
What the Options Market Tells Us About Uber Technologies
WA’s Liberal party leader has thrown down the gauntlet to challengers after polling predicted the “immediate appointment” of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as leader would allow the flailing party to gain back five seats at the election. Libby Mettam has labelled the polling, commissioned by a mystery Perth business person with links to the party, as ‘flawed and clearly biased’, and has challenged anyone who wishes to be leader to move a no confidence motion against her during a meeting today. “Constant undermining of leaders, especially from the shadows within, is a sad reality in politics today,” she said. “But rather than weaken me it has made me stronger and more determined to succeed - not for myself - but for the people of Western Australia who deserve better. “I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter.” The polling, published in today, suggested another catastrophic election for the Liberals come election day in March. The party currently holds just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the polling predicting the party has gone backwards since the 2021 election bloodbath, losing ground in 14 key metropolitan seats. Under Mettam, the party is predicted to suffer a 4 per cent drop, with the Liberal primary vote falling to 31 per cent in blue-ribbon seats like Churchlands and Nedlands. On the flip-side, the polling suggests a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal party under Zempilas’ leadership, and a 38 per cent primary vote. The research, carried out by Sodali and Co, said Zempilas’ leadership could deliver wins in Churchlands, Nedlands, Carine, Bateman and Scarborough. Here’s what’s making news this morning. Mostly sunny today with a top of 25 degrees. Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, November 26. Making headlines this morning, Perth is tipped to outperform the rest of the country in property price growth with forecasts in 2025. Meanwhile, cast your mind back to your school days – or, rather, the very end of your school days and the next step you took. Did you get a high score to enrol in the university degree of your choice? Did you decide to bypass the ATAR exams – or the equivalent of the era, for those older readers – and go straight into an apprenticeship? What about if you got a high ATAR score, but decided to go down the vocational pathway? That’s the situation Ellie Wotherspoon found herself in, having graduated from school with an impressive ATAR of 91. With an ATAR like that, Wotherspoon could have studied law, or medicine, or molecular science. But currently, she’s an electrician working on one of oil and gas giant Woodside’s offshore rigs. And regular readers of this blog – and more broadly – would know we’ve got our fingers on the pulse of this great state’s dining scene. And today, food writer Max Veenhuyzen fills you in on the latest happenings in the world of pastry cases with, er, fillings. From creative fillings to stocking choc milk and ginger beer in the fridge, a cosy nostalgia-fuelled takeaway in Leederville celebrates both the past and the future. Always on the lookout for a great pie? Thanks again for joining us today, stay with us as we bring you all the news you need to know.Seyi Tinubu endorse for Lagos governor in 2027? Group opens up
Evan's adventure began in the bustling streets of Shanghai, where he first tried xiaolongbao, a type of steamed bun filled with hot soup and savory meat. The explosion of flavors in his mouth left him craving for more, and he soon found himself indulging in a variety of traditional Shanghainese dishes such as scallion oil noodles and red-braised pork.
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When the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines:
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In 2013, I taught a critical thinking class where I used the topic of abortion to explore intellectual bravery and cognitive dissonance. Students were tasked with arguing both extremes of the abortion debate: total opposition to abortion under any circumstances, and complete support for abortion on demand. One Catholic student, who opposed abortion in all cases, was asked to consider a scenario: if her 8-year-old sister were raped and impregnated by an HIV-positive drug addict, would she support the child carrying the pregnancy? The question visibly distressed her, to the point where I feared she might have a breakdown. This reaction illustrates what happens when deeply held beliefs clash with challenging realities. Often, people either experience emotional turmoil or resist changing their beliefs, even when faced with contradictory facts. Much of our beliefs come from our cultural or political groups or people in our circle, and not on factual evidence and sound bible teaching. In the U.S., the white church is largely pro-life and Republican, while the black church is mostly pro-choice and Democrat, making them political opponents. Each side garners support from different factions, but this rivalry shifts the Christian focus from faith to political power. Achieving political influence requires winning hearts and minds, yet Jesus said His followers would be hated by all. How can Christians seek worldly approval and still align with The Kingdom of God? Key question: Is the Christian church’s position on abortion a matter of justice, morality, or is it just political? Here is the biblical advice: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17). “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice.” (Micah 6:8) Psalm 89:14 ESV: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne... If Justice is the foundation of God’s throne, do unborn babies require Justice? Are they the only ones in need of Justice? The common scriptures used to oppose abortion are Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; and Exodus 20:13. Those scriptures speak of the sanctity of life and the precious value of human existence. So, we as Christians conclude that this is a gift never to be taken. And I agree. You see the beauty and magnificence of the birth process in Psalm 139:13-16: “For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Sperm must be deposited and transported to the site of fertilization. Ovulation must occur and the egg must be “picked up” by the tube. [For] Fertilization and embryo development, the sperm and egg must unite to create a