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I like Martha Stewart. Always have. Two recent documentaries, "Martha" on Netflix and the CNN series "The Many Lives of Martha Stewart," follow the Greek drama that make Stewart a cultural fascination to this day. They recount the jihad against this visionary who came under attack for being a woman with fierce ambition. Admittedly, Stewart's hard edged perfectionism and nuclear-powered drive had created some tension with her product, the "soft" home arts of cooking, flower arranging and chair reupholstering. But did she have to be destroyed? Sure, Stewart engaged in some insider trading that may have seemed nothing more than an innocent stock tip. She shouldn't have lied about it to the FBI. But did journalist Dominick Dunne have to call her the "Goddess of Greed" over a transaction that saved the creator of a billion-dollar business only $45,673? It sure didn't merit five months in prison. In 1987, the cultural hyenas jumped on her for signing a $5 million contract with Kmart. Stewart was allegedly "selling out" the domestic lifestyle she had cultivated, moving away from authenticity toward mass production and profit. Heaven forfend. The year before, The Disney Co.'s CEO walked off with a $90 million severance check after 14 months of undistinguished performance. She was tenacious. So what? Male executives wore that badge proudly. This woman built a business empire based on creating artistic cheese trays and making wreaths from dry leaves. Try that, Elon Musk. Some of her trouble came in the sub-message that our home lives had turned slovenly because Americans had stopped caring about family dinners and dust balls under the sofa. Some translated that not as a call to do better but as an indictment. But Stewart had no army. Those who accused her of creating unrealistic expectations for women juggling work and family should have been asked: Whose expectations? One could simply enjoy watching her on TV or reading her magazine, Martha Stewart Living. Her projects were properly labeled "aspirational." I once tried to follow her instructions for coloring cloth with natural vegetable dyes. Two hours later, I ended up with blotchy fabric and hands stained by beet juice. I tried, I failed, and I had a funny story to tell. I was intrigued by her demonstration on how to roll an ironed tablecloth in parchment paper to prevent wrinkles. And how nice that she could whip up 80 perfectly iced little cakes in no time. I can't do a single backflip. Must I resent Simone Biles for executing a triple-double in one move? It took Superwoman strength to plant an orchard with 122 trees and who knows how many rose bushes. One interviewer noted that people living in Detroit or New York City couldn't do rose gardens. She responded, "But yes, they want roses." The fantasy was more than half the point. Women were among her leading inquisitors. One called her "the most intimidating homemaker on earth." Another female interviewer tells her, "Either they worship you or they say you make us crazy." There was a third possibility — that they found her entertaining. Stewart can lay claim to two heroic feats: She played a big part in improving the quality of American homelife. And she rebuilt a business that had been left for dead. Above all, Martha was a great tough broad. You saw how TV's Larry King kept badgering her about her failed marriage in a way that would have seemed bizarre had the executive been a man. "I had sacrificed a marriage because of the allure of a great job," she finally relented. And she didn't regret it? She did not. I like Stewart, still going strong at 83. More than ever. Harrop, who lives in New York City and Providence, Rhode Island, writes for Creators Syndicate: fharrop@gmail.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Chad "Ochocino" Johnson missed just 10 games in his illustrious 11-year career, and now he's spilling his secrets. The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver revealed on the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast an odd way of keeping his ankles healthy. Johnson would soak his ankles in his teammates' warm urine. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Wide receiver Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates during a game against the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium Nov. 9, 2003, in Cincinnati. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) The podcast brought up a video of Johnson discussing the remedy from a podcast in 2016. "You know what I did for ankle sprains?" the former wide receiver said at the time. "I would collect warm urine from my teammates, heat it up and put my ankle in it for 30 minutes." "Yeah, that worked," he nonchalantly recalled to the podcast this week. Johnson would soak his ankles for 30 minutes. "There's a reason I never been injured — home remedies," he said, admitting there was no "science" behind it. I'm sitting here living proof." Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati Bengals hauls in a one-handed catch for a first quarter touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium Oct. 4, 2009, in Cleveland. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Johnson said his grandmother told him about the secret sauce, and, apparently, it was pretty easy to convince his teammates to help. "It's a good thing. This is how I was able to collect it all at one time, right? You got team meetings in the morning, right? Everybody. 'Hey y'all, boy, do me a favor, boy. My ankle kind of f---ed up, I need you to all y'all to drink water at one time. So, when we break meeting, if y'all pee it's a bucket in the bathroom.' Boom. Y'all all peeing that bucket for me." Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati Bengals during a game against the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium Nov. 25, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Ochocinco" was a six-time Pro Bowler and had seven 1,000-yard seasons. He retired with 766 catches (41st all-time), 11,059 yards (38th) and 67 touchdowns (T-56th). The 46-year-old has been eligible for Canton since 2017 but has yet to receive the call. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .Here, the PA news agency looks at the seven Grand Slam finals contested by the pair. Murray turned in a poor performance in Melbourne, failing at the third attempt to win a set in a Grand Slam final as Djokovic broke serve seven times and hit six aces to claim a comprehensive win 6-4 6-2 6-3. “You had an unbelievable tournament and deserved to win,” the Scot said in reference to his opponent. “I look forward to playing against you in the future.” It took five sets for Murray to claim his first Grand Slam title, becoming the first British man to achieve the feat since Fred Perry in 1936. The final clocked in at four hours and 54 minutes as Murray prevailed 7-6 (10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 to end a wait of 287 tournaments in British male tennis for a victory. “I want to congratulate Andy on his first grand slam, he thoroughly deserves it,” said Djokovic. “I really tried my best. I gave it my all. It was a tremendous match.” Congrats @DjokerNole . Incredible athlete. Perfect gentleman. #ausopen — judy murray (@JudyMurray) January 27, 2013 Murray was dogged by injury in Melbourne with a heavily strapped right foot and a tight hamstring as Djokovic fought back from a set down to land a third consecutive Australian Open title, 6-7 (2) 7-6 (3) 6-3 6-2. “His record here is incredible,” said Murray. ”Very few people have managed to do what he has done, a deserved champion.” Murray ended a 77-year wait for a British men’s victory at Wimbledon by defeating his old foe 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in SW19, serving emphatically with nine aces and only two double faults to throw off the weight of history. The Scot had been 4-1 down in the second set as the match threatened to slip away from him and with it the chance to cement his place in tennis folklore, but having wasted three championship points he finally sealed the deal when Djokovic drove into the net with his final shot. A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole) Djokovic triumphed 7-6 (5) 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-0 and after the 24 matches and five grand slam finals the pair had played against each other across nine years, the Serb had established a 16-8 overall lead and 3-2 in slam finals. “Success is being happy,” said Murray. “It’s not about winning every single tournament you play, because that isn’t possible.” What a journey. Really grateful for everything. I'll keep working hard. Love is the key! pic.twitter.com/CrT7TYRL3O — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 31, 2016 The Serb landed a fourth win over Murray in Australian Open finals and his 11th in 12 matches to land his 11th major title, whilst the Scot made it five consecutive final losses in Melbourne, a new record in the Open era. “I feel like I’ve been here before,” said Murray after a 6-1 7-5 7-6 (3) loss. “Congratulations Novak, six Australian Opens, an incredible feat, and incredible consistency the last year.” "This is something that’s so rare in tennis... it’s gonna take a long time for it to happen again" Andy to Novak ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LN7dW8ZJED — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 5, 2016 This was Murray’s first final at Roland Garros but it brought a familiar conclusion as Djokovic triumphed against him for the fifth time in seven Grand Slam finals. The 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 success was a first win for the Serb in Paris and saw him hold all four slams simultaneously. Murray went on to win Wimbledon the following month and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year but, addressing Djokovic in Paris, said: “This is his day today. What he’s achieved the last 12 months is phenomenal, winning all four of the grand slams in one year is an amazing achievement.”US President-elect Donald Trump says he will direct his Justice Department to "vigorously pursue" the death penalty to protect Americans from "violent rapists, murderers, and monsters" when he takes power on January 20. Login or signup to continue reading Trump's statement on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday was in response to President Joe Biden's announcement on Monday that he had commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole. "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters," Trump said. Trump restarted federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 after a nearly 20-year pause. Biden, who ran for president opposing the death penalty, put federal executions on hold when he took office in January 2021. Unlike executive orders, clemency decisions cannot be reversed by a president's successor, although the death penalty can be sought more aggressively in future cases. The Trump transition team on Monday had denounced Biden's decision, calling it abhorrent and favouring convicts who are "among the worst killers in the world." Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! 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AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:04 p.m. ESTOregon, Penn State square off for Big Ten title with CFP in their futureFun park ride maker ordered to pay $485 million after teen killed

ET Explainer: Taxing times for popcorn & used carsWhat does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?

