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Arsenal moves up to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over IpswichEven winning the World Series can't slow the Los Angeles Dodgers down. Los Angeles just accomplished what every team in baseball wanted by winning the World Series this fall over the New York Yankees but it seems like the Dodgers aren't even taking a minute to breathe. The Dodgers have been linked to a handful of free agents and there even have been reports that the club met with Yankees star Juan Soto. It should be unlikely that Soto will land in Los Angeles but who knows at this point. The Dodgers can do anything they want. No matter what happens with Soto, the Dodgers are going to be busy and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicted that Teoscar Hernández will end up re-signing . "Slugger Teoscar Hernández has made it clear he prefers to stay with the Dodgers, but it's also unlikely he is going to settle for another short-term deal coming off an elite offensive season that boosted his stock significantly," Reuter said. "The Dodgers can turn to some combination of Andy Pages, James Outman, Chris Taylor, and top prospect Dalton Rushing to fill the other corner outfield spot, but adding a productive veteran such as Jesse Winker would help take some pressure off that group. If he can be had on a one-year deal, he would be a nice under-the-radar pickup." Hernández made $23.5 million with Los Angeles so a multi-year deal with a similar annual value could make sense. He shined in 2024 with the Dodgers and had 33 home runs and 99 RBIs while earning an All-Star nod. Hopefully, he does end up returning. More MLB: Dodgers already met with superstar in line for $131M deal, per insiderNASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. "Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much," Scheffler said. "A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things." Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. "I think in this game I think a lot of all y'all are looking for perfection out of us," he said. "Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased." Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. "You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are," Thomas said. "He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies." Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None
Two primary schools are still undergoing contamination remediation years after the incidents were first discovered. Login or signup to continue reading Large sections of Fennell Bay and Belair public schools have been fenced for months as education and health authorities deal with the Earlier this month, the Glendale Holy Cross Primary School closed its gates for a week and moved its 150 students to another school after lead-contaminated soil was found in the school's playing area. Fennell Bay Public School - on the west side of Lake Macquarie - has been on the NSW Environmental Protection Authority's contaminated sites list since early 2021, when lead-contaminated soil - also known as 'black slag' - was discovered. The area was fenced off when soil testing confirmed the presences of residual lead-containing material in several small pockets across 6800 square metres of the school's playing field. Black slag is the product of the former Pasminco smelter, and from 1960 to 1995 more than two million tonnes of it was used throughout Lake Macquarie for landscaping. The EPA an initial assessment by its officers showed the "risk of exposure to students and the community was minimal". A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said half of the affected site had been remediated and re-opened to students in early 2024, and the school community had been regularly informed as the work progressed. The remainder of the remediation work is out for tender, with full remediation expected to be complete in the first half of 2025. "As a precaution, the department had open space areas at Fennell Bay Public School fenced off and made inaccessible," a department spokesperson said. "All remediation works to date has been undertaken in accordance with SafeWork NSW regulations, and completed by licensed and accredited contractors and monitored by occupational hygienists." Belair Public School, in Adamstown Heights, where in-ground asbestos containing material was discovered in March, 2023. About a quarter of the school grounds has been fenced off, or roughly 7000 square metres, since the "fragments of asbestos containing material" were found on the southern end of the grassed playground. The remediation is being managed by School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), who said air monitoring data across the site had "returned results below the minimum detectable limit". "In this case the evidence and advice from our hygienist is that there is not airborne asbestos in this area," SINSW said in a statement. The next stage of remediation work to remove the hazardous material due to start during the upcoming summer school holidays, while landscaping and construction work will continue into term one of 2025. The work includes tearing up the cricket pitch, playground, concrete footpath and removing multiple trees. "The school holidays are the ideal time for a lot of maintenance and project work to take place in schools across the state without disrupting learning," SINSW said. "We appreciate that work being carried out at Belair Public School is taking longer than anticipated however, the work is being done carefully and methodically." A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff was its highest priority. Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns.Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns.Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. 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Feds Greenlight NYC Congestion Pricing Plan, Paving Way for Tolls to Start on Jan. 5BD-Japan co-op eyes software architecture, technologyValve is back with another feature update for its PC gaming store and client Steam. This time, It is adding granular settings for users to choose when and how exactly can games download updates. This is part of the brand-new Steam Client Beta update that went live today. Currently in the live build, Steam will measure users' previous interactions with games to judge whether a brand-new updates needs immediate downloading, or keep it for later. There are existing options to set download times and speed limits, but these have not been deemed enough: "While this default behavior works in most cases, there are times when you need more control of when updates are applied. Some users might want to delay updating a 200GB game until they are ready to play it again in a few months, especially if they are on metered connections or have monthly bandwidth caps. For others who play the same game every night, they might want updates downloaded as soon as they are available. The process of automatic updates itself can be changed in the beta client now. The Downloads section in the app's settings page can be used to change the default behavior to "let Steam decide when to update the game" or "wait to update until the game is launched." Next, going to any game's properties in the beta client will reveal the new Automatic Updates section that applies changes just to that title. The four available options here are: set it to use the chosen Global Setting, wait until the user launches the game to update, let Steam decide (depending on user history), and give priority to download any update to it immediately, skipping any other restrictions. Once Valve decides the feature is ready to ship, it will move to the main client from beta at a later date. For those who can't wait, they can switch to the Steam Beta Client by heading to the app's Settings > Interface section and changing the Client Beta Participation dropdown to the latest version available.
