NFL legend turned analyst Tom Brady finally made his highly anticipated debut on the Fox NFL Kickoff studio show , joining the crew before calling the Los Angeles Rams vs. Buffalo Bills game on Sunday afternoon. The rare in-person moment for the seven-time Super Bowl champion saw a primarily favorable reception after his usual role as a game analyst has been critiqued all season long. Reuniting with former New England Patriots teammates Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman , Brady delivered his signature "bro talk" camaraderie with his good friends while displaying his high football IQ at the desk. FOX hyped the affair with a "GOAT on the loose" promo featuring an actual goat sporting a Brady Buccaneers jersey making his way to the desk. The show kicked off with a nod to the network's prior "Brady hologram stint" this season. Michael Strahan had jokes for the moment when he compared the hologram’s height to Brady’s, joking that it was "Too close for comfort" concerning the Giants' legend's height. Tom Brady issues brutal one-word response to Bill Belichick's college coaching chances Tom Brady slammed for not knowing his 'own rule' by Shannon Sharpe After Brady gave a headshake to each panelist in the crew, he dove into the challenges and fun he's experienced in his rookie analyst season. "It’s been really fun. The best part is I have the best teammates in the world: Kevin Burkhardt , Erin [Andrews], and Tom Rinaldi," he mentioned as counterparts to assist with his Fox experience. Gronkowski chimed in and teased his former quarterback about always being surrounded by talent , from his NFL days to retirement. The offensive duo played together from 2010 to 2018 with the Patriots and reunited for the 2020-21 season as members of the Buccanneers. Gronk then playfully admitted to leaning on Brady for guidance during their playing days and asked how Brady prepared for his new role as an analyst. "A lot of listening, reading, and studying," Brady explained. I just want to deliver for people and get as much information as I can. I'm just enjoying that part and staying connected to something I love." Brady impressed fans after his analysis highlighting Josh Allen’s growth as a quarterback and how the Bills quarterback minimized turnovers this season. He dove deep into how throwing the ball away to avoid a sack or big hit is an underrated winning play that fans often overlook. His ability to dissect the nuances of the position resonated with viewers and users on X. NFL fans who were previously critical of Brady’s commentary praised his on-air performance at the desk instead. "If the analyst role doesn’t stick, this [studio desk] could be a good future home for him," one fan commented. Another added, "Couldn’t ask for more on FOX. We didn’t know how good we had it." Others speculated about Brady’s future in broadcasting, with one fan writing, "I'm predicting that maybe next year, we see more Tom Brady in-studio appearances. I see FOX getting Tom Brady to do a New Year’s Eve Special like Ryan Seacrest."

What Juan Soto’s contract says about the MetsBefore being elected as the first transgender woman to the US Congress, 34-year-old Sarah McBride said she expected hostility. A harsh national spotlight has fallen swiftly upon her. "They may try to misgender me, they may try to say the wrong name, they will do what we can predictably assume they might do," she told the TransLash podcast last month ahead of her resounding election victory on November 5. "They are going to do that to get a rise out of me and my job will be to not give them the response they want," the Democrat from Delaware explained. Ahead of her arrival in the House of Representatives on January 3, McBride was targeted by a resolution this week from a right-wing Republican colleague that would ban transgender women from women's toilets in the Capitol. "Just because a Congressman wants to wear a mini skirt doesn’t mean he can come into a women’s bathroom," South Carolina firebrand Nancy Mace wrote on social media as she led a highly personal campaign against McBride. House Speaker Mike Johnson, after initially seeking to buy time to debate the issue, came out in support of a ban, saying that all single-sex facilities would be "reserved for individuals of that biological sex." McBride -- who wears knee-length dresses, not miniskirts -- issued a statement saying that she said would respect the rules "even if I disagree with them." "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," said the politician and activist, who transitioned as a 21-year-old and told her parents on Christmas Day 2011. Donald Trump repeatedly raised transgender issues in the closing stages of his presidential campaign, with aides noting how questions around trans identity struck a nerve with swing voters. Two of the biggest issues -- at the heart of ongoing "culture wars" between conservatives and progressives -- are whether transgender women should be allowed in women's toilets and be admitted in women's sport. Mocking transgender athletes and "woke ideology," Trump promised to get "transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports." McBride has long been an advocate for trans rights and she helped campaign for a law banning gender discrimination in her home state of Delaware, during which she was publicly called a "freak" and the "devil incarnate". "Listening to that was demeaning and dehumanizing for my child," her mother Sally told The Washington Post in a 2018 profile. "I still have a hard time coping with that." Undeterred, McBride rode the blows and was elected as the first US transgender state senator in 2020. She has been open about her mental health struggles growing up as a boy named Tim and the personal tragedy that has marked her life since, writing a memoir called "Tomorrow Will Be Different" in 2018. "I remember as a child praying in my bed at night that I would wake up the next day and be a girl," she told a TED talk in 2016. She first gathered major public attention with an open letter while a student leader at American University in Washington that announced her transition. She went on to encounter President Joe Biden and his family, also Delaware natives, when she became active in grassroots politics there. After interning at the White House under President Barack Obama, she secured an invitation to speak at the 2016 Democratic Party convention. The White House was also the scene of her first encounter with her late husband, Andrew Cray, a transgender man and LGTBQ+ activist. They married two years later shortly before Cray died from cancer. Knowing the attention she is destined for in the US Congress, she says her aim is to be an effective congresswoman focused on everyday voter priorities such as housing and inflation. But she knows she will be constantly pushed to be a spokeswoman -- and defender -- of the trans community. "I can't do right by the trans community if I'm not being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she told TransLash. "It's the only way that people will see that trans people can be good doctors, can be good lawyers, good educators, good members of Congress. I can't be there to put out a press release and tweet every time someone says something." adp/bgsNebraska DB Dwight Bootle II announces intention to enter transfer portal

