BROOKFIELD NEWS, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brookfield Office Properties Inc., a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners L.P., today announced the reset dividend rate on its Class AAA Preference Shares, Series AA (“Series AA Shares”) (TSX: BPO.PR.A). If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series AA Shares for the five years commencing January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2029 will be paid at an annual rate of 6.164% ($0.38525 per share per quarter). Holders of Series AA Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 16, 2024, to convert all or part of their Series AA Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Class AAA Preference Shares, Series BB (the “Series BB Shares”), effective December 31, 2024. The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series BB Shares have an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 3.15% over the annual yield on three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend rate for the January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025 dividend period for the Series BB Shares will be 1.63479% (6.6% on an annualized basis) and the dividend, if declared, for such dividend period will be $0.408698 per share, payable on March 31, 2025. Holders of Series AA Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series AA Shares into Series BB Shares. As provided in the share conditions of the Series AA Shares, (i) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series AA Shares outstanding after December 31, 2024, all remaining Series AA Shares will be automatically converted into Series BB Shares on a one-for-one basis effective December 31, 2024; and (ii) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series BB Shares outstanding after December 31, 2024, no Series AA Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series BB Shares. There are currently 11,845,858 Series AA Shares outstanding. The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series BB Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series BB Shares is subject to Brookfield fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX and, upon approval, the Series BB Shares will be listed on the TSX under the trading symbol “BPO.PR.B”. Brookfield Office Properties Inc. is a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners L.P., one of the world’s largest commercial real estate companies. For more information, please visit Keren Dubon Investor Relations Tel.: (212) 618-3440 Email:

NoneMoment masked thug brandishes TWO ‘zombie knives’ outside school while brave passerby yells ‘put it away’Biden is rushing aid to Ukraine. Both sides are digging in. And everyone is bracing for Trump

North Carolina GOP overrules governor to strip newly elected Democrats of powerWisconsin court ruling restores collective bargaining rights in major win for union, workers

Nutrien Ltd. stock falls Wednesday, underperforms marketNov 28 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. Investors were grappling with fresh U.S. inflation data and its implications for Federal Reserve policy along with continued fallout from Donald Trump's tariff pledges as trading in the U.S. was thinning out ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Asian markets were waking up to a tepid day for U.S. equities, with technology shares leading major indexes lower. Shares of Dell (DELL.N) , opens new tab and HP (HPQ.N) , opens new tab sank after weak forecasts from the personal computer makers, weighing on the tech sector (.SPLRCT) , opens new tab . Data showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index -- an inflation gauge followed by the Fed -- rose 2.3% in the 12 months through October, a slight uptick from the prior month. Traders were still expecting another interest rate cut when the Fed meets in mid-December, with Fed futures showing that expectations of a 25 basis point reduction remained intact following the PCE data. Investors were trying to sort through the potential fallout from Trump's pledge earlier this week of big tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, which has rattled assets including currencies and auto shares . For example, Goldman Sachs economists estimated the tariffs, if implemented, would increase U.S. core PCE inflation by 0.9%. Meanwhile, Mexico's president warned the country would retaliate if Trump followed through with his 25% across-the-board tariff, a move her government warned could kill 400,000 U.S. jobs. With tariffs as a continued specter, major Asian indexes posted mixed sessions on Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) , opens new tab ended lower, with automakers leading the losses, amid concerns about the impact of Trump's tariff plans and a stronger yen. But key China equity gauges gained more than 1%, as data showed a less sharp decline in the country's industrial profits and traders bet that Beijing will provide stimulus to counter risks from the U.S. tariffs. In India, a Reuters poll of equity analysts found that equity markets will take time to recover from their recent sell-off because they remain overvalued, with last week's Adani indictments only adding to the pain. Beyond the U.S., central bank policy was in focus elsewhere globally. New Zealand's central bank cut rates on Wednesday for a third time in four months, and flagged more substantial easing. The Bank of Korea is up next. The BOK is expected to keep its key policy rate at 3.25% on Thursday to support the Korean won against a strong U.S. dollar, according to a Reuters poll of economists, who forecast at least three rate cuts next year. The end of the week is expected to bring more eventful data in Asia, with GDP figures due in India and Taiwan on Friday, along with Tokyo CPI data. "Black Friday" -- the day after Thanksgiving -- also marks the unofficial start of U.S. holiday shopping season . The extent to which inflation-challenged shoppers flock to deals will be of interest to markets, with consumer spending making up more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Thursday: - Bank of Korea monetary policy meeting - Australia capex data (Q3) - Germany CPI (Nov) Sign up here. Reporting by Lewis KrauskopfEditing by Bill Berkrot Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

