The good news about ugly wins is that they count just the same in the standings. There is no column for style points in the NFL, which is fortunate, because the San Francisco 49ers wouldn’t have earned any in their Monday night victory over the Carolina Panthers. But with the 20-9 win, the Niners are sitting at 8-4. In a muddled NFC, they likely need just two more victories to punch a ticket to the postseason. That’s the math. But here is the bad news about ugly wins: They force you to stare into the abyss. They make you wonder if this team should even bother chasing those two wins, let alone book travel arrangements for January. Monday was a survival test, and I suppose the Niners did what they needed to do. It was messy. It was confusing. It was a win. Here is who kept the ship afloat, and the man who nearly sank it: 💪 STUDS Christian McCaffrey • RB Lost in the interceptfest was the fact that McCaffrey remains the most reliable bailout plan in football. His nine touches on the opening drive were so brutally effective that there wasn’t time to stop and consider that giving him that much volume that early is borderline coaching malpractice. But once Kyle Shanahan finally decided to stop flirting with disaster in the passing game and just run outside zone, the Niners put the game on ice. McCaffrey is currently on pace to become the only player in NFL history to register 1, 000 yards rushing and 1, 000 yards receiving in a single season twice. We are watching greatness mask a whole lot of mediocrity. Jauan Jennings • WR You cannot break what is already broken. On his game-opening touchdown, three Panthers defenders converged on Jennings. They hit him from the left. They hit him from the right. They hit him from behind. Most receivers fold. Jennings? He simply shrugged them off like a man brushing crumbs off jacket and walked into the end zone. It doesn’t matter what else happens on the stat sheet. A play that boss lands you on the Studs list immediately. Bryce Huff • DE Simple analysis here: Huff had the juice. He drew two penalties rushing off the edge simply because the tackles couldn’t handle his get-off. When the offense stalled, Huff made sure the Panthers couldn’t take advantage. Bryce Young will see Huff in his nightmares on Monday. Ji’Ayir Brown • S This was the finest game of Brown’s career. He didn’t just snag two massive interceptions; he was a menace all over the field. He was erasing receivers in the flat. He was stuffing the run in the C-gap like a linebacker. In the modern NFL, safety play is destiny. If Brown has leveled up alongside the equally violent Malik Mustapha, the Niners suddenly have a duo that can wreck game plans. If San Francisco makes a run, it starts with these two. George Kittle • TE Another week, another superlative performance. Catching tough passes? Check. Mauling defenders in the run game? Check. What more is there to say? He is the gold standard. 📉 DUDS Brock Purdy • 3INTQB The three interceptions were inexcusable and the single reason this game wasn’t a blowout by halftime. If you want to be charitable, you could say the third interception was a great play by Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn. But even that was only possible because Purdy lacked the field vision to see the danger before letting it fly. The first two? Those were woeful. Underthrown. Late. It looked like a guy who hadn’t taken a snap in years, not a franchise quarterback. This was Purdy’s worst outing since the Christmas Day debacle in 2023. This is untenable. You can get away with this against Carolina. You cannot make the playoffs with play like this. You cannot get away with this nonsense in the playoffs. If San Francisco wants to be more than a Wild Card exit, Purdy has to find his game. The good news? We just saw it last week.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/24/49ers-studs-and-duds-the-niners-dominate-while-brock-purdy-implodes/
Rob’s Brew-haha: Paul levels up in bout with ex-champ Joshua
I was very surprised to hear the news that professional boxing savant Jake Paul will be squaring off against former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua next month. It will be Paul’s biggest test in the ring to date, both literally and figuratively. The match is set to take place Dec. 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The bout will be broadcasted live on Netflix. It is scheduled for eight, three-minute rounds, and both fighters will be wearing 10-ounce boxing gloves. Joshua, 36, is a muscled up six-foot-six, 250-pound British boxing phenom with a highly decorated resume. As an amateur fighter, Joshua won Olympic gold back in 2012 in the super heavyweight division. As a professional, Joshua won his first heavyweight championship after only his 16th pro fight in 2016. Joshua would go on simultaneously hold four unified heavyweight championship belts before suffering his first professional loss in 2019. With a professional record of 28-4 that includes 25 knockouts, Joshua has appeared in a total of 13 championship bouts during his exceptional career. That said, why on Earth does Joshua want to compete against a guy like Paul, an opponent who most people believe is unworthy and not even a real boxer. After all, Paul has no amateur experience, carries a pro record of only 12 wins in 13 fights, and recently competed against a 39-year-old Julio César Chávez Jr. and a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Besides a huge gap in experience level, Paul is six-foot-one, weighs roughly 200 pounds, and fights in the cruiserweight division, one weight class lower than heavyweight. Joshua towered over Paul at a Friday press conference in Miami. The only physical advantage that Paul has in the match is his age. He is 28 years old, eight years younger than Joshua. Joshua is reportedly going to earn an estimated $92 million for the match with Paul. Joshua reportedly earned in the neighborhood of $7-33 million in his previous bout that resulted in a fifth-round knockout loss in 2024. In the fight business, money has a way of many very peculiar business partners. Aside from the money, perhaps Paul believes that he is catching Joshua at the perfect time. The enormous British heavyweight is coming off a knockout defeat, and he has not been active in over a year. Three of the five main boxing ranking systems, Ring Magazine, World Boxing Association, and International Boxing Federation, do not have Joshua ranked in the top 10 anymore due to inactivity after his most recent disappointing performance. From Joshua’s perspective, perhaps he actually needs a tune up fight against an easy