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Saturday, November 30, 2019

Why Ayton-supporters are so defensive about this whole Luka thing - Bright Side of the Sun

The last year and a half, since the 2018 draft, this constant back and forth between Deandre Ayton fans and Luka Doncic fans has gotten a little ridiculous on all sides, and it’s spoiling what has been a better than expected start to the season.

As a member of the pro-Ayton camp during that draft, I want to provide my perspective of what has happened since, and why those that wanted the Phoenix Suns to draft Ayton (and continue to support him) have been so defensive, so those who were pro-Doncic see where we are coming from.

1. We would have been perfectly happy with Doncic, and would have gotten on that bandwagon if that was what the Suns were signaling as their pick. But they telegraphed that Ayton was the guy, so we bought in.

2. And he produced. He had a great rookie season. In any other year he would have been ROY. But Luca and Trae captured the attention of the national media (for good reason), so those of us who were in on Ayton from jump got defensive because we thought he deserved more attention.

3. At the same time, the pro-Doncic parts of Suns Twitter and local sports media were very critical of Ayton, while repeatedly praising Luka/lamenting that the Suns didn’t draft the guy they wanted. All the while glossing over his flaws (which were present). The pro-Ayton fans understood he had a learning curve, and were willing to accept that. The pro-Doncic fans said these same things, but they always seemed couched with critiques and fears the Suns made a mistake and Ayton was too flawed to succeed.

4. Flash forward to this year. Ayton gets suspended and Luka goes supernova. And for the past month plus, the pro-Doncic crowd has decided the case is closed. But because Ayton can’t play, the conversation is entirely one sided. We don’t know how Ayton has grown this summer. He may have made a leap as well. So many of us have attempted to defend him and the Suns decision in his absence. And without game tape from this season to use as evidence, those defenses can become petty out of frustration.

5. Do I want to like Luka? Yeah. I liked him before the draft, and I like to enjoy well-played basketball. But I want to enjoy the Suns more, and I can’t divorce the two. I have to ride with the team that’s in front of me that wears the Purple and Orange. I can’t be looking back on what if’s. I don’t want to not be able to fully enjoy when the Suns become successful again because, they didn’t take my guy who was “better”. I want to be all in, on everybody. And because of this an irrational dislike for Luka has developed. And it’s not even him I dislike, it’s everything else that has come with it. He is just the avatar where I can focus my energies. And I would think the same could be said for a lot of other Suns fans in the same position.


You can find Justin on twitter at @DervishofWhirl and on the semi-regular Fanning the Flames podcast shared here through Bright Side (see the latest episode right above the comments on each Bright Side post).

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You'll Never Believe This 1 Thing Millie Bobby Brown Worked Into Her Contract for a New Movie Role - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

15-year-old Millie Bobby Brown has been gearing up for an acting career since childhood. Now the Stranger Things star has her own makeup line called florence by mills, and has collaborated with Converse to design her own collections of sneakers. She’s also landing big movie roles, such as Enola Holmes in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film. In November, it came out that Brown will add 6 million dollars to her net worth, along with some other great perks, as guaranteed per her contract for the film. Enola Holmes is set to be released in 2020.

Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown Visits The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon  | Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NBC

The Converse designer is appearing in a new Sherlock Holmes movie

Brown was cast as Enola Holmes in the 2020 film of the same title, it was announced recently. She will play Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister Enola, who follows in her brother’s footsteps and becomes a private detective herself.

In November, TMZ reported that Brown will rake in $6.1 million for her role in the film.

Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown attends The BRIT Awards 2018 | John Phillips/Getty Images

The entertainment gossip site apparently got their hands on Brown’s entire contract. They also reported that the legal document guarantees a bonus of $800,000 for Brown, dependent on results at the box office. Her contract terms also stipulated a cool $7.5 million (at least) to Brown for a potential Enola Holmes sequel.

Millie Bobby Brown’s ‘Enola Holmes’ contract is one for the ages

In 2020’s Enola Holmes, the Stranger Things star will share the screen with actors Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter. Cavill will play Sherlock Holmes, while Carter will portray Mrs. Holmes.

Who knows how well Cavill and Carter’s contracts are paying them, but Brown made out well in these negotiations. In addition to the moolah, she also scored a producer credit. Producing adds $500,000 to Brown’s total paycheck for the film.

However, the biggest perk in Brown’s film contract was something most of us will only dream of. TMZ reported that the 15-year-old’s “contract allows for her to travel via private jet.” Since Brown has worked tirelessly from 8 years old to get to this level of fame, it’s definitely more than impressive. Still, we’re a little jealous.

How much Millie Bobby Brown made on ‘Stranger Things’

Brown played the unforgettable character Eleven on Stranger Things. According to Harper’s Bazaar, the young actress’s original Netflix contract stipulated $25,000 per episode for the series’ third season. This would have meant she made about $1,000 more per episode than the previous seasons. However, the girl and her agents know how to negotiate.

Stranger Things cast
Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard, and Noah Schnapp | Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix)

Mental Floss reported that Brown ended up making $350,000 per episode for season three of Stranger Things.

Brown’s salary is apparently equal to that of David Harbour and Winona Ryder’s, two of her castmates on the show. Despite Brown being one of the younger Stranger Things cast members, she still gots her coin, not to mention private jet access on her new film, and we stan.

