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Cops appear to use pepper spray on Michigan, Ohio State players during wild postgame brawlAuthored by Justin Hart via 'Rational ground' substack, So here's the deal - remember when "experts" kept telling us what to do during COVID? Turns out they got pretty much everything wrong. Like, spectacularly wrong . We're talking 19 major things they completely screwed up, from how the virus spreads to whether masks actually work ( spoiler alert: those cloth masks were basically fashion accessories). Dr. Fauci is the patron saint of TERRIBLE COVID policies. He was wrong on SO MANY POINTS. It's time to set the record straight... Did he get anything right? Origin of the disease—wrong Transmission—wrong Asymptomatic spread—wrong PCR testing—wrong Fatality rate—wrong Lockdowns—wrong Community triggers—wrong Business closures—wrong School closures—wrong Quarantining the healthy—wrong Impact on youth—wrong Hospital overload—wrong Plexiglass barriers—wrong Social distancing—wrong Outdoor spread—wrong Masks—wrong Variant impact—wrong Natural immunity—wrong Vaccine efficacy—wrong Vaccine injury—wrong Last year the Norfolk Group just dropped a bomb of a document laying out all these failures. And it's not just Monday morning quarterbacking - they've got the receipts. Real studies showing how natural immunity was actually legit (while Fauci pretended it didn't exist), data proving schools could've stayed open (looking at you, Sweden), and evidence that maybe, just maybe, locking healthy people in their homes wasn't the brilliant strategy they claimed. Listen, I'm not here to say "I told you so" (okay, maybe a little), but we need to talk about this. Because if we don't learn from how badly our "experts" messed up, we're just asking for a repeat performance next time around. And honestly? I don't think any of us can handle another round of plexiglass theater and double masking. Let's break down exactly how they got it wrong, and more importantly, why they kept doubling down even when the evidence said otherwise. Buckle up - this is gonna be a wild ride through the greatest public health face-plant in modern history. These are the questions WE want answered! TRANSMISSION Why did officials insist on surface transmission protocols when evidence showed primarily respiratory spread? Why weren't hospitals evaluating transmission patterns early to inform policy? Why did the CDC not conduct studies on actual transmission patterns in schools and workplaces? Why was outdoor transmission overemphasized despite minimal evidence? Why weren't transmission studies prioritized to guide evidence-based policies? ASYMPTOMATIC SPREAD What evidence supported the claim that asymptomatic spread was a major driver? Why did health officials emphasize asymptomatic spread without solid data? Why were resources wasted testing asymptomatic people when they could have focused on symptomatic cases? How did the emphasis on asymptomatic spread affect public trust when evidence didn't support it? What data actually existed on true asymptomatic (vs presymptomatic) transmission rates? PCR TESTING Why did the CDC insist on developing its own test rather than using WHO's? Why weren't cycle threshold values standardized or reported? Why did labs use cycle thresholds up to 40 when this led to false positives? Why wasn't PCR testing prioritized for high-risk populations early on? How did high cycle thresholds affect case counts and policy decisions? FATALITY RATE Why were infection fatality rates not properly stratified by age from the beginning? Why were deaths "with COVID" vs "from COVID" not distinguished? How did inflated fatality rates affect public perception and policy? Why weren't accurate age-stratified fatality rates clearly communicated? How did misrepresenting fatality rates affect public trust? LOCKDOWNS Why were lockdowns implemented without cost-benefit analysis? Why were lockdown harms (mental health, delayed medical care, etc.) ignored? What evidence supported the effectiveness of lockdowns? Why weren't less restrictive focused protection measures tried first? How many excess deaths were caused by lockdown policies? Why weren't regional/seasonal factors considered in lockdown decisions? COMMUNITY TRIGGERS Why were arbitrary case numbers used to trigger restrictions? Why weren't hospital capacity metrics prioritized over case counts? How were community trigger thresholds determined? Why weren't triggers adjusted based on actual risk levels? Why weren't clear exit criteria established for restrictions? BUSINESS CLOSURES What evidence supported closing small businesses while keeping large retailers open? Why weren't occupancy limits tried before full closures? How many businesses were unnecessarily destroyed? Why weren't economic impacts weighed against minimal health benefits? What data supported effectiveness of business closures? SCHOOL CLOSURES Why were schools closed despite early evidence of low risk to children? Why did the US ignore data from European schools that stayed open? Why weren't the developmental/educational harms to children considered? How did school closures affect mental health and suicide rates in youth? Why weren't teachers unions' influence on closure decisions examined? What evidence supported claims that schools were major transmission vectors? QUARANTINING THE HEALTHY Why was mass quarantine implemented without precedent or evidence? Why weren't focused protection measures tried instead? What was the cost-benefit analysis of quarantining low-risk groups? How did mass quarantine affect mental health? Why weren't vulnerable populations prioritized instead? IMPACT ON YOUTH Why weren't developmental impacts on children considered? How did isolation affect mental health and suicide rates? What were the educational losses from remote learning? Why weren't sports/activities preserved for youth wellbeing? How did masks/distancing affect social development? What were the impacts on college students' mental health and development? HOSPITAL OVERLOAD Why weren't early treatment protocols developed to prevent hospitalizations? Why were field hospitals built but never used? How did "flattening the curve" messaging affect hospital preparations? Why weren't at-risk populations protected to prevent hospitalizations? What was the actual vs projected hospital capacity usage? PLEXIGLASS BARRIERS What evidence supported effectiveness of barriers? Why weren't airflow patterns considered? How did barriers affect ventilation? What was the cost-benefit of barrier installation? Why weren't barrier recommendations updated when shown ineffective? SOCIAL DISTANCING What evidence supported 6-foot distancing? Why wasn't distancing adjusted based on ventilation/masks/context? How did arbitrary distance rules affect businesses/schools? Why wasn't 3-foot distancing considered adequate earlier? What research supported outdoor distancing requirements? OUTDOOR SPREAD Why were outdoor gatherings restricted despite minimal transmission risk? Why were beaches/parks closed? Why weren't outdoor activities encouraged as safer alternatives? How did outdoor restrictions affect mental/physical health? What evidence supported masks outdoors? MASKS Why were mask mandates implemented without RCT evidence? Why weren't potential harms of masking children considered? Why were cloth masks promoted despite ineffectiveness? How did masks affect learning/development in children? Why weren't mask policies updated when studies showed limited benefit? Why was natural