded Oregon and Dillingham. Season’s not over yet, but what a showing by the westerners ... and what that tells me is, yes, it’s a shame the Pac-12 is no more. Related Articles But also, Oregon – with its 14 transfers in starting roles and a reported $23 million in NIL money – is good at playing the modern game. And so too is Dillingham, who has used a few of his postgame press conferences as marketing opportunities, making direct pitches to Arizona businesses to funnel money into the program: “If you had fun watching [Cam Skattebo] play and make those plays, it was there all night ... because it’s a different day and age in college football. And if that was something that we want to continue to do, then what’s that saying? Pay the man his money, right? Isn’t that a saying? Pay the man his money. Pay these guys what they deserve to be paid because right now our team is underpaid. We’re doing more with guys who just got it out the mud, but eventually you should get what you deserve. Our guys deserve more ...” Now imagine Belichick making that kind of pitch.

NoneCostco Wholesale Corporation Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Results