Month: December 2024

McNeese State
McNeese State
McNeese State
McNeese State
McNeese State

source

Vermont wins Men's College Cup with OT goal
🍀 Notre Dame rises in WBB Power 37
📈 UConn climbs in MBB Power 37
The College Football Playoff bracket is here. The 12-team bracket was announced on Sunday, Dec. 8. The official 12-team College Football Playoff field and final top 25 rankings were announced Dec. 8. The first round is Dec. 20 and 21.
Oregon is the No. 1 seed, with Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State also getting byes. Below is the bracket, final seeding and complete playoff schedule. 
This bracket uses the committee’s final top 25 rankings on Sunday, Dec. 8. It’s important to note that the top 25 ranking does not always match the seed in the playoff, as the four highest-ranked conference champions receive the top four seeds and byes, no matter where those four teams rank in the top 25. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion is also in automatically, though that team will not get a bye.
All times Eastern
Friday, Dec. 20
Saturday, Dec. 21
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Thursday, Jan. 9
Friday, Jan. 10
You can see how these numbers — the seed and the CFP ranking — differ below. The four teams with byes are in bold.
Here are the final CFP top 25 rankings, with teams in the CFP also getting their seeds included at the end.
Boise State, which won the Mountain West Conference championship and has lost to only top-ranked Oregon, is the third-highest-ranked conference champion and thus received a bye into the quarterfinals despite ranking No. 9. Though Arizona State is ranked only No. 12, the Sun Devils are the fourth-highest ranked conference champion — over ACC champ Clemson (No. 16) — and earned the No. 4 seed and the final first-round bye.
There is no re-seeding once the official bracket is revealed on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The four quarterfinal games are not played at the campus sites. Instead, these four games — scheduled on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 — will be played at the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be assigned one of these bowls in consideration of historic bowl relationships as well as seeding.
The four quarterfinal winners will then meet in the semifinals at either the Orange Bowl or the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. If the seeds hold, that means (1) would meet (4) and (2) would play (3). The two semifinal winners will then play on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the national championship.

source

Vermont wins Men's College Cup with OT goal
🍀 Notre Dame rises in WBB Power 37
📈 UConn climbs in MBB Power 37
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 NCAA DI women’s volleyball tournament, which includes a 64-team field in a single-elimination bracket. Get the bracket, schedule and scores below.
The tournament bracket was revealed during a selection show on Sunday, Dec. 1, that aired on ESPN. Thirty-one teams received automatic qualification, with the remaining 33 teams selected as at-larges by the Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee.
The championship concludes with the national semifinals on Dec. 19 and title match on Dec. 22, both hosted in Louisville.
Click or tap here for the interactive bracket.
Every match can be streamed on ESPN+.
Semifinals (all times Eastern) 
Thursday, Dec. 19
First round
Thursday, Dec. 5
Friday, Dec. 6
Second round 
Friday, Dec. 6
Saturday, Dec. 7
Saturday, Dec. 14
Sunday, Dec. 15

source

According to Saylor, that is just sound business, likening it to New York developers who have issued debt for centuries to grow the city’s skyline.
Written By:
Dishita Malvania
MicroStrategy chairman Michael Saylor is as invested in Bitcoin as ever, and he is calling the cryptocurrency the “Cyber Manhattan” of the digital age. He recently compared Bitcoin to New York City real estate in a CNBC interview with Money Movers, saying that investing in Bitcoin today is akin to buying Manhattan at any point in the last 300 years. 
Every day is a good day to buy Bitcoin,” he said, pressing that, like real estate in Manhattan, Bitcoin is always a sound investment.
Since 2020, MicroStrategy has been accumulating one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holdings in the world and now totals 439,000 BTC, worth around $46 billion. The company funded those purchases by taking on debt, as real estate developers have done to expand their properties for centuries. 
According to Saylor, that is just sound business, likening it to New York developers who have issued debt for centuries to grow the city’s skyline.
On December 23, MicroStrategy will be inducted into the prestigious Nasdaq-100 Index, yet another milestone for the company. This will also put it in the widely followed Invesco QQQ Trust ETF, bringing even more institutional attention to MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings. 
On Monday, when Bitcoin hit a new record high of $107,162, MicroStrategy’s stock jumped more than 5%, reflecting growing investor confidence in the company’s digital asset strategy.
Saylor’s positive sentiment on Bitcoin has not been without his critics. Some have described MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy as a “Ponzi scheme” because it depends on debt. Saylor dismisses these claims, drawing comparisons between Bitcoin and real estate development in Manhattan. He considers Bitcoin as a long-term stable economic asset, much like the city itself.
Also Read: Sell Gold, Buy Bitcoin: Michael Saylor lays plan to attack BRICS
Email address:

