super ace tips and tricks 2024
super ace tips and tricks 2024
Cutting in line? American Airlines’ new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports
Boys Town Nebraska, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boys Town today announced the filing of patents for two groundbreaking AI-integrated innovations in virtual training & mixed reality technology. Boys Town is a leader in changing the lives of children and families across the country. Boys Town’s success comes with teaching caregivers researched-based strategies to effectively change the behaviors of at-risk children. Boys Town is also a leader in helping children with hearing loss and communication disorders. This new AI model will help to effectively teach more caregivers across the country and aid those using American Sign Language (ASL). “Boys Town is known for its groundbreaking research informed care that serves children and families nationwide,” said Rod Kempkes, CEO. “This new technology will help us share the Boys Town mission with even wider audiences across the world and sets Boys Town apart as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector.” The first system is an AI-driven training application designed to instruct individuals on effectively implementing the Boys Town Model for teaching social skills to children. This new technology can help train caregivers how to respond when working with children. The system features AI-powered characters designed to simulate children’s behavior, enabling realistic and dynamic interactions. Users can engage with these AI characters through natural language while the system leverages computer vision to interpret and respond to user cues. These teachings can then be used when dealing with real world scenarios and provide AI-driven feedback on how the interactions were handled. The second technology facilitates seamless communication between individuals using American Sign Language (ASL) and those communicating verbally. It translates ASL into speech and converts spoken language into text, which is displayed as captions on smart eyewear, allowing both parties to communicate effortlessly. Boys Town is a leader in communication disorders research along with treating those with hearing loss. This technology will be an asset to helping children and families navigate communication barriers. About Boys Town: For over a century, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope, transforming the lives of America's children and families through innovative youth, research, and healthcare programs. Boys Town provides compassionate, research-proven education, prevention, training, and treatment for behavioral and physical problems in multiple locations throughout the United States, with a comprehensive array of services. In 2023, more than 715,000 children and families across the United States were impacted by Boys Town programs. You can find more information about Boys Town online at www.boystown.org . Attachments Artificial Intelligence in Training Boys Town Reality CoachSouth Korea becomes first country to fill 10% of workforce with robots
West Ham player ratings vs Newcastle: Aaron Wan-Bissaka electric as Carlos Soler proves point in vital winJudge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgenderThese glasses let you 'see' conversations in real time
Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024
Harley-Davidson, Inc. Declares Dividend
Whoopi Goldberg told her co-hosts Monday on ABC’s “The View” that President-elect Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 election was about race and misogyny. Goldberg said, “As I’ve always said, you know, this process was handled without me. Because the things I was looking for, and I listen to people make fun of it. It’s not about race. It’s not about misogyny. It is for me. It is for me because that’s how you see me first. So that’s how I have to respond to you. I don’t think this is what you’re saying. I want to be really clear because you know how they like to always put us, oh, and she was mean to her.” She added, “I understand all the things you want to see him be. I understand all the things that he promised he would be, and he wasn’t, and now that he has been given carte blanche. I’m not going to waste a lot of time on what he might do. I’m going to wait because I need to see what he will do so that I know what I’m going to do.” Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said, “We can sit here and we can be apocalyptic about what he might do, but I also think there’s a moment for self-reflection. I felt as unrepresented by Biden when I would talk about that I care about the border. Why did you wait until three years in to do it?” Goldberg said, “We’ve done all of that, and we’re talking about how this respect comes to you how it comes to me. We’re looking at different things. You’re hearing different things than I’m hearing because you’re not listening for the same things. We just aren’t, and that’s okay.” Follow Pam Key on X @pamkeyNENThe Atlanta Falcons have made a plethora of head-scratching decisions since their last playoff appearance in 2017. From forcing Matt Ryan out of the organization in pursuit of Deshaun Watson to the recent signing of Kirk Cousins , the organization has lacked a consistent vision But there’s hope on the horizon. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. represents a potential turning point, and this Sunday, the Falcons face a do-or-die matchup against the Washington Commanders. With a playoff berth at stake, Penix has an opportunity to cement himself as the future of the franchise. Michael Penix Jr. Legacy Game This year’s rookie quarterback class has been nothing short of remarkable. Jayden Daniels has already ascended to stardom in Washington, Bo Nix looks like the long-awaited answer in Denver, and Drake Maye has been a quiet revelation for the Patriots despite their struggles. Now, it’s Michael Penix Jr.’s turn to deliver his own statement in primetime. Sunday Night Football presents a legacy-defining opportunity for Penix. Yes, expecting a rookie to lead his team to a crucial road victory in just his second career start—against a playoff-caliber opponent, no less—might be overly optimistic. But this is exactly the type of moment that can turn skeptics into believers and etch Penix’s name into Atlanta’s future plans. The hardest thing to do in professional sports is find a franchise quarterback. Organizations can go decades in search of one. There wouldn’t be a better Christmas present for Atlanta sports fans than Michael Penix Jr. leading the Falcons to a win over the Commanders. The End Of Terry Fontenot’s Tenure As Falcons General Manager At this point, I’m not really sure what Terry Fontenot does for the Falcons. He hasn’t been heard from since the offseason, and there were already questions about how much weight his word carries inside the building. Since taking over as general manager of the Falcons in 2021, Terry Fontenot hasn’t done much good. He’s hit on some free agents, but his drafting has been abysmal, and the decision hand Kirk Cousins $90 million in guarantees for just 14 games is a fireable offense. There’s a chance Michael Penix Jr. can save everybody’s job by leading the Falcons to the playoffs, but Fontenot should not be safe regardless of what happens over the final two games. Atlanta needs to get a real GM in the building, one with a track record of success in the draft. A Revamped Falcons Pass Rush The Falcons have been searching for a pass rush for over a decade. They haven’t finished inside the top 10 in sacks since 2004, and they rank dead last with 26 sacks this season. However, Jimmy Lake’s unit has showed some promise getting after the quarterback since the team’s bye week. The Falcons rank first with 16 sacks over the last four weeks, and while some of that can be attributed to the competition, there’s some reason for optimism moving forward. The Falcons’ pass rush should remain the top offseason priority. No matter how promising Penix may be, the team’s long-term success hinges on sustained improvement along the defensive line. Investing heavily in pass rushers—both in free agency and the draft—will be critical to complementing Penix and solidifying the team’s future. This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.
Historians know that turkey and corn were part of the first Thanksgiving , when Wampanoag peoples shared a harvest meal with the pilgrims of Plymouth plantation in Massachusetts. And traditional Native American farming practices tell us that squash and beans likely were part of that 1621 dinner too. For centuries before Europeans reached North America, many Native Americans grew these foods together in one plot, along with the less familiar sunflower. They called the plants sisters to reflect how they thrived when they were cultivated together. Today three-quarters of Native Americans live off of reservations , mainly in urban areas. And nationwide, many Native American communities lack access to healthy food . As a scholar of Indigenous studies focusing on Native relationships with the land, I began to wonder why Native farming practices had declined and what benefits could emerge from bringing them back. To answer these questions, I am working with agronomist Marshall McDaniel , horticulturalist Ajay Nair , nutritionist Donna Winham and Native gardening projects in Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our research project, “Reuniting the Three Sisters,” explores what it means to be a responsible caretaker of the land from the perspective of peoples who have been balancing agricultural production with sustainability for hundreds of years. Historically, Native people throughout the Americas bred indigenous plant varieties specific to the growing conditions of their homelands. They selected seeds for many different traits, such as flavor, texture and color . Native growers knew that planting corn, beans, squash and sunflowers together produced mutual benefits. Corn stalks created a trellis for beans to climb, and beans’ twining vines secured the corn in high winds. They also certainly observed that corn and bean plants growing together tended to be healthier than when raised separately. Today we know the reason: Bacteria living on bean plant roots pull nitrogen – an essential plant nutrient – from the air and convert it to a form that both beans and corn can use . Squash plants contributed by shading the ground with their broad leaves, preventing weeds from growing and retaining water in the soil. Heritage squash varieties also had spines that discouraged deer and raccoons from visiting the garden for a snack. And sunflowers planted around the