immunity discounted in mask policies? VARIANT IMPACT Why were variants used to justify continued restrictions? How did variant fears affect vaccine confidence? Why weren't policies adjusted for milder variants? How did variant messaging affect public trust? Why weren't seasonal patterns considered in variant projections? NATURAL IMMUNITY Why was natural immunity ignored in policy decisions? Why were recovered people required to vaccinate? Why wasn't natural immunity studied more thoroughly? How did dismissing natural immunity affect public trust? Why were natural immunity studies from other countries ignored? VACCINE EFFICACY Why were initial efficacy claims not properly qualified? Why wasn't waning efficacy communicated earlier? How did overselling efficacy affect public trust? Why weren't breakthrough cases tracked properly? Why were boosters promoted without clear evidence of benefit? VACCINE INJURY Why weren't adverse events properly tracked/investigated? Why were vaccine injuries downplayed or dismissed? How did VAERS data interpretation affect public trust? Why weren't age-stratified risk-benefit analyses conducted? Why weren't early warning signals investigated more thoroughly? How did dismissing injuries affect vaccine confidence? We have a LOT of work to do and THANKFULLY we may have people in charge who are willing to ask these questions! * * * Rational Ground by Justin Hart is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Talks on S39 pay issue highlighted by canvassing encounter end without progress
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Jaland Lowe scored 19 of his career-high 22 points in the second half and collected eight rebounds and six assists in leading Pittsburgh to a 74-63 win over LSU at the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Friday. Pitt (6-0) will play the Wisconsin-UCF winner on Sunday for the tournament title. The Tigers (4-1) will take on the loser. This is Pitt's best start since 2018-19. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.OTTAWA — First Nations leaders are split over next steps after a landmark $47.8 billion child welfare reform deal with Canada was struck down, prompting differing legal opinions from both sides. The Assembly of First Nations and a board member of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society have received competing legal opinions on potential ways forward. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict says the chiefs he represents are still hoping the reform agreement with Ottawa that chiefs outside the province voted down two months ago is not moot. Chiefs in Ontario are interveners in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case that led to its realization. He added there are also concerns that some of the elements in the new negotiation mandate outlined by chiefs in an October assembly go beyond the current governance structure of the Assembly of First Nations. “There will have to be action by the Assembly of First Nations in the very near future to advance these positions, but you also need willing partners,” Benedict said. “We’re still considering what our options are.” Those options are also being debated in legal reviews commissioned by the Assembly of First Nations and a board member of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, which are both parties to the human rights case, along with Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Khelsilem, a chairperson from the Squamish Nation who penned a resolution that defeated the deal in October, critiqued the stance of Ontario First Nations by saying they negotiated a “bad agreement” for First Nations outside the province and now that chiefs want to go back to the table for a better deal, they want to split from the process entirely. “It potentially undermines the collective unity of First Nations to achieve something that is going to benefit all of us,” he said. The $47.8 billion agreement was struck in July after decades of advocacy and litigation from First Nations and experts, seeking to redress decades of discrimination against First Nations children who were torn from their families and placed in foster care. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal said Canada’s underfunding was discriminatory because it meant kids living on reserve were given fewer services than those living off reserves, and tasked Canada with reaching an agreement with First Nations to reform the system. The agreement was meant to cover 10 years of funding for First Nations to take control of their own child welfare services from the federal government. Chiefs and service providers critiqued the deal for months, saying it didn’t go far enough to ensure an end to the discrimination. They have also blasted the federal government for what they say is its failure to consult with First Nations in negotiations, and for the exclusion of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, which helped launched the initial human rights complaint. In October at a special chiefs assembly in Calgary, the deal was struck down through two resolutions. The Assembly of First Nations sought a legal review of those resolutions by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP — a firm where the former national chief of the organization, Perry Bellegarde, works as a special adviser. In the legal review from Fasken, it appears as though the assembly asked for direction on how to get “rid” of two resolutions used to vote down the deal, with an employee of the firm saying they can review the resolutions together if they want them both gone, or they can “leave room for compromise” with one of the resolutions. In a statement, the Assembly of First Nations said the review was conducted to access the legal, technical and operational aspects of the resolutions to ensure their “effective implementation.” “The opinions formed by external counsel are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of the AFN,” said Andrew Bisson, the chief executive officer, who added it’s not unusual for the organization to seek such reviews. Bisson did not address the language used by a Fasken employee to “get rid” of resolutions, but said “the legal and technical reviews were conducted in good faith, not to undermine the Chiefs’ direction. The Chiefs have provided clear direction, and the AFN is committed to following that direction.” The legal reviews from Fasken, dated Nov. 15, argue that the October resolutions on child welfare require a significant review of who voted for them, along with changes to the organization’s charter should they be implemented. Resolution 60 called for a rejection of the final settlement agreement, and for the establishment of a Children’s Chiefs Commission that will be representative of all regions and negotiate long-term reforms. It also called for the AFN’s executive committee to “unconditionally include” the Caring Society in negotiations. Fasken said that commission is contrary to the AFN’s charter, and the law, because the AFN’s executive committee doesn’t have the power to create one, and that the executive committee “alone” has the authority to execute mandates on behalf of the assembly. It adds there are no accountability measures for the new negotiation body, and that it will represent regions that are not participants in the AFN. Resolution 61, which built upon resolution 60, is similarly against the charter for the same reasons, the review says. As such, it says, the resolutions can’t be implemented. The firm also wrote that there