Your window into the world of Crypto, DeFi, and Web3. Stay ahead of the curve with authentic news, sharp analysis, and exclusive in-sight reports only on The Crypto Times.
All News
AI News
Exclusive
Explained
Editorial
About Us
Editorial Policy
Press Release
Contact Us
Career
Advertise With Us
© 2024 Protocols And Tokens Pvt. Ltd.

source

ChainCatcher news, Mask Network founder Suji Yan posted that multiple Pudgy Penguins toy products in a New York store were opened and the QR codes were stolen. The token airdrop led some people to rush into Walmart to steal QR codes that might receive the airdrop. He stated that the crypto community should condemn such behavior.

source

Sign In
Subscribe Now
Famous for high-end comedy and 50-flavours-of-wings nights, Hecklers is flying high after 17 years in the business.
“We’re known for our professional comedy night on Saturdays and our wings nights with 50 flavours on Sundays and Wednesdays,” says co-owner Aaron McGeough, who runs Hecklers with partner Derek Tusche, and silent partner Colin Lefebvre in Lloydminster. 
“Sticking at it every day and trying to get a little bit better every day, every week, every month, every year is key,” McGeough says. “We’re then a neighbourhood pub the other days of the week, with lots of locals and regulars from the area.”
I witnessed Saturday night comedy with Chicago’s Kevin Bozeman headlining and enjoyed a feast of comedic talent. Known locally and nationally for comedy, Hecklers attracts comedians from all over the world, including those who have appeared on The Tonight Show.
“We’ve just built relationships with comedians over time and they get better and we get better,” McGeough says.
“We’re lucky to get the best comedians in the country, for sure. And because there’s no Yuk Yuks in town here, we get our pick of the Yuk Yuks and independent litter.”
“The headliner will do 45 minutes, the middle guy 20-25 and the host 10 minutes off the top. We also sneak in a 5-6-minute guest spot,” McGeough says.
Beyond comedy, McGeough says Hecklers, which also has music bingo and trivia nights during the week, stands out with its focus on excellent service and execution.
“We also try to be friendly and on time consistently. And we offer pretty reasonable pricing. We’re a place you can go when you’re coming after work or for your 40th birthday party. So we cater to all sorts of people.”
“We’ve just built relationships with comedians over time and they get better and we get better,”
McGeough, now 42, was just 25 when he and his partners bought Fat Tuesdays and turned it into Hecklers in 2007. He said it wasn’t their intention to have a comedy bar at the outset.
“We started more as a sports bar, then tried live music and comedy to expand our range. The comedy just kind of took off.”
While today, you can see a variety of different comedy shows in Victoria, back then Hecklers was the only bar doing it.
“Plus Victoria’s a nice place to visit. So it’s not like we’re convincing comedians to go to Fort McMurray. We get lots of guys in from Seattle and people in from LA and New York and all over Canada, and it really is an excellent product for basically the price of a movie.”
In the beginning, McGeough was doing a bit of everything until they got some traction.
“We started out pretty young and didn’t start with a lot of money. So I was bartending and serving and closing and cooking and whatever needed to be done. And as you get a bit busier you have a bit more time and you hire a few more people. It’s like the first time you plan a Superbowl party, there’s a lot more work than the 15th time.
“So that’s just been the plan. Try and be better next Saturday than we were this Saturday. And do that for ever and ever. People know that I used to get in a cab and ask for Hecklers and they’d say ‘Where is that?’ And now people just know.”
Tusche was approached about running Fat Tuesdays and got the opinion of his then work colleague at Moxie’s, McGeough. Enchanted by the new flat-screen TVs, the pair looked into buying the place – four weeks later owned a pub.
“I was young and we didn’t know what we were doing as owners. We’d both been general managers of pubs before. So there were a lot of details and hard lessons we learned over the years. And then, somewhere around year seven, things started to get easier.
“Now, today, I’m lucky that I have young kids now and I didn’t have them back then. We opened in late October of 2007 and in 2008 I think Derek and I worked every day, no exceptions. There wasn’t money for a bunch of staff – and we weren’t that busy. So we had four or five people working here and now we have like 35. It’s a different world than back then.
“But it’s nice to get here. And it was mostly just sheer determination and luck. The right timing and a lot of things going our way. We found comedy at the right time – and deciding to do 50 flavours of wings was big,” McGeough recalls.
“Plus we’ve had a lot of great staff over the years. We have probably 15 people who’ve been here longer than the pandemic. A lot of really good servers and bartenders and cooks/chefs. We’ve built a really good team. And time has been the key. It’s a well-oiled machine now, but it took a lot of tinkering and a lot of time.”
Manager Carolann Young has been instrumental in developing the Hecklers cocktail menu. I sampled the Cellar Sour on her recommendation. And it slipped down smoothly – a very tasty blend of Lot 40 rye, Creme de Cassis, blueberry bitters, egg white and simple syrup.
On the food menu there’s every kind of chicken wing, from hot & special sauces and barbecue sauces to dry rubs, plus an extensive range of starters, salads, burgers, sandwiches and main courses. I sampled the sublime Slow-roasted Beef Dip Sandwich, featuring roasted beef, horseradish mayo, onion rings, Swiss cheese, au jus dip, fries and Caesar Salad.
“We’re affordable,” says McGeough. “Our burger’s not $24 (they start at $13.99). You can get a beer, a daily lager for under $6 ($5.50). Meanwhile, wings on Sundays are $8 and will only go up to $9 next year.”
Also looking ahead, “we’ll make minor changes, and we have new managers, so it will always be evolving. But we’ll also keep doing what works so well,” McGeough adds.
“It starts with being the kind of place that Derek and I would like to go to and then working back from there. And we’re definitely now a place we’d like to go to.”
Hecklers
123 Gorge Rd. East, Victoria
250-381-1312
hecklers.ca
Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.

