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  • Cult Classic ‘Twogether’: The Love Story Everyone’s Obsessed With

    OR

    ON-DEMAND

    Twogether is a stunning love story that bursts out of the indie scene to capture your heart with its raw emotion and authenticity. Unlike your typical Hollywood romance, Twogether offers a gritty, real-world narrative featuring characters who think deeply and feel profoundly. This gem, crafted by writer-director Andrew Chiaramonte after nearly a decade of dedication, stars the incredible duo Nick Cassavetes and Brenda Bakke, who bring remarkable depth to their roles.

    Cassavetes shines as John Madler, a passionate and unpredictable Venice-based painter. He’s the kind of guy who leverages his good looks and the enigmatic allure of being an artist to live life on his terms. At a gallery event supporting a Greenpeace-esque cause, he locks eyes with volunteer Allison McKenzie, played by Bakke. The chemistry is instant and electric, leading to a wild night in Vegas that ends with an unexpected marriage.

    Determined to part ways like “mature, intelligent adults”—in Allison’s words—they plan a quick divorce. However, when Allison visits John’s Venice hideaway to finalize the papers, they find themselves in bed once again, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. They initially agree on an abortion but are ultimately unable to follow through, setting the stage for an intense journey of mutual discovery.

    Chiaramonte masterfully propels the story forward with sharp montages and a keen sense of what to leave out, ensuring the film never drags. We join John and Allison as they navigate their evolving relationship, a strategy that draws us in completely.

    Allison emerges as the film’s standout revelation. Behind her confident exterior lies a woman haunted by a painful past, the neglected daughter of a rigidly conservative Bel-Air family. As John falls for her, she moves in during her pregnancy, but his pride and fierce independence keep him from admitting his true feelings, even to himself.

    At its core, Twogether is about the universal struggles of making choices, setting priorities, and the harsh realities of relationships. It highlights the challenges of responsibility, the pitfalls of immaturity and self-absorption, and the journey toward self-awareness and growth, regardless of age.

    Chiaramonte elicits deeply honest performances from Cassavetes and Bakke, who expose their souls and bodies on screen. If there’s any justice in the world, Twogether will catapult their careers to new heights. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Damian London standing out as the tough-minded art gallery owner.

    Twogether is a heartfelt indie film that wears its emotions proudly and has the potential to break into the mainstream.

    Twogether Cast:
    Nick Cassavetes: John Madler
    Brenda Bakke: Allison McKenzie
    Damian London: Mark Saffron
    Jeremy Piven: Arnie

    Twogether is currently being distributed by Freestyle Digital Media and available to watch for free or on-demand. Writer-director Andrew Chiaramonte. Producers Emett Alston, Chiaramonte. Co-producer Todd Fisher. Cinematographer Eugene Shlugleit. Editors Fisher, Chiaramonte. Costumes Jacqueline Johnson. Music Nigel Holton. Production designer Phil Brandes. Art director Phil Zarling. Sound Kip Gynn. Running time: 2 hours, 2 minutes.

  • “Young & Cursed” The Disturbing Horror Movie is A Cinematic Experience Set to Thrill Audiences in 2024

    “Young & Cursed” The Disturbing Horror Movie is A Cinematic Experience Set to Thrill Audiences in 2024

    ‘Young & Cursed’, a Chiaramonte Films, Inc. production, is a new horror movie / psychological thriller which is set to be released in early 2024.

    LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, November 1, 2023 — Audiences are excited about this new cinematic experience as the talented team of Andrew Chiaramonte and Emmett Alston unites to present their gripping horror / psychological thriller film, “Young & Cursed,” scheduled for release in 2024.

    Beneath the eerie canopy of an impending Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse, “Young & Cursed” unveils a harrowing tale that will grip the souls of horror enthusiasts. The narrative unravels around five young souls from diverse backgrounds, drawn unknowingly to a desolate and enigmatic cabin in the wilderness.

    Maria (Jennifer Rosas), tormented by the ghostly specter that haunts her every waking moment, and Jason (Stevarion Allen), a gifted musician stalked by a nightmarish demonic version of himself, are drawn together by forces beyond their comprehension.

    Trudy (Morgan Franz) harbors her own unspeakable terrors, besieged by a grotesque demon that mercilessly torments her during the dark hours. Tahoma (Reda Fassi-Fihri) finds himself pursued by a evil Skinwalker, while Donny (CJ Malone), a tech prodigy with a conflicted past, grapples with a demonic possession that has finally reached its terrifying zenith.

    Their lives intertwine with that of Kyra (Madison Hubler), a spellbinding enigma residing within the cabin, who appears to be simultaneously oblivious and all-knowing. Within her, lurks one of the most sinister demons to ever haunt mankind, Lilith (Britt Crisp), a malevolent entity that has endured since time’s inception, serving a nefarious purpose that will send shivers down the viewer’s spine.

    Leading the charge in this thrilling cinematic endeavor are the brilliant director and producer duo, Andrew Chiaramonte and Emmett Alston, who have combined their creative prowess and extensive experience to produce, “Young & Cursed”, a movie that will enthrall audiences worldwide.

    When asked about the inspiration behind “Young & Cursed,” Chiaramonte and Alston cited their fascination with the enigmatic Blood Moon, a celestial phenomenon steeped in mystery and superstition. This rare lunar event offered the ideal canvas for weaving a narrative that seamlessly merges elements of horror, suspense, and psychological drama.

    “Young & Cursed” boasts an ensemble cast of exceptional actors who bring their characters to life with unwavering incisive understanding and depth, immersing the audience further into the haunting world of the film.

    More than just a run-of-the-mill thriller, “Young & Cursed” is a meticulously crafted masterpiece that plays with the audience’s emotions, ensuring they remain on the edge of their seats throughout. The film’s atmospheric cinematography by Gary Ahmed, and haunting score by composer Patrick O’Malley, in perfect harmony to create an immersive experience that indelibly impacts the viewers world.

    Months prior to its release, “Young & Cursed” has already generated substantial buzz within the film industry and among eager movie fans. With its unique storyline, impeccable direction, and exceptional performances, the film is poised to become a breakout hit. “Young & Cursed” is an exciting cinematic venture that promises to be a standout addition to the horror thriller genre. With its talented creative team, bewitching plotline, and stellar cast, the film is primed to dominate the box office and capture the hearts of audiences worldwide.

    For more information, please visit the official website of “Young & Cursed” at youngandcursed.com.

    About Chiaramonte Films, Inc.

    Chiaramonte Films, Inc. is a renowned film production company known for delivering captivating and groundbreaking cinematic experiences. With a commitment to pushing creative boundaries, Chiaramonte Films, Inc. has consistently delivered critically acclaimed films that leave a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. For more information, visit chiaramontefilms.com .

  • A year after LA-area wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, fewer than a dozen have been rebuilt

    On the first anniversary of the most destructive wildfires in the L.A. area, the scant home construction projects stand out among the still mostly flattened landscapes.

    Fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in Los Angeles County since Jan. 7, 2025, when the Palisades and Eaton fires erupted, killing 31 people and destroying about 13,000 homes and other residential properties.

