Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’S&P/TSX composite up almost 150 at closing, U.S. markets also higher TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press Dec 23, 2024 2:27 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message The TMX Market Centre is shown in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. "Today is a quiet pre-Christmas Day of trading," said Kevin Burkett, a portfolio manager at Victoria, B.C.-based Burkett Asset Management. While markets in both Canada and the U.S. were mild, Burkett suggests watching the markets closely during the holiday season, a contrast to what's typically a sleepy period for markets. "We're continuing to watch markets very closely here because you've got some tectonic plate shifting in terms of the macroeconomic backdrop," he said. "It's all the political conversations both in Canada and in the U.S." Burkett added fiscal policy seems to be disconnected from monetary policy in the post-pandemic period. "The fiscal policy may shift and that shift absolutely has market implications both in the short and long term," he said. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. Statistics Canada released its latest numbers on Canada's economic growth, up 0.3 per cent in October — driven by the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The loonie continued its slide, trading for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The telecom sector was the biggest loser at the closing on TSX, which Burkett attributed to "tax loss selling happening at the end of the year." Competition Bureau Canada announced on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly making misleading claims about its infinite wireless plans. The stock price for Rogers, which is hovering near 52-week lows, fell 0.7 per cent on Monday. Meanwhile, BCE was down almost 1.4 per cent and Telus dropped 0.9 per cent. Burkett suggested the day's poor performance among telecom companies was likely tax loss selling since it's almost the end of the year. "It's been a tough year for the communication services sector," he said. South of the border, communications services was the top-performing sector, led by large-cap tech companies. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX: GSPTSE, TSX: CADUSD, TSE: BCE, TSE: RCI. B) Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix Revised airline compensation rules will do little to change status quo: experts Dec 23, 2024 2:25 PM Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 Dec 23, 2024 2:00 PM Scheifele notches hat trick as Jets top Maple Leafs 5-2 ahead of NHL's holiday break Dec 23, 2024 1:58 PM Featured FlyerEast Carolina wins 71-64 over Stetson
A transgender activist confronted Rep. Nancy Mace over anti-trans rhetoric
Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certainTriumph Gold (CVE:TIG) Trading 35.3% Higher – Here’s Why
How you’ve been making mashed potatoes TOTALLY wrong – stop boiling them in water if you want it extra creamy
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) between February 8, 2024 and October 29, 2024, both dates inclusive (the“Class Period”) and those who purchased Chipotle call options or sold put options during the Class Period, of the important January 10, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm. SO WHAT: If you purchased Chipotle securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Chipotle class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 10, 2025 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Chipotle's portion sizes were inconsistent and left many customers dissatisfied with Chipotle's offerings; (2) in order to address the issue and retain customer loyalty, Chipotle would have to ensure more generous portion sizes, which would increase cost of sales; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Chipotle class action, go to call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: or on Twitter: or on Facebook: . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 ... MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109039571 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
BOSTON — Forty years ago, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie rolled to his right and threw a pass that has become one of college football’s most iconic moments. With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. A statue commemorating Doug Flutie's famed "Hail Mary" pass during a game against Miami on Nov. 23, 1994, sits outside Alumni Stadium at Boston College. Famous football plays often attain a legendary status with religious names like the "Immaculate Reception," the "Hail Mary" pass and the Holy Roller fumble. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie rejoices in his brother Darren's arms after B.C. defeats Miami with a last second touchdown pass on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie evades Miami defensive tackle Kevin Fagan during the first quarter of a game on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami, Fla. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.” Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Dominant defense leads UConn to 27-14 win over North Carolina in Fenway BowlCardinal Health Inc. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors despite daily gains
