There are two ways you can look at my relationship with Christmas. You could say that it brings out the giddy child within, reconnecting me to a simpler time, one before mortgage and relationship stress, and the stress of stressing about being too stressed. Or, you could say a rigid attachment to childish ideals of Christmas magic brings out the unlovable, uncompromising psychotic in me, putting a backlight to the faults and fissures of my adult personality. My family would probably choose the latter. I still have plans to inflict a fair amount of festive cheer on my family this year. Credit: iStock I love Christmas, even the parts that drive other people nuts: the panicked frenzy that descends as December 25 approaches, the endless rotation of jingle-bell jingles in shops, the corny movies, the total inescapability of the season. Even the sprawling shopping malls – anathema to my sensibilities 10 months of the year – transform into wonderlands of festive magic and possibility. My 11-year-old has the good sense to complain when the decorations appear in early October while I rejoice at the opportunity to stretch the season to its tautest limits of plausibility. I love Christmas so much, in fact, that I find it very difficult to enjoy. A family should be functional, if not thriving, for the festivity to register below surface level. Despite being too old to blame my mum, I blame my mum. Having endured a spartan, lonely upbringing herself, she went all out at Christmas for my brother and me. Every December, our lounge room was given over to a towering pine tree covered in delicate Polish glass baubles and fine German tinsel. She baked mince pies, strung the halls with garlands of cards, took us to view the Myer Christmas windows and for Santa photos at David Jones – going to great efforts to maintain the beautiful Santa lie (I was menstruating before I finally stopped believing). Every Christmas morning, I’d wake to an abundance of presents under the tree, wrapped with the care and expertise of a workshop elf. All this is to say, the bar was set high for me when I had my own children. When my daughters were little, I would borrow bags full of Christmas books from the library in late October, displaying them on every available surface, and inviting, or perhaps goading, my girls to acquaint themselves with the festive fantasies that I would never be able to fully realise for them. Because in trying to recreate the memories of my childhood, I often overlooked a few important facts. And to really enjoy Christmas as an adult, a few ducks need to be in a row. A family should be functional, if not thriving, for the festivity to register below surface-level. Bank accounts need to be robust, to prevent an eruption of irritable bowel syndrome every time your children mention their wish lists. And intimate relationships must be harmonious – nothing wilts the spirit more than a late-December frost in relations. These threads have rarely all come together at the same time for me. Life is a tightrope walk of expectation management, and it’s not a skill I would put on my CV. Every year, the same self-mandated Christmas rituals play out, and every year, they fall flat on their arse. Of course they do; I expect too much of them, and of the people participating. Visits to Christmas-light displays are punctuated by my yelps of “HOW MAGICAL IS THIS, GIRLS? CAN YOU FEEL THE MAGIC? ARE YOU ENJOYING THE MAGIC?” Any reaction less than extravagant wonder sends my spirits crashing. My insistence on a non-stop TV diet of Christmas movies is met with resistance, if not outright opprobrium. My youngest daughter is unable to brook any suggestion of onscreen sadness or tension. This rules out most Christmas films, in which there’s always an issue threatening to derail the festive joy. She is also allergic to pine needles. “Just keep your distance,” I advise, when the tree enters the house (during the second week of November), adopting the casual disregard for kids’ safety that characterised my 1980s childhood. But after the desultory experience of Christmas 2021, during which one relative doubled down on extreme right-wing conspiracies, political arguments dominated the lunchtime discourse (and not in the fun, lively way of my fantasy Bohemian family), and my youngest child finished the day with a 38.8-degree fever, I decided, while forking a midnight slice of fruit cake into my downturned mouth, that maybe this would be a good time to start adjusting my expectations. It’s a work in progress. I still have plans to inflict a fair amount of festive cheer on my family this year. But small gains have been made. I have accepted that a life lived messily 10 months of the year can’t suddenly be magicked into perfection come November 1. My 16-year-old will visit Melbourne’s iconic Ivanhoe Christmas lights display, but only if I buy her a case of Pepsi Max; she won’t enjoy the experience, but maybe she’ll look back on it fondly as an adult. Family members will very likely enter into a conversation over lunch about the “woke left” that will have me contemplating a return to immoderate drinking – but isn’t that actually the most authentic and universally understood experience of Christmas Day one can have? And there will be no backyard cricket after lunch, the kind that I have always observed in other people’s families with deep envy. But that’s OK. I’ve never really liked cricket, anyway. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter .CF Industries Holdings Inc. stock falls Thursday, underperforms marketNHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishment711bet code 。

