Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen seemed to sense the question might arise after his club was eliminated from playoff consideration Sunday with a ghastly 45-33 loss to the host New York Giants in East Rutheford, N.J. The Giants were 2-13 and had lost a franchise-record 10 straight games entering the contest and their season-high point total Sunday more than tripled their season average of 14.3 points per game. It was the type of bad loss that leads to head coaches being asked about their job security. "I control what I can control," Steichen said of the employment situation. The Colts (7-9) were outplayed all contest by the team that entered the day with the worst record in the NFL -- and with their playoff hopes on the line. Last season, Steichen's first as Indianapolis coach, the Colts also fell short, losing to the Houston Texans in the final week of the season to miss the playoffs. "It was as disappointing as it gets," Steichen said of the setback against the Giants. "As the leader of a football team, shoot, I always say I've got to be better, we've all got to be better. That's a group effort, everyone's got to chip in and do their part, so stuff like that doesn't happen." Giants quarterback Drew Lock passed for 309 yards and tied his career high of four touchdowns while also running for a score. Meanwhile, the Colts also went with a reserve quarterback in veteran Joe Flacco and he turned the ball over three times on two interceptions and a fumble. He also passed for 330 yards. Flacco started because rookie Anthony Richardson couldn't play due to back and foot injuries. Indianapolis completes the season next weekend at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I know it's a tough situation, obviously, when you're out of the playoff hunt, but again, I told (the team) we've got to be professional about it," Steichen said. "That's the biggest thing. We've got to show up and do our job still with one week left." The Colts last made the playoffs in the 2020 season. Their last playoff win was two seasons earlier. --Field Level MediaOpenAI and military defense technology company Anduril Industries said Wednesday that they would work together to use artificial intelligence for "national security missions." The ChatGPT-maker and Anduril will focus on improving defenses against drone attacks, the companies said in a joint release. The partnership comes nearly a year after OpenAI did away with wording in its policies that banned use of its technology for military or warfare purposes. Founded in 2017, Anduril is a technology company that builds command and control systems and a variety of drones, counting the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom among its customers, according to its website. OpenAI said in October that it was collaborating with the US military's research arm DARPA on cyber defenses for critical networks. "AI is a transformational technology that can be used to strengthen democratic values or to undermine them," OpenAI said in a post at the time. "With the proper safeguards, AI can help protect people, deter adversaries, and even prevent future conflict." The companies said the deal would help the United States maintain an edge over China, a goal that OpenAI chief Sam Altman has spoken of in the past. "Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAI technology protects US military personnel, and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free," Altman said in Wednesday's release. Anduril was co-founded by Palmer Luckey, after Facebook bought his previous company Oculus VR in a $2 billion deal. The new partnership will bring together OpenAI's advanced AI models with Anduril systems and software, according to the companies. "Our partnership with OpenAI will allow us to utilize their world-class expertise in artificial intelligence to address urgent Air Defense capability gaps across the world," Anduril co-founder and chief executive Brian Schimpf said in the release. Schimpf said the collaboration would allow "military and intelligence operators to make faster, more accurate decisions in high-pressure situations." gc/aha
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Snow pants are highly technical pieces of apparel. They’re designed more for practical outdoor use than they are for earning style points. For those who like to get out and about in the winter season, you’ll need a quality pair to keep you warm. They use waterproof exteriors along with insulated interiors to protect your legs from wet snow and cool temperatures. The best pair is the THE NORTH FACE Sally Pants . Their thick exterior protects you from the wind and snow and their DryVent ventilation system releases excess body heat. There are three types of snow pants . The most common type resembles your everyday pair of pants. Aside from the technical materials, the main difference is that they have a looser fit than normal pants. Snow pants are ideal for maximum mobility when skiing or snowboarding. Some bibs resemble overalls. They have an upper body portion connected to the pants and use straps to go over the shoulders. This gives you more protection from the elements, but it slightly restricts your movement. Then there are one-piece snowsuits, which have a coat and pants in a single slip-on piece. The best material used to make snow pants is polyester. It’s durable, water-resistant and inexpensive. Polyester is the material that makes up the bulk of a pair of snow pants. Many manufacturers will add nylon for even more long-term strength. There’s also elastic, which is used in ankle gaiters and some waistbands. Gore-Tex is another material used in many outdoor products like snow pants because it’s completely water-resistant. Snow pants are sized differently than normal pants. Instead of using numbers, they use small to large distinctions. This makes it easier because they’re sized more generally than your everyday pair of pants. Most brands go