NEW DELHI (Reuters): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party and its allies were set to return to power in the nation’s richest state, television channels reported on Saturday, a boost for the Hindu-nationalist leader after a disappointing general election. In Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance was leading in 221 of 288 seats. The opposition Congress party and its allies are leading in 55 seats in the state elections, local media reported. “The Mahayuti government [...] has achieved undisputed and resounding success,” Eknath Shinde, the state’s chief minister, said on social media platform X. Modi lost his majority in parliamentary elections held between April and June and had to depend on fickle allies to form a government. Last month his party won state elections in the northern state of Haryana. State election wins help political parties boost their numbers in the upper house of parliament, which is key for decision-making. In the mine-rich eastern Jharkhand state, the ruling regional party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which is in alliance with the Congress-led opposition, is leading to regain control by defeating the BJP and its allies, media reported. Political parties in both states have rolled out a range of measures that they say will benefit farmers and women, both considered critical voting blocks. Results from Maharashtra and Jharkhand are expected later on Saturday.These boldfacers, like the birds they’ll be gobbling up this Turkey Day, are stuffed with gratitude. Jalen Brunson, Knicks captain “I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my close circle who have always supported me non-stop, and who have always been there for me every single step of the way.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan , archbishop of New York “I am thankful for my faith, which inspires me to thank God for His many blessings. I am thankful that I will be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family in St. Louis. I am thankful that we continue to enjoy the freedoms of living in the United States of America, particularly the ability to freely exercise our religious faith.” Mayor Eric Adams “I’m filled with gratitude for my incredible family — especially my son, Jordan — as well as the resilience of our city and its people. I’m thankful for the hundreds of thousands of hardworking public servants — our first responders, teachers, sanitation workers, social workers, health care professionals and so many others — who make this city run every single day.” Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks center “I’m thankful for my family and Madison Square Garden.” Sebastian Maniscalco, comedian “This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my beautiful wife — she’s the glue that holds this circus together — and my daughter and son, who somehow turn every single day into something special ... and chaotic, but in the best way.” Tiler Peck , principal dancer at NYC Ballet “This year I am thankful for family, a new home and a new chapter with my fiancé and the gift to dance.” Steve Schirripa, “Sopranos” actor “I am thankful for my wife Laura, who just ran the NY marathon for the 12th time, our kids and our wonder dog Willy. And of course, the NY Yankees and Knicks!” Joan Vassos, “Golden Bachelorette” star “I’ve been blessed with the unwavering support of my family and longtime friends, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting new friends who have brought fresh perspectives, joy, and inspiration into my life. Perhaps most special of all, this year brought growth to our family, a reminder that life’s greatest treasures are the connections we share and the love that binds us. I’m deeply grateful for all of it.” Meghan McCain, “Citizen McCain” podcast host “I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful to live in this country as an American, even in chaotic times. . . . I think anyone who’s lost someone they love to cancer, you’re just always so grateful every day for your health. And I’m grateful, honestly, that people still care what I have to say.” Joey McIntyre, New Kids on the Block “My wife Barrett. Without her, I would not be allowed to be performing eight shows a week off-Broadway in ‘Drag: The Musical’ — a dream for a theatre kid — while she has her hands full with our three kids in LA!” Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino , “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation” star “This year, there is so much to be thankful for! We are grateful for our beautiful and healthy family . . . my sobriety . . . We’re especially excited to experience the holiday season together as a family of five for the first time.” Rachael Ray, host of “Rachael Ray’s Holidays” “I’m always grateful to open my eyes each day, be in the kitchen, feed as many people as I can when I cook, and go to bed knowing I’ve used the knowledge and courage God granted me to help others and try to do good in the world.” Sonya Deville, aka Daria Berenato, WWE star “I am so thankful for my wife and kids, and the beautiful home and life we are building together. This year has been a special year with many firsts. Our first year of marriage, blending our wild exciting lives into one.” Maria Menounos, TV host and producer “This year, I’m especially thankful for my family and my health. We’ve so loved exploring life with our daughter and seeing everything through her eyes. This year, Athena even joined me on set for the filming of my Lifetime movie ‘Christmas At Plumhill Manor.’ Life has been so sweet and I’m forever grateful.”

