Category: News
Terry Rozier del Heat pide a jueza desestimar cargos por apuestas
Por MICHAEL R. SISAK
NUEVA YORK (AP) — Los abogados del jugador del Heat de Miami Terry Rozier han solicitado a una jueza que desestime los cargos de apuestas deportivas que lo han mantenido fuera de la cancha esta temporada, al argumentar que el gobierno se extralimitó al convertir una disputa privada sobre el uso de información que no era pública por parte de apostadores en un caso federal.
En una moción para desestimar el caso, hecha pública el martes, los abogados de Rozier argumentaron que la teoría del gobierno —acerca de que el jugador impidió que las casas de apuestas tomaran decisiones informadas sobre aceptar ciertas apuestas— infringe un fallo reciente de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos que restringió el estatuto federal de fraude electrónico.
Los fiscales federales en Brooklyn alegan que Rozier, de 31 años, ayudó a los apostadores al avisar a un amigo que abandonaría antes de lo previsto un partido en marzo de 2023 debido a una supuesta lesión. El amigo, Deniro “Niro” Laster, quien también está acusado, compartió o vendió la información a otros, quienes realizaron apuestas de más de 250.000, dijeron los fiscales.
“El gobierno ha presentado este caso como algo que involucra ‘apuestas internas’ y ‘amaño’ de partidos de baloncesto profesional”, escribieron los abogados de Rozier, James M. Trusty y A. Jeff Ifrah, en la moción. “Pero la acusación alega algo menos llamativo: que algunos apostadores violaron los términos de uso de ciertas casas de apuestas al apostar basándose en información no pública y ‘apuestas hechas en nombre de otras personas’”.
Rozier estaba en los Hornets de Charlotte en ese momento y la información sobre su salida anticipada no estaba en el reporte de lesiones del equipo, ni fue compartida con el público o las casas que aceptan apuestas en partidos de la NBA y actuaciones de jugadores, dijeron los fiscales.
El base se declaró inocente el 8 de diciembre de los cargos de complot para cometer fraude electrónico y lavado de dinero. Fue liberado bajo una fianza de 3 millones de dólares y debe regresar a la corte para una audiencia ante la jueza federal de distrito LaShann DeArcy Hall, el 3 de marzo.
Sus cargos fueron parte de una redada de más de 30 personas en el desmantelamiento de dos operaciones de apuestas extensas: una que, según las autoridades, filtró información interna sobre jugadores de la NBA y otra que involucraba partidas de póker amañadas y respaldadas por la mafia.
Los cargos han planteado preguntas sobre la integridad de los partidos de la NBA en una era de legalización y de numerosas “apuestas de proposición”, lo que llevó a la liga a ajustar sus requisitos de informes de lesiones.
Un portavoz de la oficina de los fiscales federales en Brooklyn declinó comentar sobre la moción de Rozier.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Jueza avala ley de licencias de conducir en Nueva York, rechaza impugnación del gobierno de Trump
Por MICHAEL R. SISAK
NUEVA YORK (AP) — Una jueza federal avaló el martes la llamada Ley Luz Verde de Nueva York, rechazando el intento del gobierno federal de impedir que el estado expida licencias de conducir a personas sin que demuestren que están en el país legalmente.
La jueza de distrito Anne M. Nardacci, en Albany, dictaminó que la administración federal —que impugnó la ley como parte de la ofensiva del presidente Donald Trump contra la inmigración ilegal— no había logrado sustentar sus afirmaciones de que la ley estatal usurpa la ley federal o que ilegalmente regula o discrimina al gobierno federal.
El Departamento de Justicia demandó al estado por la ley en febrero, nombrando como acusados a la gobernadora Kathy Hochul y a la fiscal general del estado, Letitia James. En una conferencia de prensa en la que anunció la demanda, la secretaria de Justicia federal, Pam Bondi, acusó a las funcionarias, ambas demócratas, de dar prioridad a los “extranjeros ilegales sobre los ciudadanos estadounidenses”.
“Como dije desde el principio, nuestras leyes protegen los derechos de todos los neoyorquinos y mantienen nuestras comunidades seguras”, comentó James el viernes en un comunicado. “Siempre defenderé a los neoyorquinos y al Estado de derecho”.
Se dejó un mensaje al Departamento de Justicia en el que se le solicitan comentarios.
Nardacci, nombrada para el cargo por el presidente Joe Biden, un demócrata, escribió en una opinión de 23 páginas que su trabajo no era evaluar la conveniencia de la Ley Luz Verde como una cuestión de política. Más bien era evaluar si los argumentos del gobierno de Trump establecían que la ley viola la Cláusula de Supremacía de la Constitución de Estados Unidos, que otorga precedencia a las leyes federales sobre las leyes estatales.