EXCLUSIVE I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack Fionnuala Brennan has travelled to 87 destinations over ten years READ MORE: My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain By ALANAH KHOSLA Published: 10:49 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 10:55 EST, 27 December 2024 e-mail 14 shares 1 View comments A mother-of-four has revealed how she has saved an estimated €50,000 (£41,487) pounds while travelling the world over a period of 16 years with her family. Fionnuala Brennan, 53, from Tramore, Ireland, has managed to holiday around the globe, including in America, Australia, and Italy , by exchanging her home. The 53-year-old, a lecturer at Southeast Technological University in Waterford, has completed 87 exchanges since starting, saving her thousands of pounds. Fionnuala's preferred platform, HomeExchange, works in two ways: the Classic Exchange, where two families swap homes, either simultaneously or on different dates. Or tourists can use 'guest points', which means they can stay in a home without giving their own abode up, and earn points at a different time by letting people stay at their property. Despite Fionnuala hearing about the platform from a friend when she was 30, she didn't use the website until after she had her fourth child in 2008, which made travelling via hotels too expensive. 'With four kids, we felt it was just too expensive to go anywhere, so we decided to give it a go,' she told Femail. Now, the mother-of-four has made lasting memories with her husband and children around the globe and even favours it over other travelling arrangements due to the authentic experience it provides. Fionnuala Brennan (pictured centre right), 53, from Tramore, Ireland, and her family (pictured) have travelled around the globe via HomeExchange The mother-of-four, who is a university lecturer, first decided to travel via HomeExchange to save money Fionnuala and her family's first HomeExchange holiday was in France: 'We flew to Nantes and stayed in the Vendee in a little seaside town. 'We live in a little seaside town in Ireland - so, we were swapping an Irish seaside town for a French one and our own family home for a family home in France, which was perfect. 'They had young children like ours. Their house was full of Lego and all the toys; the kids had a really great time. 'It was a very easy holiday, and they were very relaxed, with a garden and swings, slides, and we were within walking distance to the beach.' 'When we started doing it in 2008, it was all direct exchanges. So that's more challenging because you need to find somebody interested in coming to the southeast of Ireland, and that's what we did for the first number of years.' 'We were doing European exchanges for the first few years, and it was mainly French families who were on the Home Exchange website and then we started going to different places. After having four children together, staying in hotels when on holiday became too expensive for Fionnuala and her husband Fionnuala believes that travelling with HomeExchange can offer a more authentic way to experience a foreign country The family have enjoyed trips across the globe together, including in America, Australia, France, Italy 'We went to America, Australia, Spain, Italy, and other European destinations. So those were direct home exchanges...and we often swapped cars as well. 'Of course, because we have four kids, we needed a seven-seater car and often swapped with similarly sized families and that worked well.' By saving on accommodation, Fionnuala and her family can splash out on other parts of the holiday, such as airport transfers to make the route as easy as possible for her family. But while holidaying in a hotel typically takes a small amount of preparation, arranging a home exchange can take a little while longer. Fionnuala explained: 'So we would get our house ready, and there's always work to do in that, getting things fixed and doing all the repairs, cleaning up, and leaving the place lovely and neat and tidy. 'So that's a challenge and perhaps not everybody's on for doing that before they go on their holidays, but I will say there is huge pleasure in coming back into your home and everything's fixed and working and in great shape.' She added: 'We've never had one where anybody left the house in a worse condition than they got it. 'They leave it just as clean and tidy as we left it and often in better condition, so that has never been a concern. There's a huge amount of trust in it because you're in their home while they're in yours.' Without HomeExchange, Fionnuala and her family would not have been able to experience as many countries The houses Fionnuala and her family visit are often equipped with bikes and toys for the children While the family saves money by exchanging their home, the biggest benefit for Fionnuala is the authentic experience. She explained: 'I was in Estonia, in Tallinn, a beautiful city, for a work conference, and I didn't want to stay in a hotel. Read More My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain 'I was there for the week, and I stayed in a little studio apartment beside a family home. 'I was able to have coffee in the garden and the family was there and it just felt safe and comfortable and it was a much more authentic experience than staying in a hotel. She added: 'I was with Estonian people and [I had] a great sense of comfort. You feel like you're traveling and getting to know somewhere else in a real way.' The mother-of-four said that exchanging homes is also often a sociable way to travel, saying: 'Often people will let their neighbours know that you're coming or their relations will drop in and check in that you're OK. 