Blowout loss to Packers leaves the 49ers on the playoff brinkAlabama flips RB Jace Clarizio from Michigan State
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LISBON, -- Just when were starting to wobble, Martin Odegaard produced a match-defining moment of quality. Manager Mikel Arteta will hope that can apply to their season as a whole after a difficult run of results in which the absence of their captain was keenly felt. Managers bemoaning injuries is nothing new -- and it can often serve as a useful distraction from other issues -- but Odegaard's return from an ankle injury has coincided with a dramatic upturn in their performances, continuing with Tuesday's impressive 5-1 demolition of Sporting Lisbon in the . "He is an unbelievable player and the day he returned, there was a big smile on my face," said of Odegaard. "You can see the chemistry we have, how much I enjoy playing with him. So I am happy he is back and I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season." Sporting went into this game unbeaten across 19 matches this season and fresh off beating here at Estadio Jose Alvalade just three weeks ago, with 's hat-trick confirming his status as one of Europe's hottest properties. Manager Ruben Amorim has since departed for and Gyokeres was a peripheral figure on Tuesday night, with Arsenal's opening 45 minutes ranking as their finest half of football of the season. It was a quintessential European away performance: clinical in attack, disciplined and dogged in defence. Their 3-0 half-time lead -- coming through goals from , and -- was thoroughly deserved, the first two emanating from a right-wing combination Sporting simply could not cope with. Odegaard's tendency to drift to the right flank to link up with Saka is a familiar pattern of play, but one so many teams struggle to combat: found that out to their cost last weekend when being soundly beaten at Emirates Stadium. With showing promising signs of being a more-than-able deputy for regular right-back (he'll be out until the New Year following knee surgery), Arsenal's potency down that wing was such that 65% of their attacks came via that channel in the first half. Timber set up Martinelli for the opener, while Saka found Havertz for the second on 22 minutes. Gabriel's third was a header from a corner, extending their impressive set-piece record, but after put a dent in their defensive record with a near post finish two minutes into the second half, Sporting sensed an improbable comeback. Arsenal began to exhibit nerves. Passes were misplaced, the pressure began to build, goalkeeper was booked for timewasting. And then suddenly, Odegaard burst forward, cruising past Inacio and somehow, off balance but still purposeful, he worked his way into the box, where could only foul him and concede a penalty. Saka drilled home the spot-kick before substitute added a late fifth, but Odegaard was the chief architect. He has more touches of the ball (82) than any other Arsenal player aside from Timber (84) and he didn't even play the final 12 minutes, rested with Saturday's tricky trip to West Ham in mind. There is skepticism about the overall quality of the Portuguese league, but Arsenal made the gulf in class look massive here, which is to their considerable credit. For a start, Tuesday marked the first time Arsenal have scored five goals away from home in the Champions League since October, 2008. After coming into this game facing legitimate questions about their durability on the road in Europe -- Arsenal hadn't scored an away goal in this competition since December, during a run of one win in eight matches -- this was an emphatic response. Asked if this was the best European away performance of his five-year tenure, Arteta was clear. "For sure, especially against the opponent that we played in their home," he said post-match. "I don't think they've lost here in 18 months. They've been in top form, they've been better than everyone they've played here. To play to that level, with the fluidity that we've done today ... I'm very pleased." Arteta raised eyebrows when he described their 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan as the best they had played in a big European game for years, but that faith was thoroughly vindicated here. "It's true that the result is very different," he said. "But with the performance and identity of what I saw against Inter I was very pleased. I knew that in that pathway good things were going to happen in Europe. Today we've been able to do that and replicate it and be more efficient in the opposition half. Very pleased because the team has played with so much courage. They are so good and watching them live I realise how good they are." Arteta also believes the return of several players from injury has increased the competitiveness in training, which in turn raises the level of performance. That said, Odegaard's return feels most transformative when he plays like this. The learned it last weekend and on Tuesday, the Champions League got the same message.