    For those who had insurance, it’s often not enough to cover the costs of construction. Relief organizations are stepping in to help, but progress is slow.

    Among the exceptions is Ted Koerner, whose Altadena home was reduced to ash and two chimneys. With his insurance payout tied up, the 67-year-old liquidated about 80% of his retirement holdings, secured contractors quickly, and moved decisively through the rebuilding process.

    Shortly before Thanksgiving, Koerner was among the first to finish a rebuild in the aftermath of the fires, which were fueled by drought and hurricane-force winds.

    But most do not have options like Koerner.

    The streets of the coastal community of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, a community in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, remain lined with dirt lots. In the seaside city of Malibu, foundations and concrete piles rising out of the sand are all that’s left of beachfront homes that once butted against crashing ocean waves.

    Neighborhoods are pitch black at night, with few streetlamps replaced. Even many homes that survived are not inhabited as families struggle to clear them of the fire’s toxic contaminants.

    Koerner was driven in part by fear that his beloved golden retriever, Daisy Mae, now 13 years old, might not live long enough to move into a new home, given the many months it can take to build even under the best circumstances.

    He also did not have to wait for his insurance payout to start construction.

    “That’s the only way we were going to get it done before all of a sudden my dog starts having labored breathing or something else happens,” Koerner said.

    Once construction began, his home was completed in just over four months.

    Daisy Mae is back lying in her favorite spot in the yard under a 175-year-old Heritage Oak. Koerner said he enjoys his morning coffee while watching her and it brings tears to his eyes.

    “We made it,” he said.

    Many fear they can’t afford to rebuild

    About 900 homes are under construction, potentially on pace to be completed later this year.

    Still, many homeowners are stuck as they figure out whether they can pay for the rebuilding process.

    Scores of residents have left their communities for good. More than 600 properties where a single-family home was destroyed in the wildfires have been sold, according to real estate data tracker Cotality.

    “We’re seeing huge gaps between the money insurance is paying out, to the extent we have insurance, and what it will actually cost to rebuild and/or remediate our homes,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, a group of 10,000 fire survivors mostly from Altadena.

    By December, less than 20% of people who experienced total home loss had closed out their insurance claims, according to a survey by the nonprofit Department of Angels.

    About one-third of insured respondents had policies with State Farm, the state’s largest private insurer, or the California FAIR plan, the insurer of last resort. They reported high rates of dissatisfaction with both, citing burdensome requirements, lowball estimates, and dealing with multiple adjusters.

    In November, Los Angeles County opened a civil investigation into State Farm’s practices and potential violations of the state’s Unfair Competition law. Chen said the group has seen a flurry of substantial payouts since then.

    Without answers from insurance, households can’t commit to rebuilding projects that can easily exceed $1 million.

    “They’re worried about getting started and running out of money,” Chen said.

    An uncertain future

    Jessica Rogers discovered only after the Palisades fire destroyed her home that her coverage had been canceled.

    The mother of two’s fallback was a low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration, but the application process was grueling. After losing her job because of the fire and then having her identity stolen, her approval for $550,000 came through last month.

    She is still weighing how she’ll cover the remaining costs and says she wonders: “Do I empty out my 401(k) and start counting every penny in a penny jar around the apartment?”

    Rogers – now executive director of the Pacific Palisades Long Term Recovery Group – estimates there are hundreds like her in Pacific Palisades who are “stuck dealing with FEMA and SBA and figuring out if we could piecemeal something together to build our homes.”

    Also struggling to return home are the community’s renters, condo owners, and mobile homeowners. Meanwhile, many are also dealing with their trauma.

    “It’s not what people talk about, but it is incredibly apparent and very real,” said Rogers, who still finds herself crying at unexpected moments.

    A slow start

    That so few homes have been rebuilt a year after the wildfires echoes the recovery pattern of a December 2021 blaze that erupted south of Boulder, Colorado, destroying more than 1,000 homes.

    “At the one-year mark, many lots had been cleared of debris and many residents had applied for building permits, said Andrew Rumbach, co-lead of the Climate and Communities Program at Urban Institute. “Around the 18-month mark is when you start to see really significant progress in terms of going from handfuls to hundreds” of homes rebuilt.

    Time will bring the scope of problems into focus.

    “You’re going to start to see some real inequality start to emerge where certain neighborhoods, certain types of people, certain types of properties are just lagging way far behind, and that becomes the really important question in the second year of a recovery: Who’s doing well and who is really struggling and why?” Rumbach said.

    That’s a key concern in Altadena, which for decades drew aspiring Black homeowners who otherwise faced redlining and other forms of racial discrimination when they sought to buy a home in other L.A.-area communities. In 2024, 81% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes, nearly twice the national Black homeownership rate.

    But recent research by UCLA’s Latino Policy & Politics Institute found that, as of August, 7 in 10 Altadena homeowners whose property was severely damaged in last year’s wildfire had not begun taking steps to rebuild or sell their home. Among these, Black homeowners were 73% more likely than others to have taken no action.

    Determined to rebuild

    Al and Charlotte Bailey have been living in an RV parked on the empty lot where their home once stood.

    The Baileys are paying for their rebuild with funds from their insurance payout and a loan. They’re also hoping to receive money from Southern California Edison. Several lawsuits claim its equipmentsparked the wildfire in Altadena.

    “We had been here for 41 years and raised our family here, and in one night it was all gone,” said Al Bailey, 77. “We decided that, whatever it’s going to cost, this is our community.”

    Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

    AP

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  • Iranian military leader threatens preemptive attack after Trump comments

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    The head of Iran’s military threatened preemptive action over “rhetoric” targeting the country as the regime faces massive protests. Iran’s Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami was likely responding to President Donald Trump’s warning that America would act if violence was used against protesters.

    Trump recently made it clear that the U.S. would step in if it saw that Iran was mistreating or killing protesters.

    The president wrote on Truth Social, “If Iran shoots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”

    Trump’s warning took on a new meaning for Iran following the historic U.S. mission in Venezuela that led to the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

    IRAN PROTESTERS EMBOLDENED BY TRUMP ADMIN’S PERSIAN MESSAGING AFTER OBAMA-BIDEN INACTION, ACTIVISTS SAY

    Iranian military chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami seemed to respond to President Donald Trump’s remarks in his latest statement on the ongoing protests. (Masoud Nazari Mehrabi/Iranian Army via AP; Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

    Hatami, who was speaking to military academy students, said, “The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response,” according to The Associated Press, which cited the state-run IRNA news agency.

    He added, “I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor.”

    Economic woes have led to an uprising among the Iranian people, and international backlash over the treatment of demonstrators has left regime officials feeling threatened, particularly by the U.S. and Israel.

    Protesters hold signs during a demonstration in Iran.

    Protesters hold signs during a demonstration in Iran amid ongoing unrest, according to images released by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran. (NCRI )

    IRAN ON THE BRINK AS PROTESTERS MOVE TO TAKE TWO CITIES, APPEAL TO TRUMP

    In an effort to quell the unrest, Iran’s government began paying the equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize rising food costs for dinner-table staples, such as rice, meat and pasta. Iranian state TV reported that the subsidy will go to more than 71 million people across the country, according to the AP. The outlet noted that the new subsidy is more than double the 4.5 million rial the people had previously received.