were alleged conflicts of interest during the October vote, saying “numerous proxies were also employees, shareholders, directors, agents or otherwise had a vested interest” in the First Nations child and family service agencies whose interests were the subject of the resolutions voted the deal down. Chief Joe Miskokomon of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in southwestern Ontario called that “political deception.” In response to that review, a board member of the Caring Society, which has been a vocal critic of the July deal, sought their own. The review penned by Aird Berlis for Mary Teegee and dated as Dec. 2, stated it was “inappropriate for the AFN to seek, and not disclose, legal opinions which are then cited to attempt to second-guess decisions already made by the First Nations in Assembly.” It also states that while the AFN’s vice president of strategic policy and integration, Amber Potts, raised concerns with the movers and seconders of the resolutions, the entirety of the legal opinion the assembly sought was not shared with them. Teegee’s review challenges that of the AFN’s by saying the resolutions are consistent with the AFN’s charter, and that nothing restricts First Nations in Assembly from expressing their sovereign will by delegating authority to another entity. “AFN’s role and purpose at all times is to effect the sovereign will of First Nations, however it is expressed, on ‘any matter’ that they see fit,” the review from Aird Berlis reads. “It is too late to attempt to question the resolutions. They are now final.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
In Syria, hopes for a peaceful transition face significant hurdles as the new rebel leadership takes control. Former President Bashar Assad's departure has left state operations in disarray, with a United Nations official stating that public services have ground to a halt. Meanwhile, international actors continue to play roles in Syria's evolving political landscape. Israel has confirmed strategic strikes to prevent chemical weapons from falling into extremist hands, while Turkiye reports seizing territories from US-backed forces, highlighting the continuing fragmentation. The global community is reevaluating previous terror designations for Syrian groups once allied with al-Qaida, indicating potential shifts in diplomatic relations. However, uncertainty lingers as regional powers and remnants of the old regime navigate the fragile new order. (With inputs from agencies.)
Tom Aspinall details why one UFC legend ranks above Jon Jones in GOAT debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It's been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It's not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it's possible, it's a bad idea. Here's a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn't always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn't until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it's less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn't clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he'd use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action." He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade," Nowrasteh said. "He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens." Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.SHOPKEEPERS in Lincoln have condemned the decision to scrap the Xmas market as shortsighted despite the health and safety concerns. The event's permanent axing follows previous cancellations of the festive market. 9 Shopkeepers in Lincoln have condemned the decision to scrap the Xmas market as shortsighted despite the health and safety concerns Credit: John Aron 9 The event's axing follows last year's cancellation of the festive Credit: John Aron 9 Hotel bookings have been hard hit as well as the profits of family owned niche businesses Credit: John Aron Many residents who attended the event in recent years say it was overcrowded and the crowds could sometimes be intimidating. But they argue that all the event needed to make it a UK wide attraction was re-organising it over a great number of days and expanding the site. It is understood hotel bookings have been hard hit as well as the profits of family owned niche businesses that have put the very character into the Lincoln shopping experience. Fudge shop worker Erin Dauber, 23, said: “I went to the last ever Xmas market and it was terrible. We were pinned into the castle. “It was like being at a concert with everyone pushing to the front. We could not breathe and there were kids screaming and crying. “It was extremely uncomfortable. But that being said, the market did bring in a lot of money and it now a lot tougher for local businesses to get through January without it. “It should have been spread over a couple of weeks, not three days. Lincoln is a tourist city and that way it would bring in even more tourists. “People come from all over the world for the Xmas market.” Most read in The Sun SPEAKING UP Nice police break silence on Rangers fan chaos as they say Uefa must act ROAD TRAGEDY Woman dies after two-vehicle crash in town as emergency crews race to scene FOOTIE 'SHAME' Bayern Munich footballer 'is caught drink-driving after partying at club' STAR GONE My Chemical Romance star Bob Bryar dead aged 44 & 'lay undiscovered for weeks' Staff the Lincoln Original Pie Shop reckoned that the city was so steeped in history and the town such a loved place to shop that it could survive without the market. The shop itself has a long history including where Lawrence of Arabia TE Lawrence wrote the Seven Pillars of Wisdom when it was a boarding house and he was at RAF Cranwell. Billie Faiers slammed for ‘flaunting her wealth’ after revealing stunning Christmas decorations at the front of her £1.4m mansion Manager Mary Walker said: “Lincoln is a beautiful city regardless of the Xmas market. It was not the be all and end all and we are doing fine without it. “We get loads of holiday makers including many from Australia and America and we have customers who come back year after year.” Nodding in agreement, her son Lewis Walker, 18, added: “Lincoln has become more of a university town and that’s good for business too. “I did not attend the Xmas market except once on a drunken night out. It was good for business but the way it was organised was very hectic. “Of course, when the market was going we were smashed for business. But it really needed to be spread over more days and spread out more so that more of the town benefitted. Here's where you can find the ice sculptures in Lincoln HERE are all the places where visitors to Lincoln will find ice sculptures as part of the Lincoln Ice Adventure. Lincoln Transport Hub Lower High Street Cornhill Square Sincil Street City Square High Bridge Lincoln Guildhall Top of the High Street/The Strait and Narrow Top of Steep Hill Bailgate (outside the White Hart Hotel) Castle Square (outside the Visitor Information Centre) Lincoln Castle St Paul in the Bail Bailgate Newport Arch (outside Duke William) Lincoln Cathedral Dean’s Green “Health and Safety can be a tough job when you have thousands and thousands of people going but that could have been solved by having it over a longer period.” Anna Clarkson, 28, who runs the Steep Hill Wine Shop, said: “We are hoping they will bring the market back and it will encourage more people into the shops rather than around them. “The aim should be to attract more people to this part of the city so the shops at the top of the hill can