Bears general manager Ryan Poles got it wrong on Matt Eberflus — multiple times — and looked like someone who was still reeling from it as he sat next to his boss Monday. While team president Kevin Warren proclaimed the rebound from firing Eberflus a momentous occasion, Poles was listening to him hammer the biggest hire of his career. “We just came up short too many times and we had to make a change,” Poles conceded. Poles whiffed three times on Eberflus. Perhaps he deserves grace for the first, which was hiring him in January 2022. The Bears started interviewing candidates weeks before they hired Poles and appeared to have already selected finalists without him. He said he had freedom to restart the whole process and chose Eberflus independently, but there was at least indirect influence from chairman George McCaskey’s five-man committee as Poles hired Eberflus two days after he got the job. The bigger misjudgment was keeping Eberflus after the 2023 season. Poles drew overinflated optimism from the defensive uptick and 5-3 record in the second half and didn’t realize the Bears’ epic collapses then were an omen of more to come under Eberflus. In his quest to get everything right in onboarding No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, a quarterback he believed would be a franchise-changer, he missed terribly in retaining Eberflus and hiring offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Poles was heavily involved with Eberflus in choosing Waldron, who was fired after nine games, and gave little explanation for the error Monday. Strike three for Poles came when they canned Waldron after losing to the Patriots on Nov. 10. Eberflus should’ve gone, too. He was 14-29 then, had multiple flubs on the field and at the podium, had three coordinators exit and was spiraling in the wake of miscues at the end of the Commanders game. Plus, players had been voicing complaints about coaching since September. The Bears were 4-5. The season still could’ve been saved. They lost three more games, and now it’s cooked. “It’s hard to go back and figure out if everything would’ve been different,” Poles said of firing Eberflus earlier. “There’s times where you’ve got to see what the issues are... and [are they] repetitive enough to make a move at that time? “We started going down this recent path where things started getting a little bit more repetitive, and that’s when we got together and had that conversation.” But anyone could’ve taken that approach. NFL general managers need to see trouble coming and avoid it, and Poles absolutely had enough datapoints after two-plus seasons to move more quickly. Poles was in Detroit when the consequences of his inaction materialized, first on the field as Eberflus botched the clock and cost the Bears a chance to at least force overtime, then in the locker room. He saw the players’ backlash toward Eberflus, which had been bubbling for weeks, erupt to the point of no return. His overarching responsibility now is to see the future more clearly than he did with Eberflus. While Warren cemented his job as safe for the upcoming offseason, there’s no guarantee beyond that. They’ll lead the search together, but Warren was clear to put the onus on Poles to make the final call. If Poles gets it wrong on the next coach, they’re probably leaving together. That possibility presents something he and Warren must navigate with coaching candidates who will be cautious about stepping into the instability of potentially mismatched timelines. “We’re open to talk through that,” Poles said. “That shouldn’t be an issue at all.” It won’t be that simple. Coveted candidates have options, and they’ll be eager to know exactly how shaky this one is. The higher someone moves up the ladder, the more responsibility they encounter. Eberflus proved his job was too much for him. Poles is facing his last shot to show that’s not true of him.‘Like gold’: Allan government urged to set affordable housing targets

Kane hat trick against Augsburg hides Bayern's concerning lack of goalsWHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 2, 2024-- OPAL Fuels Inc. (Nasdaq: OPAL) announced today the appointment of Darrell P. Birck as Executive Vice President of Biogas. The appointment is effective immediately and Darrell will report to Co-CEOs, Adam Comora and Jonathan Maurer. In this role, Darrell will be responsible for leading OPAL Fuels’ biogas construction and operations businesses, while driving the company's mission of providing “Cleaner, Cheaper, Now” fuel solutions. "I am pleased to welcome Darrell to OPAL Fuels as he brings a wealth of experience in biofuels, chemical manufacturing, and process optimization," said Jonathan Maurer, Co-CEO of OPAL Fuels. "Darrell joins the team at an important time for OPAL Fuels, as we now have 11 renewable natural gas (RNG) facilities in operation and have doubled our annual design capacity over the past two years. His expertise in driving operational efficiencies will be critical to executing against our strategic growth objectives over the next several years - bringing efficiencies to the construction and operations processes in the RNG and renewable power space.” "I look forward to joining and accelerating the execution and deployment of projects at OPAL Fuels, delivering on-time and on-budget results, and enhancing the company’s overall ability to capture and convert biogas into low carbon intensity RNG and renewable power,” said Darrell. “I look forward to building on the existing foundation of success and