source

Home»News»The White Lotus Season 3: Thai-set drama unveiled with a new look at death and spirituality; release date announced»
Natasha Rothwell returns as The White Lotus Season 3 teases a spiritual journey set in Thailand.
Last Updated: 11.35 AM, Dec 17, 2024
Cast members of The White Lotus travel to Thailand in search of love. The first trailer for Mike White’s much-anticipated return to HBO’s drama series has arrived. Episodes from the Thailand-set season will premiere on JioCinema (OTTplay Premium) in India on February 17, 2025.

Themes of pain, pleasure, and spiritual exploration

The narrator continues, “Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure,” and HBO’s teaser trailer also features the line, “Seeking peace can be a trip.” However, they encounter more suffering upon their arrival.
ALSO READ: The White Lotus returns February, Harry Potter series set for 2027—HBO unveils premiere dates for fan favourites 
Season two of The White Lotus centers on sexuality, while season one focuses on wealth. White has stated that season three will be a satirical and humorous look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality, but he has purposely concealed plot information from the fans.

Introducing the ensemble cast and returning characters

A week passes as we follow the antics of a diverse group of visitors and staff at an elite Thai resort in this social satire. The nearly minute-and-a-half-long teaser introduces us to the large ensemble cast, which includes Natasha Rothwell, who reprises her original role as Hawaii spa manager Belinda Lindsey; three long-lost friends—Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, and Leslie Bibb—who embark on a girls’ trip together after a long time apart.
With Parker Posey as his wife Victoria and Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola as their three children, Jason Isaacs portrays the role of Timothy Ratliff, a rich businessman on vacation. Schwarzenegger portrays Saxson, the oldest son, who works for his prosperous father’s business. Hook portrays Piper, a college student majoring in religious studies and the middle child. Nivola portrays Lochlan, who is the youngest and a senior in high school. Rick Hatchett, portrayed by Walton Goggins, is a macho man with a grudge against his younger, more carefree girlfriend Chelsea, played by Aimee Lou Wood. Lalisa Manobal portrays Mook, a health coach at The White Lotus Hotel, while Tayme Thapthimthong portrays Gaitok, a security guard. Sritala (Lek Patravadi), one of the proprietors of The White Lotus and the inspiration for its health program, is a visionary.

Behind the scenes

Executive producers for The White Lotus include White, David Bernad, and Mark Kamine; White also conceptualized, wrote, and directed the series.
ALSO READ: The White Lotus Season 3 first look: Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, and more tease new chaos 

source

1. Live updates: Madison, Wisconsin school shooting, suspect identified as Abundant Life Christian School student  CNN
2. Madison, Wisconsin, school shooting leaves 2 dead, 6 injured; juvenile suspect dead  Fox News
3. School shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison: A timeline of events  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
4. What we know so far about the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Wisconsin  NBC News
5. Teacher and a teenage student killed in a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin  The Associated Press
6. MPD identifies suspected shooter at Abundant Life Christian School  WKOW
7. Police identify Wisconsin school shooting suspect as a 15-year-old female student  NPR
8. Police ID 15-year-old girl as school shooter in Wisconsin, 2nd-grader made 911 call  ABC News
9. Madison school shooting live updates: Teacher, student killed at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin; shooter dead  Yahoo! Voices