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BWW Review: Brilliant EVERY BRILLIANT THING a must see at Cleveland Play House - Broadway World

BWW Review: Brilliant EVERY BRILLIANT THING a must see at Cleveland Play House

If you saw 'AN ILIAD" at Cleveland Play House earlier this year, you are aware of the brilliance of actress Tarah Flanagan. She is a master at interacting with an audience and creating empathy and reality onstage. Fortunately for CLE audiences, Artistic Director Laura Kepley has found another vehicle to showcase the extraordinary talents of Ms. Flanagan.

Duncan MacMillan's "EVERY BRILLIANT MIND" is a humorous, joyous, tender, emotional play about depression, suicide and living life, solo piece, with active audience participation.

Words like joyous and humorous usually don't appear in the same sentence with depression and suicide, but in the hands of a fine playwright and a brilliant performer, they meld nicely.

First produced by Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre Company at Britain's Ludlow Fringe Festival in 2013, the script later was later broadcast on HBO. The television performance was fine, but this hour-long show is best experienced live, where the audience can be up-front and participating in the experience.

CPH again illustrates why it moved from its previous home in the Hough area to Cleveland downtown. The show, which is being performed in the Helen Theatre is the perfect intimate black box space for "EVERY BRILLIANT MIND." On a proscenium stage the emotion of the piece would be lost, as it was on the television screen.

As they enter, many theater-goers are given slips of papers, or are whispered to by the stage manager or the performer. The slips hold numbers and words and phrases. The whispers share information that audience members will need to know when they are called on to engage in the production.

For the shy...don't worry. You will not be embarrassed or put on the spot to perform against your will. The entire concept, as developed by the writer, performer and director (Laura Kepley) is relaxed and non-threatening. The communal sharing, as is the case in self-help suicide and depression support groups, allows an anonymous crowd to become theatrical comrades, an ad hoc ensemble united by a total stranger's story, while learning the value of sharing grief and fears and working toward mental health awareness.

The numbered slips contain terms such as "ice cream," "water fights," "staying up past your bedtime," and "being allowed to watch TV." The terms are part of a list, born out of a child's fantasy for rescuing her/his mother from her suicidal depression. The whispering helps some of the participants to help the performer as his/her father, intimate friend, counselor, professor.

Her/his? Depending on which production you see, the role is played by either Flanagan (a female) or Alex Brightwell (a male). [Since I saw Flanagan, my comments will be about her performance.]

As the performer shares with us, "There are so many reasons to want to live, if only my mother's clouded mind could be awakened to everyday delights." How better to do this than to illustrate all the wonders of the world. Thus, the list.

To be effective in the roll of the child, later the adult, requires quick thinking, ad lib skills, a warmth and supportive caring nature. Flanagan has all of these qualities in spades. This is an amazing actress with natural charisma.

Kudos also to Maryann Morris, the stage manager and Nick Drashner, the sound designer.

CAPSULE JUDGMENT: "EVERY BRILLIANT THING" is a brilliant and absolutely must-see production. Mental illness and its impact on a family, mortality and existential despondency are central themes. These are heavy subjects but, ironically, the approach is almost frolicsome and totally mesmerizing.

"EVERY BRILLIANT THING" which runs ninety-minutes without an intermission, can be seen in CPH's Helen Theatre through December 22, 2019. For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.



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From This Author Roy Berko

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Do This One Thing Before You Leave Home For The Holidays - Forbes

Dooley: Here’s the thing, UF needs to beat FSU - Gatorsports.com

Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson scores a touchdown against Florida State in Tallahassee last November. The Gators' offense did quick work on the 38-yard score. [File]

There was a time, long ago, back when Game Boy was big and the Chicago Bulls were good, back when the hate was real and the heat was really intense, that Florida vs. FSU was can’t-miss-TV.

But only if your eyes could take the venom.

That was the 1990s, when the two teams NEVER played each other on the outside of the Top 10 looking in.

Since Steve Spurrier left Florida, there have been more games where the two teams were unranked than both ranked in the Top 10, which used to be the autumn home for each program.

For the last couple of decades, one side or the other has been dealing with adversity, and that is certainly the case Saturday night. Much to the chagrin of Florida fans, FSU uncoupled itself from Willie Taggart just as abruptly as Florida did Jim McElwain two years earlier.

(McElwain’s biggest issue wasn’t that he couldn’t beat FSU — he couldn’t — but it was an issue).

All of this is about as relevant as how your fantasy team did last week or how you believe every red light is out to get you. Because the teams that hit the field tonight are this year’s teams weathered by a long season and not worried about the past.

Because FSU is 6-5 and unranked (and hasn’t been in the AP Top 25 since preseason of 2018), the game doesn’t have the national buzz. That buzz is turned down another notch by the fact that it really has no impact on everybody’s big present under the tree at Christmas, the College Football Playoffs.

But this is big. It’s really big for Florida. This has been a season of big games starting with Miami and now ending with the other limping state team.

I can give you 10 reasons. What can I say? I like lists.

1. The bowl thing.

Florida has a shot at a New Year’s Six bowl, which is a big deal. But the Gators can’t get there without beating FSU. UF would still need some things to work out with other results, but with a loss the Gators are doomed to a return to Camping World Stadium and the Chico’s Bail Bonds Citrus Bowl. Your words, not mine. Well, mine, too.