Immigration measures announced as part of Canada’s border response to president-elect Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat are starting to be implemented, beginning with a ban on what’s known as “flagpoling.” This is when someone who was in Canada on a temporary visa leaves for the U.S. then quickly re-enters Canada to access immigration services at a port of entry. The restriction on providing work and study permits to flagpolers takes effect today. Last week, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said that going forward temporary visa holders will have to apply online to extend their stay in Canada. The Canadian Border Services Agency processed more than 69,300 people who engaged in flagpoling in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. There are still rare exceptions where a person will be granted a work or study permit even though they meet the definition of flagpoling, including international truck drivers with a work permit, professionals under certain free trade agreements and American citizens. Miller first announced the plan to ban the practice on Dec. 17, alongside Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc who promised a border control package worth $1.3 billion. This includes removing the point value for having a job offer in Canada’s express entry immigration system. The stated goal of this change is to reduce and prevent immigration fraud. In a social media post, Miller said this will take effect in the spring and that it will be a temporary measure. A broader review of the express entry program is being conducted, and a future decision on the value of a job offer in that system will be made at that time. A labour market impact assessment, a key document required for an employer to hire a foreign worker, is currently worth 50 to 200 points in the express entry system. Applicants are not supposed to pay for these, but a black market has emerged where people are charging tens of thousands of dollars for these documents. Applications that are already in progress won’t be affected once this change takes effect. Miller also said the government is looking at ways to streamline Canada’s asylum system at that Dec. 17 press conference. This includes exploring options to “quickly deal with” illegitimate claims. The government’s broader border measures plan to respond to Trump’s 25 per cent tariff threat also includes enhanced aerial surveillance and drug detection efforts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2025.Some of John Fetterman’s former staffers are upset he’s open to voting for Mehmet Oz, who they spent their campaign attacking

Number of PwC partners taking early retirement jumps amid consulting slowdownThe AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Carter Whitt scored 14 points as Belmont beat Middle Tennessee 82-79 on Saturday. Whitt also added eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals for the Bruins (8-2). Isaiah Walker also scored 14 points while going 6 of 12 and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line while they also had eight rebounds. Sam Orme had 12 points and went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range). The Blue Raiders (7-3) were led by Jlynn Counter, who recorded 22 points and five assists. Middle Tennessee also got 21 points and two blocks from Jestin Porter. Essam Mostafa finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Belmont went into the half ahead of Middle Tennessee 38-30. Walker scored eight points in the half. Belmont pulled off the victory after a 19-2 run spanning both halves erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 44-30 with 19:01 remaining in the second half. Whitt scored 10 second-half points and his four free throws in the final half-minute helped the Bruins maintain their lead. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Why you can trust AppleInsider Read how we test products or view our ethics policy . If you shop through our links, we may get a commission. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The pinnacle of the portable Mac Andrew O'Hara | Nov 22, 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Peak MacBook Pro 3 Facebook x.com Reddit The latest MacBook Pro update arrived in November, alongside multiple other Macs. We similarly got a new M4 -powered iMac and a completely redesigned Mac mini . Looking at the MacBook Pros specifically, they come in both 14- and 16-inch versions. You can get the 14-inch in M4 and M4 Pro versions and the 16-inch with the M4 Pro or M4 Max. This review is sponsored by tomtoc . Tomtoc is a design-driven, tech-savvy brand focused on providing innovative protection for your digital devices. With an emphasis on quality, functionality, and a perfect fit, tomtoc's products keep your gear safe in style. Get ready for their Black Friday sale with up to 50% off and don't miss your chance to upgrade your protection! We're looking at the Space Black 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 Max processor and its 40-core GPU. It has 1TB of storage and 64GB of unified memory. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Internals and ports Much of this machine is the same as before. The design is unchanged on the outside, other than that the base M4 model can now be obtained in the Space Black colorway that's become so popular. We still wish it was a bit darker. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The left side has MagSafe 3, Thunderbolt 5 ports, and an audio jack As you face it, on the left of the machine is a MagSafe 3 port for charging at up to 140W, saddled by two Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The right has an SDXC card reader, another Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI connector. You get Apple's excellent built in keyboard above the still-spacious glass trackpad. Years later, Apple's trackpad is still unmatched by the competition. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The keyboard is as good as ever and a joy to type on The display is 16.2-inches on the diagonal and measures 3456 by 2234 in resolution. It looks beautiful, has 1000 nits of typical brightness, ProMotion up to 120Hz, supports the P3 wide color gamut, and has TrueTone. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: What's new this time around? There are a number of improvements here, even if Apple kept the body the same. For example, the display's 1000 nit max brightness is 400 nits above where it was before. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The screen looks gorgeous with the matte finish That's particularly useful when outdoors, no matter if you opted for the glossy or the new nano-texture finish. Similarly, it can get dimmer too. If you've ever worked into the wee hours or tried to use your computer in bed in the dark, you may have tried to turn your display brightness extremely low. Like the iPhone 16 line, it can now go as low as 1 nit. We certainly work into the wee hours of the night, frequently. So, this, like it was on the iPhone, has been a surprisingly useful feature. Not everyone is going to need this and it's not really that heavily promoted by Apple. For us, though, it's so helpful and more comfortable on our eyes. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The new camera is 12MP and supports desk view Also on the display is a beefed up camera hiding in the notch. It's now 12MP and supports Desk View. Video is still capped at 1080p though. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Desk View on the upgraded camera Even if you don't use Desk View, the higher resolution and improved M4 ISP is welcomed and we were shocked at how much better we looked. We did a side-by-side with our M3 Max MacBook Pro and it was drastic. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The old versus new camera quality The photo was richer with more contrast and better colors. It frankly makes the camera much more usable for processional applications. Thunderbolt 5 will be a standout feature — eventually After we got our first look at Thunderbolt 5 prototype devices at CES 2024, we're finally seeing the first cables and docks coming to market. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: A third party Thunderbolt 5 cable It's capable of 120Gb/s of aggregated data which is up to three times that of Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4. There aren't many devices now, but we're going to see many over the lifespan of this machine. When buying a Mac that you plan to use three, five, or even ten years you want it to support the latest technology. That's what this offers. It'll make more of a difference when there are more peripherals available. At the time of writing, only a few things have been announced. One thing we didn't get here was Wi-Fi 7 and we're sorely disappointed. This is the one upgrade we expected to get and didn't, purely based on the new wireless standard being finalized earlier this year. The iPhone 16 series also already supports it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Apple has plenty of ports Once more, when you want a machine that will last, you want the latest standards and it's frustrating to see that omitted here. We'd prefer it on our Macs versus our iPhones. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Nano texture display Filed under "new changes in 2024" for the MacBook Pro is an optional nano texture finish. It's similar to what the iPad Pro , iMac, and Studio Display offer. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Trying to flash a light at the glossy (left) and matte (right) finish options We're not going to get into it again, given that this isn't Apple's first product with it. In short, it reduces glare and the impact of bright lights on the display. This diffused light, in our experience, makes the screen even better. There will be debate on what's better for color-specific workflows like video color grading or professional editing in Lightroom and Photoshop, but for us, it makes sense. Side by side, the color difference is minimal. If you are worrying that much about the color representation, a dedicated reference monitor may make more sense. With a laptop, the idea is to be portable and the nano texture affords that. The only downside is that because of the diffused light, it does appear slightly dimmer in certain environments. That's a worthwhile tradeoff though because we'd usually have to crank the brightness to battle the glare. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Testing the two displays outside When outside and the brightness cranks up to that 1000 nit level, that difference goes away and the new model looks just as bright as the older one. It also has great viewing angles, which is a plus. In all the environments we tested, the nano texture looked better. Even the clarity loss is minimal and we'd happily pay the $150 upgrade cost. Funny enough, the nano texture also kept out display cleaner. It still showed some oils, but overall looked and stayed cleaner than the normal glossy one. We've disliked the traditional anti-glare screens found on PCs and it's clear why Apple waited for a more suitable technology before introducing their own Mac-specific version of it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Performance Here, we're testing the M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro which is a 16-core CPU with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Geekbench single-core results That's the same breakdown as the M3 Max. It's now faster though, increasing the clockspeed from 3.68GHz to 4.5GHz. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Geekbench multi-core results In terms of benchmarked performance, Geekbench 6 is showing us a 25% boost in the single core performance. We also saw a 30% boost in the multi-core performance. The Metal graphics test was a little more modest, going to 189752 from 163927. That's about a 15% increase for that 40-core GPU. Putting these numbers into perspective, the M4 Max easily outperforms the M2 Ultra CPU. That shouldn't be a huge surprise since we never got an M3 Ultra chip to compare with. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Blender GPU benchmarks Perhaps even more impressive, the M4 Max is also comparable to the GeForce 4080 super GPU in some workloads. That's a huge, desktop graphics card that has similar performance to a laptop. We wanted throw something different at the new machine in our testing, which was perfectly timed with Apple's new update to Final Cut Pro. One of the new features to that is Magnetic Mask, which is one of the more computationally intensive video tasks we do, outside of 3D motion graphics. It uses AI to track a subject, masking out the background without the need for a green screen. We applied it to a 12 minute 4K 24FPS video and it took 14 minutes and 27 seconds to complete. On the M3 Max model, it took a minute and 32 seconds longer. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Testing editing with Final Cut Pro Overall it's about a 10% boost in that performance. That's not a ton but on a longer or higher resolution project, that could amount to a serious time savings. Of course, higher-end workflows probably aren't using Magnetic Mask, but still. For completeness sake, we ran Cinebench R23 on both our last-gen and current gen machines. The M4 Max achieved 27108 for the multi-core sore and 2237 for the single-core, compared to 21355 and 1816 for the M3 Max respectively. That once more is showing about a 30% increase in multi-core performance. For a yearly update, that's a solid increase, and even more impressive compared to the exceptional M1 Max machine many still use. This may be a big enough jump to encourage holdouts to make the jump to Apple's latest and greatest portable Mac. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: M4 Pro is where it's at While the M4 Max is an incredibly powerful chip, and also points to a mind-bending M4 Ultra release down the pike, the real story seems to be the M4 Pro. Generationally, it's a bigger increase than its predecessor and at the rate of Apple Silicon , it's still more power than a lot of pro users will need. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Apple's M4 series chips are great Our most demanding workflow, multi-cam 4K video, is now barely taxing even for a base M4 processor. We'd be fine with an M4 Pro these days, even if we opt for the extra headroom and better performance the M4 Max offers. Notably, the M4 Pro is up to a 14-core, two more than before, but also increased the performance cores from six to ten. We'd have been fine had Apple gave us just more efficiency cores. Memory bandwidth also nearly doubled from 150GB/s to 273GB/s. It all amounts to an exceptional upgrade for the mid-tier chip. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Some of our benchmarking suite Last year, the M3 Pro felt like we got slighted with a middling update. It gave users more of a reason to jump to the "max" variant. This year, it feels like the M4 Pro is where it's at and unless you have an ultra-demanding workflow, it will probably keep up. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Should you buy Apple's new flagship portable Mac? Not every year of Apple Silicon needs to be a monumental increase. This year it was probably above average for the M4 Max, between 20% and 30% for the CPU and less for the GPU. Still, it's so impressive how much power Apple is able to pack into a laptop that is so incredibly portable. And unlike many Windows-based PCs, you don't see a massive performance dip when running on battery. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Sliding the MacBook Pro into a backpack is easy, even at 16 inches There's very little to criticize here as Apple has continued to refine and push the MacBook Pro line. There's the absence of Wi-Fi 7, but otherwise Apple knocked it out of the park. It's powerful, fast, elegant, portable, and reliable. It's the machine we turn to most often to get work done. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: The new MacBook Pro is incredibly good The only reason not to buy the M4 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro is if you don't need this much power. In that case, the M4 Pro model is perfectly suitable. Next year it's rumored we'll see a redesigned MacBook Pro that's even thinner and presumably adding Wi-Fi 7 and upgraded OLED displays. That's what's on the roadmap which will hopefully make any upgrade decisions easier. This is a workhorse of a machine and would be a solid upgrade choice before jumping to a redesigned model in a few years, when Apple has any first-gen bugs worked out. This is peak MacBook Pro. And we're here for it. 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Pros Nano-texture display is incredible upgrade Performance of M4 Pro and M4 Max are both outstanding New camera is markedly better Peak design and performance of the portable Mac Thunderbolt 5 will be a game changer New minimum brightness is great for late night working 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max review: Cons No Wi-Fi 7 Thunderbolt 5 accessories are still scarce to start 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max rating: 5 out of 5 This review is sponsored by tomtoc . Tomtoc is a design-driven, tech-savvy brand focused on providing innovative protection for your digital devices. With an emphasis on quality, functionality, and a perfect fit, tomtoc's products keep your gear safe in style. Get ready for their Black Friday sale with up to 50% off and don't miss your chance to upgrade your protection! Where to buy Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max at a discount The 2024 MacBook Pro 16-inch is already on sale at numerous Apple resellers, with discounted prices starting at $2,199 in our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Guide . Amazon has M4 Max models marked down to as low as $3,199 at press time, reflecting a triple-digit discount off MSRP. AppleInsider readers can also save up to $300 on every CTO M4 MacBook Pro configuration with promo code APINSIDER at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. The same code takes $30 off three years of AppleCare for the 14-inch models and $40 off three years of AppleCare for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can also find the latest 14-inch MacBook Pro deals in our Price Guides: 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 prices 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro & M4 Max pricesPresident Ilham Aliyev approves amendments to law on customs tariff