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PITTSBURGH, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duolingo, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOL), the world's leading mobile learning platform, announced today that it has appointed Bonnie Ross as an independent board member. Ms. Ross is a pioneering visionary with 30 years of experience working in the gaming industry. Most recently, she served as Corporate Vice President for Microsoft and Head of the Halo franchise. In her leadership role, she was instrumental in advancing the Halo franchise, leveraging a dedicated and talented team to incorporate cutting-edge technology and storytelling. She led the expansion of Halo’s reach into transmedia, contributing to its evolution into a global phenomenon with over $6 billion in consumer spend, spanning games, live-action series, novels, and consumer products. “A core principle at Duolingo is ‘make it fun’, because learning shouldn’t be boring,” said Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo. “Bonnie has deep experience in creating fun and innovative gaming experiences and building iconic global franchises. I couldn’t be happier to welcome her to our board.” "As an enthusiastic Duolingo user, I’m inspired by the platform’s ability to make learning entertaining and engaging. It fosters a competitive and social learning environment and challenges me to keep making daily progress, particularly in my quest to impress Lily,” said Ms. Ross. “I’m eager to contribute to Duolingo’s mission of making high-quality education fun and available to everyone." During her career at Microsoft, Ms. Ross developed or published many top titles, including Zoo Tycoon, Mass Effect and Gears of War . In 2019 she was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame for her contributions to the gaming industry and for her efforts to promote STEM learning and diversity, as a co-founder of the Women in Gaming community. She currently serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University. About Duolingo Duolingo is the leading mobile learning platform globally. Its flagship app has organically become the world's most popular way to learn languages and the top-grossing app in the Education category on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. With technology at the core of everything it does, Duolingo has consistently invested to provide learners a fun, engaging, and effective learning experience while remaining committed to its mission to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. Contact Information Investors: Deborah Belevan, IRC, CPA ir@duolingo.com Media: Sam Dalsimer press@duolingo.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6411a015-afbc-4c08-8893-6f29bdd7924dOne of my top shows of 2024 actually premiered in 2021. That’s because it took a couple of years for the Australian series “The Newsreader” to make its way Stateside. Alas, it was only legal to stream in the U.S. for a handful of weeks in September and then — pffft! — it was gone before most people had even heard of it. Well, I have great news. The show will be available once again, this time via Sundance Now (accessible through the AMC+ streaming platform), which has licensed the first season. Premiering Dec. 19, it stars Anna Torv (“Fringe”) and Sam Reid (“Interview with the Vampire”) as TV reporters in Melbourne, circa 1986. At the outset, Reid’s character exudes big loser energy, which is such an amusing contrast to his work as Lestat. The show is unexpectedly funny and terrifically Machiavellian in its portrayal of small-time office politics, and I’m thrilled audiences in the U.S. will get another shot at watching it. Overall, 2024 offered a modestly better lineup than usual, but I’m not sure it felt that way. Too often the good stuff got drowned out by Hollywood’s pointless and endless pursuit of rebooting intellectual property (no thank you, Apple’s “Presumed Innocent” ) and tendency to stretch a perfectly fine two-hour movie premise into a saggy multi-part series (“Presumed Innocent” again!). There were plenty of shows I liked that didn’t make this year’s list, including ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and CBS’ “Ghosts” (it’s heartening to see the network sitcom format still thriving in the streaming era), as well as Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside” (Ted Danson’s charisma selling an unlikely premise) and Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown” (a high-concept parody of racial stereotypes and cop show tropes, even if it couldn’t sustain the idea over 10 episodes). Maybe it just felt like we were having more fun this year, with Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” (Nicole Kidman leading a traditional manor house mystery reinterpreted with an American sensibility) and Hulu’s “Rivals” (the horniest show of 2024, delivered with a wink in the English countryside). I liked what I saw of Showtime’s espionage thriller “The Agency” (although the bulk of episodes were unavailable as of this writing). The deluge of remakes tends to make me cringe, but this year also saw a redo of Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” on Netflix that was far classier than most of what’s available on the streamer. Starring Andrew Scott, I found it cool to the touch, but the imagery stayed with me. Shot in black and white, it has an indelible visual language courtesy of director of photography Robert Elswit, whether capturing a crisp white business card against the worn grain wood of a bar top, or winding stairways that alternately suggest a yawning void or a trap. As always, if you missed any of these shows when they originally premiered — the aforementioned titles or the Top 10 listed below — they are all available to stream. Top 10 streaming and TV shows of 2024, in alphabetical order: The least cynical reality show on television remains as absorbing as ever in Season 4, thanks to the probing questions and insights from the show’s resident therapist, Dr. Orna Guralnik. Everything is so charged. And yet the show has a soothing effect, predicated on the idea that human behavior (and misery) isn’t mysterious or unchangeable. There’s something