2. The state thing.

The three teams in the state who play in Power 5 conferences used to play all the time, but Florida and Miami rarely do now. So tonight is the only chance for a while a team has to win a state title. (FIU vouchers not accepted).

3. The neck thing.

This is not a visual I’m thrilled with, but there is an expression about having someone down and you “keep your foot on their neck.” I think you get the picture. This is Florida’s state right now. Don’t mess it up.

4. The progress thing.

Florida won nine games last year during the regular season. They could win 10 tonight with more injuries and a tougher schedule. That would be progress no matter what math you use.

5. The Swamp thing.

Look, there are 17 Florida players on the two deep who have NEVER lost to FSU in The Swamp because they haven’t played the Semis here. The streak of four straight wins in Gainesville is real, but it’s not this staff’s fault. Still, it needs to end.

6. The brand thing.

Florida has been steadily bringing it back to prominence. A win would be another step in the right direction. A loss would be a major stumble.

7. The next 364 days thing.

You probably have one, maybe in your family. You don’t want to hear it.

8. The seniors thing.

Senior Day is about going out the right way as much as anything. There are a few fifth-year seniors who have won 42 games as Gators. That’s not too shabby. They’d like No. 43 on Saturday night.

9. That record thing.

OK, I hate that cliche about throwing the records out the window because you are what your record is. Because of their records, Florida is an 18-point favorite. Florida has the better team.

10. It’s FSU.

And that’s all you need to know. You get into deep discussions over lite beers over which team is Florida’s biggest rival. And you argue for the importance of winning the SEC. But how many derisive nicknames do you have for the school out west? Just as I thought. It’s FSU.

Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at pat.dooley@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.

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Friday, November 29, 2019

Loss to Aledo ends its postseason, but one thing remains true: football is cool again at Red Oak - The Dallas Morning News

Click here to view the box score

ARLINGTON — In the four years before Chris Ross arrived at Red Oak, the school won just four football games.

As Red Oak quarterback Joshua Ervin said, “Football wasn’t cool here.”

It would’ve been hard to imagine Red Oak playing a Class 5A Division II regional semifinal, let alone inside AT&T Stadium.

And while a win against the defending state champions would’ve made things all that much sweeter, one thing is clear: Football at Red Oak is cool once again.

“Those guys changed that,” coach Chris Ross said of his team. “They’re buying in and trusting these new coaches. We’re not going to hang on our heads on being 21-3 [the last two years.]”

As Red Oak shook hands with Aledo following a 34-14 loss Friday night at AT&T Stadium, they held their heads high. They not only won two playoff games for the first time since 2012, but they captured a district title in the process — knocking off perennial powerhouse South Oak Cliff to do so.

All Ross could do as he addressed his team postgame was smile.

“Obviously, we made a lot of mistakes. We gave them 14 points in the first half,” he said. “After all of that goes wrong, we couldn’t have played any worse — it’s 21-0 and the guys come right back out, keeping fighting and finding ways to stay in the football game.”

Red Oak managed to keep Aledo off the scoreboard for 15 minutes, forcing a turnover on downs to keep the game knotted at zero headed into the second quarter.

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But Aledo finally asserted itself — Oklahoma pledge Jase McClellan took the night’s opening touchdown 62 yards to the house with a powerful run. The very next series, Aledo scooped up a mishandled punt attempt and scored to double their advantage.

It was an early hole, compounded by another McClellan touchdown just before intermission, that Red Oak was never able to climb out of.

“I [told Chris], 'Nobody has ever thought about Red Oak being a football school,'” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said. “Our kids did not take them lightly. I promise you that. Our kids knew they were one of the best 5A football teams in the state. They are — they're that good.”

Once this regional semifinal matchup was set, there was a thought Red Oak could push Aledo. And after halftime, Red Oak showed why that wasn’t wrong.

Red Oak outscored Aledo 14-13 during the final 24 minutes, with Ervin doing more of what he’d done all year. Red Oak’s quarterback finished the night 22 of 30 for 227 yards, and Ervin ended his junior season with 38 touchdowns to only four interceptions.

“Looking back on where we were, from where we came, it’s the same group of guys but I’m so proud of them,” Ervin said. “We were able to do something special. We’ve achieved things this school had never achieved. It’s bigger than us.”

As Red Oak’s alma mater ended, Ross made his way through the mass of bodies, stopping to acknowledge each of his seniors.

It’s the end of a ride for this Red Oak team, but just a stop for a program that doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

“Sometimes, you have to get there once to be able to get over the hump the second time,” Ross said.

Twitter: @mpgladstone13

Highlights

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Cardinals looking to follow Ravens' lead and 'build this thing' around Kyler Murray's skills - CBS Sports

Lamar Jackson has taken the NFL by storm this season, as he's tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes while leading the league in yards per carry. Jackson is on pace to set the record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a season, while becoming the seemingly unstoppable force that will lead the Baltimore Ravens to championships for years to come. 

The Arizona Cardinals saw earlier this season how dangerous Jackson can be and how he impacts the game, as a trip to Baltimore ended in a 23-17 loss for the road team. They have their own franchise quarterback who's had an impressive rookie season in Kyler Murray, seeking to emulate the same formula the Ravens use with Jackson. 

If it takes a year, so be it. 

"You see that it took Baltimore a year to kind of figure that out: What does Lamar do the best, and what type of pieces do we bring in?" said Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, via the Cardinals website. "We're going to build this thing around Kyler, (what) fits him the best and can maximize his talents as a quarterback."