Assad exit puts US at perilous crossroads in Syria

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'Haryana Defence': Rahul Gandhi terms Maha defeat 'unexpected' tooMaverick McNealy and Vince Whaley share the lead in an RSM Classic that is wide open

NoneSupport our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now The suspension of Edison running back Julius Gillick for the CIF-SS Division 3 final against Simi Valley is one of the biggest storylines heading into the championships on Friday. Here’s what four Orange County coaches familiar with Simi Valley said about the Chargers’ chances to compete or win the section title without the 2,000-yard rusher: Frank Mazzotta, La Habra (lost to Simi Valley 41-34 in playoffs) “Edison is very well coached and they are physical. They have played and beaten a lot of good teams.” Jeff Bailey, Yorba Linda (beat Simi Valley 38-21 last season in regular season) “Well, it’s hard to say because I have not seen Simi Valley this year. But I’m sure Edison can compete because they have a quality team around the running back. And I’m sure their backup is pretty good. Next man up mentality. And their style of football would be conducive to keeping the game close and giving them a chance to win at the end. Big opportunity for a team win. Win on special teams, which they are good at.” Rick Curtis, Crean Lutheran (lost to Simi Valley 27-7 last season in playoffs) “Jeff Grady was my offensive coordinator while I was at Santa Margarita, so I am partial to my good friend. However, I was able to see Edison play North Torrance in the first round and I was impressed with their defense and with how Jeff’s quarterback (Sam Thomson) managed the game. During that game, Edison’s backup running back (Sam Edmisten) played, as Julius was nursing an injury. I believe he’s a sophomore and he impressed me. I haven’t seen Simi Valley play this year, but we saw them last year and as you know, Jim Benkert is a great coach. With Troy Thomas dialing up the defense and with Jeff’s creativity on offense, I think they have a good chance of bringing home the championship. I think it will be a great game. To me, Edison is a Division 2 team. Edison by 10 is my call.” Brett Brown, Huntington Beach (lost to Simi Valley 32-29 last season in playoffs and lost to Edison 47-20 in regular season last season) “Edison has played really well defensively all year and they have depth at RB. Obviously it is a big loss with Gillick being out, but I think they will definitely compete. Both teams are well coached, play hard, and it should be a really good game.” Related ArticlesNoneWampler Pedals releases the Brent Mason signature ReWired pedal. Brent Mason’s career as a session guitarist spans over five decades, making him one of the most recorded musicians in history. His unparalleled talent has graced more than 1,000 albums, playing with and contributing to chart-topping hits from icons like Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, George Jones, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Shania Twain, and many others. A Grammy winner and Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, Brent has also earned twelve Guitarist of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music, two CMA® Musician of the Year titles, and was named one of the top ten session guitarists ever by Guitar World magazine. Brian Wampler’s journey with Brent Mason began way back around 2004, when he’d make weekend trips to Nashville just to watch Brent play. Inspired by Brent’s incredible talent and effortless touch, Brian set out to craft a signature pedal that would become the cornerstone of Brent’s sound. The Overdrive channel perfectly captures Brent’s iconic rhythm tones, offering everything from crystal-clear light dirt to a punchy, muscular Overdrive. The Distortion channel screams with rich harmonics, making it ideal for solos - whether used on its own or stacked with the Overdrive for maximum impact. With two fully independent circuits, the ReWired gives you access to both classic Overdrive and powerful Distortion channels that have been tweaked to Brent’s exact specs. The Overdrive side is perfect for rhythm and Chicken Pickin’ - built for warmth and maximum clarity, staying true to Brent's iconic sound. The Distortion channel is a perfect lead tone and offers a weighty “British” Plexi-like punch. The ReWired also features an order switch that allows the stacking direction to be changed on-the-fly without the hassle of changing cables. The ReWired can be connected with a single mono input and output cable, just like a regular guitar pedal, or you can connect each channel independently (very useful when used with a loop switcher!). You can even connect a pedal in between both channels - try adding a compressor or an EQ if you want to sculpt your tone further. The ReWired incorporates our unique “Fat” circuit control onto each channel as separate knobs. This allows you to dial in just the right amount of low end thump and presence into your rig - helping tame big speaker cabs or enhance smaller ones. The Overdrive channel also has Brent’s signature blend control, allowing you to tune the amount of drive to your liking. This is not a guitar pedal to be bought and put in a case and admired - but with its exclusive new Prime Silver finish (a nod to Brent’s