so optimistic in that outlook. Whether or not you relate to the people featured on “Couples Therapy” — or even like them as individuals — doesn’t matter as much as Guralnik’s reassuring presence. Created by and starring Diarra Kilpatrick, the eight-episode series defies categorization in all the right ways. Part missing-person mystery, part comedy about a school teacher coming to grips with her impending divorce, and part drama about long-buried secrets, it has tremendous style right from the start — sardonic, knowing and self-deprecating. The answers to the central mystery may not pack a satisfying punch by the end, but the road there is as entertaining and absorbing as they come. We need more shows like this. A comedy created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez (of the antic YouTube series “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo”), the show has a sensibility all its own, despite a handful of misinformed people on social media calling it a ripoff of “Abbott Elementary.” There’s room enough in the TV landscape for more than one sitcom with a school setting and “English Teacher” has a wonderfully gimlet-eyed point of view of modern high school life. I’m amused that so much of its musical score is Gen-X coded, because that neither applies to Alvarez (a millennial) nor the fictional students he teaches. So why does the show feature everything from Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” to Exposé’s “Point of No Return”? The ’80s were awash in teen stories and maybe the show is using music from that era to invoke all those tropes in order to better subvert them. It’s a compelling idea! It’s streaming on Hulu and worth checking out if you haven’t already. A one-time tennis phenom accuses her former coach of coercing her into a sexual relationship in this British thriller. The intimacy between a coach and athlete often goes unexplored, in real-life or fictional contexts and that’s what the show interrogates: When does it go over the line? It’s smart, endlessly watchable and the kind of series that would likely find a larger audience were it available on a more popular streamer. There’s real tenderness in this show. Real cruelty, too. It’s a potent combination and the show’s third and strongest season won it an Emmy for best comedy. Jean Smart’s aging comic still looking for industry validation and Hannah Einbinder’s needy Gen-Z writer are trapped in an endless cycle of building trust that inevitably gives way to betrayal. Hollywood in a nutshell! “Hacks” is doing variations on this theme every season, but doing it in interesting ways. Nobody self-sabotages their way to success like these two. I was skeptical about the show when it premiered in 2022 . Vampire stories don’t interest me. And the 1994 movie adaptation starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt wasn’t a persuasive argument to the contrary. But great television is great television and nothing at the moment is better than this show. It was ignored by Emmy voters in its initial outing but let’s hope Season 2 gets the recognition it deserves. Under showrunner Rolin Jones, the adaptation of Anne Rice’s novels is richly written, thrillingly inhabited by its cast and so effortlessly funny with a framing device — the interview of the title — that is thick with intrigue and sly comedy. I wouldn’t categorize the series as horror. It’s not scary. But it is tonally self-assured and richly made, rarely focused on the hunt for dinner but on something far more interesting: The melodrama of vampire existence, with its combination of boredom and lust and tragedy and zingers. Already renewed for Season 3, it has an incredible cast (a thrilling late-career boost for Eric Bogosian) and is well worth catching up with if you haven’t already. It’s been too long since the pleasures of banter fueled a romantic comedy in the spirit of “When Harry Met Sally.” But it’s all over the place in “Nobody Wants This,” one of the best shows on Netflix in recent memory. Renewed for a second season, it stars Kristen Bell as a humorously caustic podcaster and Adam Brody as the cute and emotionally intelligent rabbi she falls for. On the downside, the show has some terrible notions about Jewish women that play into controlling and emasculating stereotypes. You hate to see it in such an otherwise sparkling comedy, because overall Bell and Brody have an easy touch that gives the comedy real buoyancy. I suspect few people saw this three-part series on PBS Masterpiece, but it features a terrific performance by Helena Bonham Carter playing the real-life, longtime British soap star Noele “Nolly” Gordon, who was unceremoniously sacked in 1981. She’s the kind of larger-than-life showbiz figure who is a bit ridiculous, a bit imperious, but also so much fun. The final stretch of her career is brought to life by Carter and this homage — to both the soap she starred in and the way she carried it on her back — is from Russell T. Davies (best known for the “Doctor Who” revival). For U.S. viewers unfamiliar with the show or Gordon, Carter’s performance has the benefit of not competing with a memory as it reanimates a slice of British pop culture history from the analog era. The year is 1600 and a stubborn British seaman piloting a Dutch ship washes ashore in Japan. That’s our entry point to this gorgeously shot story of power games and political maneuvering among feudal enemies. Adapted from James Clavell’s 1975 novel by the married team of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, it is filled with Emmy-winning performances (for Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada; the series itself also won best drama) and unlike something like HBO’s far clunkier “House of the Dragon,” which tackles similar themes, this feels like the rare show created by, and for, adults. The misfits and losers of Britain’s MI5 counterintelligence agency — collectively known as the slow horses, a sneering nickname that speaks to their perceived uselessness — remain as restless as ever in this adaptation of Mick Herron’s Slough House spy novels. As a series, “Slow Horses” doesn’t offer tightly plotted clockwork spy stories; think too deeply about any of the details and the whole thing threatens to fall apart. But on a scene-by-scene basis, the writing is a winning combination of wry and tension-filled, and the cumulative effect is wonderfully entertaining. Spies have to deal with petty office politics like everyone else! It’s also one of the few shows that has avoided the dreaded one- or two-year delay between seasons, which has become standard on streaming. Instead, it provides the kind of reliability — of its characters but also its storytelling intent — that has become increasingly rare. Nina Metz is a Tribune critic.