source

Vermont wins Men's College Cup with OT goal
🍀 Notre Dame rises in WBB Power 37
📈 UConn climbs in MBB Power 37
Here’s the complete schedule for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket. This season is the 11th year of the CFP era — but the first year that the CFP is using a 12-team format. The bracket was announced on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Games are scheduled Dec. 20, 2024 to Jan. 20, 2025, with the first round on Dec. 20-21, quarterfinals on Dec. 31-Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 9-10 and finally the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 in Atlanta. Check out the full schedule below.
All times Eastern
Here’s the full CFP schedule:
🤔 How the 12-team CFP works
Here is the history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Downing one of the most efficient offenses in college football, the 15-0 Michigan Wolverines finished their perfect season by winning their first football national title since 1997. Michigan topped Washington, 34-13, in the 2023-24 CFP National Championship Game.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy showcased his arm as well as his legs as he tossed for 140 yards and clocked his longest carry all season at 22 yards on a crucial third-and-long in the third quarter. With a key third quarter interception, defensive back Will Johnson earned Defensive MVP. Donning the same jersey number as Johnson (No. 2), Blake Corum earned Offensive MVP after notching 134 rushing yards. He also added two rushing touchdowns to tally 58 of his career — a school record. He concluded during the trophy ceremony, “Business is finished.”
In his ninth season at the helm of his alma mater, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh collected his first national championship with the Wolverines. The game capped off the 10-year stint of the four-team College Football Playoff, with the playoff expansion to 12 teams for the 2024-25 season.