Murray is having a strong start to his career, despite the Cardinals sitting with a 3-7-1 record heading into Week 13. The Cardinals quarterback has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,703 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 91.2 passer rating. In Murray's last seven games, he has 10 touchdown passes to just one interception while only fumbling the ball once. He also has 67 carries for 418 yards and three touchdowns on the year.

Jackson completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,201 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions for an 84.5 rating as a rookie, but he had better numbers than Murray on the ground, with 147 carries for 695 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. 

The Ravens sat with Jackson in the offseason and revised their playbook around his strengths and weaknesses, making him a more complete quarterback. Kingsbury plans the same strategy with Murray.

"When Kyler will talk to me, I like to get that information out of him," Kingsbury said. "I think for a 16-game sample size, I can get a good feel for who we can be around him and what he does best. I do think we'll have great dialogue this offseason. 

"'How do we need to adjust, and what do we need to tweak?' It's been an ongoing process week-in and week-out with that."

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One thing you actually should shop for this holiday season and this financial planner’s secret will have you spending less - MarketWatch

Happy Black Friday, MarketWatchers! Here are some of our top stories to read while you’re out shopping—or staying home digesting your Thanksgiving meal.

Personal Finance
Here’s one thing you should be shopping for this holiday season: a house

A new analysis shows the benefits of buying a home when there’s a chill in the air.

This financial planner’s no-fail secret will have you effortlessly spending less

This retro technique will change your finances.

Here are the best cruise deals on Black Friday — and why you may want to skip them

Cruise lines offer some bargains on Cyber Weekend, but travelers may be able to find better discounts at other times.

In addition to helping blood pressure and cardiovascular health, deep sleep may play a role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease

A new study in the peer-reviewed journal Science says cerebrospinal fluid during non–rapid eye movement sleep clears metabolic waste products from the brain.

This analysis of 40 million Uber rides reveals exactly how much people tip — and whether men or women are more generous

A group of economists also found that male and female drivers are not tipped at the same rate.

‘I’m by no means a gold digger, but I feel jerked around’ — he lived with his elderly friend for 16 years and suspects he’s broke

‘I took him at his word because he’s been so dependable forever and now we are nearly broke.’

Are you cheap if you split the check by only paying for what you ordered?

‘I see now there are pitfalls I didn’t anticipate. What’s the appropriate etiquette for dealing with such a scenario?’

‘I am planning on retaining a lawyer’ — My mom left her entire estate to my stepfather, so how can I claim what is rightfully mine?

‘Even if you break bread on Thanksgiving and have known each other for most of your lives, you are not considered his child under the eyes of the law.’

‘Women are judged for being emotional’ — yet it’s more acceptable for men to get upset and angry, female executives say

‘It’s often, you know, pushed on to emotional issues or perhaps deflected onto other people,’ Fiona Hill, the former NSC official, said last week.

My stepdaughter blew through an inheritance and was mysteriously fired from her job — what should we do with our $1.6M estate?

‘How do we provide something to keep her out of homeless shelters without having it thrown away for drugs?’

Elsewhere on MarketWatch
Pete Buttigieg gets on the phone with the writer who called him a liar, and worse

Called an “MF” in the very headline of an essay by Michael Harriot on TheRoot.com, the South Bend mayor picked up the phone.

Are we in for a repeat of the ‘Long Depression’?

The late 19th century, a period of on-and-off economic downturns following a financial crisis, may have some lessons for anyone trying to make sense of current events now

Why stock markets are better than banks at fixing climate change

New paper from ECB economists finds that countries with deep stock markets are better equipped to finance global warming solutions

Don’t time the market, but if you do, here’s when the bear might come knocking

The U.S. stock market has been setting new records and the economy is in a record eleventh year of expansion, so one research firm thinks a recession is due in the next two years. What that means for stocks, precisely, is a little less clear.

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The Smallest Gift I Got From Galaxy's Edge Might Be My Favorite Thing There - Gizmodo

If Darth Vader is more machine than man, then Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is perhaps more gift shop than it is theme park. The planet Batuu, alien as it is, understands the very human impulse of buying shiny things—but for all the very flashy things you can get there, my favorite memory of it might just be one of the smallest little trinkets.

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As readers of this website are more than familiar with at this point, I am a) a fan of shiny things and b) a complete and total idiot. In the deepest throes of my FOMO-laden pangs of desire to go to Galaxy’s Edge, these two points of order combined in deadly shopping lists of things I would very much like to be able to fly half-way across the world to buy. Aside from the more obviously expensive things—the ability to build your very own lightsaber or RC-operated droid—most of the things my Star Wars-poisoned brain coveted were things that just felt incredibly dumb yet also delightful.

Watto’s chance cubes from The Phantom Menace? Ridiculous, and sold (I have rolled them approximately 12 times since I got home). A magnet shaped like the restraining bolt Jawas put on R2-D2 and C-3PO in A New Hope? Absurd, I love it, it is now restraining my fridge. A USB stick shaped like the map fragment Lor San Tekka gave Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens? It is now filled with that very map fragment and my own personal documents. A wooden mannequin of Admiral Ackbar in the style of a small child’s toy? It’s a trap, I fell right into it, and you can damn well be sure I have him posed in the most ridiculous manner possible.