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Fairfax Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Jennifer Porter Releases Article on Steps to Take After Being Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian 12-09-2024 10:30 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Fairfax pedestrian accident lawyer Jennifer Porter ( https://jenniferporterlaw.com/what-should-i-do-immediately-after-being-hit-by-a-car-as-a-pedestrian-Northern-Virginia/ ), of Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, has shared crucial advice on what to do immediately after being hit by a car as a pedestrian. These insights are essential for victims seeking to protect their health and legal rights following such traumatic incidents. Pedestrian accidents can leave individuals in shock and confusion, unsure of the next steps to take. Fairfax pedestrian accident lawyer Jennifer Porter emphasizes the importance of immediate action, which not only aids in physical recovery but also bolsters any potential legal claims. "Knowing the essential steps to take immediately after an accident can help protect your health and preserve critical evidence," Porter advises in the article. The article outlines several critical measures to follow after a pedestrian accident. Jennifer Porter, as an experienced Fairfax pedestrian accident lawyer, underscores the first and most vital step: seeking immediate medical attention. Porter explains that even if injuries appear minor at first, underlying conditions could surface later. "Some injuries may not show symptoms right away, so getting checked by a healthcare provider can help identify any hidden issues," Porter states. Another key aspect highlighted by Jennifer Porter involves reporting the accident to the authorities to establish an official record. Calling 911 helps ensure that vital information is documented, which could be significant for any subsequent legal proceedings. Porter stresses that this step not only serves legal interests but also contributes to the injured party's safety and welfare. Collecting evidence at the scene is also emphasized by the Fairfax pedestrian accident lawyer. Porter encourages victims to take photos of their injuries, the vehicle involved, and the accident location. Capturing images of relevant surroundings such as traffic signs and roadway conditions provides a comprehensive overview of the incident. According to Porter, "A picture is worth a thousand words," making visual documentation an indispensable element in building a strong case. Jennifer Porter also discusses the importance of witness testimonies. If there are onlookers who witnessed the accident, gathering their contact information can be invaluable for future legal steps. Statements from these witnesses may provide additional perspectives that support the injured party's account of the incident. Securing a copy of the police report is another recommendation from Porter. This document contains critical details, including where and when the accident occurred and the responding officer's observations, which often play a crucial role in determining liability. While the police report is essential, Porter advises victims to collect their own observations and notes. "It is possible to present evidence that can override the officer's opinion," Porter notes, highlighting the importance of being proactive. Consulting with a personal injury attorney is the final step recommended in the article. Fairfax pedestrian accident lawyer Jennifer Porter explains that legal representation can help manage interactions with insurance companies, handle claims, and work towards fair compensation for the injured. Given that states such as Virginia adhere to contributory negligence laws, which can bar victims from compensation if they are found partially at fault, having a knowledgeable attorney is vital. Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, is committed to easing the burdens on accident victims. The firm prioritizes client well-being by handling communications with insurance adjusters, gathering evidence, and advocating for fair compensation. Porter's legal team can support clients through settlement negotiations or court proceedings, helping ensure that their rights are upheld at every stage. Jennifer Porter reinforces that the firm's dedication goes beyond just winning cases. "Our priority is to help you make a full and complete recovery from your injuries," Porter states. Porter's approach is designed to allow clients to focus on healing while the firm helps take care of the legal matters. About Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC: Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, is a law firm based in Fairfax, Virginia, well-versed in personal injury cases, including those involving pedestrian accidents. Led by Jennifer Porter, the firm is committed to advocating for victims and helping them secure the compensation necessary for their recovery. Through comprehensive legal support and dedicated representation, Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC, strives to offer each client the compassionate and effective service they deserve. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehe_AqMfzmw GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=1633844614801486416 Email and website Email: jennifer@jenniferporterlaw.com Website: https://jenniferporterlaw.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC Contact Person: Jennifer Porter Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=fairfax-pedestrian-accident-lawyer-jennifer-porter-releases-article-on-steps-to-take-after-being-hit-by-a-car-as-a-pedestrian ] Phone: (571) 532-9070 Address:8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr City: Fairfax State: Virginia 22031 Country: United States Website: https://jenniferporterlaw.com/ This release was published on openPR.