from XS to XXL, but some include more variations, such as large long and large short. This way, you can customize your fit based on your body type. Other brands will use inseam measurements if you know exactly how long you’d prefer the pants to be. Boot gaiters are sections of fabric that provide more security around the ankle. Walking through snow can cause your socks to get wet. This is not only uncomfortable but can also affect your body’s temperature. Gaiters use elastic to wrap tightly around your ankle while the exterior of your pants goes over your boots. Some pants have a reinforced seam and patches on the pant leg to prevent wear and tear around the ankle. This will also protect your ankles from bumps and bruises while on the slopes. Baggy snow pants are the best choice if you’re snowboarding or skiing. With more room between your legs and the exterior fabric, you can comfortably wear a pair of insulated tights underneath. Baggy pants also allow for more freedom of movement. With skiing, especially, you’ll need all the flexibility your legs can get. Loose-fitting pants will prevent seams from ripping too easily as well. Professional snowboarders and skiers who focus on tricks will exclusively wear baggy snow pants to give them more mobility. While snow pants are designed to keep you warm, sometimes, the heat can cause sweat to build up around your legs. For this reason, some pants come with built-in ventilation systems. These specially designed vents are woven into the pants and release excess heat. The vent is usually on the rear waist area. This positioning makes it discreet to the naked eye. Also, your coat will cover it most of the time, which prevents any cold air from entering from the outside. Women’s snow pants cost $30-$260. A. GORE-TEX is known for its waterproofing, but the ultra-tight weaves and thick fabric make it windproof as well. A. Most snow pants have two sets of pockets on either hip. They are usually sealed using zippers to keep your belongings protected. THE NORTH FACE Sally Pants What you need to know: These high-quality snow pants from North Face use thick materials to keep you dry. What you’ll love: The pants have a snug fit around the knees with a slight flare at the ankles. There’s a DryVent to prevent your legs from sweating and Heatseeker Eco insulation to protect you from the elements. There are zippered pockets, a belt loop around the waist and boot gaiters near the ankles. What you should consider: The waistband is not as adjustable as other pants. Arctix Insulated Cargo Snow Pants What you need to know: Arctix has the most customizable snow pants with a large selection of colors and sizes. What you’ll love: Key features include boot zippers, three pockets, an adjustable waistline and an O-ring for keys. There are 20 color options, such as Blue Night, Rose, Green Camo and Plum, alongside 45 size options. There are tall, long, short and inseam measurement size types. What you should consider: With all the sizing choices, finding the right one will be more difficult. Columbia Arctic Omni Heat Snow Pants What you need to know: The Omni Heat snow pants are highly insulated to offer the most warmth. What you’ll love: These pants use nylon for excellent durability on the outside. The interior has reflective Omni Heat technology that keeps the heat from leaving the pants. There’s an adjustable waist strap on the inside, zippered pockets at the hips and near the leg, plus a double snap closure at the waist. What you should consider: Some reviewers recommend buying a size up. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Attorneys for Adnan Syed, whose complex legal case was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial," are seeking to have his prison sentence reduced as he awaits further court decisions. Syed was released from prison in 2022 and has remained free ever since, though his court case is ongoing. His lawyers are seeking to reduce his sentence under a Maryland law that allows people who have been imprisoned for at least 20 years for crimes committed when they were minors to seek a change in sentence. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Attorneys for Adnan Syed, whose complex legal case was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial," are seeking to have his prison sentence reduced as he awaits further court decisions. Syed was released from prison in 2022 and has remained free ever since, though his court case is ongoing. His lawyers are seeking to reduce his sentence under a Maryland law that allows people who have been imprisoned for at least 20 years for crimes committed when they were minors to seek a change in sentence. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Attorneys for Adnan Syed, whose complex legal case was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial,” are seeking to have his prison sentence reduced as he awaits further court decisions. Syed was released from prison in 2022 and has remained free ever since, though his court case is ongoing. His lawyers are seeking to reduce his sentence under a Maryland law that allows people who have been imprisoned for at least 20 years for crimes committed when they were minors to seek a change in sentence. Syed was released when a Baltimore judge overturned his conviction in response to a request from prosecutors who said they found flaws in the evidence. But in August, Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that reinstated Syed’s conviction while allowing him to remain free pending a new hearing about whether he should have been released. The court said the victim’s family didn’t receive adequate notice to allow them to attend the original hearing in person. The defense attorneys’ filing on Friday seeks to maintain Syed’s freedom until the new hearing. “This filing is a small step toward ensuring that Adnan’s custody status is stabilized and his freedom is safeguarded,” said Erica Suter, Syed’s attorney and an