do as well as the ones at the bottom. “Anything that brings people up here is beneficial to local businesses and the Xmas market certainly did that. It was good - but really packed. “It was a bit too mad for me and the crowds got a bit crazy. The last one I went to I had a toddler in a harness and that was a bit scary.” Ashley Metcalfe, 33, and Josh, 36, visiting from Sacramento, California with seven year old daughter Lucy and other family members were very disappointed. Ashley said: “We had put the trip together to visit a Xmas market and get here to find there is no Xmas market on. ‘We could not get any answers from the local websites here what was going on.” Josh added: “Then I spotted a column saying it was cancelled two years ago so we missed it by a long chalk. “I can understand if they had cancelled it because local residents had complained but health and safety does not make any sense.” Ashley added: “We are leaving here tomorrow so we are just going to visit the Xmas market in Bath instead. “We did not realise the Xmas market was cancelled until we got here so it was very disappointing. It seems such an ideal location. “I would have been beautiful at Xmas. We know Xmas markets are something Europe does well. We don’t really have anything like it around where we live. So we don’t understand the local politics.” Speciality tea and coffee shop workers Ollie Simons, 29, and Emily Hodgson, 29, were also disappointed. Ollie said: “It is frustrating. It was a huge attraction to Lincoln. I think it was very short-sighted to cancel it outright rather than fixing the problem by spreading it out more and improving security. “The biggest sales we had were during the Xmas market. Emily added: “A lot of businesses around here are really struggling because they do not get as much footfall. “The market was once so packed it took me 40 minutes to get through it to get to work but they could have extended it and spread it out more down the street.” Ollie said: “An ice sculpture trail is nice but it is not attracting people from all over the world to see it like the Xmas market did. The business has been here 33 years and we miss the Xmas Market.” Another disgruntled shopper stormed: “We tried to come in previous years and could not get a hotel. So this year we have a hotel but no market. It is very frustrating.” Another trader Tony Green said: “I do feel it is a shame and football has definitely fallen. We think there is some kind of skulduggery going on. “The market should have been spread out over the whole city. Just to cancel it for health and safety reasons is quite lazy. “People come to LIncoln to shop so this is just Elf and Safety. By changing the market they could have created a huge attraction not just for Lincoln but the whole of the UK.” Mia Atkins, 22, said: “I did go to the very last Xmas market and thought it was rubbish and very poorly organised. “I am glad they called it off. It was very stressful. We got stuck in the crowd in the castle and could not get to any of the stalls in the end. “But it was good for local businesses and it was really just a question of having it better organised so it was less crowded.” But another young resident Bradley Jarman, 22, said: “I went to the last Xmas market and did not think it seemed that crowded anyway. Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK “They were supposed to be laying on events throughout the whole year to make up for its loss but I have only seen a couple and they were not very well promoted.” Labour councillor Joshua Wells previously said: “Our first year of events in the Lincoln programme was a great success for the city, bringing in thousands of people to experience the culture, history and community spirit that Lincoln has to offer." 9 Erin Dauber said the market was terrible last year Credit: John Aron 9 Lewis Walker said Lincoln had become more of a university town Credit: John Aron 9 Ollie Simons and Emily Hodgson Credit: John Aron 9 Bradley Jarman didn't think it was too crowded Credit: John Aron 9 Ashley and Josh Metcalfe with Daughter Lucy aged seven Credit: John Aron 9 Anna Clarkson said she hopes they will bring the market back Credit: John Aron
Video Telematics Market Growing Popularity and Emerging Trends in the Industry
Raw milk has been linked to at least 10 illnesses in California, according to the California Department of Public Health. None of the illnesses has been identified as bird flu, the agency said. “Since announcing multiple recalls of raw milk due to contamination with bird flu, state and local public health experts have received reports of illnesses from 10 individuals who reported drinking raw milk. Initial county and state public health laboratory testing has not identified any positive bird flu infections in these individuals to date,” a spokesperson said Thursday. The department didn’t immediately provide additional information about the 10 illnesses. Health officials in Northern California are also investigating a possible case of bird flu in a child who became ill after drinking raw milk in November, Marin County Public Health said Tuesday. The child went to a local emergency department with fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk and tested positive for influenza A, the county said . Interest in raw milk has surged amid support from some high-profile fans, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services . Although some fans claim there are nutritional benefits to drinking raw milk, health experts say any purported benefits do not outweigh the associated risks. Raw milk and some types of raw cheese can be a source of many kinds of germs, and lab tests show that bird flu virus in raw milk can be infectious. Raw milk and cream products from Fresno-based Raw Farm were recalled and distribution of the products was last month halted after samples tested positive for bird flu. Two possible cases of bird flu were reported in indoor cats who had consumed raw milk from Raw Farm, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Thursday. In response to the increasing presence of the virus, the US Department of Agriculture has announced that it will begin testing raw milk stored in dairy silos across the country . Here’s what food scientists and dairy professionals say about the myths surrounding raw milk and the pasteurization process. What is raw milk? Raw milk has not undergone pasteurization, the process that removes disease-causing germs, yeasts, molds and other harmful microbes, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Raw milk can carry disease-causing bacteria from infected udder tissue, residue from milking equipment or particles from the water, soil and cow manure, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. That’s why the CDC recommends eating and drinking pasteurized milk and dairy products instead. Most milk in the US is pasteurized using High Temperature Short Time Pasteurization, which involves heating it to at least 161 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 15 seconds, according to the International Dairy Foods Association . The process was named after French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur , who refined the process to use in alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine, later adapting the method to milk as a way to remove bovine tuberculosis in the US and Europe in the early 1900s. Roughly 65,000 people died of the disease after eating and drinking unpasteurized dairy products between 1912 to 1937 in England and Wales