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LINCOLN — Nebraska defensive back Dwight Bootle became the latest Husker to enter the transfer portal after he made his announcement Sunday afternoon over his social media pages. Bootle, a redshirt freshman from Miami, played in three games in 2023, recording two tackles, before suffering a season-ending injury against Northern Illinois. He played in just three games this season for the Huskers. Bootle became the 15th Nebraska football player to announce intentions to enter the portal since Nov. 25 Also planning to leave the program includes: defensive back Mason Jones, running back Ryker Evans, wideouts Dae’Vonn Hall and Malachi Coleman, running backs Gabe Ervin and Emmett Johnson, defensive linemen Kai Wallin, Jimari Butler, James Williams and Vincent Jackson and linebackers, Mikai Gbayor, Stefon Thompson and Princewill Umanmielen. The transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9 and closes on Dec. 28. Nebraska (6-6) will find out its bowl game assignment sometime on Sunday.Thomas scores 25 as Austin Peay defeats Georgia State 62-50

Lewandowski scores his 100th Champions League goal. He is the 3rd player to reach the milestoneOne of my top shows of 2024 actually premiered in 2021. That’s because it took a couple of years for the Australian series “The Newsreader” to make its way Stateside. Alas, it was only legal to stream in the U.S. for a handful of weeks in September and then — pffft! — it was gone before most people had even heard of it. Well, I have great news. The show will be available once again, this time via Sundance Now (accessible through the AMC+ streaming platform), which has licensed the first season. Premiering Dec. 19, it stars Anna Torv (“Fringe”) and Sam Reid (“Interview with the Vampire”) as TV reporters in Melbourne, circa 1986. At the outset, Reid’s character exudes big loser energy, which is such an amusing contrast to his work as Lestat. The show is unexpectedly funny and terrifically Machiavellian in its portrayal of small-time office politics, and I’m thrilled audiences in the U.S. will get another shot at watching it. Overall, 2024 offered a modestly better lineup than usual, but I’m not sure it felt that way. Too often the good stuff got drowned out by Hollywood’s pointless and endless pursuit of rebooting intellectual property (no thank you, Apple’s “Presumed Innocent” ) and tendency to stretch a perfectly fine two-hour movie premise into a saggy multi-part series (“Presumed Innocent” again!). There were plenty of shows I liked that didn’t make this year’s list, including ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and CBS’ “Ghosts” (it’s heartening to see the network sitcom format still thriving in the streaming era), as well as Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside” (Ted Danson’s charisma selling an unlikely premise) and Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown” (a high-concept parody of racial stereotypes and cop show tropes, even if it couldn’t sustain the idea over 10 episodes). Maybe it just felt like we were having more fun this year, with Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” (Nicole Kidman leading a traditional manor house mystery reinterpreted with an American sensibility) and Hulu’s “Rivals” (the horniest show of 2024, delivered with a wink in the English countryside). I liked what I saw of Showtime’s espionage thriller “The Agency” (although the bulk of episodes were unavailable as of this writing). The deluge of remakes tends to make me cringe, but this year also saw a redo of Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley” on Netflix that was far classier than most of what’s available on the streamer. Starring Andrew Scott, I found it cool to the touch, but the imagery stayed with me. Shot in black and white, it has an indelible visual language courtesy of director of photography Robert Elswit, whether capturing a crisp white business card against the worn grain wood of a bar top, or winding stairways that alternately suggest a yawning void or a trap. As always, if you missed any of these shows when they originally premiered — the aforementioned titles or the Top 10 listed below — they are all available to stream. Top 10 streaming and TV shows of 2024, in alphabetical order: The least cynical reality show on television remains as absorbing as ever in Season 4, thanks to the probing questions and insights from the show’s resident therapist, Dr. Orna Guralnik. Everything is so charged. And yet the show has a soothing effect, predicated on the idea that human behavior (and misery) isn’t mysterious or unchangeable. There’s something so optimistic in that outlook. Whether or not you relate to the people featured on “Couples Therapy” — or even like them as individuals — doesn’t matter as much as Guralnik’s reassuring presence. Created by and starring Diarra Kilpatrick, the eight-episode series defies categorization in all the right ways. Part missing-person mystery, part comedy about a school teacher coming to grips with her impending divorce, and part drama about long-buried secrets, it has tremendous style right from the start — sardonic, knowing and self-deprecating. The answers to the central mystery may not pack a satisfying punch by the end, but the road there is as entertaining and absorbing as they come. We need more shows like this. A comedy created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez (of the antic YouTube series “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo”), the show has a sensibility all its own, despite a handful of misinformed people on social media