There are two certainties on social media with every Christmas season. On the positive side, there will be countless posts of people sharing their Christmas traditions, decorations, and reasons for celebrating the season. Some of those will be secular in nature, while many practicing Christians will share the true meaning of the holiday: the birth of Jesus Christ. The other certainty is that these celebrations will cause anti-theists to completely melt down and spread their hatred of anyone who dares to speak openly in public about their Christian faith. One of the latest to experience this backlash was pop singer Gwen Stefani. Recently, the former lead singer for No Doubt and a self-professed devout Roman Catholic shared a pledge she was making for the Advent season in conjunction with the Catholic prayer app Hallow. The challenge is a simple one, just to say a prayer every day leading up to Christmas. Harmless, right? Just one person celebrating their faith, not demanding anyone else celebrate with her, but giving those who wish to do so a convenient way to share their Christmas prayers. Well, maybe not so harmless, at least not to anti-theists. Check out how the account Christian Nightmares reacted to Stefani's announcement: Gwen Stefani?! Jesus Christ... pic.twitter.com/o0dKHDx27V We will skip past the irony of an account called 'Christian Nightmares' invoking Jesus Christ to protest Stefani and her prayer pledge. (We're guessing the irony is lost on them as well.) Others who cannot abide anyone celebrating their faith had similar reactions. I can’t believe this woman used to be really cool and make cool music. This hurts my soul. Your soul? Yet more irony, again completely lost on the author of the reply. I loved No Doubt growing up. You broke my heart Gwen. You broke my heart She broke your heart because she prays? Yeah, we're guessing you may not have had one to begin with. I used to really like her 🙄👇 https://t.co/3b6EuWZA1C We're sure she's devastated that you no longer do. gwen stefani’s death has to be one of the saddest moments i’ve seen in my lifetime. may she rest in peace https://t.co/0Th05qy3a9 Yikes. ALL the yikes. That one is extremely scary. Gavin Rossdale basically outed her as a republican and said they had very different politics. This, and her marrying Blake Shelton is so unsurprising LOL. The fact that being Christian is automatically equated with being a Republican is both hilarious and damning to the Democrat Party. For the record, Stefani is not a conservative. She was a major Barack Obama donor, she performed for Joe Biden as recently as last year, and she refuses to be labeled in either party. But she is Catholic, so she must be a 'right-wing extremist.' Ironically, if anything did move Stefani ever-so-slightly to the right, it was likely the left trying to cancel her for 'cultural appropriation.' She has frequently talked about how she likes to show her love for Japanese culture. She also often wore bindis and saris on stage both as an expression of her admiration for Indian culture and as a nod to her No Doubt bandmate (and former boyfriend) Tony Kanal, who is an Indian American. Oh, that brought the cancel mob down upon her in droves back in the early 2000s. Can anyone blame her if she then embraced some of the conservative aspects of her political beliefs a little more tightly? Fortunately, as vile as the anti-theists were, there were plenty more ready to congratulate Stefani and come to her defense. lol everyone finding out their favorite ska-punk Barbie is *gasp* Catholic https://t.co/ARXRxbKMnl It's not like Stefani was hiding this or anything. She has talked openly about her Catholic faith for pretty much her entire professional career. Yeah. She’s Catholic. This isn’t the *own* you think it is. https://t.co/cPTxMu3QhX Some of you struggle with your faith in Jesus Christ, but Gwen Stefani has no doubt. https://t.co/j9ssSNUzfz Ahh, clever. We see what you did there, Cobra. Christmas itself is upsetting to these people. https://t.co/TKQCiUOAh8 Of course, it is. Imagine being upset by this? https://t.co/RNE1yPSCvt It's not all that surprising. If anyone ever talks about their Christianity, particularly someone famous, these people lose their minds. Only demons would be upset by this. https://t.co/prW8nBnSgH Hey, she said it, not us. (But we kind of agree with it.) Gwen Stefani’s Christian glow up is one of the best things about 2024. We don't know about 'best.' But it's certainly a positive thing that happened in 2024. We could use a lot more of it. I'm an atheist but i think religion is lovely. Good for Gwen I’m not Christian anymore and I have zero problem with this. What’s your deal? There is a big difference between being an agnostic or an atheist and being an anti-theist. Anti-theists have a problem with everyone , and they never shut up about it. They're like the vegans of religious discourse. I love Gwen Stefani even more now for this.🥰 It's a beautiful ad, and she looks beautiful presenting it. I love this message! 🙏🏻❤️🎄 https://t.co/2lBiZwfF3B Imagine showing yourself this video in 1994. Seriously, I think it’s great that Gwen Stefani is a Christian, and is now more vocal about her faith. This is incredibly healthy for American culture. https://t.co/z0j2yM2W2U It is all of that. As we said, our culture could use a lot more of this and a lot less of cults that demand everyone accept insane ideas like boys can be girls and girls can be boys. I'll never forget when my ex's liberal mother started screeching at brunch because she saw a truck drive by with an American flag on the back. She yelled so loud the entire restaurant stopped, like a demon in an exorcism That's what this account reminds me of https://t.co/zirHRPrfPw Wow. That's a frightening mother-in-law. And yes, she is exactly like the anti-theists who react to any signs of religious faith from anyone like a vampire reacts to garlic. “Is it me who’s out of touch? No! It’s Gwen Stefani and the other billion+ people!” 😂 HA. It's funny, though, how the anti-theists never react this way to say, practicing Muslims. They tend to focus almost exclusively on Judeo-Christian expressions of faith. If you guessed the reason for that, you win a prize. Because they are not really anti-religion per se. They just want everyone to adhere to their religion, which is Marxism. And Jewish and Christian beliefs are diametrically opposed to that. We're sure that there will be a lot more of this screeching from anti-theist accounts on Twitter as Christmas draws closer. The good news is that nothing they can say will deter any Christians. Especially not any Christians as strong in their faith as Gwen Stefani is.