infamous ‘67 ) and custom graphics we wouldn’t blame you if you did. The Wampler ReWired is designed to be at the heart of your rig. It sounds great with every guitar and amp we’ve tried it with and covers so many genres of music with ease. It comes with Wampler’s standard no fuss 5 Year guarantee and is built from the highest grade components to withstand the rigors of practice and gigging for years to come. The Wampler Brent Mason ReWired Signature Overdrive and Distortion - Rewire Your Sound Today Built in the U.S.A. with high-grade components selected for superior sound and response, premium finish and controls Dual Independent Overdrive and Distortion channels Independent Level, Gain, Tone and Fat controls for both channels, Blend Control for Overdrive channel Channel Order switch with two pairs of Input and Output jacks Power draw: 35mA at 9V and 40mA at 18V. 9-18v power jack - DC supply only, do not exceed 18v DC, battery Included Includes Limited 5-Year Warranty Dimensions: 5” x 4.5” x 2.4′′ (88.9mm x 114.3mm x 58.0mm) The Wampler ReWired carries a street price of $279.97. For more information visit What do the screaming tone of slide guitar, the dirty rumble of early recordings on Chess, the smooth 6-string voice of , and the warm melodies of Gábor Szabó’s eclectic repertoire have in common? pickups. Since 1939, DeArmonds—in particular the company’s RH (round-hole) and FH (f-hole) models, and the Rhythm Chief 1000 and 1100—have helped define the sound of experimenters and traditionalists, depending on the era. One of today’s most notable DeArmond players is the revered blues and jazz guitar virtuoso , a deep student of vintage tone who has learned how to recreate many historic guitar sounds. We asked Robillard to share his expertise and experience with DeArmond pickups, which goes back to the mid-1950s, when he and his father built his first guitar for a school science fair. They took the neck from an old, acoustic Kay Kraftsman and cut a Tele-shaped body from two pieces of 3/4" plywood, inspired by the guitar James Burton played on TV’s . Then, they recycled the Kay’s bridge and tailpiece, and ordered a DeArmond. “A week after that, I was in a band,” Robillard says. DeArmond originally referred to its pickups as “guitar microphones,” as they were designed to amplify acoustic guitars without altering their organic tone. Of course, once plugged into an amp all bets on that were off, given the breakup characteristics of the small combos that were common at the time. The RH pickups, which James and Szabó, for example, used, are held in place by clamps. The FH and Rhythm Chief models are floating pickups, mounted by what’s often called the “monkey-on-a-stick” method. Essentially, the pickups are held in place by a metal bar that’s screwed to a guitar’s body, and the pickups can slide up and down the bar, like a simian might scale a tree, to find the sweet spot. DeArmond’s Rhythm Chief 1100. By the time Robillard founded the swing and jump blues band Roomful of Blues in 1967, he was playing a Gretsch Synchromatic archtop fitted with a DeArmond, in quest of the authentic vintage tones he heard on records from the ’30s, ’40s and early ’50s. “Then I went to a ES-125, where I ended up finding a way to make a Rhythm Chief 1100 work in the neck position,” he recounts. “Then I added a P-90 for the bridge. I didn’t want to use a guitar with a cutaway because I wanted every setback that the guitar players in 1940 had. That stopped me from going high on the neck all the time, which I think was a discipline that made me a better musician.” Today, he uses a variety of DeArmond pickups on his guitars, but his favorite is the Rhythm Chief 1100, which has screwdriver-adjustable pole pieces. And he applies the tricks he’s learned over the years, like placing stick-on felt pads under DeArmonds positioned near the bridge, to raise the floating pickup to the correct height. He also notes there is an alternative to attaching the monkey stick behind the bridge. “A lot of jazz players would shorten the bar and have it flattened out, so you could screw it to the side of the neck. That became popular with guitarists who played Strombergs, D’Angelicos, and L-5s, for example. “The cheapest model [ ] is really the best-sounding one,” he continues. “And you need to use a wound G string on an archtop, or it’s going to howl like crazy. It is less of a pickup than a microphone. You can actually talk into it, and I’ve done gigs where something went wrong with the PA and I’ve sung through the pickup.” Robillard’s latest album, , includes “You Got Money,” played on his DeArmond-outfitted J.W. Murphy archtop. One more recommendation: “Use a small amp because that’s what they sound best with,” he says. “Small tube amps are what these pickups were made for, but if you’ve got a closed-back cabinet they tend to feed back on the low end. Keeping the bass side of the pickup lower helps with that. When you’re setting up the pickup, press down on the last fret and get the treble side high and the base side low, and then just balance it out till you get the right sound.” Hand-built in the USA, this pedal features original potentiometer values, True Bypass, and three unique modes for versatile distortion options. Commemorative extras included. This limited-edition pedal is limited to a 1,974-piece run to