edges of the garden created a natural fence, protecting other plants from wind and animals and attracting pollinators. Interplanting these agricultural sisters produced bountiful harvests that sustained large Native communities and spurred fruitful trade economies . The first Europeans who reached the Americas were shocked at the abundant food crops they found. My research is exploring how, 200 years ago, Native American agriculturalists around the Great Lakes and along the Missouri and Red rivers fed fur traders with their diverse vegetable products. As Euro-Americans settled permanently on the most fertile North American lands and acquired seeds that Native growers had carefully bred, they imposed policies that made Native farming practices impossible . In 1830 President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act , which made it official U.S. policy to force Native peoples from their home locations, pushing them onto subpar lands. On reservations, U.S. government officials discouraged Native women from cultivating anything larger than small garden plots and pressured Native men to practice Euro-American style monoculture. Allotment policies assigned small plots to nuclear families, further limiting Native Americans’ access to land and preventing them from using communal farming practices. Native children were forced to attend boarding schools, where they had no opportunity to learn Native agriculture techniques or preservation and preparation of Indigenous foods . Instead they were forced to eat Western foods, turning their palates away from their traditional preferences. Taken together, these policies almost entirely eradicated three sisters agriculture from Native communities in the Midwest by the 1930s. Today Native people all over the U.S. are working diligently to reclaim Indigenous varieties of corn, beans, squash, sunflowers and other crops . This effort is important for many reasons. Improving Native people’s access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods will help lower rates of diabetes and obesity , which affect Native Americans at disproportionately high rates. Sharing traditional knowledge about agriculture is a way for elders to pass cultural information along to younger generations. Indigenous growing techniques also protect the lands that Native nations now inhabit, and can potentially benefit the wider ecosystems around them. But Native communities often lack access to resources such as farming equipment, soil testing, fertilizer and pest prevention techniques. This is what inspired Iowa State University’s Three Sisters Gardening Project. We work collaboratively with Native farmers at Tsyunhehkw , a community agriculture program, and the Ohelaku Corn Growers Co-Op on the Oneida reservation in Wisconsin; the Nebraska Indian College , which serves the Omaha and Santee Sioux in Nebraska; and Dream of Wild Health , a nonprofit organization that works to reconnect the Native American community in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, with traditional Native plants and their culinary, medicinal and spiritual uses. [ The Conversation’s science, health and technology editors pick their favorite stories. Weekly on Wednesdays .] We are growing three sisters research plots at ISU’s Horticulture Farm and in each of these communities. Our project also runs workshops on topics of interests to Native gardeners, encourages local soil health testing and grows rare seeds to rematriate them , or return them to their home communities. The monocropping industrial agricultural systems that produce much of the U.S. food supply harms the environment, rural communities and human health and safety in many ways . By growing corn, beans and squash in research plots, we are helping to quantify how intercropping benefits both plants and soil . By documenting limited nutritional offerings at reservation grocery stores , we are demonstrating the need for Indigenous gardens in Native communities. By interviewing Native growers and elders knowledgeable about foodways, we are illuminating how healing Indigenous gardening practices can be for Native communities and people – their bodies, minds and spirits. Our Native collaborators are benefiting from the project through rematriation of rare seeds grown in ISU plots, workshops on topics they select and the new relationships they are building with Native gardeners across the Midwest. As researchers, we are learning about what it means to work collaboratively and to conduct research that respects protocols our Native collaborators value, such as treating seeds, plants and soil in a culturally appropriate manner. By listening with humility, we are working to build a network where we can all learn from one another. This article is republished from The Conversation , a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Christina Gish Hill , Iowa State University Read more: Christina Gish Hill receives funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