'There's a great sense of community... you get to know different people and how they live and it's a really positive thing.' Elsewhere, the family have enjoyed trip in Rome, France, America, Malaga, Lucca, Lake Como, Cadiz, and Venice to name few. Fionnuala warned that holidaying via exchanging homes might not be suitable for those who are super house proud The mother-of-four said that HomeExchange can be a good route when travelling with children because people's homes are typically more equipped than hotels A highlight for her children was spending Christmas in Sydney in a home exchange, with a family who spent the 25th December in Ireland. Fionnuala's top tips for holidaymakers interested in HomeExchange.... Be honest about your home and expectations for the holiday: 'It's not like you're trying to sell it...all everybody wants is a functioning comfortable home.' Tidy the house before an exchange : 'Have it tidy, organised, clean, [with] fresh sheets, fresh towels. She added: 'You do want to prepare it and have it nice for visitors that are coming.' Try something new : 'I would say give it a go... there's an exchange for everybody, [whether] you live in a little studio apartment or you live in a big detached house with a garden, there's somebody out there who is interested in coming to where you are Advertisement While it's hard for Fionnuala to give an exact breakdown of how much she's saved in total, in the past one year alone, she's saved £6,700. 'While I'm estimating the cost of what we might have gone for otherwise, the quality of accommodation we stayed at with the swaps was much better than the hostels, Airbnbs or whatever we might have opted for, and a few of the trips would not have happened if we had to pay for accommodation. 'So, how I would put it is that we travel like people who are much better off than we are. 'We manage to travel and stay in beautiful places, beautiful homes in beautiful locations and we do that regularly. 'So, to put a number on it, it's difficult, but over the 16 years you can be sure that we have saved more than €50,000 no doubt.' While she still stays in the occasional hotel or Airbnb, Fionnuala finds home comforts are often unbeatable. 'There's great comfort in staying in a home that just has everything in it. If you cut your finger, you're going to find the first aid kit or you're going to find the parasol for when it's a hot day.' However, the mother-of-four warned that home exchange might not be for everybody. She said: 'I've recommended it to lots of friends and it hasn't worked for everybody. 'It does work for most people, [but] it's not inclined to work if people are very precious about their house, and it makes them uncomfortable to have strangers stay in their home. 'So, I think if you feel like that, then don't, don't put yourself through it,' she said. How does HomeExchange work? How do I get started? 1. Create your listing and fill out your profile Introduce yourself and pick you ideal destinations Promote your home by adding photographs Add your availability 2. Look for homes in destinations that interest you and send exchange requests 3. Become a member and finalise the exchange The membership costs $220 (£173.99) for a year of unlimited exchanges What kinds of exchange holidays can I do? The Classic Exchange Here, two families exchange each other's homes, either simultaneously or on different dates Exchange with GuestPoints If you find a member with an available home, but they don't want to stay at your home in return, you can offer them GuestPoints that they can use to go and stay at another member's home in a destination of their choice An example on HomeExchange reads: 'You and your family go on a six night vacation to France and stay at another member's home for 100 guest points per night. 'You would give your host 600 guest points for this vacation. Your host can use these 600 GPs to organize their vacation. ' Source - HomeExchange Advertisement Italy France Share or comment on this article: I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack e-mail 14 shares Add commentHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors
Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning KULR Tech Gr Stock In The Last 5 YearsPresident-elect Donald Trump announced he created a new role for his administration, White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar. Filling the role will be tech entrepreneur and podcast host David Sacks. Sacks "will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas," Trump said in his announcement. "He will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship. He will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.," Trump continued" "David will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology," the president-elect said. Sacks is a longtime Silicon Valley ally of Elon Musk and invested in SpaceX. They worked together at PayPal, a company in which Sacks is a co-founder of and later became the COO. During that time, Musk was the CEO until 2000 when Confinity went through a rebrand and became PayPal. Sacks held major fundraisers for the Trump-Vance ticket, including one at his home for Trump in San Francisco, California in June. Trump did an interview with Sacks on his "All In" podcast earlier this year, in which he advocated for "automatically" giving noncitizens in the U.S. green cards when they graduate from college -- not just people who go through the vetting process. " [ What ] I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. That includes junior colleges, too," Trump said during the episode. Trump's response came after one of the hosts, Jason Calacanis, asked Trump if he could promise to "give us more ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America."Decoding Barrick Gold's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?