St. Thomas defeats Montana 88-81 behind 22 points each from Kendall Blue and Nolan MinessaleThe European Union (EU) has called on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to commit to fully implementing the provisions of the National Disability Act. The EU emphasised that while the Act outlines comprehensive policies and practices to accommodate and empower persons with disabilities, fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes social equity, its impact remains null without effective implementation. In a strong appeal, the EU urged all levels of government and relevant stakeholders to allocate adequate resources to ensure the Act’s full implementation. This call was made by Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador-designate to Nigeria and ECOWAS, during a national dialogue held in Abuja to mark this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event, themed “Transformative Solutions to Disability-Inclusive Development in Nigeria,” was organised by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, with EU support through the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Representing Mignot, Ruben Alba Aguilera, Head of the Governance, Security, and Migration Section at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, expressed concern over the exclusion of persons with disabilities in development planning. “People with disabilities are being left behind in development,” he said. “Although inclusion is affirmed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, many interventions still fail to include people with disabilities. Societal barriers continue to place them at increased risk of violence, poverty, poorer health outcomes, and limited access to education and employment opportunities. This is not inevitable, and we must be deliberate about ensuring disability inclusion.” Aguilera highlighted that over 35 million Nigerians live with disabilities, with 9 out of 10 living below the poverty line. “These individuals face daily struggles, and it is our collective responsibility to address their challenges,” he said. READ ALSO : Nigeria and disability matters on world’s disability day While commending the government for passing the Disability Rights Law and establishing the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Aguilera stressed the need for swift implementation. “A law is only as effective as its implementation. We cannot rest on our laurels; it is time to act and dedicate sufficient resources to make this law effective,” he stated. The dialogue also featured remarks from Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, represented by Sunday Hezekiah, Director of the Special Needs Department. Yilwatda reiterated the need for an inclusive society and highlighted funding challenges for disability-related projects. “While the Act mandates education, welfare, and other provisions for persons with disabilities, resources allocated by the National Assembly remain grossly inadequate,” he noted. Chief Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of NCPWD, called for greater leadership and accountability in disability inclusion. “Today is a day for stocktaking: where are we coming from, where are we now, and where are we heading?” he asked. Also, Abba Isa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, urged collaboration among policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners to promote disability-inclusive development. “Awareness is key,” he said. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse; we must act now.” Danladi Plang, Head of Programme for the RoLAC Programme, echoed the importance of inclusion. “Sustainable development cannot be achieved without integrating the needs of persons with disabilities in planning and programming,” he said. The EU reiterated its commitment to prioritising the welfare of persons with disabilities through its disability-inclusive international partnerships and interventions in Nigeria.Great businesses rarely go on sale. But one fintech stock that I have followed for years just experienced a sudden correction. Give your portfolio an early gift by investing in this quality business before the holidays hit. Nu Holdings is a growth machine backed by Warren Buffett I've been a big fan of Nu Holdings ( NU 0.58% ) since its initial public offering in 2021. And I'm not alone in my fandom. Warren Buffett has picked up more than $1 billion in shares, a stake that he has refused to trim even as the stock price skyrocketed by more than 200% since mid-2022. What do I love most about Nu? It has developed a proven recipe for growth that should be sustained for years, if not decades to come. More than a decade ago, Nu's founders realized that Latin America's banking industry was primed for new competition. At the time, the banking industry was largely consolidated, with minimal innovation despite the advent of new technologies like the internet and smartphones. What the company decided to do was a novel break from tradition, at least for a Latin American financial services business. Instead of opening a bunch of physical branches, Nu went directly to consumers through a smartphone app. While this was fairly common at the time in more developed markets, the strategy was wholly unique in Latin America. By offering its services directly through a smartphone, Nu was able to lower costs for most conventional financial services like debit and credit cards, banking and checking accounts, and basic investment accounts. This reduction in fees, plus ease of access, allowed it to grow quickly. But there was another major advantage to this strategy: Nu could innovate far more nimbly than the competition. At the push of a button, it could activate a new product or service for millions of customers. Clearly these factors were in demand by Latin American residents. The company went from zero customers to 109 million as of the most recent quarter. And with more than 650 million residents across the entirety of Latin America, the company has plenty of room for long-term growth. The discount on this fintech stock may not last long Nu has become a growth machine, and its stock price has risen consistently due to that reality. But even growth superstars like this temporarily go on sale. Over the last few weeks, shares have fallen in value by nearly 25%. What was the cause? In mid-November, the company reported blockbuster earnings. But sales growth was below historical norms, while certain profitability metrics compressed. Then this week, an analyst from Citigroup cut his rating on Nu stock to a sell from neutral with a price target of $11, down from $14.60. While the analyst noted Nu's "impressive capacity" to grow, he thought that the latest run-up was an opportunity to take profits. There's no doubt that shares were expensive in mid-November when they set all-time highs. Nu was trading at more than 10 times sales, and more than 40 times profits. That's a steep price to pay for a bank stock. But this isn't any ordinary bank stock -- this a fintech business, capable of growing rapidly with impressive economies of scale. For example, the company just turned profitable in 2023, and already its shares trade at just 33 times earnings after the correction. On a forward basis, shares trade at less than 28 times expected earnings. NU PS ratio, data by YCharts. PS = price to sales; PE = price to earnings. Did Nu's valuation get a little out of hand last month? Perhaps. But this is a business built for the next century, not just the next few years. Getting a small discount on a fantastic business that can grow for the rest of your life is an opportunity too good to pass up. Analysts are often concerned with short-term price movements. But long-term investors should use these short-term movements to their advantage. Nu' Holdings' recent quarter wasn't up to its usual standard, but everything is still headed in the right direction from a macro perspective. While the latest correction may have been warranted on a short-term basis, don't expect the discount to last through the holidays -- this is too good a bargain to pass up for patient investors.