commemorate the year of DOD’s start, 1974. The original OD250 put DOD on the map as “America’s Pedal” and continues to be an industry favorite today. Each pedal will have a serial-numbered Certificate of Authenticity, a commemorative laser-etched pedal topper, several commemorative guitar picks, and multiple commemorative stickers. Hand-built in the USA, the DOD OD250 – 50th Anniversary Edition pedal boasts Gain and Level controls using the original potentiometer values and tapers giving the control knob the feel and range that DOD enthusiasts love. A three-position toggle switch features the OD250’s classic “SILICON” mode replicating that original sound. The “Ge/ASYM” mode uses a vintage Germanium diode for asymmetrical even-harmonic distortion. “LIFT” mode cuts the diode clipping from the signal path allowing for a clean boost or even a dirty boost when the vintage LM741 op-amp is clipped at higher gain settings. The DOD 250 also features True Bypass to maintain the integrity of your guitar tone. This limited edition OD250 is outfitted in a stunning metal flake gray finish with classic yellow screenprint in a callback to the original OD250 of the 1970s. An etched aluminum badge on each unit commemorates this occasion. The DOD OD 250 – 50th Anniversary is ready to take its place among the historic DOD pedal lineup. When John Johnson and “Mr. DOD” himself, David O. DiFrancesco set out to make DOD Electronics in Salt Lake City, Utah 50 years ago, they had no idea how enduring their legacy would be. Now 50 years later, DOD Electronics continues to be at the forefront of pedal technology. The DOD OD 250 – 50th Anniversary Pedal is an exceptional testament to DOD Electronics’ long–standing success. Retail Price: $250.00 For more information, please visit . Want to know how tubes shape your tone? Join PG contributor Tom Butwin as he breaks down preamp vs. power tubes, tone tweaks, and biasing, in this ultimate beginner's guide to tube amps. From cleans to Marshall grit, learn how to unlock the full potential of your amp! Here you will find brands like Fender guitar amps, Marshall amps, Vox amps, Mesa Boogie guitar amps, Orange amps, and many other tube amps listed. You will find replacement tube sets in different option levels ranging from Value to Premium to Ultimate. Purchasing guitar amp tubes couldn't be easier. Go and see the doctor: Find all of our products here: our newest product line of high-end Redbase tubes, our famous premium selected tubes, and the equipment we manufacture like our Class A Converters, the Bias Master or the Silencer. Furthermore our TAD reverb cans, condensers and of course the amp kits on boutique level. From the outset, it must be said there are easier ways to get a delay sound than using Gamechanger’s Auto Delay. But if simple echoes were the sole objective of this pedal, I doubt would have bothered. As you may have gleaned from a listen to the company’s , fuzz, or reverb, the Riga, Latvia-based company rarely takes a conventional approach to anything they design or release. But what is “conventional” from a guitarist’s point of view, may be something quite different for musicians determined to bend notions of what sound and music are, how it’s made, and by what means. By Gamechanger standards, the digital Auto Delay (along with its stablemates the Auto Reverb and Auto Chorus) is straightforward in concept. It utilizes existing concepts of dynamic delay, control voltage, and modular synthesis as essential parts of its functional underpinnings—which are not exactly unusual in stompbox design. Yet the way the Auto Delay’s functions interact make it feel and sound unique. And while not every player will want to take the time to explore the sometimes complex interplay between its functions, at its best, the Auto Delay prompts unorthodox thinking about the ways touch dynamics or pitch relate to the delay colors you can create, prompting unexpected compositional vectors and a kind of extra-dimensional relationship to the fretboard. Beat of a Different Drum Gamechanger’s path to building such unusual sound manipulation machines might seem a curious one when you consider that founder Ilja Krumins and his fellow founders Mārtiņš Meļķis and Kristaps Kalva are rockabilly heads with tastes that include the soulful earthiness of J.J. Cale. But the more accessible side of the Gamechanger design team’s musical interests likely informs the most approachable aspects of the Auto Delay. You use it like you would any ordinary stompbox echo and take advantage of its three very distinct voices (tape, analog, and digital), copious 2-second delay time, and rangy tone control in order to fashion many compelling delay sounds. This is, needless to say, a vast underutilization of the Auto Delay’s powers. Routing, Rearranging, and Raging Like a Lunatic Though you can get lost in the Auto Delay (in good ways and bad), it isn’t necessarily the headache that its patch bay, LEDs, and many switches and knobs suggest. The idea behind the patch bay is simple: Routing a cable from one of the two dynamics or pitch automation input sockets to the level, tone, repeat, or time input sockets means that a change in, say, your picking intensity (dynamics) or where you play on the fretboard (pitch) increases or reduces the value for the parameter you linked to the dynamics or pitch socket. Even