ADM Tronics Unlimited, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:ADMT – Get Free Report ) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,100 shares, a drop of 31.7% from the November 30th total of 6,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days. ADM Tronics Unlimited Stock Performance Shares of ADM Tronics Unlimited stock opened at $0.09 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $0.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.07. ADM Tronics Unlimited has a 12 month low of $0.03 and a 12 month high of $0.12. About ADM Tronics Unlimited ( Get Free Report ) Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for ADM Tronics Unlimited Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ADM Tronics Unlimited and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Bad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in peril
California girl, 19, orphaned in horror crash that killed parents and both her siblings By JOE HUTCHISON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:25, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 19:05, 24 December 2024 e-mail 3 View comments A teenage girl has been life fighting for her life after a horrific car crash killed her parents and two siblings. Emma Lourenco, 19, is the sole survivor of the collision that killed her parents Daniel and Jennifer, 44 and 45, as well as her sister Madelynn, 16, and brother Matthew, 14. The family had been on their way to church Sunday December 15 when a speeding car collided with their Jeep as they crossed an intersection in Turlock, California . Her parents died in the initial collision alongside the driver that collided with them who has been identified Uriel Guizar Negrete, 22. Emma and her siblings were all rushed to hospital were Madelynn and Matthew both later died from their injuries. Speaking with FirstAlert4 , her uncle Jason McLelland said: 'We are still asking for prayers and thoughts. 'Our oldest niece, the who is still fighting on in the hospital, will likely need a lot of long-term care.' McLelland, the brother of Jennifer, said his sister was a teacher at Sinclear Elementary School and had been named teacher of the year in 2023 and 2024. Emma Lourenco, second on the right, is the sole survivor of the collision that killed her parents Daniel and Jennifer, 44 and 45, as well as her sister Madelynn, 16, and brother Matthew, 14 The family had been on their way to church Sunday December 15when a speeding car collided with their Jeep as they crossed an intersection in Turlock, California He added: 'Jennifer just had an ability to be able to reach people and see the best side and bring the best side out of them. 'Daniel was the best husband. He raised an amazing family of all good kings.Maddie had a smile that would just light up the room. 'She was the social butterfly of that family. Matthew was just a goofy boy in a great way. He loved soccer. He just took up cross country running this year, and he loved it. 'He ran with his heart out, just really trying to get better. No matter what it was, he always wanted to push himself.' McLelland has said that the family intended to donate Matthew's organs, with a GoFundMe also being set up to help with funeral expenses and medical costs. In a post to the fundraising page, which has so far raised over $89,000, family friend Stephanie Wallace said that Emma was slowly coming out of a induced coma. Wallace said that her breathing tube had been removed and she had been taken off life support machines and had briefly woken up. In a post to the fundraising page, which has so far raised over $89,000, family friend Stephanie Wallace said that Emma, seen in the middle, was slowly coming out of a induced coma McLelland, the brother of Jennifer, seen here, said his sister was a teacher at Sinclear Elementary School and had been named teacher of the year in 2023 and 2024 In a statement, the Ceres Unified School District remembered Jennifer as being a 'gifted and dedicated educator'. They said: 'While we are still processing this unimaginable tragedy, our hearts go out to members of the Lourenco family and their loved ones. 'Mrs. Lourenco was a moderate-severe teacher at Sinclear Elementary School and was Sinclear’s Teacher of the Year in 2023-24.' It continued: 'She was a gifted and dedicated educator and a beloved colleague whose loss will be deeply felt throughout the school community.' Share or comment on this article: California girl, 19, orphaned in horror crash that killed parents and both her siblings e-mail Add comment
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Getting blown out at Green Bay following another squandered late lead the previous week against Seattle has quickly turned the San Francisco 49ers from a Super Bowl contender into a team just fighting to get back to the playoffs. If San Francisco doesn't get healthy and eliminate the errors that led to Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Packers, the focus will turn from playoff permutations to what offseason changes are necessary. “I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “That’s why the Seattle game was so tough of a loss and that’s why last night was even worse. We know what we got ahead of us. We know exactly what the playoff situation is. That is what it is. But really, all that matters is this week when you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that.” The task doesn't get any easier as the Niners (5-6) get set to play at Buffalo on Sunday night. The 49ers are hoping to get injured stars Brock Purdy , Nick Bosa and Trent Williams back for that game, but their presence alone won't fix everything that went wrong on Sunday . The defense got repeatedly gashed early