zygote. [For all that to transpire], Intercourse must occur around the time of ovulation (UCSF Health). Then, when we think about development in the womb, the thinking is about “the tiny heartbeat, the gentle kicks, and even the shared rhythm between mother and child. These are reminders of the deep interconnectedness of life” (ChatGPT). It is hard to think about disturbing such beauty and magnificence. Aborting that is a serious action. Knowing this, does a woman have the prerogative to abort a child just because she wants to, knowing that even some children born out of vile situations such as rape, have turned out to be outstanding and productive people. My cousin once gave a testimony based on him being an indirect product of rape. His mother was the direct product of that rape. However, his mother rose out of that situation to give birth to some beautiful and well-adjusted children. He has climbed the ladder to the ruling class of his homeland. What if his mother was aborted at birth? Think of any reasonable argument for abortion, if you were that baby, would you still encourage your abortion? Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY): Supports the right to abortion without restriction. Do you agree that justice is served if there is no legal or moral restriction on abortion? Do you believe that a mother has the right to have six consecutive abortions? Does a mother have the right to abort a baby who is already kicking in her stomach? Will a section of the world hate me, if I cry Justice for the unborn child? Yes, they will! But is the baby the only one who requires Justice? Based on the scripture included in this message, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church and the Fundamentalist Protestants firmly oppose abortion in all circumstances. They advocate for strict legal prohibitions. And their stance is based on the same set of scriptures. For example, Jeremiah 1:5: Before you were in the tomb, I knew you. But realise that God is saying this to Jeremiah as a grown man, not a child. This goes to support the value of human life, and that it is not exclusive to the unborn. God is expressing love for Jeremiah’s entire Journey, starting from before birth. Yet, based on pro-life Christians’ interpretation of the above scripture, these bible verses apply to the unborn only. Can we apply those same biblical passages to the mother? Psalms 139 says “For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” • Just as the unborn fetus is knit together in the mother’s womb, so too is the mother. • Just as the child is wonderfully and beautifully made, so too is the mother. • Just as the fetus is created in the image of God, so too is the mother. The mother’s life is as valuable as the child’s. Does God value someone in the womb and as the person ages, the value reduces? Ashley Brandt and her husband, already parents to a 3-year-old, were thrilled in May to learn they were expecting identical twin girls. However, at a 12-week ultrasound, they learned one twin had anencephaly, a fatal condition where the brain and skull don’t develop properly. Texas law barred abortion because the fetus still had basic bodily functions, despite no chance of survival. Ashley had to choose between continuing the pregnancy, risking her [life] and that of the other twin, or seeking care elsewhere. She ultimately went to Colorado for a selective reduction (Mary Tuma). The reduction procedure means aborting the brain-dead baby to allow the other twin and the mother to survive. The sick baby posed a danger not only to his mother but also to the other baby growing in the womb. Now, in this case, if you follow a comprehensive ban on abortion as some Christians propose, by default, you are aborting the mother and the healthy child. If the sick baby is not aborted, both the healthy baby and the mother will die. • You cry life for the child, where is the protection for the mother’s life? • You say mercy for the baby, but where is the mother’s grace? • You campaign to protect the fetus, where is the safeguard for his mother’s life? • You cry Justice for the child, but where is the Justice for his mother? The whole process of protection for early life is to ensure they become fully mature adults, but does the value of a person’s life decrease as she gets older? There is no way that the world would like the church if it applied justice to the abortion debate as a standard – Equal protection for both mother and child. If I said that I agreed with abortion, one set of people would dislike me. If I disagreed with abortion, advocates, the pro-life folks would oppose me. Most importantly, when circumstances are at a juncture where between the child and mother, only one life can be saved, who is to make that decision? If you save the child, the mother dies, if you save the mother, the child dies; whose decision is that to make? The president, the state, the prime minister, or is that the sacred choice of the mother? What is justice in those scenarios? The Bible says, “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” Amos 5:24. Would the church be loved if it preached justice in equal measures for both mother and child?Arsenal thump West Ham in chaotic, great showcase for Premier League
As the season progresses, Dragon Lake Shine's newfound confidence and momentum bode well for their future prospects. With a renewed sense of purpose and a willingness to learn from every experience, the team is poised to make further strides towards their goal of securing a prominent position in the league. By remaining steadfast and continuing to push themselves to new heights, Dragon Lake Shine is set to achieve even greater success in the competitive world of sports.
In conclusion, the White House's decision to consider pardoning criminals and seek public input represents a significant development in the administration's approach to the pardon process. By engaging with the community and incorporating diverse perspectives into its decision-making, the administration has the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness in the exercise of its constitutional powers.
But Wang Chuqin's success is not just a product of his individual talents - it is also a testament to the strength of the Chinese table tennis team as a whole. With a roster of talented players and world-class coaches, the Chinese team continues to dominate the international table tennis scene, setting the standard for excellence in the sport.