if you’ve not been indoctrinated in these methods via modular synthesis, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and trial-and-error experimentation yields intuitive understanding of these interactions quickly. The tape, analog, or digital voice can drastically reshape the tone and response of interactions. But so will the fast, rise, and gate dynamics modes, which determine the nature of the dynamic response. Setting thresholds for the dynamic and pitch response is easy. You simply hold down the “auto” footswitch or the bypass footswitch and twist the respective knobs until you reach the desired threshold, which is indicated by the adjacent LED. Like the other functions, getting a feel for how these thresholds work within your playing style takes time. As you might guess, we’ve really only discussed the most fundamental functions here. But in addition to these, you can use alt mode to assign different values to the secondary knobs and toggle between primary and secondary knobs using the auto switch. You can also manipulate the stereo spread or control the clock via MIDI. The Verdict The Auto Delay is not for the faint of heart or impatient. Grasping the interrelationships between the controls takes time. In fact, understanding how those interrelationships feel and respond musically will be more challenging for some than understanding how they work conceptually— which, while not elementary, can be sussed out with a careful read of the manual. But when you do find a rhythm and flow with the Auto Delay it can be richly rewarding and even meditative. Because it can reshape your relationship with the fretboard and your sense of touch, this is a great tool for extracting yourself from ruts, whether in technique or mood. And if you’re a musical tinkerer, the Auto Delay can provide much of the same satisfaction and sense of discovery you experience working with a synthesizer—particularly if you enjoy working in the hardware realm rather than on a computer screen. One should consider the scores here as especially subjective and on a sliding scale. The Auto Delay’s many sonic and functional idiosyncrasies will be nectar to some and poison to others. And more than most pedals, you should probably have a firsthand experience with the thing before you decide how and if it fits your musical objectives. For many restless players, though, the Auto Delay will be a deep well of musical provocation and ideas.

NoneNIH Initiatives Will Enhance Generative AI Usage and Health Data Discoverability RESTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI), a global consulting and digital services provider, has been awarded over $40 million in new and recompete contracts during the third quarter of 2024. The agreements span multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes and centers and will leverage ICF's cutting-edge technology and domain expertise to advance critical health programs. Under these contracts, ICF will integrate its health , technical and scientific expertise with cloud and automated technologies , including generative AI and advanced analytics. These efforts will support IT and data modernization, software design and development, digital engagement, and research initiatives that help ensure improved health outcomes. Key contract highlights include: "NIH plays a critical role in advancing medical research and driving innovations that lead to better health outcomes for people worldwide," said Jennifer Welham , ICF senior vice president for health, people and human services. "We are excited to bring our industry-leading health, technology and data science expertise to continue our longstanding partnership with NIH and drive meaningful improvements in health research, services and the collective body of scientific knowledge." For over 50 years, ICF has supported health initiatives for nearly all major federal agencies, including numerous agencies and programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The company's thousands of health professionals work hand in hand with thousands of technologists, data scientists and communicators to deliver mission-critical programs that improve health outcomes. At ICF Next, mission-driven strategists, marketers, technologists, communicators and data scientists help clients build next-level stakeholder engagement. About ICF ICF is a global consulting and technology services company with approximately 9,000 employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com . Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may concern our current expectations about our future results, plans, operations and prospects and involve certain risks, including those related to the government contracting industry generally; our particular business, including our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal government agencies; our ability to acquire and successfully integrate businesses; and various risks and uncertainties related to health epidemics, pandemics, and similar outbreaks. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements that are included in the "Risk Factors" section of our securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future. Contact: Lauren Dyke , lauren.dyke@ICF.com , +1.571.373.5577 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icf-awarded-over-40-million-in-contracts-to-drive-health-innovation-with-advanced-technology-302329241.html SOURCE ICF