source

MADISON, Wis. — Two people were killed and six others were injured Monday after a 15-year-old student opened fire at a private school in Madison, Wisconsin, authorities said, the latest school attack to rock the nation.
Officers responded to a call of an active shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. One teacher and one teen student were killed, he confirmed.
Two students are in critical condition, according to police. Three other students and one teacher suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and two of the victims have been released from hospitals, Barnes added during Monday night’s news briefing. Barnes said earlier in the day that all of the injured victims were students.
“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country,” Barnes said.
A second-grade student called 911 to report an active shooter at 10:57 a.m. local time at the school in Madison, about 80 miles west of Milwaukee, Barnes confirmed. The school was evacuated and officers swept through the school.
Barnes identified the shooter Monday night as Natalie Rupnow, 15, who went by Samantha and attended Abundant Life. He said the shooter was pronounced dead on the way to a local hospital and appeared to die from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to Barnes, officers did not fire their weapons and there was no further threat to the public.
Police at one point said the fatalities included four victims plus the shooter, but later lowered the number to two. Madison Fire Chief Chris Carbon said four people were transported to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, while others were taken to University of Wisconsin hospitals.
Authorities recovered a handgun they believe was used in the shooting, according to Barnes. He said Monday night that the shooting occurred in a classroom during study hall with students of different grades.
Barnes said the suspected shooter’s family was cooperating with authorities, who are investigating why the teen opened fire and how she obtained a weapon.
“Today truly is a sad day for Madison and for our country,” Barnes said. “It is a day that I believe will live in our collective minds for a very, very long time.”
Authorities revealed harrowing details about how police were alerted to a deadly shooting that unfolded hours earlier at the private Wisconsin school.
Barnes told reporters Monday night that a second grader alerted police to the shooter. Minutes after the student’s phone call, first responders were in the building.
“A second-grade student called 911 to report a shooting had occurred at school. I’m going to let that soak in for a minute,” Barnes said. He added that 911 dispatchers are trained to talk to children through difficult circumstances, including parents choking, CPR, and even giving birth.
“So they are trained to do that. But to me, it makes my heart skip a beat to think about that,” Barnes said.
There have been 322 school shootings this year in the U.S., according to the K-12 School Shooting Database website. That is the second-highest total of any year since 1966, according to that database — topped only by last year’s total of 349 such shootings.
“We need to do better in our country and our community to prevent gun violence,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
Monday’s shooting took place 12 years after one of the most notorious school shootings in U.S. history — the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A 20-year-old man armed with a semiautomatic rifle killed 20 school children plus six adults who worked at the school.
The Green Bay Area Public School District announced Monday on social media that police were investigating potential shooting threats at two of its four high schools. As of noon, three persons of interest had been identified, and it was determined there was no ongoing threat. Police were still investigating.
A surge in calls to a Wisconsin school shootings tip line followed Monday’s deadly incident at a Madison school.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s school safety tip line received numerous calls Monday and state law enforcement is keeping an eye out for copycat crimes in the coming weeks, said Trish Kilpin, director of the state Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety at a media briefing Monday night.
Kilpin encouraged students, families, and community members to report any concerns about potential school attacks to the tip line, law enforcement, or school officials. “Targeted violence is preventable,” she said.
The tip line “Speak Up, Speak Out” was created in 2020 and has fielded over 350 tips regarding attacks on schools, Kilpin said. To report a threat to the tip line, call 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 or text SUSO to 738477.
— Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
President Joe Biden said in a statement Monday the shooting was “shocking and unconscionable.”
“From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention – it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence,” Biden said. “We cannot continue to accept it as normal.”
He called on Congress to pass universal background checks, a national red-flag law, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
In 2022, Biden signed into law the first major federal gun reform in three decades, about a month after an 18-year-old man opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers.
Polling shows American voters favor stronger background checks on gun buyers, temporary limits on people in crisis, and more safety requirements for gun storage at homes with children. Lawmakers have largely declined to act, citing the U.S. constitutional protection for gun owners.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, Wisconsin, will hold a vigil at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT, executive administrator Kristine Leuzinger told USA TODAY.
The group is gathering more details and planning how to support the community, Leuzinger said.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County CEO Michael Johnson said on Facebook that young people will have opportunities to come together and process their feelings surrounding the shooting.
Barbara Wiers, director of elementary and school relations at Abundant Life Christian School, said at an evening news briefing that she was teaching when gunfire broke out.
“The students handled themselves magnificently,” Wiers said, noting they were visibly frightened after realizing the lockdown was not a drill.
Wiers said security cameras in the building are monitored, doors remain locked and every student is “visually scanned” by staff as they enter the building. The school does not have a school resource officer or metal detectors, she added.
The school is still deciding whether classes will be held this week, Wiers said, noting it was supposed to be the last week of class before the holiday break. She added the goal is to get staff together soon and have some opportunities for students to reconnect before the holidays.
Bethany Highman said she was able to connect with her daughter who attends the school via video and was relieved to learn she was OK. She was uncertain of next steps but said she intended to support her daughter through community and prayer.
“Your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” she said. “We’re just waiting, praying.”
Shannon Moungey lives about 15 minutes away in Stoughton, Wisconsin, and was relieved to learn her friends’ kids were safe after hearing about the shooting at their school.
She said it was a “very sad situation this close to Christmas” and expects it will be a long road to recovery for the community. “Kiss your loved ones tonight extra, extra,” Moungey said.
She said she was surprised the shooting happened in her area.
“It’s a little close to home,” Moungey said. “You see more and more of this every day and it’s very unfortunate. You see this on TV, and you never think it’s going to happen in your area, and unfortunately it did for us today.”
In a statement, state superintendent Jill Underly said the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School was the second school shooting in Wisconsin in seven months.
In May, police responded to a middle school in Mount Horeb, where a 911 caller said someone approaching the school appeared to have a long gun. Police told the person to drop their weapon, but the individual pointed it at officers.
Police then shot the suspect, who died at the scene. There were no other injuries, and it was later determined the suspect’s weapon was a pellet rifle.
“Our hearts are heavy with great sorrow as we mourn the senseless loss of life in yet another school shooting,” Underly said Monday about the Madison shooting.
The school posted a brief notice on its Facebook page: “Prayers Requested! Today, we had an active shooter incident at ALCS. We are in the midst of following up. We will share information as we are able. Please pray for our Challenger Family.”
Nearby La Follette High School and Sennett Middle School were on secure hold because of the shooting, Madison Metropolitan School District officials said. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he was closely monitoring the events at the school.
“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information,” Evers said, adding that he was “grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond.”
Sen. Ron Johnson reacted to the shooting on X: “My sincere condolences and prayers for all the victims of the tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
Abundant Life Christian School was founded in 1978, according to the school’s website, and the main building is located next door to City Church Madison, a Christian non-denominational church.
The school “was specifically organized to offer students academic excellence in a Christ-focused context,” its website says.
About 200 families representing more than 50 local congregations enroll their children at the school, which offers classes from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
The school shares a 28-acre campus with Campus for Kids Learning Center, a program for infants through 4-year-old kindergarten, and the nondenominational City Church.
Contributing: Claire Reid, Madeline Heim, Natalie Eilbert, Alec Johnson, Alison Dirr and Ricardo Torres, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Nadia Scharf, Green Bay Press-Gazette; Reuters
(This story was updated to add new information.)

source