The Economist Picks Its CEO of the Year
THE world's oldest meat market held its final Christmas meat auction before its closure. People gathered at Smithfield meat market near Farringdon on Christmas Eve to get a last chance to stock-up on food for the big day. At the event this year, people were seen wearing Santa hats and Christmas jumpers as they crammed into the venue for the auction, run by G Lawrence butchers. Butchers and their apprentices were captures in their classic white overalls with black aprons as they began handing out the goods to festive customers. Customers were fighting to get the best meat, whether it be turkey , geese, beef or lamb. All of it went under the hammer. read more in money Traders have sold meat in and around modern-day Smithfield since before 1000AD. A medieval clerk described it as "a smooth field where every Friday there is a celebrated rendezvous of fine horses to be sold". The clerk added: "In another quarter are placed swine with their deep flanks, and cows and oxen of immense bulk." Former customers include novelist Charles Dickens , who described its "filth and fat and blood and foam" in Great Expectations. Most read in Money There were initial concerns that the market would close for good in 2028, but The City of London and Smithfield traders said on Monday that they planned to move it to a new location. Bosses had planned to move Smithfield meat market to Dagenham on the Essex border. But they have scrapped the £1billion move amid spiralling costs . Smithfield will not be moved to the new location following the U-turn - but it will still close down. An insider told The Times : "The whole market move has been catastrophically mismanaged." But one trader said: "I’ve been working here for 30 years, and it's been about to close for 30 years - so I’m taking it all with a pinch of salt." Now officials want to turn Smithfield into a "mixed-use cultural development" housing the Museum of London. But three top lawyers have warned the Corporation's decision could be "unlawful". In a letter, they said: "Understanding the social and economic importance of the existing markets is vital to any decision by the court to abolish them. "As is the social and economic implications of doing so. "The failure to have this information available would, we are concerned, be unlawful." MEAT YOUR MAKER But the Corporation said its own lawyers are "satisfied" the decision is legal. City of London chair Chris Hayward said: "People are eating less meat and fish. "An increasing amount of trade is handled directly online and we understand that a majority of traders will continue with their businesses. "The strength of the markets has always been in the traders, not the buildings." The Corporation has already splashed out £308million moving the market. Last year traders were given £115million in compensation after Smithfield's poultry market shut. READ MORE SUN STORIES Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “While this is disappointing news , we understand the financial pressures that key investment projects are facing with soaring inflation in recent years. “We are committed to continue working with the City of London Corporation to unlock the huge potential of the Dagenham Dock site to bring new employment uses and high quality jobs for local people.”‘Uniquely mysterious’: Unpacking a development proposal in Paradise Valley
Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Actor Dies at 84None
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Pridgen scores 23 in Montana's 83-73 win against Denver at Stew Morrill Classic
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
‘Polls only after vital electoral reforms’By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Related Articles National Politics | Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Immigration agency deports highest numbers since 2014, aided by more flights National Politics | Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the US under Trump National Politics | Immigration drives US population growth to highest rate in 23 years as residents pass 340 million Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Arsenal moves up to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over IpswichEven winning the World Series can't slow the Los Angeles Dodgers down. Los Angeles just accomplished what every team in baseball wanted by winning the World Series this fall over the New York Yankees but it seems like the Dodgers aren't even taking a minute to breathe. The Dodgers have been linked to a handful of free agents and there even have been reports that the club met with Yankees star Juan Soto. It should be unlikely that Soto will land in Los Angeles but who knows at this point. The Dodgers can do anything they want. No matter what happens with Soto, the Dodgers are going to be busy and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicted that Teoscar Hernández will end up re-signing . "Slugger Teoscar Hernández has made it clear he prefers to stay with the Dodgers, but it's also unlikely he is going to settle for another short-term deal coming off an elite offensive season that boosted his stock significantly," Reuter said. "The Dodgers can turn to some combination of Andy Pages, James Outman, Chris Taylor, and top prospect Dalton Rushing to fill the other corner outfield spot, but adding a productive veteran such as Jesse Winker would help take some pressure off that group. If he can be had on a one-year deal, he would be a nice under-the-radar pickup." Hernández made $23.5 million with Los Angeles so a multi-year deal with a similar annual value could make sense. He shined in 2024 with the Dodgers and had 33 home runs and 99 RBIs while earning an All-Star nod. Hopefully, he does end up returning. More MLB: Dodgers already met with superstar in line for $131M deal, per insiderNASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. "Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much," Scheffler said. "A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things." Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. "I think in this game I think a lot of all y'all are looking for perfection out of us," he said. "Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased." Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. "You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are," Thomas said. "He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies." Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None
