bet casino National League club confirm appointment of new managerNiSource Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms marketNone

Steris PLC stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayiHeartMedia Announces Early Results and Modification of the Terms of the Offers and Consent Solicitations for Existing Notes and Term LoansIndia EU firm up extensive roadmap for green hydrogen cooperation

Snoop Dogg made headlines with his latest post on X (formerly Twitter) by apologizing to Kendrick Lamar for sharing Drake’s " Taylor Made Freestyle " diss track on social media at the time of its release. The move came after Lamar referenced the West Coast legend doing so on his latest album, GNX . Afterward, Punch reposted Snoop’s apology while adding, “Lol.” On the song, “wacced out murals,” Lamar raps: “Snoop posted 'Taylor Made.' I prayed it was the edibles. I couldn't believe it, it was only right for me to let it go." After the project dropped, Snoop wrote: “K Dot new album GNX. [fire emojis]. It was the edibles. West West King." Read More: Snoop Dogg Apologizes To Kendrick Lamar For Sharing Drake's "Taylor Made Freestyle" Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Recording artist from left Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Snoop Dogg wasn’t the only artist Lamar referenced on “wacced out murals.” He also brought up Lil Wayne and the rapper’s complaints about the NFL selecting Lamar as the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show headliner. “I used to bump ‘Tha Carter 3’, I held my Rollie chain proud. Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down... Got the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me, all these n****s agitated I’m just glad it’s on they faces,” Lamar rapped. Wayne also responded to Lamar's remark, writing on X: "Man wtf I do?! I just be chillin & dey still kome 4 my head. Let’s not take kindness for weakness. Let this giant sleep. I beg u all. No one really wants destruction, not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love." Check out TDE Punch’s response to Snoop Dogg below. Read More: Kendrick Lamar Recalls Snoop Dogg Supporting Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” On New Album

ConocoPhillips (COP): Analysts Are Bullish On This Oil and Gas Stock NowSAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — As reached historic highs, e, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele was triumphant on Thursday about his big bet on the cryptocurrency. The adoption of bitcoin — which has been — never quite matched the president’s enthusiasm, but the value of the government’s reported investment now stands at more than $600 million. Bitcoin has last month, exceeding the $100,000 mark on Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Just two years ago, bitcoin’s volatile value fell below $17,000. Bitcoin fell back below the $100,000 by Thursday afternoon, sitting just above $99,000 by 3 p.m. E.T. Bukele on Thursday blamed his beleaguered political opposition for causing many Salvadorans to miss out on the bonanza. There were in June 2021, though that move was not the only motivation for the protesters. The tiny Central American country has long used the dollar as currency, but Bukele promised bitcoin would provide new opportunities for El Salvador’s unbanked and cut out money transfer services from the remittances Salvadorans abroad send home. The government offered $30 in bitcoin to those who signed up for digital wallets. Many did so, but quickly cashed out the cryptocurrency. “It’s important to emphasize that not only did the opposition err resoundingly with bitcoin, but rather, differently from other issues (where they have also been wrong), this time their opposition affected many,” Bukele wrote on Facebook. Bukele drew an “impressive” comment from Elon Musk on the social media platform X Thursday. El Salvador’s former Central Bank President Carlos Acevedo pointed out on Thursday that while there has been a gain, it remains an unrealized one until the government’s bitcoin is sold. That said, he credited Bukele’s administration with doing well on the bitcoin move, especially in light of Trump’s election. Acevedo said “the markets’ optimism that a Trump administration will be friendly with the markets and particularly with bitcoin” explained its sustained rally over the past month. But the cryptocurrency’s volatility was a persistent risk, he said. “The average Salvadoran doesn’t use bitcoin, but obviously there are Salvadorans with economic resources who even before had already invested in bitcoin, but it is a small group,” Acevedo said. Esteban Escamilla, a worker in a clothing store in Santa Tecla, outside the capital San Salvador, said he had cashed out the original $30 of bitcoin offered in 2021. “I don’t use bitcoin because I don’t have (money) to invest and speculate with, but I know it has gone up a lot,” he said, recognizing that he would have more money now if he had kept it in bitcoin. Josefa Torres, 45, said as she was doing her grocery shopping that she didn’t have any bitcoin either. “I took out the money and used it for household expenses,” she said. At the conclusion of meetings between the International Monetary Fund and El Salvador’s government in August, the IMF issued a statement that mentioned the country’s bitcoin holdings. “While many of the risks have not yet materialized, there is joint recognition that further efforts are needed to enhance transparency and mitigate potential fiscal and financial stability risks from the Bitcoin project,” the IMf said. Marcos Alemán, The Associated Press

None

Joel Dahmen's 'half-court' putt keeps PGA Tour status alive

Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.

