dot esports
Lauryn Goodman’s unexpected career change and celeb pal she’s roped in to help in her ‘desperation for fame’
From , by Bachchoo O Democracy, what have you done??? Breeding nightmares across the globe. Yes, 2024 has been the super year for global elections. People in 70 countries, half the world’s population, went to the polls. If you discount the populations of Russia, China and North Korea, whose “democracies” have infinite quotation marks around them, then the voting nations exceed that 50 per cent. The trumping of Donald Trump and his MAGA (Make America Gaga Again) campaign is only the latest example of the overthrow of incumbent governments. Forty out of 54 voting nations kicked their incumbents out. Very many surveys and analysts attribute Chump’s victory (and this applies to other triumphant Oppositions) to his constant refrain during the campaign asking voters if they had more money in their pockets when he was POTUS or when Joe Biden and Vice-POTUS Kamala Harris had their term. Certainly, the scare stories of immigrants making nations poorer, spreading crime and eating pets, and consequently the promise to deport millions of illegal immigrants from the United States, was a determining factor in the devastating reversal. Analysis of the other elections attribute this tendency to dismiss incumbent governments and parties to precisely the same two factors -- the rise in inflation and prices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the fuel crisis after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the fear of an immigrant “invasion”. But is that the whole picture? Certainly, the UK voted in Keir Starmer’s Labour Party with a huge majority, humiliating Hedgie Sunak and the Tories by presenting them with their greatest electoral defeat since 1832 in their long and nasty history. Keir Starmer’s Labour is very centre-left with more crowd-and-capitalist-pleasing-centre than left. His government’s chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, presented her first Budget in October. The theme of the Budget was economic restraint. She said Labour was not raising taxes on working people, but only on employers. Economic commentary concludes that the rise in National Insurance she imposed on employers will be passed on, in one way or another, to employees and consumers. In the wake of the Budget after Rachel Reeves’ pronouncements and Keir Starmer’s follow-up support for the Budget, they were asked to define whom they meant by the word “worker”. Answer came there none. At the Labour Party conference, as Ms Reeves was speaking, a heckler interrupted saying that Labour was continuing to sell arms to Israel and contributing to the genocide in Palestine. He was promptly dragged out of the hall. Ms Reeves responded by telling the audience that Labour was not any more a party of “protest” but one that sided with the working class. Not much of answer or even excuse for the continued support to the billionaires of the British arms industry? Across the Channel, in France and Germany (tragically “isolated” now, through Brexit), the voters didn’t quite overthrow the governments but gave a very favourable vote to extreme right-wing parties. Italy voted in a party formerly associated with fascism. Hungary and Turkey (though the latter has not yet been admitted into the European Union but is in Nato) have elected right-wing governments, apologists for Russia’s invasion and bombing of civilians in Ukraine. Democracy, with its traceable origins in Athens -- though undoubtedly there must have been other societies which pioneered government through majority franchise of allowed personnel which didn’t have a recorded influence on subsequent history -- was supposed to reflect the material concerns of the classes that voted. If one believes the analysts who say that the Covid crisis and the wars which the West expends funds on are responsible for high prices, welfare cuts, etc, then yes, the majority who feel a pinch in their pockets voted in the hope that the opposing right-wing parties would loosen the pinching fingers. But then, there are the other elements that distort the democratic ideal of classes voting for their material and social benefit. They vote for religious prejudice, they vote to keep foreigners out of their country, they vote out of fear that some current ideology is distorting their culture... Gentle reader, I confess I voted for the losing side in the Brexit vote. Some of my left-wing friends voted for Britain to leave the EU on the grounds that Polish plumbers, for instance, were coming to the UK and undercutting the wages of British plumbers. I am using “plumbers” here as one category of craftsperson, though of course it applies to a myriad other trades. Yes, Brexit kept the Polish plumbers out. British plumbers could now charge what they wanted to. Millions of working-class families who needed some plumbing in their homes had to pay their price. British plumbers and their unions were served and happy. The working-class families who needed their drains unclogged or taps refitted were not. This “best of all worst systems”, as Winston Churchill said, is not free from the distorting influence of irrational nationalism, religious loyalty or bigotry, racism, xenophobia, conspiracy theories, plausible deceit, the lure of demagoguery and even superstition. These, as we now witness, make for demockracy.With evictions up in El Paso County, court looks to provide solutions