calling it a ripoff of “Abbott Elementary.” There’s room enough in the TV landscape for more than one sitcom with a school setting and “English Teacher” has a wonderfully gimlet-eyed point of view of modern high school life. I’m amused that so much of its musical score is Gen-X coded, because that neither applies to Alvarez (a millennial) nor the fictional students he teaches. So why does the show feature everything from Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” to Exposé’s “Point of No Return”? The ’80s were awash in teen stories and maybe the show is using music from that era to invoke all those tropes in order to better subvert them. It’s a compelling idea! It’s streaming on Hulu and worth checking out if you haven’t already. A one-time tennis phenom accuses her former coach of coercing her into a sexual relationship in this British thriller. The intimacy between a coach and athlete often goes unexplored, in real-life or fictional contexts and that’s what the show interrogates: When does it go over the line? It’s smart, endlessly watchable and the kind of series that would likely find a larger audience were it available on a more popular streamer. There’s real tenderness in this show. Real cruelty, too. It’s a potent combination and the show’s third and strongest season won it an Emmy for best comedy. Jean Smart’s aging comic still looking for industry validation and Hannah Einbinder’s needy Gen-Z writer are trapped in an endless cycle of building trust that inevitably gives way to betrayal. Hollywood in a nutshell! “Hacks” is doing variations on this theme every season, but doing it in interesting ways. Nobody self-sabotages their way to success like these two. I was skeptical about the show when it premiered in 2022 . Vampire stories don’t interest me. And the 1994 movie adaptation starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt wasn’t a persuasive argument to the contrary. But great television is great television and nothing at the moment is better than this show. It was ignored by Emmy voters in its initial outing but let’s hope Season 2 gets the recognition it deserves. Under showrunner Rolin Jones, the adaptation of Anne Rice’s novels is richly written, thrillingly inhabited by its cast and so effortlessly funny with a framing device — the interview of the title — that is thick with intrigue and sly comedy. I wouldn’t categorize the series as horror. It’s not scary. But it is tonally self-assured and richly made, rarely focused on the hunt for dinner but on something far more interesting: The melodrama of vampire existence, with its combination of boredom and lust and tragedy and zingers. Already renewed for Season 3, it has an incredible cast (a thrilling late-career boost for Eric Bogosian) and is well worth catching up with if you haven’t already. It’s been too long since the pleasures of banter fueled a romantic comedy in the spirit of “When Harry Met Sally.” But it’s all over the place in “Nobody Wants This,” one of the best shows on Netflix in recent memory. Renewed for a second season, it stars Kristen Bell as a humorously caustic podcaster and Adam Brody as the cute and emotionally intelligent rabbi she falls for. On the downside, the show has some terrible notions about Jewish women that play into controlling and emasculating stereotypes. You hate to see it in such an otherwise sparkling comedy, because overall Bell and Brody have an easy touch that gives the comedy real buoyancy. I suspect few people saw this three-part series on PBS Masterpiece, but it features a terrific performance by Helena Bonham Carter playing the real-life, longtime British soap star Noele “Nolly” Gordon, who was unceremoniously sacked in 1981. She’s the kind of larger-than-life showbiz figure who is a bit ridiculous, a bit imperious, but also so much fun. The final stretch of her career is brought to life by Carter and this homage — to both the soap she starred in and the way she carried it on her back — is from Russell T. Davies (best known for the “Doctor Who” revival). For U.S. viewers unfamiliar with the show or Gordon, Carter’s performance has the benefit of not competing with a memory as it reanimates a slice of British pop culture history from the analog era. The year is 1600 and a stubborn British seaman piloting a Dutch ship washes ashore in Japan. That’s our entry point to this gorgeously shot story of power games and political maneuvering among feudal enemies. Adapted from James Clavell’s 1975 novel by the married team of Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, it is filled with Emmy-winning performances (for Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada; the series itself also won best drama) and unlike something like HBO’s far clunkier “House of the Dragon,” which tackles similar themes, this feels like the rare show created by, and for, adults. The misfits and losers of Britain’s MI5 counterintelligence agency — collectively known as the slow horses, a sneering nickname that speaks to their perceived uselessness — remain as restless as ever in this adaptation of Mick Herron’s Slough House spy novels. As a series, “Slow Horses” doesn’t offer tightly plotted clockwork spy stories; think too deeply about any of the details and the whole thing threatens to fall apart. But on a scene-by-scene basis, the writing is a winning combination of wry and tension-filled, and the cumulative effect is wonderfully entertaining. Spies have to deal with petty office politics like everyone else! It’s also one of the few shows that has avoided the dreaded one- or two-year delay between seasons, which has become standard on