    Iranian shopkeepers have warned that prices for items like basic cooking oil could triple under pressure from the collapse of the country’s currency, the AP reported. Iranian media has also reportedly covered the rise in prices of basic goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese.

    Iran protests

    Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.  (Fars News Agency via AP)

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

    Iran’s vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, told reporters that the country was in a “full-fledged economic war,” the AP reported. He called for “economic surgery” to get rid of rentier policies and corruption within Iran, the AP added.

    Protests began late last month and have showed no signs of stopping. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) claimed the cities of Abdanan (Ilam province) and Malekshahi were effectively “taken over” by protesters.

    The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

    Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

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  • Warner Bros rejects takeover offer from Paramount, tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid

    Warner Bros. again rejected Paramount’s latest takeover bid and told shareholders Wednesday to stick with a rival offer from Netflix.Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed Skydance-owned Paramount’s overtures — and urged shareholders just weeks ago to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has sweetened its $77.9 billion offer for the entire company and gone straight to shareholders with a hostile bid.Warner Bros. Discovery said Wednesday that its board determined Paramount’s offer is not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. It again recommended shareholders support the Netflix deal.Late last month Paramount announced an “irrevocable personal guarantee” from Oracle founder Larry Ellison — who is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — to back $40.4 billion in equity financing for the company’s offer. Paramount also increased its promised payout to shareholders to $5.8 billion if the deal is blocked by regulators, matching what Netflix already put on the table.The battle for Warner and the value of each offer grows complicated because Netflix and Paramount want different things. Netflix’s proposed acquisition includes only Warner’s studio and streaming business, including its legacy TV and movie production arms and platforms like HBO Max. But Paramount wants the entire company — which, beyond studio and streaming, includes networks like CNN and Discovery.If Netflix is successful, Warner’s news and cable operations would be spun off into their own company, under a previously-announced separation.A merger with either company will attract tremendous antitrust scrutiny. Due to its size and potential impact, it will almost certainly trigger a review by the U.S. Justice Department, which could sue to block the transaction or request changes. Other countries and regulators overseas may also challenge the merger.

    NEW YORK —

    Warner Bros. again rejected Paramount’s latest takeover bid and told shareholders Wednesday to stick with a rival offer from Netflix.

    Warner’s leadership has repeatedly rebuffed Skydance-owned Paramount’s overtures — and urged shareholders just weeks ago to back the sale of its streaming and studio business to Netflix for $72 billion. Paramount, meanwhile, has sweetened its $77.9 billion offer for the entire company and gone straight to shareholders with a hostile bid.

    Warner Bros. Discovery said Wednesday that its board determined Paramount’s offer is not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. It again recommended shareholders support the Netflix deal.

    Late last month Paramount announced an “irrevocable personal guarantee” from Oracle founder Larry Ellison — who is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — to back $40.4 billion in equity financing for the company’s offer. Paramount also increased its promised payout to shareholders to $5.8 billion if the deal is blocked by regulators, matching what Netflix already put on the table.

    The battle for Warner and the value of each offer grows complicated because Netflix and Paramount want different things. Netflix’s proposed acquisition includes only Warner’s studio and streaming business, including its legacy TV and movie production arms and platforms like HBO Max. But Paramount wants the entire company — which, beyond studio and streaming, includes networks like CNN and Discovery.

    If Netflix is successful, Warner’s news and cable operations would be spun off into their own company, under a previously-announced separation.

    A merger with either company will attract tremendous antitrust scrutiny. Due to its size and potential impact, it will almost certainly trigger a review by the U.S. Justice Department, which could sue to block the transaction or request changes. Other countries and regulators overseas may also challenge the merger.

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  • Jockey Movie Teaser అదిరింది 🔥🤩 #jockey #movie #trailer #newmovie

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  • Youtube bs

    Tags: youtube, funny, shitposting, meme

    2187 points, 104 comments.

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  • 17 Lesser-Known Google Search Tips to Boost Your Productivity

    ViDI Studio / Shutterstock.com

    Work always feels like so much work. There are high expectations from your supervisors, constant pressure and tight deadlines. The good news? You’re about to find out how to take some stress out of your work life. I’m going to show you how to properly use one of the most powerful tools you’ve got at hand: Google Search. This list of Google Search tricks will advance your search and let you…

    Maryalene LaPonsie

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  • Mia Goth Declares ‘The Odyssey’ Better Than ‘Star Wars,’ Sorta

    Few actresses are as in demand as Mia Goth, and rightfully so. The captivating, soulful star of Pearl and MaXXXine can currently be seen in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and later this year she plays Melantho in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Then, next year, she’s one of the villains in Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter. That’s an impressive lineup of highly secretive projects, and, in new interviews, she heaped slightly different levels of praise on each.

    Speaking to Collider, Goth said the following about Star Wars: Starfighter. “It was incredible. I had the most fun on a film set, I think, that I’ve ever had. I mean, Shawn Levy is just electric. When you meet him, you can’t help but feel that electricity. It just rubs off on you, you know. And he has a way of working with his crew, and he’s so bonded to everyone around him, and we had such a blast. I think people are gonna really love the movie.”

    Pretty exciting stuff. However, here’s what Goth said to the Hollywood Reporter about working on The Odyssey. “That was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It really was. It was profound,” Goth said. “I’ve been such a fan of [Christopher Nolan’s] work for years. And so to have that opportunity and to witness him and how he directs was incredible. I took a lot from that. The trust that he has in actors was enlightening.”

    Obviously, she has nothing but nice things to say about each film, each director, and each experience. However, Star Wars: Starfighter was “the most fun” she had “on a film set” “ever,” while The Odyssey was “one of the greatest experiences of [her] life.” That’s her whole life versus just being on a film set. It seems The Odyssey wins.

    In all seriousness, though, this is just Goth doing her best to hit the talking points her publicist gave her about films she can’t say anything about. We totally get it. She’s the best. And we can’t wait to see her in both films.

    The Odyssey opens on July 17. Star Wars: Starfighter opens on May 28, 2027.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

    Germain Lussier

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  • Brazil’s Bolsonaro Authorized to Go to Hospital for Tests After Fall

    BRASILIA, Jan 7 (Reuters) – ‌Brazil’s ​Supreme ‌Court Justice Alexandre de ​Moraes authorized former President ‍Jair Bolsonaro to ​leave prison ​and ⁠be taken to a hospital for tests after he fell and hit his ‌head, a court decision ​showed on ‌Wednesday.

    Moraes authorized ‍Bolsonaro to ⁠go to the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia on January 7 to undergo a ​CT scan, an MRI, and an electroencephalogram.

    On Tuesday, Moraes had denied an earlier request for Bolsonaro to leave prison, arguing there was no need for him to ​be immediately taken to hospital.

    (Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Writing by ​Isabel Teles; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)

    Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.