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What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?FAIRFIELD (2-4) Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Bergens 1-3 2-4 5, Johnson 3-4 0-0 6, Perry 1-4 3-4 5, Bleechmore 3-10 4-5 11, Munkadi 0-0 3-4 3, Riek 5-11 1-2 13, Sparks 2-6 2-2 7, Best 4-6 4-4 13, Rogan 1-1 0-0 3, Seck 0-1 0-0 0, Curtis 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-50 19-25 66. YALE (4-3) Townsend 7-13 2-2 16, Aletan 5-9 5-6 15, Gharram 2-5 0-0 5, Mbeng 2-5 3-4 7, Poulakidas 7-8 2-2 22, Celiscar 4-4 2-2 10, Simmons 0-2 2-2 2, Mullin 0-1 2-2 2, Molloy 4-5 0-0 8, Brathwaite 1-2 0-0 2, Arlington 0-0 0-0 0, Fox 0-0 0-0 0, Rice 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 33-55 18-20 91. Halftime_Yale 46-26. 3-Point Goals_Fairfield 7-22 (Riek 2-6, Best 1-1, Rogan 1-1, Bergens 1-2, Sparks 1-3, Bleechmore 1-6, Perry 0-1, Curtis 0-2), Yale 7-16 (Poulakidas 6-7, Gharram 1-2, Brathwaite 0-1, Mullin 0-1, Simmons 0-1, Mbeng 0-2, Townsend 0-2). Rebounds_Fairfield 20 (Bleechmore, Munkadi 4), Yale 31 (Townsend 7). Assists_Fairfield 6 (Riek, Sparks 2), Yale 23 (Mbeng 11). Total Fouls_Fairfield 20, Yale 21. A_2,100 (9,323).As the festive season approaches, Mouni Roy’s wardrobe offers a treasure trove of outfit inspiration for Christmas celebrations. Known for her stunning fashion choices, Mouni embodies a unique blend of contemporary and traditional styles, making her an ideal muse for holiday attire. Mouni Roy Birthday: Instagram Pics of the Actress That Prove That She's a Fashion-Loving Soul . For a glamorous yet festive look, consider a red maxi dress adorned with subtle embellishments. The deep hues of emerald green or royal red not only capture the essence of the holiday spirit but also add a touch of elegance. Pairing this with statement accessories, such as oversized earrings or a sparkling clutch, can elevate the outfit, making it perfect for evening gatherings. If you prefer a subtle look, Mouni’s collection includes beautiful ensembles. A well-tailored lehenga with intricate embroidery can provide a festive flair. Opt for a blend of festive colours and textures to stand out at holiday parties, and don’t forget to complement the outfit with traditional jewellery for an authentic vibe. Mouni Roy Looks Like a Million Bucks in Shimmery Golden Waist Cut-Out Outfit, See Her Latest Instagram Pictures Here . To check out some of her coolest outfits for Christmas celebration this year, keep scrolling! For those who value comfort without compromising on style, Mouni often showcases chic maxi dresses and stylish jumpsuits, which are versatile enough for both casual and formal celebrations. Selecting cosy fabrics such as knits or breathable cotton can keep you warm during winter festivities while maintaining a fashionable appearance. Incorporating elements from Mouni Roy’s wardrobe allows anyone to capture the joyous spirit of Christmas while expressing their personal style, ensuring that you celebrate the season with fashion-forward flair. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2024 09:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).