Two primary schools are still undergoing contamination remediation years after the incidents were first discovered. Login or signup to continue reading Large sections of Fennell Bay and Belair public schools have been fenced for months as education and health authorities deal with the Earlier this month, the Glendale Holy Cross Primary School closed its gates for a week and moved its 150 students to another school after lead-contaminated soil was found in the school's playing area. Fennell Bay Public School - on the west side of Lake Macquarie - has been on the NSW Environmental Protection Authority's contaminated sites list since early 2021, when lead-contaminated soil - also known as 'black slag' - was discovered. The area was fenced off when soil testing confirmed the presences of residual lead-containing material in several small pockets across 6800 square metres of the school's playing field. Black slag is the product of the former Pasminco smelter, and from 1960 to 1995 more than two million tonnes of it was used throughout Lake Macquarie for landscaping. The EPA an initial assessment by its officers showed the "risk of exposure to students and the community was minimal". A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said half of the affected site had been remediated and re-opened to students in early 2024, and the school community had been regularly informed as the work progressed. The remainder of the remediation work is out for tender, with full remediation expected to be complete in the first half of 2025. "As a precaution, the department had open space areas at Fennell Bay Public School fenced off and made inaccessible," a department spokesperson said. "All remediation works to date has been undertaken in accordance with SafeWork NSW regulations, and completed by licensed and accredited contractors and monitored by occupational hygienists." Belair Public School, in Adamstown Heights, where in-ground asbestos containing material was discovered in March, 2023. About a quarter of the school grounds has been fenced off, or roughly 7000 square metres, since the "fragments of asbestos containing material" were found on the southern end of the grassed playground. The remediation is being managed by School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), who said air monitoring data across the site had "returned results below the minimum detectable limit". "In this case the evidence and advice from our hygienist is that there is not airborne asbestos in this area," SINSW said in a statement. The next stage of remediation work to remove the hazardous material due to start during the upcoming summer school holidays, while landscaping and construction work will continue into term one of 2025. The work includes tearing up the cricket pitch, playground, concrete footpath and removing multiple trees. "The school holidays are the ideal time for a lot of maintenance and project work to take place in schools across the state without disrupting learning," SINSW said. "We appreciate that work being carried out at Belair Public School is taking longer than anticipated however, the work is being done carefully and methodically." A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff was its highest priority. Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns.Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns.Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. 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Feds Greenlight NYC Congestion Pricing Plan, Paving Way for Tolls to Start on Jan. 5BD-Japan co-op eyes software architecture, technologyValve is back with another feature update for its PC gaming store and client Steam. This time, It is adding granular settings for users to choose when and how exactly can games download updates. This is part of the brand-new Steam Client Beta update that went live today. Currently in the live build, Steam will measure users' previous interactions with games to judge whether a brand-new updates needs immediate downloading, or keep it for later. There are existing options to set download times and speed limits, but these have not been deemed enough: "While this default behavior works in most cases, there are times when you need more control of when updates are applied. Some users might want to delay updating a 200GB game until they are ready to play it again in a few months, especially if they are on metered connections or have monthly bandwidth caps. For others who play the same game every night, they might want updates downloaded as soon as they are available. The process of automatic updates itself can be changed in the beta client now. The Downloads section in the app's settings page can be used to change the default behavior to "let Steam decide when to update the game" or "wait to update until the game is launched." Next, going to any game's properties in the beta client will reveal the new Automatic Updates section that applies changes just to that title. The four available options here are: set it to use the chosen Global Setting, wait until the user launches the game to update, let Steam decide (depending on user history), and give priority to download any update to it immediately, skipping any other restrictions. Once Valve decides the feature is ready to ship, it will move to the main client from beta at a later date. For those who can't wait, they can switch to the Steam Beta Client by heading to the app's Settings > Interface section and changing the Client Beta Participation dropdown to the latest version available.