But while my shopping spree in a galaxy far, far away was mostly stocked up by these absurdities (and pins, oh god, so many pins), my favorite discovery on Batuu wasn’t a big-ticket item or something that just felt silly in its very existence. In fact, despite my frenzied research beforehand, I had no idea it was even a thing.

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Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities—run by the titular Dok, an Ithorian who’s not just present in the store as an incredibly detailed animatronic, but also starred in his own comic book, because synergyyyy—is home to some of the most expensive things you can buy at Galaxy’s Edge. It’s where you can find Holocrons of the Jedi and Sith varieties, and the mysterious kyber crystals that unlock their secrets (if they’re in stock, that is). It’s where you can, if you’re not building your own, purchase a replica lightsaber of one of the galaxy’s greatest heroes or villains, from Kylo Ren to Obi-Wan Kenobi. From grand busts of ancient Jedi to even an Imperial Credit chit, it’s where the collectibles of this Star Wars land can be readily found, often with an insane price tag to match. Princess Leia’s necklace from the end of A New Hope, the Chalcedony Waves? A cool two thousand dollars.

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But among all those audaciously priced items, I found two little bowls filled with tiny little rocks. $4 (which is still a lot for a little rock, yes, but there’s the House of Mouse for you) could purchase you a token of Jedi or Sith wisdom—this tiny little rock that featured a symbol or carved character art on one side, and then a quote on the other. More often than not the quotes were from the Jedi and Sith codes, or a line of dialogue from the movies—“All is as the Force wills it” read one Jedi token, “Power! Unlimited Power!” read a Sith one.

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I swirled through the bowls as if trying to let some hokey space religion guide my hand, and fished out a rock that, very conveniently for whichever carver Dok Ondar had tasked with etching out these tokens, was shaped like Yoda, bearing a lovely little rendition of the Jedi Master’s visage. “Well, I know what this one is going to say,” I thought to myself as I flipped it over, expecting one of Yoda’s Empire Strikes Back quotes to greet me.

It didn’t. Instead, it read simply this:

We are what they grow beyond.
Photo: James Whitbrook/io9

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Yoda’s appearance in The Last Jedi is one of my favorite scenes in the entire film. It’s so beautifully done, but I love it for the lesson that he imparts to Luke as the dismayed Jedi reels with anguish at the thought that he has failed, and let down so many people. A reminder that while we can all pass on stories of success, of hope and heroism, that it is always vital to remind the generations beyond us to learn from the mistakes of the past as well as its victories:

Heeded my words not, did you! Passed on what you have learned. Strength, mastery, hmm, but weakness, folly, failure also—yes, failure, most of all.

The greatest teacher, failure is.

As Ben Solo carves a firebrand’s path under the rallying cry that the past must be let go of entirely, burned to ash so that a new way might come forth, Yoda offers a vital counterpoint in offering Luke solace. Rey’s generation and the generations even beyond her will grow beyond her heroes, yes—that is an inevitability. But they will also carry with them the most important lessons of what came before, not just the rose-tinted successes that had doomed the Jedi Order to its stagnant state in the prequels, but the moments of failure as well. To better realize that these failures are neither permanent or to be feared, but accepted as part of the process.

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And so, surrounded by highly-priced absurdities like I was at Galaxy’s Edge, I stood dumbfounded by this tiny little rock, hidden away in a bowl of similarly tiny rocks. It might not be the fanciest thing you can get at Disneyland. It’s far from the most ostentatiously priced indulgence. But that moment of humbled surprise will stick with me a lot longer than a fancy lightsaber or a silly fridge magnet might.

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Tim Allen rips PC 'thought police': 'It's an alarming thing for comedians' - Washington Times

Actor and comedian Tim Allen said on ABC’s “The View” that political correctness has had an “alarming” effect on comedy.

The “Last Man Standing” star agreed with co-host and fellow comedian Joy Behar that the changing culture has made many jokes by legendary comedians too taboo in today’s context.

“It’s a little bit different now. I mean, there’s a PC culture that makes it really hard,” Ms. Behar said. “I think my act, if I ever brought that old act back, I’d be driven out of town.”

Mr. Allen, who just wrapped up a 44-city comedy tour, said it’s dramatically changed the way he does standup.

“What I’ve got to do sometimes is explain — which I hate, in big arenas, and this is a thought police thing and I do not like it — but when I use these words, this is my intent behind those words,” Mr. Allen said.



“So as long as you understand my intent,” he added. “I still get people: ‘Well, just don’t say it,’ and I said, ‘I’m not going to do that.’”

Mr. Allen lamented that he can’t even mention the iconic works of late comedians Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor because they’re too controversial today.

“It’s an alarming thing for comedians,” he said.

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Here’s one thing you should be shopping for this holiday season: A house - MarketWatch

Forget television sets and video games, the best thing to buy during the holiday season may be a home.

A new analysis from Attom Data Solutions, a real-estate data provider, found that December is the best month of the year to buy a home when it comes to getting a relatively good price. During the last month of the year, homes only sold for 1.2% more than their estimated market value on average. Comparatively, June is the most expensive time to buy, when homes sell for roughly a 7% premium.

To produce the report, Attom analyzed more than 23 million single family home and condo sales over the past six years. Attom limited the analysis to days with at least 10,000 single family home and condo sales. Altogether, 362 days met that threshold — the four exceptions were Jan. 1, July 4, Nov. 11 and Dec. 25.