    Reuters

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  • Move over, blue bloods! This playoff belongs to the ‘new bloods’

    For ages, certainly as long as we have been in the College Football Playoff age, people have politely asked and desperately pleaded, when were some new bloods finally going to replace the blue bloods on college football’s biggest postseason stage?

    Well, folks, the age of new is officially the age of now.

    The promise of the four-team CFP versus the two-team Bowl Championship Series title game was to create more room for more teams to challenge the same old establishment. One year ago, the impetus behind the playoff’s further expansion to a dozen teams was to widen that door even further and perhaps interject a little March Madness into college football.

    It’s working. At least for now, it is. And fittingly, it’s a basketball school that is leading the movement.

    For the first time since the CFP debuted at the end of the 2014 season, the playoff’s final four lineup does not include Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State or Clemson. And over those first 11 editions, any team that did manage to break the big four’s big box déjà vu blockade to earn a spot in the semis or final … well, they weren’t exactly George Mason ’06 or Loyola Chicago ’18.

    Notre Dame made it to the title game one year ago, following Michigan‘s 2023 run to the championship. But no one is going to mistake the Irish and Wolverines for UMBC and VCU. The closest we came to a true CFP Cinderella run was TCU in 2022, when the Horned Frogs crashed the big ball in Los Angeles, only to have Georgia take away their glass slipper and beat them over their horned heads with it 65-7.

    However, this year’s fortuitous foursome — with Ole Miss facing Miami on Thursday night and Indiana taking on Oregon on Friday — is guaranteed to bring us a new-age champion, no matter who winds up standing atop the stage at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19. And it won’t merely be the boldest new-blood dash of the CFP era, but also of nearly the entire BCS era that began in 1998. Or, honestly, even the Bowl Alliance, the Bowl Coalition or the plain old Bowl era that reaches back more than a century.

    No matter your age, you know that Indiana has never had a football golden age until now. No offense to Coach Corso and the 1979 Holiday Bowl champs or Vaughn Dunbar and the 1991 Copper Bowl victors or even Antwaan Randle-El and Anthony Thompson, but that’s really as good as it ever got. The good people of Bloomington were content to let the Irish be the state’s football school with occasional loan-outs to Purdue, while everyone waited for hoops season to finally tip off.

    IU has fielded football teams since 1887, but the Hoosiers hadn’t posted double-digit wins in a season until the past two years and hadn’t won an outright Big Ten title since 1945, nor had they won a Big Ten championship game or a Rose Bowl until these past six weeks. Should they win it all, someone needs to let the kids of the 1954 Milan High Indians and Jimmy Chitwood’s Hickory Huskers know that they are no longer the greatest underdog story in “Hoosiers” history.

    If you are of a certain age, then you remember when Oregon was really bad at football. As in, most of the 20th century. From 1893 through 1993, the Ducks made exactly three Rose Bowl trips, two of those prior to 1920. They did win seven conference championships, but six of those were shared with other teams; their only outright title came in the four-game Oregon Intercollegiate Football Association campaign of 1895. When they made it to the 1992 Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl, it was a very big deal … and they lost that game to Wake Forest.

    But the revolutionary football evolution that followed, fueled by Oregon grad Phil Knight and the little shoe company he started on the Eugene campus back in the day, was every bit the equivalent to what Indiana is doing now. They turned around a battleship in a bathtub. But even the dapper dayglo Ducks we’ve known since then — from Joey Harrington’s towering likeness in Times Square and Marcus Mariota’s Heisman win of 2014 to Chip Kelly, Earth’s funniest mascot and those bazillion uniform combinations — Oregon has yet to win a national title, despite two appearances in the BCS/CFP finals, the last coming a decade ago with Mariota behind center.

    If you are of the Gen X age, then you knew the unstoppable machine that was The U. But your kids and grandkids have never seen the Miami Hurricanes on college football’s biggest stage. Unless you’ve shown them the Canes dynasty 30 for 30 films on the ESPN App or you’ve made them watch standard definition footage of Ed Reed, Jeremy Shockey & Co. winning the 2001 BCS title (shoutout to Larry Coker), then they only know Miami football as the embodiment of #goacc.

    So many preseason predictions of “The U is back!” have ended with Sebastian the Ibis flat on his back in the Everglades mud. Miami’s biggest postseason victory since it beat Nebraska on that January night in Pasadena — so far back the Canes were still a member of the Big East — was, what? The 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl?

    And speaking of ages, unless you were an Ole Miss student during the Space Age, you’ve never seen the Rebels fitted for a real championship ring. Fact: There are few, if any, Saturday college football experiences as glorious as strolling The Grove, red Solo cup in hand. The best food served by the most beautiful people beneath tents taken straight out of home decorating magazines beneath magnolia trees taken straight out of Southern Living magazine. We all know about Archie and Eli Manning, about Deuce McAllister and Jaxson Dart.

    But also a fact: When you enter Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, you are struck first by how well everyone is dressed. Then you realize how naked that stadium’s walls are when it comes to addressing the program’s championship seasons. The 2003 SEC West Co-Division champions? The 1963 SEC champions? The ’62 national champions, a title bestowed upon the Rebels by the Litkenhous Difference by Score Ratings system (we’re not making that up!) while USC was dubbed the champ by the major polls? The Rebels’ last natty was their third in four years, but it was won so long ago that Johnny Vaught, the name that adorns their stadium, was still coach, and JFK was in the White House.

    The point of this four-part, four-team history lesson is not to harp on those programs’ longtime struggles to insert themselves into college football’s most exclusive room, or return to that room after a generational absence, or to finally be able to take care of business once they do get in there.

    Reliving the statistical pain of this year’s playoff survivors is to give us all the proper perspective on what it will mean for the one squad that manages to emerge from this quirky quartet to finally hoist the big gold trophy. Also, to fully recognize the realization of a much-demanded postseason team transfusion.

    Y’all have been asking for it. Well, now we’ve got it. The new age of new CFP blood has arrived. Enjoy it now, folks, because 156 years of college football history tells us the blue bloods never stay out of power for long. Then again, that same history would have tried to tell us that this quadrumvirate was never going to happen in the first place. And that’s why, as the semifinal kickoffs loom, it feels like it could be, yes, one for the ages.

    Ryan McGee

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  • Wednesday’s Workwear Report: The Stella Skirt

    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

    I’ve been getting served a lot of ads for Sophie Grace, a Canadian company focused on making “streamlined, elegant, mix and match staples,” so I decided to take a look around their site, and I’m psyched. It looks like they have a lot of good-looking basics designed by someone who has actually spent time in a professional office.

    This pencil skirt, made of a four-way stretch material, comes in five different colors and has three potential coordinating blazers. I’m placing an order now! 

    The skirt is $170 and comes in sizes XS-2XL.

    Sales of note for 1/2:

    Elizabeth

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  • BizToc

    Market Summary

    Markets traded cautiously as geopolitical shocks and AI news drove sector rotation. The Dow extended gains and sits near record levels while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped in overnight futures; tech and AI names led gains earlier but showed volatility, energy softened after U.S.-Venezuela oil headlines, and safe-haven flows bumped Treasury yields and gold.