Lindsey Graham Warns US Allies Over Netanyahu Warrant: 'Crush Your Economy'-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Republicans quietly made massive progress on their goal to defund the IRS in a last-minute package to avoid a government shutdown. Through the continuing resolution passed last week, funding the government through March and cutting $20 billion in supplemental funding for the taxation agency, Congress automatically extended cuts passed by the GOP in 2023 to a massive IRS investment. The Inflation Reduction Act provided an $80 billion apportionment for the IRS aimed at reducing the national debt and providing more resources for the agency to audit ultrawealthy taxpayers. Congress has halved the investment to stop tax cheating since its passage in 2022, cuts that could balloon the federal deficit. Related IRS crackdown on millionaire tax cheats nets more than $1 billion in revenue A 2021 report from the Congressional Budget Office indicated that the $80 billion in added IRS funding over 10 years would yield approximately $200 billion in added tax revenue without raising taxes. The Biden administration this week said $140 billion would be added to the debt over a decade due to the cuts, per the Washington Post. The IRS will likely be forced to cut audits for the ultrawealthy and large corporations first, the most expensive forms of reviews. Anti-taxation advocates rejoiced over the decision, though Treasury officials also noted that cuts could impact customer service operations for regular-income taxpayers. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo pointed to the progress the department has made – reducing call wait times to 3 minutes and picking up 85% of calls – as easily unraveled by cuts. Adeyemo told reporters last month that wait times would balloon to 28 minutes and call pick-up rates would fall to 20% if the cuts stayed in the continuing resolution. Democrats hope a future budget package can reverse the cuts, but Republicans will hold complete budget negotiation power come January. The GOP has continued to take aim at the revenue-raising department despite its purported mission to reduce the deficit, instead hoping to cut spending to the tune of trillions through the Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy-led Department of Government Efficiency. Still, critics say any cuts that could close the deficit at the magnitude of IRS funding would also impact crucial Social Security and Medicare funding. Read more about the GOP's attacks on the IRS "Very first bill": McCarthy pledges repeal of IRS funding meant to target wealthy tax cheats Top 1% fails to report over 20% of income using potentially "criminal" tactics: IRS analysis Experts: These churches violate law by endorsing candidates — should have tax-exempt status revoked MORE FROM Griffin Eckstein Advertisement:
Coffee and muscovado: Innovations to boost yield, qualityHybrid star Travis Hunter and the Colorado Buffaloes looked to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive as they faced the Kansas Jayhawks at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 13 of the 2024 season. Going into the game, Hunter, the junior from Suwanee, Georgia, had become the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy for his performance as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. But that didn't stop the officials from impacting the game on multiple instances where Hunter was involved. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
Serbia denies involvement in Kosovo canal blastHeaven nightclub shares update after being shut down by police: “There is a lot to be considered and addressed”
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
NoneHidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out WestJamal Murray shoved the ball away from him With 4.2 seconds left and the Nuggets trailing Dallas, 121-119, Murray stepped up for the second of two free throws with the intention of missing. It banked off the backboard and tushed right through the net. One of those nights. One of those Novembers. “The whole game, I’m trying to make (a shot), and I’m trying to miss one time,” the Nuggets guard recalled with a rueful chuckle late Friday night after a 123-120 defeat. “So, that’s the way it goes sometimes, you know?” You’d laugh, but only to keep from crying. Before Saturday night’s late-night showdown with the Lakers, the Blue Arrows looked more like a Broken Arrow. Mr. 50-40-90 went into Tinseltown averaging 17.4 points per game in November while shooting 40.7% from the floor and 33.3% on treys. You don’t know what you’re going to get on a given night. As of Saturday morning, the Arrow had posted four games this season in which he’d scored 20 points or more. After each of those four, he went out the next time and shot 6 for 20, 2 for 7, 7 for 17 and, more recently, 4 for 16 vs. the Mavericks. “You sure you’re feeling OK?” I asked the Nuggets guard at his locker after the Dallas loss. “You keep