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly said that President-elect Donald Trump’s victory puts Americans in “a very, very dangerous world,” stressing that he plans to spend his final two years in the Senate pushing back against the growing Trump-fueled isolationism within the GOP. The 82-year-old Kentucky Republican, who last month stepped down from his role as the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, has a complicated record with the incoming president . While McConnell has worked to significantly move the country to the right — much of it under the first Trump administration — he is no fan of Trump and his isolationist worldview that’s spreading throughout the Republican Party . “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II,” McConnell told the Financial Times on Wednesday . “Even the slogan is the same, ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s.” He made similar comments before the election, telling Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in April that the world is “more dangerous” than before World War II due to the increase in and evolution of terrorism. The interventionist senator highlighted how Trump and the current GOP are regressing to pre-World War II isolationism — a foreign policy position that opposes American military intervention in other countries’ political affairs, including war. Trump and his allies have called for the U.S. to stop sending money to Ukraine , a country that’s been battling Russia now for more than two years. The former and incoming president has also argued that enemies within the U.S. are more dangerous than Russia and China, a claim McConnell said he vehemently disagrees with. “The cost of deterrence is considerably less than the cost of war,” the senator said to the Times. “To most American voters, I think the simple answer is, ‘Let’s stay out of it.’ That was the argument made in the ’30s and that just won’t work. Thanks to [former President Ronald] Reagan, we know what does work — not just saying peace through strength, but demonstrating it.” In one of many examples of putting the GOP first, McConnell told Welker in April that even though he does not personally like Trump, he would support him as the Republican presidential nominee. The senator told the Times that he voted for him in November but characterized the decision as supporting “the ticket” rather than the candidate. “The election’s over and we’re moving on,” he told the publication when asked if he regrets not doing more to stop Trump from taking office again. “He has an enormous audience, and he just won a national election, so there’s no question he’s the most influential Republican out there.” Trump is no fan of McConnell either, recently calling him a “disgrace” for endorsing him. McConnell, who has had multiple health scares in recent years, was replaced as the GOP’s Senate leader by South Dakota’s John Thune and said that he will not seek reelection after finishing the two remaining years in his current term. Related From Our PartnerCalifornia’s card rooms lost a costly legislative fight this year as they sought to kill a bill that would allow their competitors, tribal casinos, to sue them. But that didn’t stop the gambling halls from punishing a handful of lawmakers for their votes after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the gambling bill into law. In an extraordinary display of political retribution, California’s card room industry spent more than $3 million in the lead up to the November election to oppose four lawmakers who played key roles in the bill’s passage. Three of the candidates targeted by the card rooms ended up losing, including the rare defeat of an incumbent Democratic senator. “We really don’t want to be the sort of, you know, the Rodney Dangerfield of industries. We want to be respected,” said Keith Sharp, a lawyer for the Hawaiian Gardens Casino, a card room in Los Angeles County. “We (will) work hard to continue to gain respect and protect our employees, protect our cities, protect our businesses.” To the card rooms, the three defeats were a sign their money was well spent, even if the cash went to purely punitive purposes. Case in point: Two of the lawmakers who lost their races were vacating their Assembly seats and were running in non-legislative races. Had they won, it’s unlikely they’d deal very often with card room related issues. Tribes have long outspent card rooms in state politics. Tribes have given candidates for state office more than $23.5 million since 2014. That’s more than double what oil companies have given the state’s politicians during the same years. Card rooms have spent only a fraction as much. More recently, tribes have contributed $6.3 million to candidates since January 2023 while card rooms have donated at least $1.3 million. Those funds don’t include the $3 million the card rooms spent targeting the four candidates this fall. The cash the card rooms poured into the four races sends a message to lawmakers that they’re also capable of spending big, including on political vengeance, said former Democratic Assemblymember Mike Gatto. “Any time you have a group essentially announcing to the world that they are going to do vengeance spending, it does