Read more: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac will soon let borrowers take out mortgages over $500K

There were only three days of the year where homes actually sold for a discount relative to the estimated market value. All three of these days are in December: Dec. 4, Dec. 26 and Dec. 31.

“Closing on a home purchase the day after Christmas or on New Year’s Eve can be one of the most financially beneficial holiday-season gifts you can get,” Todd Teta, chief product officer with Attom Data Solutions, said in the report. “While lots of folks are shopping the day-after Christmas sales or getting ready to ring in the New Year, our data shows that buyers and investors are buying homes on those days at a discount.”

Of these, the day after Christmas was the best time to purchase — on that day, homes sold for a 0.3% discount.

At a more local level, though, other months can be better than December. For instance, homes sell for over a 7% discount compared to the national average in January in Ohio, while the same is true of Michigan homes in February.

Read more: The No. 1 strategy for winning a real-estate bidding war

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10 things to do if Black Friday shopping is so not your thing - Mashable

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission.
Image: Vicky Leta / Mashable

If the idea of navigating a crowded mall on Black Friday — the busiest shopping day of the year — fills you with utter dread, then we're here to tell you: Don't do it.

You don't need to go shopping. You don't need to leave the house. Hell, you don't even need to leave the couch.

Instead of searching for the best air fryer deal, or scanning the shelves at Walmart for the very last pair of AirPods, you can use this time to do something else — like literally anything else. (Here's a similar list we did for Black Friday 2018.)

Perhaps — and stick with us on this — you could even turn Black Friday into a day of zen. A time when you re-connect with some of your favorite movies, discover a new app, or even learn a new skill. But how, you ask?

We have some ideas.

If you're a Disney fan, you should definitely subscribe to Disney+. For such a manageable price — just $6.99 per month — you get tons of Disney content that you can't get anywhere else (legally, that is). It's also nice that four simultaneous streams are standard, so you don't have to pay more to add people to your plan. —Miller Kern

If you're a human being living on this planet in 2019, chances are you harbor fond childhood memories of one Disney thing or another. For me, a lot of those fond memories come from the outrageously weird Disney output of the decades before I was born. The 1960s and 1970s – decades defined by their ostentatious fashion and rampant mind-altering drug use – is where I find my own, personal flavor of Peak Disney. —Adam Rosenberg

Flight of the Navigator was one of the many boy-meets-alien movies to surface in the years after E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. This one charts a unique path, however. On one hand, it's a script-flip of E.T.'s basic premise, with the alien here trying to help the young boy get back home. But the story also forces us to consider what "home" really means for a kid who fell off the face of the Earth and didn't age at all as eight years passed. —Adam Rosenberg

4. Find something else to stream

We are living in a golden age of entertainment thanks to the sheer number of streaming services from which we can choose. Here's everything that's new on Netflix in November and in December.

5. Go take the family dog for a nice long walk. 

We bet she'll love it — and you could probably use some fresh air.

Headspace offers free and paid services. Starting out, the app suggests using the basics (the free stuff) and then determining your subscription plan from there. The basics teach you the essentials of meditation and mindfulness. With a subscription you’ll gain access to the full Headspace library, including short practices called “minis” for when you’re low on time, sleep-specific meditations, themed meditations, and more. —Miller Kern

For less than $20, you can learn HTML, Javascript, CSS, and so much more during this 5-course bundle that's aimed at beginners. If part of your plan for 2020 is to reinvent your career, then this would be an excellent place to start.

If you own a small business (or have a side hustle you hope to someday turn into a smalls business) then crafting the perfect website is the first step on the road to success. Learn how to use Wordpress via this $18 course.

Is it still in Word? Has it rambled onto multiple pages? You need help. This super cheap online course (it's less than $10) will help you get it all sorted out.

Black Friday is the perfect day to read a book, wouldn't you say? Sign up for a Kindle Unlimited plan and you'll get access to more than one million books, magazines, and more. (There are also thousands of audiobooks available if you'd prefer to read with your eyes closed.) You don't even need to have a Kindle — it'll work with any ol' smartphone. It's also super affordable. Amazon is currently running a six-month deal for just $29.97, down from the usual price of $59.94. Hey, who said Black Friday was bad?

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Senior Spotlight: Caleb Reams 'wanted to see this thing through' - 247Sports

CHAMPAIGN — If you would’ve told Caleb Reams he’d end his collegiate career starting at wide receiver for a bowl-bound Illinois team under the direction of Lovie Smith, he may have laughed in your face.

“I thought Tim Beckman was still going to be the head coach and that I’d be playing fullback,” Reams said. “There’s been a lot of things that have changed. I think everything happens for a reason, so it’s amazing to see this all come out.”

Reams committed to Beckman as a tight end in the Class of 2015 but never played a game for him as Beckman was fired a week prior to Reams' first season. After his redshirt season under interim coach Bill Cubit, Reams decided to stay at Illinois under Smith — year after year, despite watching many of his teammates and classmates transferring out of the program.

On Saturday, Reams will be one of six remaining Beckman signees and fifth-year seniors to be honored before the Illinois football (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) regular-season finale against Northwestern (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten).