saying, ‘I’m good, I’m good ...'” Murray looked daggers in my direction. “Then take that,” he replied. , it’s the head. You get flashes of Playoff Mal, those spring heat checks that could melt a glacier. But much of the time, it looks as if Murray is on his back, a wanna-be All-Star staggered by the weight of expectations. A max contract guy putting up mid numbers. To wit: While closing out a miserable first half against Dallas and a Mavs squad missing Luka Doncic, the Nuggets nevertheless found themselves with a chance to take the final shot. Only Murray, who was 2 for 7 at the time, turned it over and then committed a foul, gifting Big D two free throws and a 73-53 cushion at the break. “I think (if) we just take care of the first half, don’t come out as sloppy and make better urgency, we can win that game,” Murray reflected. Alas, the Nuggets ran out of juice over the final three minutes. Which was compounded by Dallas hunting Murray defensively and taking it to him, time and again. Over his first 10 games, the Arrow has posted a 112 or higher Defensive Rating in the fourth quarter — higher is worse — six times. Mind you, he put up the same ratio at the start of the 2022-23 season. You just notice it more when he stops making shots at the other end of the floor. “Some of those are shots that he probably makes,” Malone said. “And I’m sure some of those are probably ... shots where maybe we could have swung it or made an extra pass for maybe a better shot.” Maybe. Although these days, even Murray’s clutch gene comes and goes like the autumn wind. NBA.com defines “clutch” stats as applying to any action that takes place in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime of a game that’s within five points or less. In the first month of the 2022-23 campaign, one that ended with a parade, This season? Seven “clutch” games as of Saturday morning, with a yikes 123.4 Defensive Rating and a Net of plus-7.9. Christian Braun went into Saturday night with 10 “clutch” games and a 115.3 Defensive Rating and a Net of plus-18.9, best among Nuggets starters. Nikola Jokic was second in “clutch” Net, at plus-14.2, followed by Peyton Watson (plus-14.0), then Michael Porter Jr. (plus-13.3) ... and then Murray. When the eye test and the computers match up, you’ve got a problem. If MPJ can be benched for defensive reasons in the fourth quarter, why not the Arrow? “We’ve got to find a way,” Malone continued. “And I have to find a way to help to get Jamal going.” The Canadian’s most buzz-worthy moment Friday came with 8:27 left. Murray caught a live fly, walked over to the sideline “It was just squirming on the court and ... I just thought I’d go to Doris or whoever was over there and just lighten up my mood as well,” the Nuggets guard explained. “Sometimes, you just have to smile ... so I just tried to, more for myself, honestly, break the negativity mentally and have a joke with those guys.” “Did you catch that thing in the air?” I asked. Another look. Another dagger. “I’ll let you figure that out,” he countered. This version of Murray wouldn’t hurt a fly. But it’s hurting the Nuggets in the middle of Jokic’s title window, as the latter creeps ever closer to a cold, lonely sill.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won't provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.NEW YORK (AP) — Kaapo Kaako scored a power-play goal with 24 seconds left, and the New York Rangers stopped a five-game slide by topping the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Saturday. Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad also scored for the Rangers, who got their first win since a 4-3 victory at Vancouver on Nov. 19. Adam Fox had two assists, and Jonathan Quick made 25 saves. With Montreal’s Kirby Dach serving a four-minute, high-sticking penalty, Kaako got his fourth goal of the season. The Canadiens trailed 3-1 after two periods. But Cole Caufield scored his 14th goal 4:16 into the third and Nick Suzuki tied it at 14:07. Trocheck tipped the puck past Montreal goaltender Sam Montembeault at 19:56 to put New York ahead after Panarin and Montreal’s Mike Matheson scored earlier in the first. Panarin put the Rangers ahead at 9:02, scoring on a 5-on-3 for New York’s first power-play goal since Nov. 12 at home against Winnipeg. Matheson tied it at 11:47. Montembault made 24 saves for Montreal. Takeaways Canadiens: dropped to 3-7-1 on the road. Rangers: Forwards Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil returned to the lineup. Kreider missed three games with an upper-body injury while Chytil was out for seven after colliding with teammate K’Andre Miller on Nov. 14. Reilly Smith and Jonny Brodzinski were scratched. Key moment Seeking an early spark, New York captain Jacob Trouba fought Montreal’s Josh Anderson 1:58 into the contest. It appeared to give the Rangers a collective jolt that was missing in recent games. Key stat The Rangers are 11-1-0 when scoring first. It was the 1,700th home win in franchise history. Up next The Canadiens visit the Boston Bruins on Sunday. The Rangers host the New Jersey Devils on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL Allan Kreda, The Associated Press
- Previous: asian games esports
- Next: esports news