assistant public defender who directs the Innocence Project Clinic at University of Baltimore Law School. “We maintain his innocence and our mission of proving that hasn’t changed,” Suter said in a statement. She also said Syed’s accomplishments and good conduct, both during his incarceration and since release, support reducing his sentence. Since his release, Syed has been working at Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative. His lawyers, including Brian Zavin, who is chief attorney of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender’s Appellate Division, also noted in Friday’s filing in Baltimore City Circuit Court that Syed has been caring for his elderly parents since his release and that his father recently died. The filing also said Syed has cared for his spouse’s aging parents. The Maryland Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling in August came about 11 months after it heard arguments in a case that has been fraught with legal twists and divided court rulings since Syed was convicted in 2000 of killing his high school ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. She was found strangled to death and buried in an unmarked grave in 1999. Syed was 17 at the time and was sentenced to life in prison, plus 30 years. David Sanford, an attorney who represents Lee’s family, said in a statement Monday that “if there is new and compelling evidence to support vacating the conviction of Adnan Syed, we will be the first to call for Mr. Syed’s freedom.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. However, he said the state has not “presented a shred of new, let alone compelling, evidence which would warrant overturning a murder conviction that has withstood appeals for over two decades.” “The State of Maryland engaged in a charade in 2022: it recycled old evidence and, in the process, bamboozled the trial court and the public into believing that Mr. Syed was likely innocent,” Sanford said, adding that attorneys will confer with the family and present their position in court in the days ahead. Syed, who is now 43, has maintained his innocence. Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is weighing how to proceed given the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision. Syed’s case was chronicled in the “Serial” podcast, which debuted in 2014 and drew millions of listeners who became armchair detectives. The show, hosted by veteran radio producer Sarah Koenig, transformed the true-crime genre as it shattered podcast-streaming and downloading records, revealing little-known evidence and raising new questions about the case. Advertisement Advertisement
President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peak
The premeditated killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was very tragic and cannot be condoned. Many of the social media comments that followed were unusual in that they were angry, unsympathetic and vitriolic, recalling horror stories about insurance denials. Such responses bring into focus the failure of our health care system as it exists now. As a retired physician, I have been exposed to the system as both a physician and a patient. When I began my surgical career in the early 1970s, I was a “doctor,” not a “provider.” Almost all hospitals were nonprofit and run by altruistic-minded individuals and charities. Health care as a for-profit business was foreign. Not anymore. Here are some notable changes that have occurred in both the diseases and their management that must be recognized to understand its complexity. First, there has been a dramatic decrease in mortality from infectious diseases. As a result, we are living longer. This should be credited to the advent of vaccines and the effectiveness of antibiotics. Unfortunately, however, this success appears to have been taken for granted. A few very vocal and perhaps misinformed people are more focused on the side effects while disregarding the enormous benefits. If this significantly changes our acceptance of these advances, it likely will turn back the clock. Do we really want that? Second, our longer lifespans have led to to more chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. It is important to recognize that these diseases are not really curable. While some may be preventable, most require lifelong management and expenditure. This new health care requirement has to be taken into account. Third and most important is the advent of “for-profit” heath care and its transformation into a “business.” Therein lies the conflict. Patients demand and deserve a service, while the business exists to make a profit. It is a source of great frustration and disenchantment for both patients and physicians. The middleman in this endeavor is the insurance industry. In order to remain profitable, insurance companies control costs by denying payments whenever possible. This is capitalism. And patient suffering is a cost of doing business. The brunt of this change is borne mostly by the middle class and the poor. Unlike other businesses, health care is neither discretionary nor elastic. You can't go shopping for a better price when you have chest pain. Of note, three of the stalwarts in American business — Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon and Jeff Bezos — with thousands of employees set out to create an efficient health care system but failed miserably and quit. My plea to our leaders is to recognize these changes and treat health care as a human right and take appropriate action. One way would be to treat it as an essential service like the utilities — water and electricity are allowed to make a reasonable profit — and not unregulated businesses whose profit motives drive their actions. Otherwise, things will only get worse. Dr. P.R. Rajagopalan of Charleston is an emeritus professor of surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.NoneLPGA, USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before puberty