    U.S. forces mounted an operation in Venezuela that left American service members wounded and set the stage for Washington to secure large volumes of Venezuelan crude. The developments crystallize a fast-moving oil and security intervention with immediate market and geopolitical fallout.

    Figure of the Day

    50,000,000 barrels – Maximum quantity of Venezuelan oil Trump said could be sent to the U.S.

    The White House said military options remain on the table for Greenland, prompting sharp pushback from European capitals. NATO allies moved quickly to rebuff any U.S. seizure and reaffirm Danish sovereignty.

    Warner Bros. Discovery repeatedly rebuffed rival bids and urged shareholders to back its deal with Netflix, escalating a high-stakes media takeover tussle. The board framed Paramount’s offers as inferior and risky, keeping the takeover fight center-stage.

    Bullish

    Jollibee spins off global business; shares surge

    Filipino fast-food group Jollibee said it will split its domestic and overseas operations, triggering a more than 14% jump in shares as investors back the strategy to unlock growth in higher-return markets.
    More on fortune.com

    JPMorgan is ditching external proxy advisers and building internal, tech-driven voting processes, a move that alters corporate governance norms. The decision signals a wider industry rethink about proxy firms’ influence and the use of AI in stewardship.

    Morgan Stanley widened its crypto push with fresh filings for spot and ether products, marking deeper institutional entry into token ETFs. The filings add momentum to a nascent wave of bank-led crypto exchange-traded offerings.

    Bearish

    Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

    Washington-based coffee chain Compass Coffee filed for bankruptcy and will close multiple locations, underscoring ongoing strain on smaller hospitality chains amid weak consumer traffic.

    Elon Musk’s xAI raised a giant funding round even as its Grok chatbot faces global backlash for generating sexualized images, creating an investor-regulatory headache. The combination underlines the tensions between rapid AI fundraising and product safety failures.

    Beijing tightened export controls in a sharp escalation with Tokyo, including new dual-use restrictions and threats around rare earth supplies. The moves mark a fast-deepening trade and tech standoff with potential supply-chain disruptions for global manufacturers.

    Regulatory Impact

    China imposed new export controls on dual-use goods and signalled rare-earth leverage; the U.S. FDA tightened oversight for AI-enabled medical devices while clarifying lighter rules for non-medical wearables; JPMorgan moved proxy voting in-house, shifting governance norms.

    Nvidia used CES to reveal new architecture and ramp production, signaling a renewed push for AI data-center dominance. The announcements moved markets and stoked supply-chain implications across chipmakers and cooling suppliers.

    Private capital and strategic investors poured billions into data-center developers as builds accelerate across Europe and Tel Aviv. The KKR-backed funding underscores the strategic rush to host cloud and AI infrastructure close to demand hubs.

    Quote

    “We’re going to keep the oil.”

    — President Donald Trump

    Eurozone inflation cooled to 2% in December, easing immediate pressure on ECB tightening but raising questions about momentum into 2026. U.S. futures slipped amid risk-off moves as markets processed geopolitical and data risks.

    Argentina struck a $3 billion repo deal with domestic banks to bridge an upcoming debt payment, a stopgap that aims to steady markets ahead of a critical liability. Meanwhile U.S. lenders posted a strong quarter as investment banking recovered.

    Big pharma and software M&A rolled forward as Merck completed a takeover and a major enterprise software vendor agreed to go private. The deals reflect continuing strategic consolidation across health and enterprise software sectors.

    U.S. majors and PE groups have lined up bids for sanctioned Russian oil firm Lukoil’s international assets, a fire sale with major strategic implications. The contest points to a broader reshaping of oil ownership and export routes after sanctions.

    Samsung rallied as an industry memory shortage tightens prices, with the company warning of industry-wide cost inflation. Investors moved on the prospect of higher DRAM and NAND prices affecting devices and margins across OEMs.

    Major cyber incidents continue to dent industrial and consumer firms as operational disruptions rip through supply chains. Attacks and data breaches are driving production halts and urgent remediation costs across sectors.

    A pending Supreme Court decision could expose billions in tariff refunds, keeping markets on edge. Legal outcomes on trade policy are poised to have immediate fiscal and market consequences.

    Tesla faces market wobble as investor focus shifts to AI competition and chip ambitions, while Musk tees up in-house 2nm production. The moves underscore automakers’ pivot into semiconductor strategy as part of verticalisation efforts.

    Regulators moved to clarify oversight of health wearables and AI-enabled devices, loosening rules for non-medical gadgets while tightening scrutiny on diagnostic tools. The policy shifts will reshape product strategy for device and software makers.

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  • Babil Khan’s emotional tribute to Irrfan Khan leaves everyone emotional [Video]













    Babil Khan’s emotional tribute to Irrfan Khan leaves everyone emotional [Video]










































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    • Babil Khan’s emotional tribute to Irrfan Khan leaves everyone emotional [Video]

    Irrfan Khan’s legacy continues to inspire and touch hearts even after his untimely passing in 2020. On his 59th birth anniversary, his son Babil Khan shared heartfelt tributes on social media, reminiscing about their bond and fond memories.

    By: Video Desk  |  Published: January 7, 2026 6:06 PM IST

    Babil Khan’s heartfelt tribute to father Irrfan Khan is a testament to the legacy of the late star. To mark Irrfan’s 59th birth anniversary, Babil shared these two poignant photographs of their father-son bond. A picture displays a young Babil resting comfortably on Irrfan’s back, enfolding them in warmth and comfort. The second photo captures the duo standing face-to-face outdoors in a beautiful way, with a soft blur creating a picturesque effect. The caption of Babil says, Pictures of you. Pictures of me. (Earlier I used to say sofa mode activated before jumping on him and sleeping on his back).
    Irrfan Khan showcased his versatility in his iconic films “Life of Pi”, “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Jurassic World” over his career of more than 30 years. India had a chance to see him in Paan Singh Tomar, The Lunchbox, Piku, and Hindi Medium. His natural acting style is something the actor has become famous for. He also shows how to convey deep emotions through mere expressions. Babil’s tribute is like a reminder of Irrfan’s everlasting legacy which will always stay with the fans and those who loved him.

    Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_Inarticle_300x250|300,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_Inarticle_2_300x250|300,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_ATF_970x90|970,250~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_ATF_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_BTF_1_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_BTF_2_300x250|300,600~Bollywoodlife_Web/bollywoodlife_ros_strip|1300,50~Bollywoodlife_Web/Bollywoodlife_AS_OOP_1x1|1,1

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  • ‘Big Ripple Moment:’ Analyst Says XRP/BTC Setup Last Seen in 2018 Is Back

    Ripple (XRP) trades at $2.28 as key support holds, with traders watching $2.32 resistance, EMA ribbon test, and $2.66 upside target.

    Ripple (XRP) is trading at $2.28 at press time, showing a 3% decline in the past 24 hours. Despite the drop, the asset remains up more than 20% over the past week.

    It fell from $2.41, breaking below the $2.32 support. A sharp move to $2.21 was met with buying interest, allowing the price to recover back to the current level. The focus is now on whether XRP can move back above $2.31–$2.32 or continue within a downward range.