alone. Instead of pasteurization, raw milk producers monitor the health of the cow, according to Raw Farm CEO Mark McAfee. “We can isolate that cow immediately and make sure she’s OK, and we can treat her,” McAfee told CNN. Raw Farm uses smaXtec boluses , capsule sensors swallowed by the cows to measure their body temperature, water consumption, activity and general health. The capsules stay in the same position in the reticulum for the cow’s life, neither digested nor regurgitated. The devices wirelessly transmit updates every 10 minutes. The data is then sorted by AI to provide information quickly, should a cow become sick, to ensure that the milk is safe to drink. Why do people drink raw milk? Despite the hype, the FDA estimates that less than 1% of Americans drink raw milk. Many fans claim to choose raw over pasteurized milk because they prefer the taste, according to Dr. William Hallman, a professor and psychologist in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University. “One of the reasons is that some raw milk is not homogenized, which means that cream floats to the top, for example, so some of the first sips may be full of cream,” he said. There are also a variety of psychological reasons, Hallman said. Some people believe it’s healthier than pasteurized milk, while others might want to support local agriculture or choose it because family, friends or neighbors enjoy it. It’s also more expensive, with some gallons of raw milk costing almost twice as much as regular milk at the grocery store. “Psychologically, it reinforces the idea that it’s a premium product because otherwise they couldn’t charge so much for it,” he said. “There’s kind of this group effect that becomes normalized.” According to the FDA , many of the claims about raw milk’s health benefits are not true. For example, it doesn’t cure or treat asthma, allergy or lactose intolerance, and it doesn’t have the good gut bacteria that could improve your microbiome . “Pasteurization is meant to ensure the bad bacteria that can be harmful to people and make them ill are killed,” said Dr. Rabia de Latour, a gastroenterologist at NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine. “There’s been a lot of recent attention being paid to the concept of ‘processed’ foods being bad for your health. [Pasteurization] still provides some protein and aids in bone health by providing calcium and vitamin D to the drinker, but if you’re very concerned about your microbiome, I believe there are safer ways to enhance it.” Some ways to improve your gut microbiome include consuming high-fiber and fermented foods, fruits, vegetables and extra virgin olive oil . What are the risks of drinking raw milk? Raw milk has a neutral pH and substantial nutritional and water content , making it an ideal environment for bacteria and other harmful pathogens to grow., research shows. “Milk has around 87% moisture, and microbes love more moisture,” said Alex O’Brien, the food safety and quality coordinator at the Center for Dairy Research. “The more available water, the easier it is for them to grow.” The CDC says that drinking or eating products made from raw milk opens the door to several harmful germs , including E. coli, listeria, salmonella and brucella. Another, Cryptosporidium, can lead to very dangerous diarrhea in people who have HIV or AIDS, de Latour says. These foodborne illnesses can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting. In rare cases, they may lead to serious conditions like Guillain-Barré or hemolytic uremic syndrome. The germs are more likely to cause health complications in children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant people and the immunocompromised. What about raw cheese? Raw milk can be used to make raw cheese, and fans say it has a better, more complex flavor than pasteurized cheese. Dr. Don Schaffner, a food science professor at Rutgers University, said the health risk from raw milk cheeses may be significantly lower, depending on the type of cheese. Hard aged raw milk cheeses like cheddar, Asiago, Parmesan or Swiss are much less risky than soft raw milk cheese like queso fresco, feta, Camembert or Brie, Schaffner said. “Soft raw milk cheeses are not aged ... and probably pose about the same level of risk as raw milk itself,” he said. The CDC says that soft cheeses with a high moisture content are more likely to be contaminated with listeria bacteria. “There’s salt that’s added to cheeses, and there is rennet and other additives that make the cheese curdle the milk,” Hallman said. “That aging process and the addition of salt can basically reduce the risk of pathogens. It doesn’t mean it’s risk-free, which is why if you are pregnant or immunocompromised or an older individual, consuming raw milk cheeses can be somewhat risky.” Why we pasteurize milk The US Public Health Service created the Standard Milk Ordinance in 1924 to promote pasteurization practices and remove harmful bacteria that could cause typhoid and scarlet fevers as well as tuberculosis. The ordinance, now known as the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance , outlines the requirements for lab testing of milk and dairy products for quality and safety. Experts estimate that, before the wider adoption of this approach, roughly 25% of all disease outbreaks in the US were milk-borne. According to the FDA , for every 2 billion servings of pasteurized dairy products consumed in the US, about one person becomes ill. Pasteurization “has been incredibly effective at reducing the incidents of milk-borne disease,” Schaffner said. “Any biological organism has optimal conditions that it prefers, and if those deviate, organisms are inactivated. Heat is a very straightforward technology that is easy to apply with precision, and its effect on pathogenic microorganisms is well known.” Some health experts believe that people may continue to consume raw milk despite the health risks because they believe that the overall chance of illness is low. “Some people are extremely optimistic, and they believe that if there are risks, they are more likely to be much more likely to apply to other people,” Hallman said. “In this case, they may be focusing primarily on the health benefits and ignoring the risks because it’s more convenient to do that. They underplay the risks by overemphasizing the benefits to justify the choice they’ve made.” The raw milk controversy Raw milk has become a particularly hot topic because of Kennedy’s vocal support as well as endorsements from social media influencers and the “ Gwyneth Paltrows of the world,” Hallman said. Paltrow has said she drinks raw cream in her coffee. “The evidence for these health benefits is certainly not definitive, whereas the risks certainly are definitive,” he said. “Having worked on a farm and been around cattle, I can pretty much assure you that everything is not sterile around those animals. There’s this romanticized view of this, which is not entirely realistic.” The credibility and position of those endorsing the product, like Kennedy, who said in a social media post in October that raw milk was among a long list of items that faced “aggressive suppression,” also seems to play a role in raw milk’s recent attention. Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner, recently argued in an opinion piece on the department’s website that consumers in the state should maintain the right to purchase raw dairy products. “There’s nothing more American than the freedom to choose what kind of food you eat,” he wrote. “Raw milk isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be available. Just as we shouldn’t force people to consume something they don’t want, the government should allow people the right to choose what is best for their personal nutrition.” Hallman said that some people don’t want to be limited in their options and told what they can or cannot purchase. “Kind of perversely, some people drink raw milk because they don’t want the government telling them what they should do,” he said. “They support drinking raw milk because they want to maintain their ability, their freedom of choice.” The risks of bird flu The FDA notes that one increasingly common pathogen removed from raw milk during the pasteurization process is H5N1. This bird flu virus has caused “widespread” illness in a multistate outbreak among US poultry and cows, according to the CDC. When cows are infected with this strain of bird flu, Schaffner said, the concentration of the virus shed in milk can be quite high. “Eventually, cows become sick and either stop producing milk or produce poor-quality milk,” he said. The CDC has reported 58 human cases of bird flu this year, 32 of them in California, where raw milk is legal to drink and sell. Most of the cases are linked to farm workers who have been in contact with sick animals. California also reported last month the first US case identified in a child; the CDC that the virus from that case resembled those previously detected in humans, cattle and poultry in the state but that it’s not clear how the child was exposed. Bird flu symptoms in humans include flu-like symptoms like eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, trouble swallowing or fever. Health experts encourage anyone who has consumed raw milk and notices symptoms to alert their health-care providers or local health departments. “We’ve seen the flu move from birds to cow,” de Latour said. “If you were to drink raw milk of a sick animal shedding this virus, theoretically, yes, maybe you could potentially contract bird flu, but we haven’t seen that happen yet. ... The ultimate big fear here is human-to-human transmission, which we have not yet seen.” CNN’s Meg Tirrell and Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.
If a new house was built every minute in the UK, it would take close to a decade to clear the vast shortfall of 4.3 million homes. If housebuilding continues at its current annual rate, it would take 65 years to close the backlog — and that is before new annual demands are taken into account. Combined with exceedingly high levels of immigration that will exacerbate pressure on housing stock, the result is a distorted market with ballooning prices and unaffordability. Sir Keir Starmer was elected on an unambiguous platform of building 1.5 million new homes over this parliament. It is hugely ambitious, as it has been over half a century since the UK built 300,000 homes in one year. The government must now approve 370,000 to achieve the new target. Plus there are a million homes stuck pending approval, mired in red tape.Best Buy posts another quarterly sales drop while Kohl’s sees slump deepen - The Associated Press
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It’s not hard to understand the value tight end Josh Oliver brings to the Vikings. ADVERTISEMENT Just listen to the way people talk about him. “He’s an animal,” tight end T.J. Hockenson said. “Once he gets his hands on somebody, it’s kind of like, ‘Good luck.'” It was similar sentiment from offensive coordinator Wes Phillips. “He’s the best blocking tight end in the league, and that’s no disrespect to anybody else,” Phillips said. “We will take Josh over anybody in this league in the role that he’s in. It’s not only that he’s physically imposing as a 270-pound man. It’s the attitude that he plays with out there.” ADVERTISEMENT What are the Vikings losing now that Oliver has been ruled out with an ankle injury? His absence will be felt most when the Vikings try to run the ball against the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. Though he has proved he can contribute in the passing game, Oliver has been a force in the running game since signing with the Vikings. There have been multiple times this season that Oliver had singlehandedly carved out space for running back Aaron Jones to go to work. That’s partially why Hockenson has played only about 50% of the offensive snaps since returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament a few weeks ago. Even if the Vikings are often telegraphing a run when Oliver is on the field, they don’t care because they feel that strongly about his ability as a blocker. “You see it every single week,” Phillips said. “He’s moving large men and putting them on the ground.” ADVERTISEMENT It’s safe to assume Oliver would suit up for the Vikings if he were able to do so. He’s been playing through a wrist injury for the past few weeks, for example, and has still been extremely effective at the point of attack. How tough is it to replace Oliver in a vacuum? “It’s a big challenge because of all the things he does on a snap in and snap out basis,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “We will see some guys make some impacts on some different downs and distances than we have maybe seen up to this point.” ADVERTISEMENT Briefly The only other players on the injury report for the Vikings are tight end Nick Muse (hand) and edge rusher Gabe Murphy (knee). Both players were officially listed as questionable and being full participants in the walkthrough on Friday afternoon at TCO Performance Center. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .PITTSBURGH (AP) — Preseason's over. Now the real work begins for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the past three months have been promising and productive for the first-place Steelers (10-3), it has come largely at the expense of teams who will likely watch the playoffs on TV. Six of Pittsburgh's victories have come against teams who currently have losing records. The other four wins — Denver , the Chargers , Washington and Baltimore — are solid resume-builders with a small caveat: none of them lead their respective divisions. To be clear, Pittsburgh's play is part of the reason those four clubs find themselves looking up to others in the standings. That will change on Sunday when the Steelers travel across the state to face NFC juggernaut Philadelphia , the start of an 11-day sprint in which Pittsburgh also faces a rematch with the Ravens and spends Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium against Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs . "It’s just going to show us how good we can be," safety DeShon Elliott said. It's a testament to the weekly tunnel vision Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin creates that wide receiver Calvin Austin III needed to be reminded about the daunting stretch that awaits after Sunday's relatively drama-free 27-14 win over Cleveland. “Who do we play again?" Austin said. When reminded it was three teams that fully expect to be in New Orleans on the second Sunday in February, Austin laughed. “That's a tough little stretch, but at the end of the day it's a five-star matchup as Coach T says because we're in it,” he said. “We know that when we’re out there, it’s going to always be a big-time performance.” One Austin and his teammates believe they're ready for after a workmanlike victory over the Browns in which the Steelers were only too intent to let Cleveland self-destruct behind a flurry of