NoneBy Emily Brookes * Cask, box, bag-in-box. Chateau Cardboard. Goon bag. Whatever you call it, you probably don't have a high opinion of box wine. In Aotearoa it's been synonymous with "bad wine", a hangover from the 1980s when, much cheaper per millilitre of grog than glass bottle and cork, it became the preferred receptacle for wine made from inferior grapes that would otherwise have been waste. As our wine industry matured, serious winemakers turned to bottles, leaving casks the preserve of students looking for a cheap way to a good night and those who make mulled wine at Christmas. "It's very unusual for New Zealand that no one picked it up and said, 'Actually this is a great delivery system'," says winemaker Matt Dicey. Until now. There's nothing about being in a bag that makes wine bad; in fact, thanks to its one-way valve, it keeps wine fresher once opened for longer than a bottle. And Dicey is among a wave of Kiwi winemakers on a mission to show that box wine can be good wine, and that we should all be embracing it. Dicey and his brother, James, make wine under their eponymous label in Bannockburn, Central Otago. Far from cheap and inferior, their Pinot Noir typically starts at above $35 retail, and they farm organically. The brothers' eco-consciousness led them to put some of their wine into box (their preferred term). "For 98 percent of people that buy wine, they drink it immediately, and the need for a bottle in that circumstance is non-existent," says Dicey. "It's actually a terrible delivery system, because it's so carbon intensive." Fellow winemaker Nadine Worley is from Australia - where the "goon bag" was developed, in the 1960s. After 10 years making wine at Marlborough's Mud House, she started teaching sustainability in the Viticulture programme at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). "I was down this big rabbit hole, which you only have time to do in academia, going - oh my god, why is no one talking about this? You've grown the grapes, you've made the wine, the last thing you do is package it, and that has such a big impact on your environmental footprint". So when she and her friend, viticulturist Logie Mackenzie, decided to launch their own organic wine label, they looked for a non-glass packaging solution. Fugitive launched in 2021 with Sauvignon Blanc in stainless steel kegs and reusable bottles. But as of 2023, at Fugitive bottles are out, and wine in 2L fully recyclable soft plastic bladders held in cardboard boxes are in. "I was really anti-plastic, so that's something I had to wrestle with," Worley says. She was swayed by studies that showed these materials netted 40% less carbon emissions than a standard 750ml bottle. Dicey is a much bigger operation than Fugitive, making many different wines, most of it bottled. Still, when the brothers decided to put some wine into box (aluminium was discounted for being difficult in large format; PET is arguably the best in terms of recyclability but allows too much oxygen to enter the wine), they chose to lead with a big hitter. "We decided Central Pinot was the perfect thing to change the perception of what's being delivered in box," Dicey says. "The perfect foil for people's negative connotations around what it meant to have a cask wine." The answer to whether the same wine would taste different in bottle as opposed to box is "an easy yeah-nah," says Dicey. "There should be no taste difference between bottle and box." So how has the market responded? "Only once have I been booted out of a restaurant for pouring someone a glass from a bag-in-bottle," Dicey says. "You certainly have some pushback from a certain subset within consumers, but you get no pushback from others." Those born after the era of boxed Muller-Thurgau, the same generation that has grown up with the threat of climate change, are generally much more open-minded. Once opened, a box wine will stay fresh for a month, even six weeks - much longer than a bottle of wine. Dicey reckons that promotes responsible drinking, and brings pricing benefits. "It can be a $15 glasspour and there's no wastage." Both Dicey and Fugitive had to import their own bagging machines, as there were none available in Aotearoa. But recently Wineworks Marlborough, a contract bottling and warehousing company, has imported its own bagging unit from France. "We have many clients who are looking at alternative packaging formats to be able to offer their premium product, just delivered in a different way," says CEO Peter Crowe. Though trials of the machine only finished in early November, Wineworks already has a few clients lined up, among them Muse, another Marlborough winery making only box wine. "We have interest from around 20 different winery clients considering this format," Crowe adds. He credits Dicey with leading the charge in boxing "premium (New Zealand) offerings at premium pricing", saying research shows others should quickly follow suit (Mt Edward has notably boxed some of the 2023 wines in its lower-budget Ted range). "Overseas there is a growing trend for premium wines packaged in bag-in-box, particularly amongst younger drinkers," Crowe notes. "This is just the start of the box wine revolution," Worsley agrees. "We did it with screw caps - people used to think you can't put good wine under screw cap." There will always be a place for glass bottles, particularly for ageing wine. But, "that glass bottle we've been using, it's pretty much the same bottle for 400 years. So I think it's time we had another look at that." *Emily Brookes in a freelance lifestyle and entertainment writer.