    Support Holding at $2.27, Eyes on $2.66 Target

    The $2.27 level lines up with the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement, a point traders often watch during strong trends. Crypto analyst Tara noted that “$2.27 is the new CRITICAL level” for XRP, adding that a moving average is also rising toward this area. This combination is helping support the current price zone.

    A clean break above it could shift focus to higher targets between $2.49 and $2.66. These areas match the previous Fibonacci extension levels. If the token fails to stay above $2.27, the next lower level is $2.18, marked by the 0.382 retracement. A move below that could bring $2.11 into view.

    In addition, market momentum is showing early signs of slowing. The RSI stands at 64, down from earlier overbought levels but still above neutral.

    On the weekly chart, XRP is testing the EMA ribbon, a group of moving averages used to read long-term direction. XRP stayed under this ribbon for months, but the recent price strength has brought it back into the zone around $2.37. Analyst Steph Is Crypto said,

    You may also like:

    “$XRP IS TRYING TO RECLAIM THE WEEKLY EMA RIBBON. THIS IS A BIG MOMENT.”

    In past cycles, moving above this ribbon has lined up with stronger upward trends. Whether the price closes the week inside or above the ribbon could influence how traders react in the near term.

    XRP/BTC Chart Signals Possible Strength Shift

    Another setup drawing attention is the XRP/BTC pair. Chartist “The Great Mattsby” pointed out that this pair is approaching a breakout above the monthly Ichimoku Cloud — a level not crossed since 2018. If confirmed, this may reflect improving strength for XRP relative to Bitcoin. The timing lines up with broader interest in cross-asset moves early in the year.

    The recent drop in XRP appears to have come from fast selling rather than a gradual decline. This type of action often resets trading positions, giving room for a cleaner base if support holds.

    Moreover, on-chain data shows growing activity from larger holders and rising liquidity, as previously reported. Spot-based Ripple ETFs have also seen steady inflows for nearly two months. This institutional demand has helped keep prices above $2.00 and may continue to support current levels if buying interest remains strong.

    SPECIAL OFFER (Exclusive)

    SECRET PARTNERSHIP BONUS for CryptoPotato readers: Use this link to register and unlock $1,500 in exclusive BingX Exchange rewards (limited time offer).

    Olivia Stephanie

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  • Las enfermedades y muertes que previenen las vacunas que los CDC han dejado de recomendar – KFF Health News

    El gobierno federal ha reducido drásticamente la cantidad de vacunas infantiles recomendadas, dejando fuera seis inmunizaciones de rutina que han protegido a millones de personas de enfermedades graves, discapacidades a largo plazo y muertes.

    Solo tres de las seis vacunas que los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) dejarán de recomendar de manera rutinaria —contra la hepatitis A, hepatitis B y el rotavirus— han prevenido casi 2 millones de hospitalizaciones y más de 90.000 muertes en los últimos 30 años, según publicaciones de la misma entidad.

    Las vacunas contra esas tres enfermedades, así como contra el virus respiratorio sincitial (VRS), la enfermedad meningocócica, la gripe y covid, ahora solo se recomiendan para niños con alto riesgo de enfermedad grave o luego de “tomar decisiones clínicas de manera compartida”, es decir, una consulta entre médicos y padres.

    Los CDC mantienen sus recomendaciones para 11 vacunas infantiles: contra el sarampión, las paperas y la rubéola; la tos ferina, el tétanos y la difteria; la enfermedad bacteriana conocida como Hib; la neumonía; la polio; la varicela; y el virus del papiloma humano (VPH).

    Según una hoja informativa del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS, por sus siglas en inglés), los seguros médicos públicos y privados seguirán cubriendo las vacunas contra las enfermedades que los CDC ya no recomiendan de manera universal; los padres que quieran vacunar a sus hijos contra esas enfermedades no tendrán que pagar las dosis de su bolsillo.

    Expertos en enfermedades infantiles se mostraron desconcertados ante el cambio en la guía. El HHS explicó que las modificaciones se hicieron tras “una revisión científica de la evidencia” y que están alineadas con programas de vacunación de otros países desarrollados.

    El secretario del HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., un activista antivacunas, señaló a Dinamarca como modelo. Sin embargo, los calendarios de vacunación de la mayoría de los países europeos son más parecidos al estándar estadounidense que acaba de modificarse.

    Por ejemplo, Dinamarca, que no vacuna contra el rotavirus, registra cerca de 1.200 hospitalizaciones al año por esta infección  en bebés y niños pequeños. Esa tasa, en un país de 6 millones de habitantes, es similar a la que tenía Estados Unidos antes de introducir la vacuna.

    “Ellos aceptan tener 1.200 o 1.300 niños hospitalizados, lo cual es solo la punta del iceberg en cuanto al sufrimiento infantil”, dijo Paul Offit, director del Centro de Educación sobre Vacunas del Hospital Infantil de Philadelphia y coinventor de una vacuna contra el rotavirus aprobada. “Nosotros no lo aceptamos. Deberían tratar de imitarnos a nosotros, no al revés”.

    Funcionarios de salud pública señalaron que la nueva guía pone sobre los padres la responsabilidad de investigar y comprender cada vacuna infantil y por qué es importante.

    El siguiente es un resumen de las enfermedades que previenen las vacunas que se han dejado de lado:

    VRS. El virus respiratorio sincitial es la causa más común de hospitalización en bebés en Estados Unidos.

    Este virus respiratorio suele circular en otoño e invierno y provoca síntomas parecidos a los de un resfriado, aunque puede ser mortal para los niños pequeños. Cada año causa decenas de miles de hospitalizaciones y cientos de muertes. Según la Fundación Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases), aproximadamente el 80% de los niños menores de 2 años hospitalizados con el VRS no tienen factores de riesgo identificables. Las esperadas vacunas contra esta enfermedad se introdujeron en 2023.

    Hepatitis A. La vacunación contra la hepatitis A, que se empezó a aplicar gradualmente a finales de los años 90 y se recomendó para todos los niños pequeños a partir de 2006, ha provocado una reducción de más del 90% de los casos desde 1996. Este virus transmitido por alimentos causa una enfermedad muy desagradable que aún afecta a adultos, especialmente personas sin hogar o que consumen drogas o alcohol. En 2023 se reportaron un total de 1.648 casos y 85 muertes.

    Hepatitis B. Esta enfermedad provoca cáncer de hígado, cirrosis y otros padecimientos graves, y es particularmente peligrosa cuando la contraen bebés o niños pequeños. El virus de la hepatitis B se transmite por sangre y otros fluidos corporales, incluso en cantidades microscópicas, y puede sobrevivir en superficies durante una semana. Entre 1990 y 2019, la vacunación generó una reducción del 99% en los casos reportados de hepatitis B aguda en niños y adolescentes. El cáncer de hígado en menores también ha disminuido considerablemente gracias a la vacunación infantil universal. Sin embargo, el virus sigue presente, con entre 2.000 y 3.000 casos agudos reportados cada año entre adultos no vacunados. En 2023 se diagnosticaron más de 17.000 casos de hepatitis B crónica. Los CDC estiman que cerca de la mitad de las personas infectadas no saben que lo están.