and put San Francisco in a 17-0 hole before the offense even generated a first down. The running game never got going as Christian McCaffrey has looked nothing like the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year in his three games back from Achilles tendinitis. And whenever the Niners appeared to do something right, a penalty came back to haunt them. It added up to the most lopsided loss for San Francisco since the 2018 season, before Shanahan had turned the Niners into perennial contenders. “It’s probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “It is embarrassing. You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man and move on.” Despite the doom and gloom, the 49ers are only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West standings with six games to go. But San Francisco already has three division losses and a difficult schedule featuring games against the Bills this week and Detroit in Week 17. “My optimism is not broken by any means,” tight end George Kittle said. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back and I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays. I have no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind. We'll see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.” Red-zone passes to Kittle. Backup QB Brandon Allen connected on a 3-yard TD pass to Kittle late in the second quarter for San Francisco's only TD. Kittle leads the NFL with eight touchdown catches in the red zone, which is tied with Vernon Davis (2013) for the most in a season for a Niners player since 2000. Kittle was the only consistent part of the San Francisco offense with six catches for 82 yards. Avoiding penalties. San Francisco had nine penalties for 77 yards and they were costly and sloppy. The Niners had 12 men on the field on defense on back-to-back plays, three false starts, a pass interference in the end zone and three penalties on special teams, including a holding on Eric Saubert that negated an 87-yard kickoff return by Deebo Samuel to open the second half. Rookie Dominick Puni had three penalties after being penalized just once in the first 10 games. DE Leonard Floyd. There were few positive performances on defense, but Floyd had both of the team's sacks. Run defense. San Francisco allowed 169 yards rushing, including 87 in the first quarter for the team's second-worst performance in the opening quarter since 1991. The Niners missed 19 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, as Josh Jacobs gained 83 of his 106 yards rushing after contact. Purdy took part in a light throwing session without pain on Monday and Shanahan is hopeful he can return to practice Wednesday after missing the Green Bay game with a shoulder injury. ... Bosa (hip, oblique) and Williams (ankle) also could return this week after sitting out Sunday. ... LG Aaron Banks, DT Jordan Elliott and WR Jacob Cowing all in the concussion protocol. ... RG Dominick Puni (shoulder) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (knee) underwent MRIs on Monday and the team is waiting for results. ... CB Renardo Green (neck) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) are day to day. 11 — The Niners generated only 11 first downs, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan. They also had 11 in the 2022 NFC title game loss at Philadelphia when Purdy hurt his elbow and in Week 2 against Seattle in Shanahan's first season in 2017. The 49ers visit Buffalo on Sunday night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
The weather is still a conversation piece. When people learn that I am a meteorologist, the conversation typically shifts to questions about the forecast, whether I am on TV or not, or thoughts about climate change. Over the course of my tenure writing at Forbes.com , I have opined about common misperceptions. As 2025 approaches, I am reflecting on a few that still surface in conversations, on social media or within personal interactions. If you are searching for New Year’s resolutions for 2025, here are eight weather or climate aspirations worth considering. I Will Keep Weather Apps in Perspective Weather Apps are a part of daily life like GPS navigation systems, drones, and debates about the college football playoffs. While Apps provide useful weather information, it is important to understand that data do not come from the “weather fairy.” A significant amount of observational and modeling data is provided by the National Weather Service, NOAA, other federal agencies, and even private companies. Apps may not be optimal, in some cases, for rapidly evolving weather scenarios like tornado warnings or landfalling hurricanes. Trusted sources and voices are still critical in such scenarios. Additionally, I find that many people misintepret the simplicity and convenience of Apps. Weather App forecasts may not be applicable at certain times of the day or at certain locations in the forecast area. I often here, “But my app said 80% chance of rain so I changed my plans in the afternoon.” My next question usually is, “Did you consider that the rain might have only been forecasted for the morning hours?” I Will Not Immediately Share or React to Snowfall Forecast Maps Until the Source is Verified At this time of year, there are typically a host of complaints from weather colleagues about social mediarologists sharing