How to try and turn a £50K SIPP into a £250K retirement fundU.S. District Court Upholds Validity of CINVANTI® Patents
In 1979, brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald, who were not yet old enough to drive, started a band, Redd Kross . Now, 45 years later, the Year of Redd Kross kicked off in June with the release of a double album in June. A memoir, “Now You Are One of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross,” followed, with the McDonalds writing their own individual sections and coauthor Dan Epstein adding context between chapters. This month, a documentary, “Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story,” begins a round of special screenings, some with the band in attendance. It’s a ton of terrific material about Redd Kross , a band that deserves every bit of acclaim that the album, book and film might bring. Still, Steven McDonald had one more thing in mind. “The one we didn’t get to do – which, whatever, we’ve done too much as it is – I was hoping there would be an audiobook,” Steven McDonald says on a recent video call with his brother. This launches the McDonalds into enthusiastic riffing about all the possibilities, like brothers who have long known how to take a wild dream and talk it into being. “Omni Books saw that Jack Black , who I’ve known for a long time, liked a post about the book,” Steven says. The publisher asked him to send Black a book, so he called to let the actor and cofounder of the comedic rock band Tenacious D know. “He’s like, ‘I want the audiobook,’” Steven continues. “I said, ‘So do I! But no one would produce it.’ “He said, ‘Well, come and give me the book. Come over and read it to me,’” he continues. “I said, ‘OK, great, I’ll do my part, you can do Jeff’s.’” “Wow,” Jeff says, nodding his approval of this obvious solution. “There you have it.” “That would be a good audiobook too, if we just record that,” Steven says, and then shifts into the serious intonation of a “Masterpiece Theatre” narrator: “The role of Jeff McDonald will be played by Jack Black.” And so it goes, in the interview as in the film and memoir, and even, at times, the album. A brotherly banter that is often entertaining, occasionally endearing, and always true to the dynamic these closest of siblings have shared their entire lives. In an interview edited for length and clarity, Jeff and Steven McDonald talked about everything from making the movie, book and album to forming Redd Kross in the relative isolation of the South Bay in the ’70s, that time when Steven was kidnapped at 13 by an older fan for several months (yes, you read that right), and more. Q: The documentary is so much fun. How did you get connected with director Andrew Reich [an Emmy winner as executive producer of “Friends.”] Steven McDonald: Andrew and I had mutual friends, and he pursued us through mutual friends. He started the film project, like eight years ago, the better part of a decade. Q: Was it a quick yes? Something you wanted to do right away? Jeff McDonald: I know, with a good documentary, it’s the filmmaker telling their version of your story. Which is great. Because I knew if it was us telling our version, entirely us, it would just go on forever. So it was important that we liked and trusted Andrew. And I instantly liked him, instantly just clicked. So it got the OK early on. We had no idea how long the movie would take, He just said, ‘Oh, it’s going to take a couple of years.’ But those couple of years turned into eight years. It was really insane. Q: And the memoir? When did that begin? SM: I thought the book was going to come out in 2025, actually. The book was also a bait and switch. [laughs] The literary agent Lee Sobel reached out to me through Facebook and asked if I was interested in a Steve McDonald book. Of course, I am! [laughs] Then about 10 minutes later he switched it to a Redd Kross book. Q: So Steven, why were you thinking it was going to come out next year? SM: Because that’s the only thing my blood pressure would allow. I had no idea that all three deadlines were all going to hit at the same time. Not only did we do the record, we’ve completed two pretty extensive tours. That has been a lot of heavy lifting. Which is great. I mean, that’s what it’s about for me and Jeff. More than any of it, it’s to go out and play live. But it’s just, in this age of the independent artist, it’s hard. And even though we’re celebrating our 45th year as a band, there’s still so much to learn. JM: It’s non-stop. SM: It never stops being a challenge but, you know, it’s one I’m grateful for. JM: I think if you’re a band that’s still growing you always feel you have something to prove. You never get to that spot where it’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived.’ When that feeling’s gone, that’s when you put it down. SM: But yeah, so it’s great to have this opportunity to show what we can do. That’s kind of what 2024 has been about. Q: Did all the different projects create any crossover moments or influence each other? SM: We did the book before and while were making the record, which I think added another interesting quality. But also just the process of being interviewed by Andrew for eight years. There was a lot of reflection going on. Jeff and I wrote the lion’s share of this in 2023 in the midst of all this. I’m sure it informed some of the more reminiscing moments on the record. Also, I will often reference the Beatles ‘Get Back’ doc that came out, too. That’s the other thing that really inspired our record. Just seeing a unique collaboration. Not to compare us to Lennon and McCartney but to see how much they valued that creative partnership in real time. The demystifying things were fascinating, and it was super freeing and inspiring, and got me hungry to get into that room with Jeff and see what we were capable of. Especially after all that reflection. Q: One thing that struck me in the book and in the movie was the isolation you felt in Hawthorne at the time. You got yourselves to Hollywood and into Black Flag’s circle – but didn’t become a hardcore punk band like them. JM: The four bands [in the area] when we met Black Flag and became part of that whole tiny scene, it was us, a very early version of the Descendents , who were extremely poppy, almost like the original surf punk band. The Last, who were like our version of the Flamin’ Groovies , and Black Flag. So everyone had their own identity, and even we did at our young age. SM: And we played all of our first shows with Black Flag. The first one was an eighth-grade graduation party, and we got Black Flag the gig. We just had all these sort of extraordinary experiences in a very condensed amount of time. And it shaped us in many ways, but it didn’t keep us from being who we were. Or when we did feel any constraint coming down we just kind of distanced ourselves and went our own way. And in reference to what it was like to be in Hawthorne, we detail that on the song ‘Born Innocent,’ which is the closing credit title for the film. [And also the closing track on the new album.] Andrew asked us to write an origin story song. Q: One surprising part of your story is the kidnapping of Steven when he was very young by a woman in her 20s who had started an inappropriate relationship with him before taking him to Las Vegas for three months. SM: I’ve talked about it a little bit, and when you’re asking about doing the movie and how we felt talking about our lives, I don’t know. During lockdown, I found myself revisiting that moment because it turned out to be like the 40th anniversary of that time. And I’m a dad too, and it just so happened that I had, my son was 12 or 13, the same age I was 40 years later. So I found myself just sort of investigating where my head was at that time. For our family, it was traumatizing, and we did our best to process it, but much of it was left unprocessed. As you can see, my parents, it’s still a very raw topic for them, as is detailed in the film with their beautiful interview. I’ve always been fine with talking about it. But whatever, it was a real moment, and it happened within the context of our rock and roll experience. Had I not been in a band it would have never happened. So it’s somewhat of a cautionary tale as well. Q: I want to ask about the mixture of influences you talk about in the film and book. You didn’t censor yourselves over what was cool or popular. You loved the Beatles but you also loved the Partridge Family equally. JM: Through reading about rock and roll music and biographies, I learned, oh, you know, the Beatles did Shirelles covers. They were doing like girl bubblegum covers and were inspired by that type of stuff. It made me realize that anything that moves you is valid and it doesn’t matter what social baggage it may have. It’s like when we were in the punk movement, just saying, ‘I love the Partridge Family’ was kind of like a little bit of a troll to people who took themselves very seriously. SM: I think we also have not been afraid to infuse a nice dose of humor into what we do. I think that’s also something that sometimes people find hard to take on board, because it might imply that you’re not serious on some level, or there’s missing some substance or something. And it’s not just music, you know, it’s movies, it’s television. It’s all sorts of cultural things we took on board. We were hanging out with people that were much older than us and had very sophisticated interests. JM: Yeah, we have been inspired by movies, like Russ Myers and John Waters and all that stuff. And there’s always a bit of humor in what we do. You know, like I may not be taken as seriously as a singer as like, say, Perry Farrell [of Jane’s Addiction], who’s not very funny at all. But comedians are some of the heaviest entertainers there are. So you just can’t judge a book by its cover. Q: This year has been busy. How do you take advantage of that and go forward next year? JM: We haven’t been to South America yet. SM: We have done a lot to get the momentum going. It’s true. I have a day job. I’m also in the Melvins , who have a very busy schedule next year. So it’s a conflict in my life to have had this moment and create so much momentum for us. You don’t want it to dissipate. But at the same time, it’s been a long career. I mean, hopefully there’s enough for people to snack on for a while, and they’ll be hungry for us the next time we’re available, which hopefully will be sometime next year.‘PPF account for minors will earn interest at 4% until minor turns 18’
Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.
'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors
Who Is David Bakhtiari’s Wife, Franki Shebby & What Is Their Relationship History?