penalties, missed field goals and turnovers. More will likely be required in the coming weeks, which is fine by the Steelers. They have put themselves in a position to do things the franchise hasn't done in a while. And for all the good things they've done since early September, they're only too aware their season will be defined by what comes next. Sure, they'd love a little more time between games to rest up. The scheduling gods didn't give them that option. So be it. “I feel like the league kind of hates us already, man,” Elliott said. “It’s all right. We’re going to go out here, play those games, work our butts off, go out and be 3-0.” What's working Letting everybody eat. Russell Wilson seems to be almost pathological in his determination to get every eligible skill position player involved. A week ago against the Bengals , he connected with 10 different players. In the rematch with the Browns, it was eight, including Mike Williams and Scotty Miller, veterans who have largely been afterthoughts of late. Tomlin greeted Miller after an acrobatic 20-yard third down grab on the sideline in the third quarter with “this isn't a lightning strike,” a popular Tomlin-ism that means simply Miller did all the work necessary to succeed, so it shouldn't be a surprise when it comes. Asked if he felt compelled to mention this to Tomlin the next time Miller is a candidate to be inactive on game days — as he has often been in recent weeks — Miller smiled. “If you could tell him that, that'd be great,” he said with a laugh. What needs help George Pickens' maturity. While Pickens believes opponents haven't found a way to get under his skin, the evidence suggests otherwise. How else to explain why nearly three years into his career, Pickens still frequently finds an envelope in his locker from the league telling him he's been fined for everything from unsportsmanlike conduct to unnecessary roughness? Pickens' teammates respect his talent and understand his importance — look at how disjointed the offense looked on Sunday for proof — but will he “cut out the stupid stuff” before the playoffs arrive? That will be entirely up to Pickens. Nothing seems to have gotten through so far. Maybe watching the team win without him while nursing a hamstring injury — as Pickens did on Sunday — will do the trick. Stock up The Steelers may have found their heir apparent to the seemingly ageless Cam Heyward in second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. While Benton will likely never come close to matching Heyward's impact as a pass rusher, he can do just about everything else and his first career interception on Sunday — a leaping pick of an ill-advised screen pass by Jameis Winston — showcased his spiking football IQ. Stock down Everyone who put money down during the offseason on the Steelers missing the playoffs . It looked like a good investment over the summer with two new quarterbacks, a new offensive coordinator, no second big-play wide receiver to complement Pickens and playing in what was viewed as the best division in the league. Not so much anymore. Pittsburgh has a 99% chance of reaching the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Injuries Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi — selected as the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last week — left in the second quarter with a groin injury. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams (knee) is trending toward playing for the first time since October and could be available in Philadelphia. Key number Plus-28 — the Steelers' turnover margin since the start of the 2023 season, tops in the NFL. Next steps Try to do something they haven't done in nearly 60 years: beat the Eagles on the road. Pittsburgh's most recent victory in Philadelphia was on Oct. 24, 1965. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated Press
In the latest episode of Safe Mode, Greg Otto talks with Emily Crose about her new book “Hack to The Future: How World Governments Relentlessly Pursue and Domesticate Hackers.” Emily explains how the US government managed to weaponize a subculture widely seen as misanthropic and awkward into a lever of power that now has far-reaching geopolitical implications In our reporter chat, Greg Otto talks with Tim Starks about the continued investigation and fallout of the Salt Typhoon hacks. Also in this episode: ThreatLocker CEO and Co-Founder Danny Jenkins joins SNG host Wyatt Kash in a sponsored podcast discussion on how implementing a layered approach to network security better protects government data. This segment was sponsored by ThreatLocker. LINK: https://cyberscoop.com/senators-witnesses-3b-for-rip-and-replace-a-good-start-to-preventing-salt-typhoon-style-breaches/ Weekly Every week we break down the most pressing issues in technology, provide you with the knowledge and tools to stay ahead of the latest threats and take you behind the scenes of the biggest stories in cyberspace. Weekly Every week we break down the most pressing issues in technology, provide you with the knowledge and tools to stay ahead of the latest threats and take you behind the scenes of the biggest stories in cyberspace.SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A photojournalist who captured one of the most enduring images of World War II — the U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima — had a block in downtown San Francisco named for him Thursday. Joe Rosenthal, who died in 2006 at age 94, was working for The Associated Press in 1945 when he took the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo. After the war, he went to work as a staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, and for 35 years until his retirement in 1981, he captured moments of city life both extraordinary and routine. Rosenthal photographed famous people for the paper, including a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957, and regular people, including children making a joyous dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. The 600 block of Sutter Street, near downtown’s Union Square, became Joe Rosenthal Way after a short ceremony Thursday morning. The Marines Memorial Club, which sits on the block, welcomed the street’s new name. Aaron Peskin, who heads the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, welcomed the city's political elite, military officials and members of Rosenthal's family to toast the late photographer, who was born in Washington, D.C., to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. The famous photo became the centerpiece of a war bonds poster that helped raise $26 billion in 1945. Tom Graves, chapter historian for the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, which pushed for the street naming, said the image helped win the war. “But I’ve grown over the years to appreciate also his role as a San Francisco newspaper photographer who, as Supervisor Peskin says, went to work every day photographing the city where we all live, we all love,” he said. Graves and others said they look forward to tourists and locals happening upon the street sign, seeing Rosenthal's name for perhaps the first time, and then going online to learn about the photographer with the terrible eyesight but an eye for composition. Rosenthal never considered himself a wartime hero, just a working photographer lucky enough to document the courage of soldiers. When complimented on his Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, Rosenthal said: “Sure, I took the photo. But the Marines took Iwo Jima.”