opponent to regain some confidence before he goes onto more stiff competition. Or could it be that Joshua knows he cannot win against real heavyweight contenders anymore, and simply wants to get paid the most amount of money in exchange for the least amount of work? While many boxing observers scoff at Paul, I choose to congratulate what he has accomplished in the sport. Most fighters compete in obscurity as amateurs for many years before ever turning pro. Even as professionals, many fighters never become household names. Paul has found a way to bypass the traditional route and parlayed his social media brand into notoriety within the sport of boxing. I also think he is pretty good and could probably beat most journeymen fighters his own size. That said, this is quite a difference in the level of competition Paul is used to seeing. Though diminished, Joshua does not need to be at his best to be the heavy favorite in this tussle. I expect to see Paul running for his life most of the match. Joshua will undoubtedly try to end the fight early with his extraordinary punching power and I believe he will succeed. I don’t see this match lasting beyond the first round. I just hope Jake can wake up from the coma Joshua is about to put him in.
https://victoriaadvocate.com/2025/11/24/robs-brew-haha-paul-levels-up-in-bout-with-ex-champ-joshua/
‘I’m Going To Fight Until My Last Breath’: Eric Dane Confronts ALS In Powerful New TV Role
Eric Dane is returning to television in a role that mirrors his real-life battle, bringing the reality of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to the small screen with unprecedented honesty. The 53-year-old actor, known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan, or ‘McSteamy,’ on Grey’s Anatomy, joins the cast of NBC’s medical drama Brilliant Minds as a firefighter facing the same condition he revealed he had been diagnosed with in April. The episode, set to air in late November, marks Dane’s first appearance in the second season of the series. A Role That Reflects Reality Dane portrays Matthew, a firefighter who struggles with an ALS diagnosis while maintaining his role as a protector at home and at the firehouse. According to Johns Hopkins, ALS causes progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, and currently there is no cure. Matthew has not shared the diagnosis with his ex-wife or daughter, fearing it would burden them, and he resists using a BiPAP machine to assist his breathing, stating, ‘Fine, the guys at the station, they got me. But that’s it. I’m not having them deal with strapping me in and out of a machine at night. I got to draw the line.’ When Dr. Oliver Wolf, played by series lead Zachary Quinto, informs Matthew that his disease is progressing faster than expected, the character struggles with accepting help. Dane’s performance brings to life the complex emotions of someone facing a terminal illness while trying to maintain normalcy. ‘What’s it matter?’ Matthew asks his doctor in one scene. ‘Nobody survives this. We both know that, and I know how to take care of my family.’ Collaboration Behind The Scenes Michael Grassi, creator of Brilliant Minds, said he jumped at the opportunity to work with Dane when his team reached out. At the time, Grassi was managing a family health emergency, and he and Dane discussed how families navigate serious diagnoses in real life. ‘And there’s no rule book. There’s no right way or wrong way to do it. And in our conversations, something that he was dealing with very much in real time, and I was dealing with in my life, and a lot of people deal with every day is, how do you navigate, how do you communicate and how do you accept help?’ Grassi told USA TODAY. Dane’s presence on set was described as ‘a joy’ by Grassi. The actor would often arrive and say, ‘Give me a hug.’ Scenes were reportedly full of laughter and camaraderie, providing moments of relief amid the emotionally heavy subject matter. One particular scene, where Matthew records a message about asking for help, moved the cast to their feet. Grassi described it as a ten-minute standing ovation, calling Dane’s performance ‘beautiful and so honest and so real.’ Raising Awareness Through Storytelling.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/im-going-fight-until-my-last-breath-eric-dane-confronts-als-powerful-new-tv-role-1757738
Funding Radar: Canada to launch C$100M global call on disruptive tech
From January 2026, the Canadian government will lead a C$100 million (€61. 4 million) international research initiative to harness disruptive technologies able to address global challenges. Proposals must address at least one of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the call text says. To meet the interdisciplinary requirements, project proposals must integrate expertise from at least two of the following domains: natural sciences and engineering; social sciences and humanities; and health and life sciences. Consortia must also include at least three co-principal investigators, each eligible to receive funding from a different participating.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/international-news/funding-radar-canada-launch-c100m-global-call-disruptive-tech
Fayette jury convicts Terrence Brown of armed robbery; sentenced to life without parole
A Fayette County jury has found Terrence Brown guilty of armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said the verdict came after a three-day trial that detailed Brown’s January 30, 2025, robbery of the Family Dollar store in Fayetteville. According to testimony, Brown entered the store dressed in black with a mask covering most of his face and a jacket commonly worn by security personnel. He racked the slide of a pistol as he demanded cigarettes and cash, and the cashier complied. Two days later, officials said Brown walked into a Family Dollar in Jonesboro wearing the same mask, cap, and security-style jacket. The district manager, who had already reviewed surveillance footage of the Fayetteville robbery, recognized him and contacted police. Brown was arrested at the store with the same pistol used in the earlier crime, prosecutors said. Deputy Chief ADA Warren Sellers presented the case, assisted by Victim-Witness Program Director Michelle Ivey, Investigator Robert Hullett, and Legal Assistant April Woodall. After the guilty verdict, Superior Court Judge W. Fletcher Sams sentenced Brown to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 10 additional years. Chief Assistant District Attorney David Studdard said the outcome underscores the county’s stance on violent crime. “This verdict reflects the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors, support staff, and law enforcement,” Studdard said. “This verdict and the Court’s sentence send a clear message: if you commit violent crimes in our community, you are going to prison.”.