cause lawmakers to pay attention,” he said. The bill Newsom signed, Senate Bill 549 , gives tribes the ability to ask a judge to decide whether card rooms are allowed to operate table games such as black jack and pai gow poker. The tribes, which will be able to sue beginning Jan. 1, say California voters gave them exclusive rights to host those games, but they’ve been unable to sue the state’s 80 or so card rooms because tribes are sovereign governments. The stakes are high since some cities receive nearly half of their budgets from taxes on card rooms, meaning a tribal victory in court could jeopardize money for police, firefighters and other local services. The card rooms insist their games are legal, but they also worry the cost of court fights could force them out of business. Facing what they saw as an existential threat, card rooms responded to the bill’s introduction last year with a massive lobbying blitz. Hawaiian Gardens Casino alone spent $9.1 million on lobbying, the second highest amount reported to state regulators last year. Only the international oil giant, Chevron Corp., spent more. Despite losing the legislative battle, card rooms spent more than $3 million on attack ads, text messages, mailers and other outreach to voters targeting the four candidates. The card rooms also bought ads supporting candidates running against them. The ads came from independent expenditure committees funded by the card rooms. Under state and federal election rules, organizations not affiliated with a candidate can spend unlimited amounts of money supporting or opposing candidates through advertisements and other tactics as long as the actions are not coordinated with the candidate’s campaign. Only one candidate, Laurie Davies , a Republican from Oceanside, won her race for reelection despite the card room’s cash onslaught. And just barely. Only 3,870 out of 230,546 total votes separated her from her Democratic challenger, Chris Duncan. The card rooms spent at least $1.3 million on outreach boosting Duncan and slamming Davies, according to state campaign finance reports. One mailer said she was aligned with “anti-choice radicals,” “MAGA extremists” and “Big Oil.” Davies infuriated card rooms when she cast a vote that let the gambling bill advance out of a committee this summer, despite having a cardroom in her district. Outgoing Democratic Assemblymember Evan Low of Cupertino faced similar attacks in his failed congressional bid. Low sat on the same Assembly committee as Davies and voted this summer for the gambling bill. Low also had a major cardroom in his Assembly district. Low’s campaign didn’t return a message seeking comment. The card rooms spent at least $500,000 on ads attacking Low, according to the card rooms. The card rooms also went after termed-out Democratic Assemblymember Brian Maienschein in his failed bid for San Diego city attorney. The card rooms spent at least $443,000 opposing Maienschein. He got on the card rooms’ bad side when he cast a key vote that let the bill advance from the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which Maienschein chaired. Sharp, the lawyer for Hawaiian Gardens, said Maienschein also refused to meet with him and other card room representatives before the vote. Maienschein didn’t return messages. A TV ad from the card rooms attacked Maienschein for his voting record before he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in 2019. Fullerton Democratic Sen. Josh Newman, the lead author of the gambling bill , wasn’t spared even though he represented a competitive district that was important to the Democratic Party. The card rooms spent at least $900,000 in that race that paid for ads and mailers opposing Newman and supporting his Republican opponent, Steven Choi, according to the card rooms and campaign finance reports. Newman, the state’s most vulnerable senator who’d been recalled from office once before, ended up losing to Choi by 6,075 votes out of the 458,615 cast in the race. It was the first time since 1980 that a Republican flipped a Democratic senate seat in a presidential election. Newman had a $6 million fundraising advantage over Choi. Choi raised just $856,000. In one card-room funded TV ad, Newman was portrayed as being soft on crime, and it attacked him for voting to give benefits to “illegal immigrants” In an interview with CalMatters, Newman said he didn’t think the card room ads made as much of an impact on the race as another independent expenditure committee that opposed him with more than $1 million from a prominent public employee union . But Newman acknowledged the card rooms probably did send at least some voters to Choi. “The margins probably matter in a race as close as mine,” Newman said. Still, Newman told CalMatters he has no regrets about introducing the bill despite the blowback and the possible impact the card rooms had in his senate race. Newman said he believes the tribes deserve their day in court. But he said he doesn’t see the logic in the card rooms spending so much money on races after they already lost their fight in the Legislature. “The question really is: If you shut the barn door after the horse is out, who are you really punishing?” he said. CalMatters data reporter Jeremia Kimelman contributed to this story. This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.