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Preseason's over. Now the real work begins for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the past three months have been promising and productive for the first-place Steelers (10-3), it has come largely at the expense of teams who will likely watch the playoffs on TV. Six of Pittsburgh's victories have come against teams who currently have losing records. The other four wins — Denver , the Chargers , Washington and Baltimore — are solid resume-builders with a small caveat: none of them lead their respective divisions. To be clear, Pittsburgh's play is part of the reason those four clubs find themselves looking up to others in the standings. That will change on Sunday when the Steelers travel across the state to face NFC juggernaut Philadelphia , the start of an 11-day sprint in which Pittsburgh also faces a rematch with the Ravens and spends Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium against Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs . "It’s just going to show us how good we can be," safety DeShon Elliott said. It's a testament to the weekly tunnel vision Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin creates that wide receiver Calvin Austin III needed to be reminded about the daunting stretch that awaits after Sunday's relatively drama-free 27-14 win over Cleveland. “Who do we play again?" Austin said. When reminded it was three teams that fully expect to be in New Orleans on the second Sunday in February, Austin laughed. “That's a tough little stretch, but at the end of the day it's a five-star matchup as Coach T says because we're in it,” he said. “We know that when we’re out there, it’s going to always be a big-time performance.” One Austin and his teammates believe they're ready for after a workmanlike victory over the Browns in which the Steelers were only too intent to let Cleveland self-destruct behind a flurry of penalties, missed field goals and turnovers. More will likely be required in the coming weeks, which is fine by the Steelers. They have put themselves in a position to do things the franchise hasn't done in a while. And for all the good things they've done since early September, they're only too aware their season will be defined by what comes next. Sure, they'd love a little more time between games to rest up. The scheduling gods didn't give them that option. So be it. “I feel like the league kind of hates us already, man,” Elliott said. “It’s all right. We’re going to go out here, play those games, work our butts off, go out and be 3-0.” What's working Letting everybody eat. Russell Wilson seems to be almost pathological in his determination to get every eligible skill position player involved. A week ago against the Bengals , he connected with 10 different players. In the rematch with the Browns, it was eight, including Mike Williams and Scotty Miller, veterans who have largely been afterthoughts of late. Tomlin greeted Miller after an acrobatic 20-yard third down grab on the sideline in the third quarter with “this isn't a lightning strike,” a popular Tomlin-ism that means simply Miller did all the work necessary to succeed, so it shouldn't be a surprise when it comes. Asked if he felt compelled to mention this to Tomlin the next time Miller is a candidate to be inactive on game days — as he has often been in recent weeks — Miller smiled. “If you could tell him that, that'd be great,” he said with a laugh. What needs help George Pickens' maturity. While Pickens believes opponents haven't found a way to get under his skin, the evidence suggests otherwise. How else to explain why nearly three years into his career, Pickens still frequently finds an envelope in his locker from the league telling him he's been fined for everything from unsportsmanlike conduct to unnecessary roughness? Pickens' teammates respect his talent and understand his importance — look at how disjointed the offense looked on Sunday for proof — but will he “cut out the stupid stuff” before the playoffs arrive? That will be entirely up to Pickens. Nothing seems to have gotten through so far. Maybe watching the team win without him while nursing a hamstring injury — as Pickens did on Sunday — will do the trick. Stock up The Steelers may have found their heir apparent to the seemingly ageless Cam Heyward in second-year defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. While Benton will likely never come close to matching Heyward's impact as a pass rusher, he can do just about everything else and his first career interception on Sunday — a leaping pick of an ill-advised screen pass by Jameis Winston — showcased his spiking football IQ. Stock down Everyone who put money down during the offseason on the Steelers missing the playoffs . It looked like a good investment over the summer with two new quarterbacks, a new offensive coordinator, no second big-play wide receiver to complement Pickens and playing in what was viewed as the best division in the league. Not so much anymore. Pittsburgh has a 99% chance of reaching the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Injuries Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi — selected as the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee last week — left in the second quarter with a groin injury. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams (knee) is trending toward playing for the first time since October and could be available in Philadelphia. Key number Plus-28 — the Steelers' turnover margin since the start of the 2023 season, tops in the NFL. Next steps Try to do something they haven't done in nearly 60 years: beat the Eagles on the road. Pittsburgh's most recent victory in Philadelphia was on Oct. 24, 1965. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated PressI’m A Celeb star revealed as ‘richest’ name in camp – and it’s not Coleen Rooney