https://thecitizen.com/2025/11/24/fayette-jury-convicts-terrence-brown-of-armed-robbery-sentenced-to-life-without-parole/
Wife of missing football coach Travis Turner breaks silence after husband mysteriously vanishes: ‘Keep praying’
The wife of missing Virginia high school football coach Travis Turner urged people to “keep praying” her husband returns home after he mysteriously vanished late last week in the middle of an undefeated season. “I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10: 25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that’s all we know,” Leslie Turner wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, obtained by News Channel 11. “We love him & need him here with us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know. Just keep praying that he comes home,” she said, according to the outlet. Travis Turner was officially listed as a missing person on Sunday after last being seen on Thursday, according to Virginia State Police. Turner, the head grid coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Va, was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, police said. Officers were reportedly dispatched to the 46-year-old’s home in Appalachia Thursday evening to investigate a complaint, not arrest him. After they arrived, cops discovered Turner was no longer there. The details of the complaint the police were investigating were not disclosed. On the same day, officials at Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, disclosed that an employee within the district had been placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation. Neither cops nor school officials would confirm whether Turner was the employee placed on leave or the subject of the investigation. “A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division,” the district said in a statement without elaborating further. “This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further.” Virginia State Police have since launched a full-out search, utilizing search and rescue teams, drones, and K-9s to locate Turner. The Union High School football team was in the midst of what should have been a celebratory, undefeated season when the head coach suddenly vanished. The school’s assistant coach, Jay Edwards, has since stepped in to handle all coaching responsibilities as the search for Turner continues.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/24/sports/wife-of-missing-football-coach-travis-turner-breaks-silence-after-husband-mysteriously-vanishes/
63K Bitcoin Exits Long-Term Wallets: A Surge of Speculative Short-Term Buying
Bitcoin is struggling to reclaim momentum as it trades below the critical $90,000 level, with selling pressure dominating the market and fear spreading rapidly. Many analysts are leaning toward calling the start of a new bear market, arguing that Bitcoin likely topped in early October near $126,000. Momentum has weakened sharply since then, and investor behavior now reflects a shift toward risk-off positioning. This unprecedented transfer is clearly visible in the Long-Term Holder Net Position Change chart, which shows a massive red bar a negative daily difference signaling heavy outflows from long-term holder wallets. This type of behavior typically appears during late-stage bull markets or near local and cycle tops, when long-time investors with substantial profit margins begin realizing gains. At the same time, the corresponding Short-Term Holder Net Position Change chart shows a huge green bar, confirming that newer, more reactive market participants are buying these coins, often at elevated prices. Long-Term Holders Distribute as Short-Term Buyers Absorb Supply CryptoOnchain explains that the current market structure is being shaped by a clear divergence in behavior between Long-Term Holders (LTHs) and Short-Term Holders (STHs). LTHs historically considered the “strong hands” of the market are now heavily distributing, sending large amounts of Bitcoin into the market after months or even years of holding. At the same time, STHs are aggressively buying and accumulating this supply, often entering positions at elevated prices despite growing volatility. This dynamic is not inherently a bearish signal on its own. In fact, such transitions are common during late-stage bull markets, where early investors secure profits while new participants enter the market with fresh capital. It reflects a natural rotation of supply from experienced holders to newer ones, a pattern seen repeatedly in previous cycles. However, the volume of distribution is significant, and it raises an important risk: if incoming demand fails to fully absorb the coins being offloaded by LTHs, the market could face a deeper correction or extended consolidation phase. This supply pressure can weigh on price, especially in a context where sentiment is fragile and macro conditions remain uncertain. Weekly Chart Signals a Critical Retest of Macro Support Bitcoin is attempting to stabilize around the $87,000 level after an intense multi-week sell-off that dragged price as low as $85,946. On the weekly chart, Bitcoin has now tapped the 100-week moving average (green line), a historically important support level during bull-market retracements. This line acted as a springboard in previous cycles, but the current bounce remains weak and indecisive, reflecting the fear dominating the market. Momentum has clearly shifted bearish. The breakdown from the $110K-$100K consolidation zone triggered accelerated selling, confirming a loss of market structure on the weekly timeframe. Candles over the past three weeks show high-volume distribution, with sellers overwhelming demand each time Bitcoin attempted to reclaim higher levels. The steep slope of the 50-week MA turning slightly down is another sign that trend strength has softened. However, the reaction at the 100-week MA is critical. Bulls aggressively defended this area in prior macro corrections, and holding above $83K-$86K keeps the long-term bull structure intact. A weekly close below this zone, however, opens the door to deeper downside toward the 200-week MA near $56K-$60K. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView. com.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/63k-bitcoin-exits-long-term-wallets-a-surge-of-speculative-short-term-buying/
Adam Copeland issues major statement on his retirement!