EXCLUSIVE I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack Fionnuala Brennan has travelled to 87 destinations over ten years READ MORE: My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain By ALANAH KHOSLA Published: 10:49 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 10:55 EST, 27 December 2024 e-mail 14 shares 1 View comments A mother-of-four has revealed how she has saved an estimated €50,000 (£41,487) pounds while travelling the world over a period of 16 years with her family. Fionnuala Brennan, 53, from Tramore, Ireland, has managed to holiday around the globe, including in America, Australia, and Italy , by exchanging her home. The 53-year-old, a lecturer at Southeast Technological University in Waterford, has completed 87 exchanges since starting, saving her thousands of pounds. Fionnuala's preferred platform, HomeExchange, works in two ways: the Classic Exchange, where two families swap homes, either simultaneously or on different dates. Or tourists can use 'guest points', which means they can stay in a home without giving their own abode up, and earn points at a different time by letting people stay at their property. Despite Fionnuala hearing about the platform from a friend when she was 30, she didn't use the website until after she had her fourth child in 2008, which made travelling via hotels too expensive. 'With four kids, we felt it was just too expensive to go anywhere, so we decided to give it a go,' she told Femail. Now, the mother-of-four has made lasting memories with her husband and children around the globe and even favours it over other travelling arrangements due to the authentic experience it provides. Fionnuala Brennan (pictured centre right), 53, from Tramore, Ireland, and her family (pictured) have travelled around the globe via HomeExchange The mother-of-four, who is a university lecturer, first decided to travel via HomeExchange to save money Fionnuala and her family's first HomeExchange holiday was in France: 'We flew to Nantes and stayed in the Vendee in a little seaside town. 'We live in a little seaside town in Ireland - so, we were swapping an Irish seaside town for a French one and our own family home for a family home in France, which was perfect. 'They had young children like ours. Their house was full of Lego and all the toys; the kids had a really great time. 'It was a very easy holiday, and they were very relaxed, with a garden and swings, slides, and we were within walking distance to the beach.' 'When we started doing it in 2008, it was all direct exchanges. So that's more challenging because you need to find somebody interested in coming to the southeast of Ireland, and that's what we did for the first number of years.' 'We were doing European exchanges for the first few years, and it was mainly French families who were on the Home Exchange website and then we started going to different places. After having four children together, staying in hotels when on holiday became too expensive for Fionnuala and her husband Fionnuala believes that travelling with HomeExchange can offer a more authentic way to experience a foreign country The family have enjoyed trips across the globe together, including in America, Australia, France, Italy 'We went to America, Australia, Spain, Italy, and other European destinations. So those were direct home exchanges...and we often swapped cars as well. 'Of course, because we have four kids, we needed a seven-seater car and often swapped with similarly sized families and that worked well.' By saving on accommodation, Fionnuala and her family can splash out on other parts of the holiday, such as airport transfers to make the route as easy as possible for her family. But while holidaying in a hotel typically takes a small amount of preparation, arranging a home exchange can take a little while longer. Fionnuala explained: 'So we would get our house ready, and there's always work to do in that, getting things fixed and doing all the repairs, cleaning up, and leaving the place lovely and neat and tidy. 'So that's a challenge and perhaps not everybody's on for doing that before they go on their holidays, but I will say there is huge pleasure in coming back into your home and everything's fixed and working and in great shape.' She added: 'We've never had one where anybody left the house in a worse condition than they got it. 'They leave it just as clean and tidy as we left it and often in better condition, so that has never been a concern. There's a huge amount of trust in it because you're in their home while they're in yours.' Without HomeExchange, Fionnuala and her family would not have been able to experience as many countries The houses Fionnuala and her family visit are often equipped with bikes and toys for the children While the family saves money by exchanging their home, the biggest benefit for Fionnuala is the authentic experience. She explained: 'I was in Estonia, in Tallinn, a beautiful city, for a work conference, and I didn't want to stay in a hotel. Read More My six nights in the Loire... for the price of a bottle of Sancerre: Here's how the home-swap market can be an absolute bargain 'I was there for the week, and I stayed in a little studio apartment beside a family home. 'I was able to have coffee in the garden and the family was there and it just felt safe and comfortable and it was a much more authentic experience than staying in a hotel. She added: 'I was with Estonian people and [I had] a great sense of comfort. You feel like you're traveling and getting to know somewhere else in a real way.' The mother-of-four said that exchanging homes is also often a sociable way to travel, saying: 'Often people will let their neighbours know that you're coming or their relations will drop in and check in that you're OK. 