long-range snow forecasts. It is the epitome of the “click-bait” or follow me mentality right now. However, there are several problems. These “pick your favorite mode scenarios” often disappear in the next model run. Most credible meteorologists should not convey information based on one model run. Additionally, when those forecasts do not verify, people question the credibility of the weather community. Meteorologist Brad Panovich recently dealt with this issue on a thread on the platform X. Most weather experts understand limitations of long-range or single model runs. However, a shadowy ecosystem has emerged that is characterized by sharing of such information without proper context and with a desire to be “social media famous” or first. Unfortunately, many people cannot distinguish between information from the National Weather Service and less credible sources. To make matters worse, people will often latch on to such forecasts because they are “wishcasting” snow or other desired outcomes. Please check sources and verify model integrity or time frames before drawing conclusions. I Will Not Fear AI The recent hysteria about drones, which are increasingly a part of society, reminds me that people fear things they are not familiar to their daily routines. Drones and artificial intelligence are important aspects of scientific research these days so I do not have an aversion to them. They are also integral to all of our lives but in less evident ways. Your Weather or Search App on your device is probably already using it. AI is increasingly a part of the weather landscape. University of Oklahoma Professor Amy McGovern, in a National Academies discussion , provided an excellent overview of how AI is improving nowcasting, forecasting, verification, and observation of weather. AI will move my field forward. The New York Times recently covered Google’s new AI agent that showed impressive skill for a two-week forecast. Houston meteorologist Matt Lanza also recently documented the effectiveness of AI modeling relative to a forecast “bust” in Minnesota. However, there are still issues to be addressed related to ethics, computational resources, and a skilled technical workforce force. McGovern is director of the NSF AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography at the University of Oklahoma and is the Lloyd G. and Joyce Austin Presidential Professor in the Schools of Computer Science and Meteorology, respectively. She said, “AI is being used primarily by private industry right now. NOAA is getting there, but they are necessarily cautious in adopting new technologies, because they are the government entity charged with operational forecasting, and they don’t want to lose the public trust.” I Will Not Let My Belief Systems Influence Science Understanding 2024 was an odd year. Some people thought hurricanes were being created and controlled by the government. Meteorologists were threatened for simply doing their jobs. The Goodyear blimp and aircraft landing at major airports were being called unexplained drones. Increasingly, it seems ideological beliefs based on political, cultural, religious, or other marinades are shaping certain views on science. Just yesterday, I saw woman on Facebook lecture legendary broadcast meteorologist James Spann because he challenged someone who she claimed “had a different viewpoint.” No, No, No. That’s not how any of this works. James was calling out someone claiming that the Earth is flat. What I saw was a scientist protecting facts rather than allowing opinion or conspiracy theories to have equal footing. Kudos to James. I Will Not Overreact to Weather Terms It seems that every year people hear a term that they are not familiar with and assume that it is new. Social media has likely heightened this tendency. Words like derecho, atmospheric river, bomb cyclone, polar vortex, and heat dome are not new to those of us in the meteorology community. In addition to social media, the growth of weather journalism and blogs has exposed more people to these terms. With such new exposure, it is inevitable that misuse or misinterpretation is likely. It adds even more to the risk communication plate of meteorology and emergency management professionals. I Will Do My Part to Help with Climate Change Whether you believe it or not, the effects of climate change are here and likely to worsen. Yes, climate has always changed, but the influence of anthropogenic activities is situated on top of the natural variability. Trees naturally fall down in the forest, and we can accelerate that process with chainsaws. While transformational actions will be required that involve reducing carbon emissions or adapting to inevitable changes, recent studies continue to show that individual actions can help. The New York Times recently posed the question , “What if Everyone Did Something to Slow Climate Change? Brookings also laid out some ideas related to personal actions we all can take. The final two resolutions are just pet peeves of mine. I hope everyone resolves to spell “lightning” without the “e” when describing the optical phenomenon that causes thunder. And if it is still around, resist the urge to add “s” to daylight saving time. Happy New Year.Paramount Plus has also launched their Black Friday deals a bit early, which includes getting Paramount Plus Essential for $2.99 per