AEW star Adam Copeland recently opened up about his retirement and when he wants to hang up his boots. He has been one of the top stars of the Jacksonville-based promotion. He has made a significant impact on the company despite becoming All Elite just a couple of years ago. Ad The 52-year-old star has hinted at his retirement multiple times in the last few months. He recently reunited with his longtime friend, Christian Cage, on-screen. Both veterans have been absent from TV since the All Out pay-per-view. The duo might return soon. Fans have been wondering who will stand across the Rated-R Superstar in his final match. While speaking on Inside the Ropes, Adam Copeland stated that whoever his final opponent is should take advantage of the opportunity given to him and run with the passed torch. Ad Trending “Um, you know, more than anything, I want to make sure that whoever it is at the very end, we can put the biggest exclamation point on them possible so they can take that going forward, whoever that is. And I guess just making sure that it sticks. So, you can’t do it for everybody. You have to make sure that when you do it, it’s done right so it can stick, and now that person going forward can have that thing,” he said. [H/T Ringside News] Ad Ad Tony Khan says Adam Copeland isn’t leaving AEW anytime soon The former TNT Champion was rumored to be involved in John Cena’s retirement tour, given the timing of the hiatus. When asked about Adam Copeland’s hiatus on the Aerial Helwani Show, Tony Khan said the Rated-R Superstar is bound to AEW for a long time and will return soon after his projects are done. Ad “Never say never in wrestling, because I would imagine they could always extend [John Cena’s] date past the end of the year. But no Adam’s going to be here with us through the year. Adam Copeland is a huge part of AEW, and I have so much respect for him. I really, really like Adam a lot, and I’m glad to have him here. Even though he’s away filming, he’s still with us and will continue to be,” he said. It will be interesting to see what is next for Copeland when he returns. × Feedback Why did you not like this content? Clickbait / Misleading Factually Incorrect Hateful or Abusive Baseless Opinion Too Many Ads Other Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Edited by Angana Roy.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news-adam-copeland-issues-major-statement-retirement
Insider’s View: how generative AI could make scientific publishing fairer, and more competitive
Scientists from around the world are using generative artificial intelligence tools to write papers in English, and it’s already altering the publishing landscape. A new study from the University of Basel has found that papers by scientists from countries where English is not the primary language have become “measurably” closer to a US benchmark since 2022, when ChatGPT, the world’s most used generative AI tool, launched. This convergence effect has been strongest in papers from countries linguistically distant to English. While papers from countries such as Saudi Arabia and South Korea suggest a high adoption of AI tools for writing, those from countries that are closer to English linguistically, such as Germany and Sweden, show lower levels. Adoption appears to be lowest in English-speaking.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/ai/insiders-view-how-generative-ai-could-make-scientific-publishing-fairer-and-more
Nominations open for Visalia’s annual ‘Deck the Home’ contest
VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — The city of Visalia is celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Nominations are open for the annual “Deck the Home” contest. Houses, apartments, condos, neighborhoods, and businesses in Visalia are all eligible as long as decorations can be viewed from the street. The contest categories include best overall, best lights, best theme, incredible inflatables and Santa’s workshop. To enter the contest, fill out an online form here. The submission deadline is December 7. The community will then vote for the winner in each category. Winners will be announced on December 12 and an interactive map will be released so you can go see the winning homes for yourself.
https://abc30.com/post/nominations-open-visalias-annual-deck-home-contest/18204957/