Man City stumble again while Arsenal and Bayern Munich earn dominant wins
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs , they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2. In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3. Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5. When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes , he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash . This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season . “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food.WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. People are also reading... Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78The Boston Bruins hope to continue their winning start to Joe Sacco's tenure as interim coach as they begin a stretch of three games in four nights around Thanksgiving on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Sacco has emphasized shoring things up defensively and his team has delivered, allowing a combined 42 shots on goal across only their second set of back-to-back regulation wins all season on Thursday against Utah (1-0 score) and Saturday in Detroit (2-1). There are positive offensive signs as well. Captain Brad Marchand netted the latter game-winner in the third period against the Red Wings, which was Boston's first at 5-on-5 in a three-game span. The first goal in Detroit came from Justin Brazeau and the second power-play unit. "We need contributions from everybody right now," Sacco said. Entering a busy stretch that continues Wednesday with a visit to the New York Islanders, Marchand likes the team's current direction. "We seem to be a little bit more comfortable right now. Effort seems higher," he said. "I like the way we closed the last couple of games, being tight, playing very well defensively." After giving up 12 goals in his previous two starts, Jeremy Swayman -- who signed an eight-year, $66 million contract last month -- returned to the net following Joonas Korpisalo's shutout of Utah and stopped 19 of 20 shots in Detroit. The beginning of the season has been a struggle for Swayman (3.30 goals-against average, .887 save percentage), but the coach affirmed that "he's still (the Bruins') guy" following their latest victory. "I am happy for his response," Sacco said. "I'm sure that he's starting to feel better about himself. It's only a matter of time before ‘Sway' starts to find his groove consistently." Meanwhile, Korpisalo has gone 3-0-1 in November. The Canucks have gone just 3-4-0 since beginning this month on a three-game win streak, but they arrive in Boston for the second of a six-game trip after beating Ottawa 4-3 Saturday. It was their seventh victory in eight road games this season. It was a key team win after center J.T. Miller was added to Vancouver's list of absentees due to an indefinite personal leave last Wednesday and defenseman Quinn Hughes was ejected in the first period for a major boarding penalty. "That's a lot to throw at the team, and I thought we handled it well," coach Rick Tocchet said. "I'm proud of the guys. We hung in there and grinded out the win. ... In an 82-game schedule, you're going to go through a lot of adversity and it's about the way you handle it." Brock Boeser (upper-body injury) has missed the previous seven games, but returned to practice Monday in a regular jersey. In the absence of aforementioned stars, the top line of Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Kiefer Sherwood stepped up for a combined seven points against the Senators. DeBrusk scored two of the trio's three goals and added an assist. A Bruin for his first seven NHL seasons, DeBrusk scored his first three goals of the season in consecutive games before entering Saturday on a six-game drought. The winger will look to ride the momentum into his first game in Boston since moving to Vancouver as a free agent in July. "I think it's more so my game is kind of building," DeBrusk said. "I knew I was going to break through." The Canucks also recalled Max Sasson from AHL affiliate Abbotsford for his first NHL game on Saturday. He recorded an assist. "I really liked his game," Tocchet said. "To just get called up out of the blue, he seized the moment." --Field Level Media
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE 89, UTAH TECH 79Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78COALFIELD — Despite missing five players, including a pair of starters, and only dressing nine total for a pair of Hall of Champions games Saturday evening, the Cleveland Lady Raiders notched two more easy victories. "We had so many players step up yesterday (Saturday) to make big plays when we needed it the most," related second-hear Cleveland head coach Bianca Hensley of a 71-50 blowout of host Coalfield followed shortly by a 63-39 thrashing of 2024 Class 1A State Quarterfinalist Clay County. "We didn't have the best start to the Clay County game, but our kids are resilient. They found a way after playing back-to-back games to come away with two wins." With recent Tennessee commit Lauren Hurst out for a third straight game with a groin