'There's a great sense of community... you get to know different people and how they live and it's a really positive thing.' Elsewhere, the family have enjoyed trip in Rome, France, America, Malaga, Lucca, Lake Como, Cadiz, and Venice to name few. Fionnuala warned that holidaying via exchanging homes might not be suitable for those who are super house proud The mother-of-four said that HomeExchange can be a good route when travelling with children because people's homes are typically more equipped than hotels A highlight for her children was spending Christmas in Sydney in a home exchange, with a family who spent the 25th December in Ireland. Fionnuala's top tips for holidaymakers interested in HomeExchange.... Be honest about your home and expectations for the holiday: 'It's not like you're trying to sell it...all everybody wants is a functioning comfortable home.' Tidy the house before an exchange : 'Have it tidy, organised, clean, [with] fresh sheets, fresh towels. She added: 'You do want to prepare it and have it nice for visitors that are coming.' Try something new : 'I would say give it a go... there's an exchange for everybody, [whether] you live in a little studio apartment or you live in a big detached house with a garden, there's somebody out there who is interested in coming to where you are Advertisement While it's hard for Fionnuala to give an exact breakdown of how much she's saved in total, in the past one year alone, she's saved £6,700. 'While I'm estimating the cost of what we might have gone for otherwise, the quality of accommodation we stayed at with the swaps was much better than the hostels, Airbnbs or whatever we might have opted for, and a few of the trips would not have happened if we had to pay for accommodation. 'So, how I would put it is that we travel like people who are much better off than we are. 'We manage to travel and stay in beautiful places, beautiful homes in beautiful locations and we do that regularly. 'So, to put a number on it, it's difficult, but over the 16 years you can be sure that we have saved more than €50,000 no doubt.' While she still stays in the occasional hotel or Airbnb, Fionnuala finds home comforts are often unbeatable. 'There's great comfort in staying in a home that just has everything in it. If you cut your finger, you're going to find the first aid kit or you're going to find the parasol for when it's a hot day.' However, the mother-of-four warned that home exchange might not be for everybody. She said: 'I've recommended it to lots of friends and it hasn't worked for everybody. 'It does work for most people, [but] it's not inclined to work if people are very precious about their house, and it makes them uncomfortable to have strangers stay in their home. 'So, I think if you feel like that, then don't, don't put yourself through it,' she said. How does HomeExchange work? How do I get started? 1. Create your listing and fill out your profile Introduce yourself and pick you ideal destinations Promote your home by adding photographs Add your availability 2. Look for homes in destinations that interest you and send exchange requests 3. Become a member and finalise the exchange The membership costs $220 (£173.99) for a year of unlimited exchanges What kinds of exchange holidays can I do? The Classic Exchange Here, two families exchange each other's homes, either simultaneously or on different dates Exchange with GuestPoints If you find a member with an available home, but they don't want to stay at your home in return, you can offer them GuestPoints that they can use to go and stay at another member's home in a destination of their choice An example on HomeExchange reads: 'You and your family go on a six night vacation to France and stay at another member's home for 100 guest points per night. 'You would give your host 600 guest points for this vacation. Your host can use these 600 GPs to organize their vacation. ' Source - HomeExchange Advertisement Italy France Share or comment on this article: I've travelled the world with my family of six and saved £41,000 on accommodation over the years thanks to secret holiday hack e-mail 14 shares Add commentHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors
Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning KULR Tech Gr Stock In The Last 5 YearsPresident-elect Donald Trump announced he created a new role for his administration, White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar. Filling the role will be tech entrepreneur and podcast host David Sacks. Sacks "will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas," Trump said in his announcement. "He will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship. He will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.," Trump continued" "David will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology," the president-elect said. Sacks is a longtime Silicon Valley ally of Elon Musk and invested in SpaceX. They worked together at PayPal, a company in which Sacks is a co-founder of and later became the COO. During that time, Musk was the CEO until 2000 when Confinity went through a rebrand and became PayPal. Sacks held major fundraisers for the Trump-Vance ticket, including one at his home for Trump in San Francisco, California in June. Trump did an interview with Sacks on his "All In" podcast earlier this year, in which he advocated for "automatically" giving noncitizens in the U.S. green cards when they graduate from college -- not just people who go through the vetting process. " [ What ] I want to do, and what I will do, is you graduate from a college, I think you should get, automatically as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country. That includes junior colleges, too," Trump said during the episode. Trump's response came after one of the hosts, Jason Calacanis, asked Trump if he could promise to "give us more ability to import the best and brightest around the world to America."Decoding Barrick Gold's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?