streaming. Instead, it provides the kind of reliability — of its characters but also its storytelling intent — that has become increasingly rare. Nina Metz is a Tribune critic.AUSTIN, Texas , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) today announced fiscal 2025 Q2 results. Total quarterly revenues were up 9% year-over-year, in both USD and constant currency, to $14.1 billion . Cloud services and license support revenues were up 12% year-over-year, in both USD and constant currency, to $10.8 billion . Cloud license and on-premise license revenues were up 1% in USD and up 3% in constant currency, to $1.2 billion . Q2 GAAP operating income was $4.2 billion . Non-GAAP operating income was $6.1 billion , up 10% in both USD and constant currency. GAAP operating margin was 30%, and non-GAAP operating margin was 43%. GAAP net income was $3.2 billion . Non-GAAP net income was $4.2 billion , up 12% in both USD and constant currency. Q2 GAAP earnings per share was $1.10 , up 24% in USD and up 23% in constant currency, while non-GAAP earnings per share was $1.47 , up 10% in both USD and constant currency. Short-term deferred revenues were $9.4 billion . Over the last twelve months, operating cash flow was $20.3 billion and free cash flow was $9.5 billion . "Record level AI demand drove Oracle Cloud Infrastructure revenue up 52% in Q2, a much higher growth rate than any of our hyperscale cloud infrastructure competitors," said Oracle CEO, Safra Catz . "Growth in the AI segment of our Infrastructure business was extraordinary—GPU consumption was up 336% in the quarter—and we delivered the world's largest and fastest AI SuperComputer scaling up to 65,000 NVIDIA H200 GPUs. With our remaining performance obligation (RPO) up 50% to $97 billion , we believe our already impressive growth rates will continue to climb even higher. This fiscal year, total Oracle Cloud revenue should top $25 billion ." "Oracle Cloud Infrastructure trains several of the world's most important generative AI models because we are faster and less expensive than other clouds," said Oracle Chairman and CTO, Larry Ellison . "And we just signed an agreement with Meta—for them to use Oracle's AI Cloud Infrastructure—and collaborate with Oracle on the development of AI Agents based on Meta's Llama models. The Oracle Cloud trains dozens of specialized AI models and embeds hundreds of AI Agents in cloud applications. For example, Oracle's AI Agents automate drug design, image and genomic analysis for cancer diagnostics, audio updates to electronic health records for patient care, satellite image analysis to predict and improve agricultural output, fraud and money laundering detection, dual-factor biometric computer logins, and real time video weapons detection in schools. Oracle trained AI models and AI Agents will improve the rate of scientific discovery, economic development and corporate growth throughout the world. The scale of the opportunity is unimaginable." The board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share of outstanding common stock. This dividend will be paid to stockholders of record as of the close of business on January 9, 2025 , with a payment date of January 23, 2025 . Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Oracle will hold a conference call and webcast today to discuss these results at 4:00 p.m. Central. A live and replay webcast will be available on the Oracle Investor Relations website at www.oracle.com/investor/ . About Oracle Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com . Trademarks Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing. "Safe Harbor" Statement: Statements in this press release relating to future plans, expectations, beliefs, intentions and prospects, including the expectations for converting the Remaining Performance Obligations to revenue, future total Oracle Cloud revenue this fiscal year and the scale of opportunity for Oracle trained AI models and AI Agents, are "forward-looking statements" and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties that could affect our current expectations and our actual results, include, among others: our ability to develop new products and services, integrate acquired products and services and enhance our existing products and services, including our AI products; our management of complex cloud and hardware offerings, including the sourcing of technologies and technology components; our ability to secure data center capacity; significant coding, manufacturing or configuration errors in our offerings; risks associated with acquisitions; economic, political and market conditions; information technology system failures, privacy and data security concerns; cybersecurity breaches; unfavorable legal proceedings, government investigations, and complex and changing laws and regulations. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is contained in our SEC filings, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or by contacting Oracle's Investor Relations Department at (650) 506-4073 or by clicking on SEC Filings on the Oracle Investor Relations website at www.oracle.com/investor/ . All information set forth in this press release is current as of December 9, 2024 . Oracle undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events. ORACLE CORPORATION Q2 FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ($ in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended November 30, % Increase % Increase (Decrease) % of % of (Decrease) in Constant 2024 Revenues 2023 Revenues in US $ Currency (1) REVENUES Cloud services and license support $ 10,806 77 % $ 9,639 74 % 12 % 12 % Cloud license and on-premise license 1,195 9 % 1,178 9 % 1 % 3 % Hardware 728 5 % 756 6 % (4 %) (3 %) Services 1,330 9 % 1,368 11 % (3 %) (3 %) Total revenues 14,059 100 % 12,941 100 % 9 % 9 % OPERATING EXPENSES Cloud services and license support 2,746 19 % 2,274 17 % 21 % 21 % Hardware 172 1 % 213 2 % (20 %) (19 %) Services 1,167 8 % 1,253 10 % (7 %) (7 %) Sales and marketing 2,190 16 % 2,093 16 % 5 % 5 % Research and development 2,471 18 % 2,226 17 % 11 % 11 % General and administrative 387 3 % 375 3 % 3 % 3 % Amortization of intangible assets 591 4 % 755 6 % (22 %) (22 %) Acquisition related and other 31 0 % 47 0 % (34 %) (33 %) Restructuring 84 1 % 83 1 % 0 % 1 % Total operating expenses 9,839 70 % 9,319 72 % 6 % 6 % OPERATING INCOME 4,220 30 % 3,622 28 % 17 % 16 % Interest expense (866) (6 %) (888) (7 %) (3 %) (3 %) Non-operating income (expenses), net 36 0 % (14) 0 % * * INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 3,390 24 % 2,720 21 % 25 % 24 % Provision for income taxes 239 2 % 217 2 % 11 % 10 % NET INCOME $ 3,151 22 % $ 2,503 19 % 26 % 26 % EARNINGS PER SHARE: Basic $ 1.13 $ 0.91 Diluted $ 1.10 $ 0.89 WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 2,790 2,746 Diluted 2,869 2,817 (1) We compare the percent change in the results from one period to another period using constant currency disclosure. We present constant currency information to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the exchange rates in effect on May 31, 2024, which was the last day of our prior fiscal year, rather than the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective periods. Movements in international currencies relative to the United States dollar during the three months ended November 30, 2024 compared with the corresponding prior year period increased our operating income by 1 percentage point. * Not meaningful ORACLE CORPORATION Q2 FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (1) ($ in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended November 30, % Increase (Decrease) in US $ % Increase (Decrease) in Constant Currency (2) 2024 2024 2023 2023 GAAP Non-GAAP GAAP Non-GAAP GAAP Adj. Non-GAAP GAAP Adj. Non-GAAP TOTAL REVENUES $ 14,059 $ - $ 14,059 $ 12,941 $ - $ 12,941 9 % 9 % 9 % 9 % TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $ 9,839 $ (1,876) $ 7,963 $ 9,319 $ (1,914) $ 7,405 6 % 8 % 6 % 8 % Stock-based compensation (3)

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Israel, Hezbollah Agree On Lebanon Cease-Fire To End Nearly 14 Months Of Fightingenjoyed a glamorous night out with her 20-year-old daughter, Phoebe, and fans can't get over how alike they look. The mother-daughter duo dazzled as they posed for photos, showing off their chic outfits and radiant smiles. Tess, 55, went all out for the evening, donning a halterneck top adorned with sparkling gold sequins. She paired the festive top with classic black trousers, hoop earrings, and her signature blonde waves styled to perfection. Phoebe complemented her mum's look in a sophisticated black ballgown featuring a crossover design with stylish cut-out detailing. Like Tess, she wore her blonde locks in soft waves and opted for smokey eye makeup paired with a nude lip. The 20-year-old shared the adorable mirror selfie on her social media, captioning it: "All smiles always with mama." Fans were quick to flood the comments section with compliments, with one writing: "Stunners," while another added: "You look so alike!" This festive outing is just one example of . The family, which includes and their younger daughter Amber, often share glimpses of their life together in their stunning six-bedroom home. Vernon recently opened up about their Christmas traditions, revealing how much they enjoy spending time as a family. He told The Sun: "We’re all actually really looking forward to sitting around and playing games this Christmas." You may also like Vernon shared how technology plays a big role in their holiday celebrations. “One of the games we play on the Xbox is called Drawful, and it’s a modern take on Pictionary,” he said. The proud dad also highlighted the importance of balancing digital activities with outdoor pursuits. “Phoebe has taken up golf, which is a joy for me,” he added. “We really encourage the kids to get outside and stay active.” Earlier this month, Tess was overcome with emotion during the semi-final. After professional dancer Dianne Buswell made a heartfelt speech about her celebrity partner Chris McCausland, Tess was visibly moved. Dianne praised Chris, who lost his sight at 22, for embracing the spirit of the competition despite the challenges he faced. She said: “I have taught Chris all this time without a single visual cue. He’s never been able to watch a video back or see his competitors, yet he has captured the spirit of the show.” As the camera cut to Tess, she was seen fighting back tears, a touching reminder of how much Strictly means to those involved. Tess and Phoebe’s festive outing was a celebration of family, fashion, and the holiday spirit. Their dazzling looks and close bond left fans in awe, with many commenting on their striking resemblance. As the family prepares to celebrate Christmas in their beautiful home, one thing is clear: the Dalys know how to balance glamour with heartfelt traditions. Whether it’s a glittering night out or cosy games at home, their bond shines through.Here Are Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller's 5 Biggest Stock Holdings

Some were crime victims. Others lived and died in solitude. Some may have been lost hikers, runaway children, or wanderers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.