injury, plus senior starter Tamiah Tanner unavailable as well, several younger players showed what they can do in the twinbill. The 2024 TSSAA Class 4A State Semifinalist Lady Raiders will turn around and play in the Silverdale Thanksgiving Invitational Monday through Wednesday. In the opening round Monday at 7 p.m., Cleveland (3-0) will battle Tyner Academy, which rolled over Signal Mountain 68-32 in its season opener Thursday. The Lady Raiders will face either Soddy Daisy (1-1) or Walker Valley (0-2) in Tuesday's Round 2 before at 3 p.m. before capping the event Wednesday. The other teams participating in the tournament-style play are defending champion Murfreesboro Central-Magnet (1-1), Ooltewah (2-1), Red Bank (1-1) and host Silverdale (2-0). Both teams ripped the cords for 19 points in the opening period before Cleveland took command with a 22-6 second frame advantage. Despite being down 41-25, the Class 3A hosts fought back to win the third quarter 18-14, but the Lady Raiders turned it on down the stretch to pull away with a 16-7 final frame advantage. Posting their highest point total of the young season, freshman Ariyah Huffman drilled a trio of 3-pointers, plus went 5-for-6 at the free throw line for 20 points in her first varsity start. After leading the team in scoring in the season opening win over Baylor, sophomore Laney Copeland sizzled the nylon on four long-range shots on her way to 18 markers. "Ariyah Huffman and Laney Copeland led the way offensively against Coalfield," praised Coach Hensley. "(Sophomore) Izzy Smith came off the bench and was a huge spark plug, hitting two 3s, scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds." Like her little sister, senior sharpshooter Emma Smith also drilled a pair from "downtown" on her way to 10 points. "(Freshman) Addy Gravelle gave us great minutes off the bench with eight points," the Lady Raider mentor proclaimed. "We had another great game shooting the ball making 13 3's. "(Sophomore) Emily Patterson led us with 10 rebounds. She does all the small things by getting us extra possessions." Once again the opening quarter saw a very tight battle between 2004 TSSAA State qualifiers with Cleveland holding a narrow 18-16 edge. The Lady Raiders were able to open up a little breathing room (16-10) in the second frame for an eight-point halftime advantage. After the intermission, the Cleveland defense took over, holding the Lady Bulldogs to just 13 second half points, while pouring in 29 of their own for the third 20-plus point win of the campaign. Emma Smith topped the scoring tally with 20 points, including a pair of triples and going 6-for-7 at the charity stripe. Patterson helped out with 10 points, including 4-of-5 foul shots, while Huffman netted eight and Copeland seven, with a trey and 4-for-4 at the stripe. Freshman Jada Davis, who had a 3-pointers in each of the three games so far, and Izzy Smith netted five apiece. Along with her bomb, Davis nailed both her free throws, while the younger Smith and Huffman both went 3-for-4 on freebies. Although only hitting five 3-pointers in the win, Cleveland went 24-of-31 at the free throw line. Clay County's (0-2) other loss this season came to 2024 Class 3A State Runner-up Upperman.
Lifestyle Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brace yourself, as Mercury is about to start retrograding again. Here’s what this astrological event means for you depending on your zodiac sign. This planet is known as the 'trickster' of the zodiac, as it creates quite a stir when it's in its retrograde cycle. Technology glitches, out-of-the-blue texts from your ex , and delayed travel plans are just some of the themes that often arise. But this isn't just any Mercury retrograde; it's a significant one, where your beliefs take centre stage and cultivating hope for the new year is a central theme. Mercury's orbit changes three to four times a year, giving off the illusion it's going backwards. Mercury governs all forms of communication, so when this occurs wires can become crossed or our concentration powers aren't firing on all cylinders . But this retrograde cycle is unlike any other as Mercury will be moving through the expansive and adventure-seeking constellation of Sagittarius. It's bound to impact what we're dreaming up for our future and prompt us to think bigger and bolder. What you need to know 2024 is the year Mercury retrogrades through fire signs. Anytime this planet is residing in the element of fire you can expect heightened passion, increased creativity and a surge of enthusiasm. However, this fiery energy can also lead to impulsiveness and potential conflicts. During this retrograde, you might find yourself reassessing your long-term goals and aspirations, feeling more inspired to take risks and embark on new adventures and experiencing a renewed sense of optimism about the future. It's important to take note not to make hasty decisions or promises, as otherwise, you could say yes to something in the heat of the moment that you could possibly regret later. But this isn't a time to retreat from the world in fear of "what might happen”, instead it's about being diligent, practising discernment and tuning towards what's right for you, letting your intuition lead the way. Trust your gut feelings as you reassess your personal philosophies. Image: Pexels Mercury will be retrograding from 26 November - 16 December 2024 and because it's in the optimistic and philosophical sign of Sagittarius, you can expect this retrograde to have a unique flavour. Sagittarius is known for its love of adventure, higher learning and expansion of horizons. During this period, you might find yourself: Reconsidering travel plans or feeling a strong urge to explore new places Revisiting philosophical ideas or belief systems that once inspired you Reassessing your educational goals or desire for personal growth While the fiery nature of Sagittarius can amplify the typical retrograde challenges, it also brings opportunities for profound personal insights. Use this time to reflect on your big-picture aspirations and how they align with your values. Remember, Sagittarius energy encourages honesty and directness, so while communication might be tricky, it's an excellent time for heartfelt conversations about your dreams and aspirations. As with any Mercury retrograde, practice patience and double-check details, especially when it comes to travel plans or legal matters (both Sagittarius-ruled areas). But don't let caution dampen your enthusiasm. This retrograde offers a unique chance to realign your compass and set your sights on new, exciting horizons. Mercury retrogrades are a potent time for introspection, spiritual growth and personal evolution. What’s in store for your zodiac sign Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) Your natural enthusiasm will be amplified during this retrograde. Channel your fiery energy into reassessing your long-term dreams and aspirations. Use this time to think bigger and bolder about your future. Be cautious of impulsiveness and practice discernment in your decision-making. Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) This retrograde challenges you to step out of your comfort zone. Consider how you can expand your horizons through new experiences or learning opportunities. While your practical nature may resist, use this time to explore philosophical ideas that inspire personal growth. Your communication skills may be tested during this retrograde. Image: Pexels Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) Your communication skills may be tested during this retrograde. Focus on having heartfelt conversations about your dreams and aspirations, and use your intellectual prowess to revisit and refine your belief systems. And remember to be patient with technology glitches and potential misunderstandings. Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) Your intuitive nature will be your greatest asset during this retrograde, so trust your gut feelings as you reassess your personal philosophies. This is an excellent time for deep introspection about your values and how they align with your big-picture aspirations. Use your emotional intelligence to navigate any communication challenges that arise. Kristy Gray is an Astrologer who helps you attain your desires using the power of your stars. Through her signature formula, Astrostrategy®, Kristy combines essential tools, profound insights, and empowering actions to help you gain momentum and step into your potential. Ready to explore astrology for deeper self-exploration? Your celestial initiation starts here. More Coverage How mercury retrograde will affect you based on your star sign Krista Gray Mercury retrograde is back to shake things up Tianna Nadalin Originally published as Why this Mercury retrograde is your ticket to think bigger More related stories Food Kirbie proves why Melbourne’s hot new restaurant trend works South Melbourne’s new neighbourhood hang isn’t exactly new, but with city restaurants leaning into its ‘what’s old is new again’ era, you can see why it’s popular. Read more QLD News ‘Always please the one-percenters – what a world we now live in’ The creators of Brisbane’s biggest and brightest Christmas light displays have been forced to go dark – and many aren’t happy. HAVE YOUR SAY Read moreMan City stumble again while Arsenal and Bayern Munich earn dominant wins
With three full-length albums and two EPs under his belt, Mac Ayres has been extremely prolific since he first started releasing music in 2016. For his latest project, the Sea Cliff, NY, native pumped the brakes, rolled up his sleeves and dug into his archive to dust off some of his earliest cuts from his SoundCloud days. The earliest of the songs date back to 2016, when Mac was contemplating dropping out of his songwriting major at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, Mass. Wracked with anxiety and struck with an instantly recognizable yearning for stability, the songs on Cloudy float. In these early cuts, Ayres prioritizes contouring his sweeping melodies with ethereal arrangements over verbose lyricism. With all his influences on full display, Cloudy offers a rare peek into the formative years of one of R&B’s most interesting and most underrated singer-songwriters, now 27. He’s not just revisiting his roots; he’s fully entrenching himself and his audience in the throes of those turbulent times. In celebration of the compilation’s release (Nov. 8), Ayres performed an intimate piano-and-mic set at New York City’s LPR. He played tracks from Cloudy , his most notable hits, and a few covers that allowed him to recapture the freedom of his years as a bar musician. “[By the time my first EP] Drive Slow came out, I was 20. I had eight years of practicing being in front of people and performing,” he tells Billboard . “It’s a really important part of my artistry. That was the most fun to get back to. This has been a very musically liberating experience.” In a self-reflective conversation with Billboard , Mac Ayres talks about all things Cloudy , the emotional weight of revisiting your past, and his plans for 2025. What exactly do we call this project? Is it even important to you to properly demarcate what kind of project this is? Amongst my team, there has been some discourse. [ Laughs. ] I’m not too big on, “Is this an album versus an EP” or whatever, but this project feels like a compilation. I made the last five albums with the goal of having an album at the end. These songs are all old and from the SoundCloud time of my life. Not only did I not think I was making an album, I thought nobody would ever hear them. That makes this project separate from the other albums, at least in my head. What was it like revisiting your SoundCloud era from a 2024 perspective? It’s been a really healing time for me. I went back to Boston – I wrote a lot of these songs when I was at school there – and to be in the physical space I was in, it was interesting to think about where I was mentally back then. I had no idea what was next for me. I was ready to find another avenue in music, whether it was teaching or being a bar musician like I was in high school. I was down to keep that going, we make okay money sometimes! It’s a full-circle moment for me to come back to these tunes. I have changed so much as a musician, but mostly as a person. When was the earliest of these songs written? In the fall of 2016, then the latest one couldn’t have been later than the top of 2018. There were some mild reworkings I had to do. I had to recreate an instrumental for one of them to get around clearing a sample of Chaka Khan ’s “Everywhere” that was on the SoundCloud version. I wound up replaying a lot of it this year on what I had at home – guitars, keyboards, etc. I really didn’t want to get rid of it. Vocally, it’s all the original takes. We had to do some deep diving for those old sessions. It’s also mostly the original, shitty mixes I did in my college apartment. Why was it important for you to keep those original vocal takes? I think there’s a lot of magic in what some people would call the “demo track.” I’m not in the business of making a perfectly polished thing. I’m in the business of catching lightning in a bottle and making sure that when you’re listening to it, you can hear all of my stuff that I put into it emotionally and spiritually. I guess it helps that these songs have been out on SoundCloud, and I [didn’t] want to make a regurgitated version of them. I wanted them to be the songs that people enjoyed. Did you hear anything in those original tracks that might have made you cringe? Or were you surprised at any choices you made back then? [ Laughs ]. I’d say [there were] a couple of cringes here and there. But I think that’s also a beautiful part of coming back to these songs. Maybe the shit that I think is cringey now as a 27-year-old was really cool to a 20-year-old. I find that as you make more and more stuff, you find yourself falling into patterns. I was such a blank canvas back then that there were a couple of decisions I probably wouldn’t make today. What were some of those specific sonic impulses that were more apparent in your earlier songwriting? Compared to my last record, this project feels very wordy to me. Some of the songs on this project are literally five words total; it’s just a hook or a musical motif that just feels good. I almost feel like it’s teaching me to go back to my impulses a little bit. Sometimes all you need to do is say one word. Or all you need to do is say three words. The last record was more so me ripping out of my journal, and with Cloudy , you just gotta catch the feeling. Talk to me a bit more about the emotional space you were in when you wrote these songs. I was in my junior year at Berkeley College of Music in Boston. I had fallen really out of love with everything about school. It’s not like I was ever a great student, but I was really into it my first couple of years as a songwriting major and then I fell out of love with the classroom [environment]. We were doing a lot of homework assignments like, “Write a song about your favorite childhood pet!” And I’d be like, “I don’t want to.” [ Laughs. ] So, I would stay in my apartment and work on the songs that I wanted to write. I was learning how to produce for myself at the time; I was in a new relationship; I was in the process of calling my entire family (who are all lawyers) and telling them that I was dropping out of school. I was a lot of uncertainty. I didn’t know what was next. It was a very leap of faith moment for me; I trust myself. To this day, I trust the work that I put in, and everything worked out for me. Me and that girl are celebrating our eight-year anniversary in March! What’s the most interesting memory these songs brought back up to you? I used to ride my bike to school a lot. I lived in an apartment half a mile from campus, but I rode my bike so I could get home as fast as possible. I remember when I was first writing these songs, it was 2016 – the year the first NxWorries album came out. That album did so much for me, not only as a writer but also in the way I treated myself and my dreams. .Paak was really talking hit shit on there; Knxwledge is one of my favorite producers. I used to ride my bike to “Get Bigger / Do U Luv” all the time. I always think about that kid on the bike and how badly he wanted to make art. He’s still an important part of me today. From an archival standpoint, why was it important for you to make sure that all of these songs can be found in one place for your fans? I’m paying homage to the people who have stuck around as long as they have. For them, Cloudy is old and nostalgic; they have their own memories attached to it. At the same time, there’s people who may have just heard me for the first time yesterday and Cloudy is what they’ll hear. It’s an important little square on my quilt of artistry. Even though it’s not necessarily “me” right this second, it’s still an important piece of the foundation to get an idea of who I am both musically and personally. How did you land on this title? There’s the SoundCloud tie-in, but I was just writing a lot about skies. I have “Blue Skies” on there – that’s a really important one. There was a lot of metaphor there. I think there’s something to be said about the clarity you get when the clouds go away, or how you might feel when the clouds are out. There’s a lot to play with there. Which of these songs do you think was most indicative of where your sound is today? I feel like “Love Somebody” is probably in that group of songs. “Blue Skies” too. Even songs like “She Just Wanna See Me Right Now,” pay homage to all of my favorite genres of music. There’s jazz, hip-hop elements, R&B influence, folksy singer-songwriter stuff. And melodically and lyrically, it’s a big mush of all the people that inspire me. But those three songs definitely were pointing to where I was headed. Would you ever sample yourself and if so, what song on Cloudy would you sample? Maybe I could try “Somebody New” or something that doesn’t already have drums and it’s just me and the piano. I might have to do that when I get home, just to see if it works. [ Laughs. ] What songs hurt you the most to leave off this project? Will they ever come out? I have a song with an old friend of mine named Raelee [Nikole] called “Just What You Say,” and I wanted that to be on Cloudy , but we just couldn’t make it work. I also have a couple of beats – my vocals aren’t on there – and stuff from the SoundCloud era where I’m sampling stuff like Ne-Yo or [ Common ’s] “Like Water for Chocolate.” I think they tell a little bit more of the story of my producer side, but, for the most part, we got all my favorites on there. You’re hitting the road soon. What can you share about that? At the end of November, I’m going to Europe for a couple of days and opening for Keshi . We’re only doing three or four shows out there, but we’re also going to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand together next February. I haven’t been to any of those places so I’m excited. Next summer, I’m doing a few North American shows with him too. We’re playing The Garden — and as a lifelong Knicks fan, I’m definitely freaking out. I always tell people: I sang the National Anthem at one of the Knicks games last season, and it was far and away the most nervous I’ve ever been. Because these are people I watch every single night. Singing at a venue of 1,000 people is whatever; singing in front of Jalen Brunson was the most stressed I’ve ever felt in my life. When did you decide that you were going to go the compilation route? I had always wanted to do a compilation at some point. I’m always working on stuff. Nothing really solid yet, but I’ve got some ideas. People on social media have always been like, “We need these on DSPs!” and my fans seriously mean a lot to me. They are entirely why I’m where I’m at today, so I always want them to feel like I’m listening and providing the things that they want and like. A lot of this art is for me, but at the end of the day, I’m not me without all of them. Where’s your head regarding new music? I’m always writing and working on new stuff. I’m always listening to new stuff and trying to grow and see where music takes me next. It always has taken me to places I did not expect. When it’s ready, it’ll be ready. But there’s always more music to make.