The Economist Picks Its CEO of the Year
THE world's oldest meat market held its final Christmas meat auction before its closure. People gathered at Smithfield meat market near Farringdon on Christmas Eve to get a last chance to stock-up on food for the big day. At the event this year, people were seen wearing Santa hats and Christmas jumpers as they crammed into the venue for the auction, run by G Lawrence butchers. Butchers and their apprentices were captures in their classic white overalls with black aprons as they began handing out the goods to festive customers. Customers were fighting to get the best meat, whether it be turkey , geese, beef or lamb. All of it went under the hammer. read more in money Traders have sold meat in and around modern-day Smithfield since before 1000AD. A medieval clerk described it as "a smooth field where every Friday there is a celebrated rendezvous of fine horses to be sold". The clerk added: "In another quarter are placed swine with their deep flanks, and cows and oxen of immense bulk." Former customers include novelist Charles Dickens , who described its "filth and fat and blood and foam" in Great Expectations. Most read in Money There were initial concerns that the market would close for good in 2028, but The City of London and Smithfield traders said on Monday that they planned to move it to a new location. Bosses had planned to move Smithfield meat market to Dagenham on the Essex border. But they have scrapped the £1billion move amid spiralling costs . Smithfield will not be moved to the new location following the U-turn - but it will still close down. An insider told The Times : "The whole market move has been catastrophically mismanaged." But one trader said: "I’ve been working here for 30 years, and it's been about to close for 30 years - so I’m taking it all with a pinch of salt." Now officials want to turn Smithfield into a "mixed-use cultural development" housing the Museum of London. But three top lawyers have warned the Corporation's decision could be "unlawful". In a letter, they said: "Understanding the social and economic importance of the existing markets is vital to any decision by the court to abolish them. "As is the social and economic implications of doing so. "The failure to have this information available would, we are concerned, be unlawful." MEAT YOUR MAKER But the Corporation said its own lawyers are "satisfied" the decision is legal. City of London chair Chris Hayward said: "People are eating less meat and fish. "An increasing amount of trade is handled directly online and we understand that a majority of traders will continue with their businesses. "The strength of the markets has always been in the traders, not the buildings." The Corporation has already splashed out £308million moving the market. Last year traders were given £115million in compensation after Smithfield's poultry market shut. READ MORE SUN STORIES Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “While this is disappointing news , we understand the financial pressures that key investment projects are facing with soaring inflation in recent years. “We are committed to continue working with the City of London Corporation to unlock the huge potential of the Dagenham Dock site to bring new employment uses and high quality jobs for local people.”‘Uniquely mysterious’: Unpacking a development proposal in Paradise Valley
Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Actor Dies at 84None
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Pridgen scores 23 in Montana's 83-73 win against Denver at Stew Morrill Classic
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
‘Polls only after vital electoral reforms’By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Related Articles National Politics | Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Immigration agency deports highest numbers since 2014, aided by more flights National Politics | Advocates train immigrants to ‘prepare to stay’ in the US under Trump National Politics | Immigration drives US population growth to highest rate in 23 years as residents pass 340 million Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.