    Rotavirus. Antes de que comenzara la administración rutinaria de las actuales vacunas contra el rotavirus, en 2006, cada año se internaban a unos 70.000 niños pequeños, y morían alrededor de 50 a causa del virus. “Se conocía como el síndrome del vómito invernal”, explicó Sean O’Leary, pediatra de la Universidad de Colorado. “Era una enfermedad terrible, que casi ya no vemos”.

    Sin embargo, el virus sigue siendo común en las superficies que tocan los bebés, y “si bajan las tasas de vacunación, habrá de nuevo niños hospitalizados”, advirtió Offit.

    Vacunas meningocócicas. Estas vacunas han sido requeridas principalmente para adolescentes y estudiantes universitarios, quienes son especialmente vulnerables a enfermedades graves causadas por esta bacteria. En Estados Unidos se reportan entre 600 y 1.000 casos al año, pero más del 10% de los enfermos mueren, y 1 de cada 5 sobrevivientes queda con discapacidades permanentes.

    Gripe y covid. Estos dos virus respiratorios han causado la muerte de cientos de niños en años recientes, aunque suelen ser más graves en adultos mayores. Actualmente hay un repunte de la gripe en el país, y durante la temporada pasada murieron 289 menores por esta causa.

    ¿Qué es la toma de decisiones clínicas compartida?

    Con los nuevos cambios, la decisión de vacunar a los niños contra la gripe, covid, el rotavirus, la enfermedad meningocócica y las hepatitis A y B dependerá ahora de lo que las autoridades llaman “toma de decisiones clínicas compartida”, es decir, que las familias deberán consultar con un proveedor de salud para determinar si la vacuna es apropiada para sus hijos.

    “Significa que el proveedor debe tener una conversación con el paciente para explicar los riesgos y beneficios y tomar una decisión personalizada”, dijo Lori Handy, especialista en enfermedades infecciosas pediátricas del Hospital Infantil de Philadelphia.

    Antes, los CDC usaban ese término solo en circunstancias muy específicas, como al decidir si una persona en una relación monógama necesitaba la vacuna contra el VPH, que previene una infección de transmisión sexual y ciertos tipos de cáncer.

    Según Handy, el nuevo enfoque de los CDC no se alinea con la evidencia científica, dado el beneficio protector comprobado que las vacunas ofrecen a la gran mayoría de la población.

    En su informe justificando los cambios, los funcionarios del HHS Tracy Beth Høeg y Martin Kulldorff afirmaron que el sistema de vacunación de Estados Unidos requiere más investigación sobre seguridad y mayor elección por parte de los padres. Dijeron que la pérdida de confianza en la salud pública, causada en parte por un calendario de vacunación demasiado extenso, ha llevado a más familias a rechazar vacunas contra amenazas importantes como el sarampión.

    Las vacunas en el calendario que fue modificado por los CDC ya contaban con amplia investigación sobre seguridad cuando fueron evaluadas y aprobadas por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés).

    “Estas vacunas tienen un estándar de seguridad más alto que cualquier otra intervención médica que tenemos”, dijo Handy. “El valor de las recomendaciones rutinarias es que ayudan al público a entender que estas vacunas han sido examinadas por todos lados”.

    Eric Ball, pediatra en el condado de Orange, California, apuntó que el cambio en la guía provocará más confusión entre los padres, quienes podrían pensar que es la seguridad de una vacuna lo que está en duda.

    “Para la salud pública, es fundamental que las recomendaciones sobre vacunas sean muy claras y precisas”, dijo Ball. “Cualquier cosa que genere confusión solo llevará a que más niños se enfermen”.

    Ball explicó que, en lugar de enfocarse en las necesidades médicas del niño, muchas veces tiene que usar el tiempo limitado de consulta para asegurar a los padres que las vacunas son seguras. El hecho de que una vacuna quede bajo “toma de decisiones clínicas compartida” no tiene nada que ver con preocupaciones de seguridad, pero muchos padres podrían interpretarlo así.

    Los cambios del HHS no afectan las leyes estatales de vacunación y, por lo tanto, deberían permitir que los médicos responsables sigan recomendando las vacunas como hasta ahora, según Richard Hughes IV, abogado y profesor en la Universidad George Washington, quien lidera demandas contra Kennedy por los cambios en materia de vacunas.

    “Uno puede esperar que cualquier pediatra siga la evidencia científica sólida y recomiende que sus pacientes se vacunen”, dijo. La ley protege a los proveedores que siguen las pautas profesionales de atención, agregó, y “el VRS, la enfermedad meningocócica y las hepatitis siguen siendo amenazas graves para la salud de los niños en este país”.

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  • You’ve Gotta See This Amazing Mario Kart World Speedrun

    This year’s first Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) charity livestream has shown players a side of Mario Kart World that they may not have been aware of before. Free Roam mode lets fans explore the open world of the game, but someone at AGDQ has demonstrated how to turn that into your personal playground.

    A speedrunner named Helix went through Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode to complete the All ? Panels category in under 30 minutes. The goal is to activate every single question mark block in the game. To pull that off, Helix needed to pull off a lot of tricks, as well as some lucky breaks, and judicious use of the game’s rewind feature.

    Helix clearly has a mastery of Mario Kart World’s open world, as some of the question marks aren’t easily accessible without knowing where they are or how to reach them with your chosen character. For this speedrun, Helix went with Para-Biddybud because his light weight and ability to stay in the air longer than most of the other racers. Helix also explained that this is best attempted with a fresh save file, or else Free Roam mode will drop players near the last course they completed.

    Earlier this week at AGDQ, Minecraft content creator DThaiPome came dressed up as Pac-Man to perform a speedrun of Pac-Man World 2 in about 30 minutes. AGDQ will continue until Sunday, January 11 and the proceeds of this week’s event go to The Prevent Cancer Foundation.

    Some Nintendo fans recently came to the conclusion that Mario Kart World DLC news is immanent, but that has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo itself. Nintendo has revealed that it will be phasing out the Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle.

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  • How Do I Manage A Personality Conflict On My Team?

    Nothing I’ve tried so far has worked.

    Alison Green

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  • Alaska Airlines pilot who landed jet after panel blew out claims Boeing tried to

    The Alaska Airlines pilot who has been universally praised as a hero for safely landing a jet after a door plug panel flew off shortly after takeoff is suing Boeing because he believes the plane maker wrongly tried to blame him and the rest of the crew.

    Captain Brandon Fisher was commended by the heads of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration and even Boeing executives for helping ensure none of the 177 people aboard flight 1282 were killed when the blowout happened in January 2024.

    But Fisher’s lawyers say Boeing’s attempts to deflect liability in past lawsuits despite what the NTSB investigation found led to the pilot being sued by some passengers and caused him great distress. Still, experts say it’s unusual for a pilot to sue like this in an incident where he wasn’t seriously hurt or killed. Four flight attendants previously sued Boeing over the incident last summer.

    Fisher’s lawsuit says Boeing suggested it wasn’t responsible because the plane was “improperly maintained or misused” by others.