None

By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”

We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts. In the comments section of a recent article I wrote about finding our photography voice and style, Fstoppers community member Mark Sawyer wrote, “AI hides under your bed at night, whispering ‘I can make you more creative.’” I thought this was an intriguing line. I believe many people will look at AI as a quick and easy answer for producing more creative images—better than we can produce ourselves—by typing in just a few prompt words. AI can help us develop ideas; it’s certainly a useful research tool. I can see the benefits of AI in a commercial environment. Content can be created quickly and cost-effectively. It’s a great tool to speed up production at a reduced cost. That’s a whole other discussion and article. What I’m looking at here is—will AI really help us be more creative with our photography? With our art. Sure, AI can create an impressive-looking image, an eye-catching piece of photographic art, but creativity is an expression of self. AI doesn’t have a self. It doesn’t have feelings or a soul. Advertising guru Sir John Hegarty wrote recently, “An AI has never had its heart broken. Never watched a sunrise. Or swam in the sea. A bot has no life experience. And no soul. Without this last thing, there is no ‘art.’” For me, great photographic art is self-expression based on life experiences and how those experiences make us feel. A computer algorithm knows nothing of this. My best photographs are where I’ve caught a special moment, where someone is feeling something, and you experience that feeling through their eyes, getting a glimpse into their soul. Can typing in a few words about how we feel be enough to have an algorithm create something that represents those thoughts and feelings visually? Authentically? Left: A moment of pure joy, my dad savouring a pint in his favourite pub. Right: A friend who has lived a tough life, reflecting on that. I can see it in his eyes, they take you to his soul. These are authentic images, capturing emotion and feeling in the moment. something AI can never replace. Photographing people is the obvious place where communicating feelings and evoking emotions can be the most powerful and least effectively created by AI. But what about something like landscape photography? Many landscape photos are just pretty scenes we capture, and AI can create something similar. However, there are times when I’m in the landscape, and the location and conditions make me feel a certain way and want to communicate that through my photos. I was traveling through Spain a few years ago, in an area steeped in history and culture, where misty, rainy weather is common. I ended up with a photo that encapsulated that for me—something moody, dark, yet with a hint of positivity as the morning sun rose. Can AI create something if I use some words that describe the physical location and feelings and mood I felt at the time? I played with various prompt words, trying to describe the scene, and this (below) was the best result I could get. Does the AI version evoke as much feeling and mood as the original created from actually being there? I don’t think it’s even close. To paraphrase Johnny Rotten in the song “EMI”—just because it came into my head right now and I decided to type it—“I can’t stand those useless tools, there’s an unlimited supply (of AI). Goodbye AI, goodbyyyyyeeee.” A question I’ve been asked a few times is, where does my creative inspiration come from? I think about creativity a lot. How do you become more creative? It’s an important topic to discuss. My biggest inspiration might be travel. Exploring the world, observing, soaking up different cultures, art, architecture, ways of life, ways of communicating. I find posters in different countries inspirational. Like a photo, a poster is a form of communication and is often very representative of the local culture. It can be a work of art in itself. How we lived during our formative years plays a huge role in how we see and what we like. It’s a good idea to use that and channel it into creative ideas. I was brought up during tough and rebellious times in England. The Sex Pistols and The Clash came onto the music scene, and the photographers who worked with them and the album art created; this all influenced my creativity and aesthetic sensitivities, and I carry this inspiration with me today. At art college, learning photography and visual communications, we put a lot of time toward studying art and design history. We analyzed the images that caught our attention, breaking down and discussing why they appealed so much. We looked at composition and how lighting was used, how these things can affect the viewer’s perception and evoke emotion. We studied classical painters to mid-20th-century designers. Being exposed to so much creativity was a massive influence. Sure, AI can analyze these painters from different eras, but it sees only form, colors, and aesthetic style. AI doesn’t see the emotions that are evoked in the art, which is the point of them. AI sees the tangible, yet the intangible is often what matters the most. Creativity needs to be fed to grow. Exploring the world—even if it’s a town local to you—and observing how people live and communicate is inspirational. Creativity comes from inspiration. Studying the best artists and photographers from history is a fantastic way to educate yourself about creativity. My advice is to go to art galleries, go to the library, and dig out old art and design books to study. I strongly believe those who seek creative inspiration by venturing out into the world with an open mind and curiosity have an advantage. AI is a great research tool, and yes, it has its uses for things like cleaning up photos, cloning out unwanted objects, etc. But to create photographic art with true meaning and expression, I don’t believe AI is up to the task. The greatest art is created from life experiences and feelings, not an algorithm and search bot. What do you think—is AI important for you? Where do you get your inspiration from to feed your creativity? Simon is a professional photographer and video producer, with over 35 years experience. He spends his time between Canada and the UK. He has worked for major brands, organizations and publications; shooting travel, tourism, food, and lifestyle. For fun he enjoys black and white photography, with a penchant for street and landscapes.'Gutted for the girls' as claims grow against football star