digital circus caine The College Football Playoff committee took SMU's wins over Alabama's strength of schedule, picking the Mustangs for the final at-large spot Sunday after a furious public debate and days of lobbying and arguing over which teams should make the 12-team field. SMU (11-2) showed it could compete against a traditional power, losing to Clemson 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal on the final play of the ACC championship game. The late-game rally probably did the trick.Published 5:40 pm Monday, December 23, 2024 By Guest Columnist In 1875, at the age of three-and-a-half, Susy Clemens wrote a letter to Santa Claus, with assistance from her mother, Olivia. Soon after, she received a response from Saint Nicholas, via her father, Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name of “Mark Twain.” Santa’s letter provided the girl with instructions for his visit, to be shared with the family’s butler, George Griffin, for his impending visit to their Connecticut home. Griffin, who was close to Twain, was usually in on all of the author’s household jokes. Presented below, as we do each year, is the letter from “Santa,” for your holiday enjoyment. • • • Palace of Saint Nicholas in the Moon Christmas Morning My Dear Susy Clemens, I have received and read all the letters which you and your little sister have written me... I can read your and your baby sister’s jagged and fantastic marks without any trouble at all. But I had trouble with those letters which you dictated through your mother and the nurses, for I am a foreigner and cannot read English writing well. You will find that I made no mistakes about the things which you and the baby ordered in your own letters–I went down your chimney at midnight when you were asleep and delivered them all myself–and kissed both of you, too . . . . But . . . there were . . . one or two small orders which I could not fill because we ran out of stock ... There was a word or two in your mama’s letter which... I took to be “a trunk full of doll’s clothes.” Is that it? I will call at your kitchen door about nine o’clock this morning to inquire. But I must not see anybody and I must not speak to anybody but you. When the kitchen doorbell rings, George must be blindfolded and sent to the door. You must tell George he must walk on tiptoe and not speak — otherwise he will die someday. Then you must go up to the nursery and stand on a chair or the nurse’s bed and put your ear to the speaking tube that leads down to the kitchen and when I whistle through it you must speak in the tube and say, “Welcome, Santa Claus!” Then I will ask whether it was a trunk you ordered or not. If you say it was, I shall ask you what color you want the trunk to be... and then you must tell me every single thing in detail which you want the trunk to contain. Then when I say “Good-by and a merry Christmas to my little Susy Clemens,” you must say “Good-by, good old Santa Claus, I thank you very much.” Then you must go down into the library and make George close all the doors that open into the main hall, and everybody must keep still for a little while. I will go to the moon and get those things and in a few minutes I will come down the chimney that belongs to the fireplace that is in the hall — if it is a trunk you want — because I couldn’t get such a thing as a trunk down the nursery chimney, you know... If I should leave any snow in the hall, you must tell George to sweep it into the fireplace, for I haven’t time to do such things. George must not use a broom, but a rag — else he will die someday... If my boot should leave a stain on the marble, George must not holystone it away. Leave it there always in memory of my visit; and whenever you look at it or show it to anybody you must let it remind you to be a good little girl. Whenever you are naughty and someone points to that mark which your good old Santa Claus’s boot made on the marble, what will you say, little sweetheart? Good-by for a few minutes, till I come down to the world and ring the kitchen doorbell. — Your loving Santa Claus Whom people sometimes call “The Man in the Moon”

AANP Spotlights Five Critical Health Care Trends to Watch in 2025The Best AI Stock to Invest $500 in Right NowHyderabad: 3 held after woman dies at Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 premiere

NoneSimone Biles sports custom Jonathan Owens outfit to Bears' final home game

Lando Norris holds his nerve to guide McLaren to F1 glory in Abu Dhabi after 26-year waitMrBeast contemplates second season of Beast Games after Squid Game's long-awaited return

Adam Pemble, AP journalist whose compassionate lens brought stories to life, dies at 52France's Macron vows to stay on, promises PM in 'coming days'

Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3. Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2. Series record: Texans lead 8-3. Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami. Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1. Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23). Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14). Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11). Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12). Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10. QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season. QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game. Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday... LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. ... WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. ... Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. ... DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. ... Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. ... The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. ... These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal. Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. ... K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. ... TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. ... Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. ... The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. ... Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. ... The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. ... Their 42 sacks also rank second. ... WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. ... TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. ... LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. ... DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. ... DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. ... LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. ... CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. ... CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. ... S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco. Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

By HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”

Day 3 explored the philosophical contributions to the quality of life, and the ethical implications of AI and its impact on human life RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , Dec. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2024 concluded its third and final day with a series of thought-provoking sessions exploring the theme of quality of life. The three-day event was held at the King Fahad National Library in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , and brought together over 60 renowned global thinkers, including prominent figures such as Dr. Fausto Fraisopi, Dr. Abdelrahim Dekkoun, and Dr. Nermine Ezzeldin . Mr. Khalid AlSameti, General Manager of the General Administration of Literature at the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission Dr. Mohammed bin Hasan Alwan , Chief Executive Officer of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, expressed his happiness with the success of the conference, stating: "This conference has showcased the power of philosophy to address the most pressing challenges of our time. By bringing together leading thinkers from around the world, we have fostered meaningful dialogue and inspired new ideas for a better future". The conference concluded with a powerful speech by Mr. Khalid AlSameti, General Manager of the General Administration of Literature at the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission, who confirmed that: "The conference attracted visitors from all segments of society, with more than 5,400 visitors over its three days, creating a fertile environment that brings together the unique capabilities that the Kingdom embraces with its strategic understanding with its local and international partners. The General Administration of Literature seeks to make this conference a platform that leads the philosophical research movement and a pioneering academic event, not only in the Middle East , but also around the world". A Global Gathering of Minds The third day's program addressed a variety of topics related to human flourishing, from the role of philosophy in shaping a better future to the challenges of achieving quality of life in a multicultural world. A key highlight of the day was a session titled " A Philosophical Framework for Enhancing the Quality of Life in Cities in the Context of Diversity and Multiculturalism " led by Dr. Walid Al-Zamil . He discussed the importance of creating inclusive and equitable cities that respect the diverse needs and values of all residents. Another session titled " The Role of Social Solidarity in Supporting Female Athletes with Disabilities " by Ms. Najat Al-Shafai shed light on the importance of social support in empowering women with disabilities to participate in sports and recreation. Furthermore, the conference explored the intersection of philosophy and religion through sessions investigating the nature of the soul and its role in human life. Dr. Chafik Graigue discussed the concept of despair and its philosophical implications, while Professor Hossam Abdellatif examined the changing meaning of human dignity and its challenges in a high-tech society. These sessions offered valuable insights into the eternal questions of human existence and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements. Inspiring Future Generations The conference also featured a panel discussion by Dr. Robert Bernasconi , and a session on " Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Quality of Human Life: New Horizons and Ethical Challenges " led by Dr. Ingy Hamdi . This session delved into the complex ethical implications of AI and explored how to ensure that technology is used to enhance human well-being rather than diminish it. It also offered a variety of workshops and seminars on topics such as argumentation skills, critical thinking, aesthetics, and the history of logic in Islamic civilization. These workshops provided participants with practical tools and insights to apply philosophical thinking in their daily lives. Additionally, the conference established partnerships with prestigious international organizations, including New Philosopher and The School of Life, for the first time in Saudi Arabia As part of the Quality of Life Program, the conference underscores the relevance of philosophy in addressing contemporary societal challenges. By bridging the gap between academic thought and real-world applications, the conference reflects the Kingdom's commitment to intellectual enrichment and cultural exchange. The Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2024 achieved remarkable success by bringing together leading thinkers from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, explore the philosophical foundations of quality of life, and inspire new ideas and approaches to create a better future for all. For more information, visit the conference's webpage .A-League Talking Points: Costa shines as Reds throw away two points, spoils shared in lively Melbourne DerbyTikTok filing to US Supreme Court seeks law requiring its sale declared unconstitutional