“It’s a whole bunch of hard-working guys,” Reams said. “I think that we’re probably the closest group on the team. The good old-fashioned Beck Boys, as we call. It’s really cool, man. It’s really cool to have that brotherhood because a lot of those guys left. I don’t hold that against them. That’s their decision. I know they’re making business decisions as well. But I knew I wanted to stay here not only because I wanted to see this thing through, but the education and getting a degree from here is amazing. And I’m going to be leaving here with two.”

Reams has never played a starring role for Illinois, but the 6-foot-2, 230-pound wideout has been a program/glue guy who has filled whatever hole the program needs. He began his career at tight end but moved to wideout midway through his sophomore season.

Reams has started six of the 32 games he’s played, has 15 career receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown and has been one of the Illini’s best blocking receivers. After missing the first seven games of the season due to injury, Reams was a big contributor in the Illini’s epic comeback at Michigan State this season, catching two passes for 31 yards and drawing a game-extending pass interference in the end zone to extend the game and set up the game-winning score.

But Reams points back toward a true freshman’s hustle play as the key to this turnaround season: Devon Witherspoon’s chase-down tackle that helped turn the tide in a 24-23 win over No. 6 Wisconsin, which started a four-game win streak to seal the program’s first bowl bid since 2014.

“We knew that we were a good team coming into this year,” Reams said. “We wanted to be able to put that on the field. After some things happened, we finally got to put it on the field. Honestly, I want to thank ‘Spoon, because if that play didn’t happen against Wisconsin, I don’t know where we’d be.”

Reams’ collegiate career didn’t go the way he planned. But he’s happy with how it turned out.

“It’s probably changed my life, honestly,” Reams said. “I really didn’t know what hard work was, I feel like. Obviously my dad and mom and Coach Mac over at Warren and a few other people they taught me hard work and everything like that. But I guess I never really had to apply it until here. It really taught me you always have to work hard. There’s no substitute for hard work. It’s been amazing. It really taught me a lot of patience as well because it was tough, but it’s amazing to see this come out.”

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Thursday, November 28, 2019

Conor McGregor’s Return is About One Thing: Millions of Dollars For UFC - Forbes

Watch Mashup Of JUDAS PRIEST's 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' And MICHAEL JACKSON's 'Billie Jean' - BLABBERMOUTH.NET

Watch Mashup Of JUDAS PRIEST's 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' And MICHAEL JACKSON's 'Billie Jean'

Bill McClintock, the man behind several popular video mashups, has returned with his latest creation: a mashup of JUDAS PRIEST's classic "You've Got Another Thing Coming" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Check it out below.

In a 2018 interview with Forever State College, McClintock, who resides in the Pittsburgh area, said that he started doing mashups "as a hobby after I heard (and was blown away by) the 'Crazy Train'/'September' mashup by DJ Cummerbund. I was so intrigued by the way that two songs could be combined to create something that seemed entirely new," he said.

"Making music mashups came somewhat easily to me, as I have a background in music theory from majoring in music technology and music education at Duquesne University," he continued. "I was able to find songs that could work together based on key and tempo.

"For my day job, I teach elementary and middle school music. My middle school students have enjoyed watching some of my mashups."

When asked how long it takes on average to complete one mashup, Bill said: "Once I have an idea, mixing the audio probably takes on average about five to ten hours. The video part takes about two or three hours. The most time-consuming part is coming up with a really good match. That can take days, if not weeks."

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HGTV Dream Home Winners Say Doing This 1 Thing Will Help You Win - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anyone who watches HGTV at the end of the year has probably dreamed of winning the HGTV Dream Home. The network’s longest-running and biggest contest attracts so much attention, most likely because the houses get bigger and the prizes get sweeter every year. HGTV just announced that the 2020 Dream Home is situated on the coastal paradise of Hilton Head. You can start entering for your chance to win on December 30.

There are a few things to know before getting your hopes up, however, like how winning the Dream Home isn’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be. Plus, most winners have one important thing in common.

Following their method won’t guarantee a win, but it will help your chances.

HGTV Green Home
HGTV Green Home | Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Most Dream Home winners do this one thing

So how do you win? Most winners use one simple strategy: enter as often as possible.

“I entered twice a day religiously,” 2017 Smart Home winner Stacy Bolder told Country Living. 2010 Dream Home winner Myra Lewis also entered daily thanks to her sister, who reminded her to never miss a day. Carole Simpson snagged the 2013 Dream Home because she never gave up hope. She entered the contest for years before taking home top prize.

Dream Home general manager Ron Feinbum explained, “We see so many social-media posts that say, ‘I’m going to enter again this year but I’ll never win.”

“And yet, real people win it every time: teachers, retirees, firefighters, postal workers,” he said. Anyone can win the Dream Home. Even you.

Dream Home winners are faced with a huge tax liability

One of the rudest awakenings for any HGTV Dream Home winner is the huge expense that goes along with it. Even with the cash and the car as part of their winnings, most lucky winners don’t remain living in the house for more than a year or two.

“Uncle Sam makes it a little difficult to take ownership,” Laura Martin told Country Living. She won the 2014 HGTV Dream Home in Lake Tahoe but couldn’t stay because of the tax burden.

“It was like, it’s going to be $1 million to keep your free home,” one winner explained.

It’s still life-changing to win the Dream Home

But despite the challenges of taking ownership, winning the HGTV Dream Home does come with some nice perks. Many winners go for the cash option, which gives them the ability to renovate their existing home, buy a new house, or simply live more comfortably.

“Winning one of these homes is life-changing in that recipients either pick up their things and move or they suddenly have a large savings account,” Feinbaum said. “The outcome depends on the individual winner but the overarching theme is that, if you win, it’s life-changing.”

HGTV Dream Home winner
Don Cruz| John Dziekan/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Want proof? 2005 winner Don Cruz moved into his Dream Home, got foreclosed on, and wound up $430,000 in debt. But he still enters the contest every year hoping he’ll win again. To hear him tell it, the Winner’s Weekend makes all the drama worth it.

You’ll never know if you don’t try!

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Letters: Why just one thing or the other in work to address crime and prevent violence in St. Paul? - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Prioritize, and do both

It’s rare that I agree with Joe Soucheray’s logic , so I must mark the occasion with this letter. Though I was a resident of St. Paul for 25 years, I am no longer, and certainly the decisions around addressing gun violence in the city are better left to current residents. However, if I may, with humility, offer a friendly compromise into a decision-making process, I wish to do so.

Namely, Mayor Carter favors a community-centered public health initiative for violence prevention and intervention, while the police chief (and Soucheray, “How would you track success of a safety plan?” Nov. 24) suggest the use of ShotSpotter, technology that uses acoustic sensors to help police respond more quickly and, one would guess, more precisely to the sounds of gunfire.

Since Soucheray reports that the cost of ShotSpotter is largely borne by the state (with the city responsible for $250,000), perhaps this technology could be fit into Mayor Carter’s plan, if he were to prioritize the programs and initiatives of his supplemental public safety budget, and put on hold, for a period of time, those further down his list. It would seem to me that the ShotSpotter technology has a potential to more immediately address gun violence as it occurs, while the public health measures to guide youth to needed programs, services and employment, while equally valuable, would address gun violence in the long-term and “big picture.”

It would seem both approaches could be valuable.  After a mutually agreed-upon period of time, six months or a year, all measures could be evaluated for their efficacy, with future budgets and appropriations adjusted appropriately.

Lisa Wersal, Vadnais Heights

These things can be measured

Mr. Soucheray’s most recent Sunday column leaves the reader wondering whether he is being deliberately obtuse or is just confused.

If upstream solutions to public safety problems, like housing access, after school programs, and community ambassadors, have an impact, we will see a decrease in crime. Arrest rates will remain measurable, even though the city is not hiring additional law enforcement officers.

Further metrics could be useful to assess the state of the city. High school graduation rates, for one, could be meaningful. Willingness to call 911 to report a crime is another marker of improved community relations.

To argue that it is impossible to gauge the impact of these policy interventions is absurd and demonstrates a real lack of curiosity.

Jayne Discenza, St. Paul

Who controls the purse strings?

In recent days there have been some letter writers here lambasting President Trump over the deficit.  If I recall correctly, the House controls the purse strings of our government..  And just who is in control of the House?  Why, Democrats, of course.

Lee J. Christianson, Baldwin, Wis.

Please don’t give up

Am I the only one who is asking why this powerful organization of Black Lives Matter seems to be invisible when it comes to anything proactive in the community they represent? In the schools and on the streets there is mayhem. Why aren’t BLM people observing what goes on in classrooms? Why isn’t there a  presence shown in known places where problems exist? Example: Hamline and University BP station?

Some time back a small courageous group called “Black Truce Self Hate Awareness and Prevention” was trying to get established. If only they were afforded the support BLM has.

Please don’t give up. You are exactly what is needed.

J. Mertz, St. Paul

Truth and duty

When I was in grade school, a teacher asked us what we thought was George Washington’s greatest accomplishment. He won the Revolutionary War, some replied, while others pointed out that he was our first president.

No, declared the teacher, his greatest accomplishment was that, after serving two terms as president, he retired to Mount Vernon, thus establishing the principle that our presidents are bound by the Constitution and are not above the law.

From 1783 until his death in 1799 Washington was the first president of the Society of the Cincinnati, named for the Roman hero Cincinnatus, who, during a time of crisis, was asked to serve as dictator with absolute power. When his term was up, he went back to his farm. Some desired, others feared Washington declaring himself a monarch or even a dictator, but in the end, with grace, humility and wisdom, Washington adhered to the example set by Cincinnatus.

Our founders were deeply impressed by Rome and sought to model our republic after it. The triumvirate that ruled Rome was made up of three men of equal power, with each chosen to serve for a limited term. And so, in emulation, the founders gave us three equal branches of government.

Also, the founders were believers in the Roman virtues of duty, seriousness, nobility, sacrifice, faithfulness, patriotism and honesty, among others. Watching the congressional impeachment hearings, I was impressed by how many of the witnesses were exemplars of these ancient virtues with their long years of service, forthrightness and devotion to the country. It’s something we should all be humbled by and learn from.

I don’t know if Donald Trump Trump will be removed from office. I do believe, however, that he has violated his oath of office, not only by obstructing Congress but also by delaying or refusing to carry out its legislation. He and many of his appointed officials are, in fact, the antithesis of Roman nobility and virtue. Congress may not succeed in removing Trump, but that doesn’t make its duty to protect its constitutional rights as an equal branch any less vital or any less virtuous.

The Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote: “If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it.” Very simply put, it’s all about truth and duty.

Dan Hanneman, Maplewood

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