market leadership.” Darrell brings over 25 years of proven leadership experience across the energy and industrial sectors. Prior to joining OPAL Fuels, Darrell served for over a decade at Koch Industries, including as Senior Vice President for Project Operations at DEPCOM Power, a leading solar energy solutions provider. Before DEPCOM, Darrell was a Senior Director of Operations at Georgia Pacific Corrugated, one of the world's leading manufacturers of tissue, pulp, packaging, and building products, and Vice President of Operations for Biofuels & Ingredients at Flint Hill Resources, overseeing eight biorefineries. Previously, Darrell spent 19 years at Cytec Solvay Group, a specialty chemicals and materials technology company, serving in various positions, most recently as a multi plant manager. (Nasdaq: OPAL) is a leader in the capture and conversion of biogas into low carbon intensity RNG and renewable electricity. OPAL Fuels is also a leader in the marketing and distribution of RNG to heavy-duty trucking and other hard-to-de-carbonize industrial sectors. For additional information and to learn more about OPAL Fuels and how it is leading the effort to capture North America’s harmful methane emissions and decarbonize the economy, please visit . Certain statements in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and generally relate to future events or OPAL Fuels’ (the “Company’s”) future financial or other performance metrics. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and subject to material change. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include various factors beyond management’s control, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nothing in this communication should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this communication, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based. This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy, any securities, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer or securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. View source version on : CONTACT: OPAL Fuels Investors Todd Firestone Vice President Investor Relations and Corporate Development 914-705-4001 ICR, Inc. KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER ENERGY UTILITIES OIL/GAS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES TRUCKING ENGINEERING CHEMICALS/PLASTICS TRANSPORT MANUFACTURING SOURCE: OPAL Fuels, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/02/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/02/2024 04:15 PMEveryone assumed Bill Belichick would pursue a return to coaching, but few anticipated him exploring a college football position. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer saysOrganisers for the South Australian Game Exhibition (SAGE) 2025 have confirmed a strong lineup of South Australian game studios set to show off their latest projects in the returning game showcase. Across the two days of SAGE 2025, attendees will be able to play a range of new and upcoming games, including titles like (Mighty Kingdom) and the lovely, tongue-in-cheek (Coastal Derrieres). Over 35 games will be present and playable, with local developers getting a chance to showcase their talents and engage with a wide audience, as part of the Adelaide Fringe festival. As noted by SAGE, there are 14 new game studios showcasing for the first time during the event, with this providing an all-important hands-on opportunity to test their games. attended SAGE 2024 as a guest of the organisation team, and found it was a , with so many fantastic projects on show. SAGE 2025 aims to be bigger and brighter, with a more diverse array of games, and more opportunities for learning. As noted, there’s an expanded program of “SAGE Advice” talks this year, with a range of developers and industry experts set to share their thoughts on entering the games industry, developing games, evolving technology, and more. Here’s the full list of studios and games set to feature at SAGE 2025: In addition, there will also be a range of smaller games on show in the SAGE Elevate Showcase: What’s nice to see in this mix of games is there’s so many brand new projects set to be on show, with not much overlap between SAGE 2025 and SAGE 2024. For those who attended the show in 2024, there’ll be plenty of new projects to explore in a returning visit. According to organisers, this was intentional, to showcase the vast scope of talent in SA. “South Australia’s games sector is an incredibly exciting industry that is growing rapidly,” Andrea Michael, SA Arts Minister said in a press release. “Our state is home to brilliant creative minds and the games industry presents significant opportunities for South Australia. The event brings together video game designers, studios, and fans to connect and collaborate.” “After the huge success of this year’s SAGE: SA Game Exhibition which saw more than 2,000 people flock to the SAFC’s Adelaide Studios, the SAFC is thrilled to be presenting SAGE for a third exciting year in 2025, with a record number of SA studios exhibiting their video games across a packed two-day program,” Leanne Saunders, SAFC Head of Production and Development said. “The SA games sector is brimming with inventive and skilled developers and artists, and SAGE offers a unique chance to play and experience their exciting original video games and bold creative concepts first-hand.” takes place from at in Glenside, South Australia.Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ third bid to be released on bail won’t be decided until next week