month, or Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME for the same price. Unfortunately, both deals are for the first two months. After that, you’ll be paying the regular price which starts at $7.99 for Paramount Plus Essentials and $12.99 for Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME. Now, while the annual plans are not discounted, they still have better values than the Black Friday Deal. Paramount Plus Essentials is $59.99 per year (or $5 per month), while Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME is $119 per year (or around $10 per month). Paramount Plus is what used to be CBS All Access and now has a ton of great content available. This includes being able to watch the NFL on CBS as well as UEFA Champions League Live. Now, on plans, you’ll see ads for sports since they are live. But on Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME, it is ad-free – except for live TV. This also includes content like Star Trek Picard, The Chi, Seal Team and much more. It’s a really good streaming service and definitely worth checking out for $2.99 per month. Sign up for Paramount PlusAUSTIN, Texas -- Any Texas or Texas A & M player has heard the lore of the rivalry between the two schools, a grudge match that dates to 1894. But for more than a decade — two generations of college football players — that's all it has been: Ghostly memories of great games and great plays made by heroes of the distant past. That changes this week when one of college football's great rivalries is reborn. Third-ranked Texas (10-1, 6-1) and No. 20 Texas A & M (8-3, 5-2) meet Saturday night for the first time since 2011, with a berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game on the line . “Guys that have been in my position and bleed burnt orange, they have not gotten to play this game,” said Texas fourth-year junior safety Michael Taaffe, who grew up in Austin. “Remember them when you step on Kyle Field.” For Aggies fans, who have carried the misery of Texas' 27-25 win in 2011, getting the Longhorns back in front of a frenzied crowd in College Station is a chance for some serious payback. “I was born and raised an Aggie, so I’ve been dreaming about playing in this game my whole life,” Texas A & M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III said. Zuhn played high school football in Colorado, but his parents and grandparents attended A & M. At SEC media days back in August, Zuhn said his family would turn Texas gear upside down in stores. He keeps a picture of a longhorn in his room, hanging upside down, of course. “It should be the most amazing atmosphere that I’ve ever experienced,” Zuhn said. "I can’t wait for that, and I feel bad for Texas having to play in that." Texas players said they are ready. “That place is going to be rocking,” Texas senior cornerback Jahdae Barron said. “It's good to go on the road and play in hostile environments.” The Longhorns have overcome big and loud road crowds before. They won at Alabama in 2023. They won at Michigan and Arkansas, another old rival, this year. The Longhorns have won 10 in a row on an opponent’s home field. “When the hate is on us, we love it. We enjoy it,” Taaffe said. But some former Texas players say the current group has faced nothing like what awaits them in College Station. Playing at Texas A & M is more than just noise and a lot of “Horns down” hand signals. The “Aggie War Hymn” fight song calls for Aggies to “Saw varsity’s horns off." Beating Texas is their passion, said former Longhorns All-American offensive lineman Dan Neil, who won at Texas A & M in in 1995. He calls that win one of the best of his career. “I was done showering and getting ready to leave, and their fans were still standing outside the locker room screaming and throwing things,” he said. “The (Texas) players have no idea what they are walking into. They have no clue. No one on that team has walked into that stadium in burnt orange.” The rivalry broke up when Texas A & M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012. The Aggies have twice finished tied for second but have otherwise found little success there. Texas is in its first year in the SEC and has smashed its way to the top. Texas is the only SEC team with one loss this late in the season, which would make beating Texas that much sweeter for A & M. “The hype is definitely saying it's a rivalry. History says it's a rivalry, but for us, it's the football game we have this week,” Texas senior center Jake Majors said. “It's important for us to not let the environment, the game, get the best of us. ... I get to go out there and play not only for me and my team, but for the guys who came before me, so that's a true honor to have.” Even though the game hasn't been played since 2011, there has always been an element of the rivalry simmering under the surface, Texas A & M coach Mike Elko said. Elko is in his first year as the Aggies' coach, but he was the Texas A & M defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018-2021. “Even though it hasn’t been played, it just doesn’t feel like it’s ever really left the fabric. I really don’t think it’s as removed from the psyche as maybe it feels,” Elko said. “I think our kids are very much aware of what this is all about.” ___ Rieken reported from College Station, Texas. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