    “It was clear Boeing’s words were directed at Captain Fisher in attempt to paint him as the scapegoat for Boeing’s numerous failures,” Fisher’s lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummolo, wrote in the lawsuit filed in an Oregon court.

    Key bolts were missing

    The NTSB investigation of the blowout found that four bolts securing what is known as the door plug panel were removed and never replaced during a repair as the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was being assembled. Boeing and key supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which has since been acquired by Boeing, were both implicated.

    The bolts are hidden behind interior panels in the plane, so they are not something that could have been easily checked in a preflight inspection by the pilot or anyone else from the airline. NTSB investigators determined the door plug was gradually moving upward over the 154 flights prior to the incident before it ultimately flew off.

    “Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher as well, as he was being castigated for his actions as opposed to being lauded,” Fisher’s lawyers wrote. “Because he had flown Boeing aircraft for the entirety of his employment with Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s attempts to blame him felt like a deep, personal betrayal by a company that claimed to hold pilots in the highest regard.”

    This image taken Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, and released by the National Transportation Safety Board, shows the section of a a Boeing 737 Max where a door plug fell while Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was in flight. 

    AP


    The NTSB made clear this was caused by a manufacturing issue and the crew’s actions were exemplary. Experienced pilot John Cox, who is CEO of the Safety Operating Systems aviation safety consulting firm, said the crew did a remarkable job considering what they were dealing with, and no one has faulted the crew.

    “I think the Boeing lawyers were kind of grasping at straws,” Cox said.

    Terrifying moments

    The blowout occurred minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon, and created a roaring air vacuum. Seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries, but the plane landed safely.

    “The first indication was an explosion in my ears and then a whoosh of air,” First Officer Emily Wiprud told CBS News in an exclusive interview in 2024. “My body was forced forward and there was a loud bang as well. … The flight deck door was open. I saw tubes hanging from the cabin.” 

    Wiprud said that at that point, she didn’t know what was wrong. Instinct took over, and she and the captain started working to land safely. 

    “I didn’t know that there was a hole in the airplane until we landed,” Wiprud said. “I knew something was catastrophically wrong.”

    The 2-foot-by-4-foot piece of fuselage covering an unused emergency exit behind the left wing had blown out. Only seven seats on the flight were unoccupied, including the two seats closest to the opening.

    A teen aboard the flight had his shirt ripped off his body.  Multiple objects, including the phones of two passengers, Wiprud’s headset and multiple aircraft components, were sucked out of the aircraft. 

    Shandy Brewer was sitting in Row 10 on the flight when the door blew off. It was an experience that stuck with her 18 months later.

    “All of a sudden, just this huge bang happened. It sounded like a firework going off, like right in your ears, just like so loud,” she recalled. “As soon as I step onto an airplane, tears start pouring down my face every single time. I haven’t been on a flight where that doesn’t happen.”

    Boeing factory workers told NTSB investigators they felt pressured to work too fast and were asked to perform jobs they weren’t qualified for.

    Fisher’s lawsuit describes how he and the first officer acted quickly after losing cabin pressure when the panel blew out to fly the plane safely back to Portland while decreasing altitude and working with air traffic controllers to avoid any other planes in the area.

    The airline didn’t answer a question about whether Fisher is still flying for them, and the lawsuit described him as a citizen and well-respected member of the aviation community. It wasn’t clear Tuesday whether he is still working as a pilot.

    Working to improve safety

    The head of the commercial airplane unit at Boeing at the time, Stan Deal, commended the Alaska Airlines crew for safely landing the plane in a memo to employees after the incident.

    Boeing did not comment directly on this new lawsuit. But the company’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has made improving safety a top priority ever since he took over the top job at Boeing in August 2024.

    The FAA fined Boeing $3.1 million over safety violations inspectors found after the door plug incident. In October, the agency allowed Boeing to increase production of the 737 Max to 42 planes a month because inspectors were satisfied with the measures the company had taken to improve safety.

    Alaska Airlines also declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the airline remains “grateful to our crew members for the bravery and quick-thinking that they displayed on Flight 1282 in ensuring the safety of all on board.”

    Kris Van Cleave

    contributed to this report.

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  • Hagel scores winner as Lightning win 8th straight

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Hagel snapped a third-period tie with his 20th goal of the season to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to their eighth consecutive win with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

    Jake Guentzel and Zemgus Girgensons also scored for the Lightning, and Anthony Cirelli added an empty-netter. Nikita Kucherov recorded his seventh straight multipoint game with a pair of assists.

    Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 31 saves for his sixth consecutive win.

    Parker Kelly and Brock Nelson scored for Colorado, which has dropped consecutive games in regulation for the first time this season. The Avalanche had just three regulation losses on the season entering Tuesday.

    Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots for Colorado.

    Hagel scored the winning goal after Kucherov protected the puck near the left circle, found Max Crozier who cut down the slot before finding Hagel for a sweeping one-timer at 8:31 of the third period. Cirelli scored an empty-net goal with 1:25 left.

    Guentzel put Tampa Bay up 1-0 coming out of the corner on the power play with space to get out front and find the top far corner with 12 seconds left in the opening period.

    Colorado scored twice in six minutes to take the lead. Kelly found a loose puck in the paint at 3:22 before Nelson fired a shot from the left faceoff dot that deflected off the stick of Erik Cernak and knuckled past Vasilevskiy at 9:31.

    Girgensons pulled the Lightning even again late in the second, getting inside position on Cale Makar on top of the crease and getting his stick down for Yanni Gourde to find for the redirect at 17:22.

    Colorado played without captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Devon Toews, who both returned to Denver earlier in the day. Landeskog was injured after running into the net against Florida on Sunday and Toews was injured on Saturday against Carolina. Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said both are expected to miss weeks.

    Up next

    Avalanche: Host Ottawa on Thursday.

    Lightning: Visit Philadelphia on Saturday.

    Associated Press

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  • Concert: “Bridging Musical Worlds-a Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.” Jan. 18 – Charlotte On The Cheap

    Bridging Musical Worlds–A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. is an annual MLK Day tradition in Charlotte that brings together music from many musical traditions, including jazz, classical, R&B and more.

    This event will be a powerful evening of music, memory, and meaning that honors the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while remembering the extraordinary life and gift of Attorney James E. Ferguson, II.

    This year’s theme, “Y’all Keep Working…”, drawn from Attorney Ferguson’s own words, calls us to reflection and action—reminding us that justice, culture, and community require sustained commitment.

    Bridging Musical Worlds takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 4 p.m., at Friendship Missionary Conference Center, 3400 Beatties Ford Road, in Charlotte’s Historic West Side.

    Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. Purchase here.

    Presented by:

    • A Sign Of The Times
    • Charlotte Strings Collective
    • Tosco Music

    Learn about all the other MLK Day events in the Charlotte area.

    Double-Check Before You Head Out!

    We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
    However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake. 
    Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.

     

     

           You might also be interested in:

    More MLK Day Events

    Check out our list of MLK Day events in the Charlotte area or look at a few of them here, as they are added: