AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:46 p.m. ESTReality TV personalities and tourist photoshoots: Outside Mar-a-Lago with Trump’s new fan clubENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. "We've seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year," Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. "I think the sky's the limit," Elway said, "and that's just going to continue to get better and better." In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos' GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. "You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don't and it's so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean's really good at that," Elway said. "I think the combination of Bo's maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. "But also Vance Joseph's done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure's not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time." Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix's repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for "what they're doing offensively and how they're breaking Bo into the NFL because it's a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks." Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. "He's a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It's just awesome that I'm even in that situation." Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called "way, way overdue." Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders "both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix, and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros — but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: "He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren's contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he'll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was "I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and one of Donald Trump's closest allies, met with US lawmakers Thursday on his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration. President-elect Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Although the office, dubbed DOGE, has a purely advisory role, Musk's star power and intense influence in Trump's inner circle bring political clout. As Musk and Ramaswamy strode into the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson touted "a new day in America." "There's an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse," he told reporters. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does almost nothing well." Musk and Ramaswamy have said they can identify billions of dollars of cuts in spending, sparking questions about whether Republicans will even try to slash politically popular social security programs. Writing in the Wall Street Journal last month, the two businessmen laid out plans for the White House to cut staff, trim government programs and reduce federal regulations, even if it means bypassing Congress, which holds budgetary power. "The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote. "We're doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. During Trump's election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion. This would represent cutting total US spending by a third, almost certainly meaning devastation of social support programs -- something that has never garnered strong political backing. Musk's emphasis on firing large numbers of government employees, however, echoes Republican talking points about the need to take on an overbearing state and may garner more support. Musk says he is seeking "mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy." Musk suggested banning government employees from working at home as an opening tactic. "Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome." Cuts will also target subsidies to public broadcasters and groups such as Planned Parenthood, which campaigns for abortion access and offers an array of reproductive health services. But DOGE is unlikely, at least initially, to go after welfare programs such as Social Security or health insurance for the poor and seniors, Ramaswamy said in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. Such cuts should be "a policy decision that belongs to the voters" and their representatives in Congress, Ramaswamy said. A reduction in military spending, which climbed to $820 billion in 2023, is also unlikely to be on the table. Musk's new role raises the question of potential conflicts of interest, since he could be issuing policy recommendations that impact directly on his own business empire. Underlining the close connection to DOGE, Musk's favorite cryptocurrency is called Dogecoin. rle/ev/md/sms/mdBrazil’s Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot, unsealed police report alleges
(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .The BC SPCA Kamloops animal centre has recovered several adult cats and kittens from a property, and is getting ready to receive between 15 and 25 more cats from the same property over the next few weeks. The animals were prioritized for recovery, with a female cat, her four kittens, and five other adults in the first intake. Sadly, two of the adult cats needed to be euthanized, while the kittens tested positive for coccidia and one of the adult cats tested positive for giardia. All the cats immediately went into quarantine and were treated. “This happens all too often when a kind person feeds a stray cat,” says Daria Evans, manager of the BC SPCA’s Kamloops animal centre. “In this case the finders began feeding stray cats in their community during the pandemic, and in no time at all the number of cats in their home more than doubled. “They became overwhelmed and reached out to us, and we are currently in the process of bringing all the cats into our care.” Evans adds that it’s likely that all of the cats in the home will require treatment, so the Kamloops centre is preparing for that. Coccidia and giardia are parasitic infections of the intestinal tract and are typically treated with oral medications and intravenous fluids if required. Although quite common and very treatable, they are both contagious. Once the cats clear quarantine, they will be placed with a BC SPCA foster carer or — if they are ready — made available for adoption. “Our goal is to bring all these babies into our care and treat them as soon as possible,” says Evans. “The kittens are very playful and sweet. They were a little grumpy when we gave them their coccidia baths, but that is to be expected. They now seem to be much happier and content.” The adult cats appear to be a mixture of indoor and outdoor animals. Staff at the centre have been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the cats are around people, even though some may not have had as much human socialization as others. “They are very affectionate and love it when staff comes around to feed and care for them," says Evans. She notes that this case is a reminder that people should reach out if there are stray cats in their area, and the earlier the better. “It is amazing how quickly a cat population can explode.” The cats and kittens currently in care will be available for adoption later in December. You can help them — and other animals in need at the BC SPCA — by making a donation at .Billboard Music Awards Presented by Marriott Bonvoy “Wrapping the movie was a fucking relief,” says. Yes — the face of an entire franchise with his twisted portrayal of clown Pennywise — was more than ready to set free ‘ . “Everything that he represents is so intense, I was happy to let go of the chains he had on me.” Skarsgard first read the script for Eggers’ macabre folktale 10 years ago. The filmmaker had just released (2015) and Skarsgard believed he was sitting with someone who represented the future of cinema. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is so exciting,'” the Swedish actor recalls to about Eggers’ interest in him for the role of the century-old villain. “The script floored me. ... It was flattering but also very daunting.” Related Stories Skarsgard’s Count Orlok, while derived from F. W. Murnau’s 1922 silent German Expressionist classic starring Max Schreck as the titular monster, is infinitely more haunting than its original form. (Granted, Murnau’s film was an unauthorized version of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel ; the author’s estate sued for copyright infringement — and won.) All at once, Eggers pays homage to Schreck’s beast and contorts him entirely; honoring the folklore written by and about the people who truly believed these creatures existed and were terrified of them. At the same time, he drives a stake through the heart of the “hot vampire” trope contemporary audiences have become accustomed to. “The evolution of the cinematic vampire, from Max Schreck to Edward Cullen [Robert Pattinson’s character in the series] ... vampires are no longer scary,” Eggers tells . “These early folk vampires were not suave, pale-skinned aristocrats in dinner jackets. They were bloated, nasty, rotten corpses.” Thus, his monster was born. is summoned from the occult niche of the Eggers universe viewers are now familiar with: remnants of (2019) and (2022) ooze through the Gothic gloom and nauseating eroticism. Skarsgard stars in the titular role, but it is ‘s Ellen Hutter who flips Stoker’s narrative on its head. In the early 19th century, Ellen is newly married to Thomas ( ), a junior estate agent in the fictitious German town of Wisborg. Angling for an official position with the firm, he accepts an assignment from his jovial boss Herr Knock (Simon McBurney) to travel east of Bohemia to an isolated castle in Transylvania’s brutal and bone-chilling Carpathian Mountains. His task is to get contracts signed for the purchase of a Wisborg mansion by a mysterious Count Orlok. Thomas leaves his desperate wife with the couple’s friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding ( and ), who are forced to witness the return of Ellen’s visceral, nightmarish episodes. Only the viewers, Ellen and Orlok understand the sensual connection between the vampire and who he believes is his rightful bride — Depp’s character beckoned him years prior, forming a bond steeped in both repulsion and lust. “It was physically and emotionally demanding,” Depp says about the astonishing physical performance she displays, bending her body out of shape, convulsing while her eyes roll back into her head and tears flood her cheeks. Marie-Gabrielle Rotie, a choreographer specializing in Japanese (“dance of utter darkness”), was brought in to help. “The torment that she’s going through is the meat of the movie,” Depp continues. “The darkness she’s carried within her since she was younger is now coming to a head. She found a husband that has been able to anchor her to the world, the light, and then he goes away and leaves her vulnerable to the forces who want to claim her.” “But it’s not so simple as her [being] plagued by this horrible thing,” Depp continues, “There is a yearning there. A connection between Orlok and Ellen. She is the one that called out to him and, as he says in the movie, she must surrender herself.” Depp says that the sexuality is a theme people have asked about a lot. It’s deliberate from Eggers, she adds, because this is the story of a love triangle at its core. “This demonic, dark fairy tale could be a young woman torn between two men, both representing different parts of what she wants. The desire and disgust serves as a mirror for the shame that we feel, certainly the shame that I’m sure a lot of women felt at the time.” Hoult also believes his character was a victim of the time period, a man devoted to his wife but inherently incapable of understanding her. “He sweeps things under the rug,” the British star says. “[He thinks], ‘Let’s not talk about it or think about it. As long as I get this promotion, things are going to be okay, and we’ll deal with that down the road.'” jumps in: “[Hoult’s] is the most difficult role in the whole movie in a funny way.” Thomas is our introduction to Orlok in his gruesome entirety, he explains, and viewers have no choice but to absorb the panic he radiates. “The audience is with him, and he has to keep that fear alive. It can’t harden into anything; it keeps morphing. And that’s fucking hard to do because he’s also being acted on.” Depp calls Hoult’s performance “so beautiful”: “You really feel the birth of darkness.” Dafoe enters the picture as somewhat of an incarnation of Stoker’s vampire hunter, Professor Abraham Van Helsing. The fictional Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz is ostracized from the academic spheres he once socialized in for indulging his passion for necromantic lore. Von Franz is the only character in who truly understands Ellen’s suffering. Is it true that Dafoe thinks his part is who Eggers himself would want to play? “He’s curious,” Dafoe says with a smirk. “I just thought, ‘Wow, this is juicy.’ I have an interest in these things but I’m not very knowledgeable about them, so I ate up the research. What are the Hollywood tropes that have been developed through the years, and what really came from folklore and history?” The dismissal of those tropes in feels purposeful, an exploration of the vampire as a myth. Today, audiences think the Cullens of , the Salvatores of , or even a blonde, fanged Tom Cruise in . Why do we love to romanticize them? And is this movie a rejection of their depicted hotness in pop culture? “It all goes back to John Polidori’s [1819 horror short] ,” Eggers says. “Which was the first popular, anglo-literary vampire story. He based the vampire off of Lord Byron, not a folkloric vampire. So that sexy aristocrat has been the mold. And while Stoker does some different things with , he’s still based on that character. And I think as the cinematic vampires evolved, because of their ability to transcend death, there’s something attractive and appealing about that.” “But I think Bill’s vampire is sexy,” Eggers adds, followed by a chorus of agreement from his cast. Says Dafoe: “He’s pure appetite.” Appetite is a good word to capture the magnetism of Skarsgard’s portrayal. He has the bald head, the pointed ears and spindly fingers per both Murnau’s film and Werner Herzog’s from 1979. But it’s a deep, gritty, Transylvanian rasp that does a good chunk of the leg work for Eggers’ creature. “I knew that he was going to live in the shadows for so long,” Skarsgard says. “The voice was my [only] form of expression.” He worked with an opera singer to lower his voice by an entire octave. “We showed the film in Stockholm last week, with my friends and family, and some of them didn’t believe it was my voice, or they thought that it was a voice actor.” ( ) “Rob and I built it together and it meant we had the freedom to create our version of it, to make it different than, you know, [ ], ‘ !’” At this moment, Depp herself performs her Dracula impression for the group. They erupt laughing. “It’s very Italian,” she says. “I think it’s the last [role] in the world that I could play.” Skarsgard begins to unpack the significance of a novella on Orlok’s back story that Eggers wrote just for him. The Count had a family and was once married, the actor says, before his director intervenes: “I don’t want the world to know his backstory. But he had a very detailed one.” Eggers is the expert. He tells he first watched Murnau’s when he was nine. “It had a major impact on me,” he begins. “One of the cool things about how I saw it was ... It was on VHS. It was made from a bad 16mm print. Today you can see the restored version and you can understand Murnau’s intentions. It’s wonderful to see the film like that, but what I saw was super degraded and Max Schreck seemed like a real vampire, like something that had been unearthed from the past. It had a haunting authenticity.” The filmmaker didn’t hold back on his updated take. The film should come with a warning for those less inclined to the sight of rats. Corrin says the extensive practical effects — requiring them to lie topless underneath a swathe of rodents — were a double-edged sword. “It serves an incredible purpose, those moments,” they say. “Same with the practical sets. It builds this immersive world, completely alive both for the actors in it and for the audience watching. You can just enter so easily into this period of history and be completely convinced in and torn by it. But then you also work with 20 incontinent rats on your bare chest.” The cast battles rats, corpses and rabid dogs. They evoke a sense of fear seldom conjured on screen — Depp’s unraveling is wholly complemented by Skarsgard’s satanic hunger. This leaves one final question: who’s the biggest screamer? “Willem,” Eggers says, asking Dafoe’s permission to tell a story. “When we were shooting , I was with my wife and we’re in Halifax [in Nova Scotia]. We’re gonna have dinner, and there’s an unhoused man screaming down the street. He’s screaming, screaming, screaming, and I was like, to my wife, ‘Let’s just pick up the pace.’ We’re almost at the restaurant. Plus it’s Halifax, how bad could this guy be? This unhoused person just keeps screaming louder and louder and getting closer and closer and closer. We’re rushing to the restaurant and then suddenly this guy jumps on my back and screams my ear. And it’s Willem Dafoe, wearing leather pants.” Dafoe replies: “Sometimes when I see a friend on the street, particularly if it’s a woman, I go behind and [ ].” His cast members roar with laughter again. “Because then you get to reassure them!” Nosferatu