La administración federal, escribió, no ha “logrado demostrar tal afirmación”.
La Ley Luz Verde se promulgó en parte para mejorar la seguridad pública en las calles, ya que las personas sin licencias a veces conducen de todas maneras, o sin haber pasado un examen de manejo. El estado también facilita que los titulares de dichas licencias obtengan un seguro de automóvil, reduciendo así los accidentes que involucran a conductores sin seguro.
De acuerdo con la referida ley, las personas que no tienen un número de Seguro Social válido pueden presentar formas alternativas de identificación, como pasaportes válidos y licencias de conducir emitidas en otros países. Los solicitantes aún deben obtener un permiso y pasar un examen de manejo para calificar para una “licencia de conducir estándar”. El proceso no es válido para las licencias de conducir comerciales.
La demanda del Departamento de Justicia alegaba que la ley era “un ataque frontal a las leyes federales de inmigración y a las autoridades federales que las administran”. Destacó una cláusula que requiere que el comisionado del Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados del estado informe a las personas que están en el país ilegalmente cuando una agencia federal de inmigración haya solicitado su información.
En 2020, durante el primer mandato de Trump, su gobierno intentó presionar a Nueva York para que cambiara la ley impidiendo que cualquier persona del estado se inscribiera en programas de viajeros confiables, lo que significaba que pasarían más tiempo en las filas de seguridad en los aeropuertos.
El gobernador en ese momento, Andrew Cuomo, ofreció restaurar el acceso federal a los registros de conducción de manera limitada, pero dijo que no permitiría que los agentes de inmigración vieran listas de personas que habían solicitado las licencias especiales disponibles para inmigrantes que no podían demostrar residencia legal en Estados Unidos. El gobierno federal finalmente restauró el acceso de los neoyorquinos al programa de viajeros confiables después de una breve disputa legal.
En la demanda rechazada el martes, el gobierno de Trump argumentó que podría ser más fácil hacer cumplir las prioridades de inmigración federal si las autoridades federales tuvieran acceso sin restricciones a la información de conductores de Nueva York. Nardacci, haciendo eco de un fallo de la Corte de Apelaciones del 2do distrito federal en una impugnación anterior de un secretario del condado a la ley, escribió que dicha información “permanece disponible para las autoridades de inmigración federales” a través de una orden judicial.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Sexting Banned In China? Beijing Stiffens Penalties For Sharing “Obscene” Material
Sexting Banned In China? Beijing Stiffens Penalties For Sharing “Obscene” Material
China is tightening its grip on digital content with a new rule banning the sharing of “obscene” material in private online messages, a move that could capture consensual adult exchanges like sexting and further blur the lines between public morality and personal privacy.
Effective January 1, the revised regulations also stiffen penalties for disseminating pornographic content, allowing authorities to impose 10- to 15-day detentions and fines of up to roughly $700 – up from a prior ceiling of about $420.
Washington Post reports:
While the revision will target the dissemination of pornography and exploitative images — which are also strictly regulated in countries including the United States — it may also mean that consensual sexting could also be dragged into China’s legal system. It will cover messages sent on WeChat, the ubiquitous Chinese social media app, and will particularly target cases involving minors, state media reported Tuesday.
The announcement comes after a controversy this summer about explicit content circulating online. Chinese state media reported in July that a chat group on Telegram called “MaskPark” was distributing sexually explicit photos of women taken without their consent — with hidden cameras or in intimate settings. The exposé of the group, which reportedly had more than 100,000 members comprised mostly of Chinese men, prompted uproar online — with discussions focusing on deeply entrenched issues of sexism in Chinese society.
Rose Luqiu, a Chinese internet expert at Hong Kong Baptist University, described the changes to the Post as a “positive development” for shielding minors, though she noted the rules’ scope may prove “very broad” and open to “excessive interpretations” by enforcers. “This raises concerns about whether it could lead to public power intruding into individuals’ private lives,” Luqiu said.
The measures fit into a wider push to sanitize China’s internet landscape.
In September, the Cyberspace Administration of China kicked off a two-month sweep targeting posts that stir “violent or hostile sentiment,””hostility and conflict,” or “world-weariness”—explicitly encompassing gloomy economic commentary, the BBC reported at the time. That effort carried into December, with Shanghai regulators deleting over 40,000 posts and sanctioning more than 70,000 real estate-linked accounts and livestreams for alleged doom-mongering in the struggling housing market, according to Reuters. Authorities cast these actions as vital for social stability and countering misinformation, even as analysts see them as part of an accelerating drive to mute frank debate on China’s economic slowdown and property woes.
Some experts argue that China’s ever-tightening restrictions on free speech represent a flawed strategy—one that amounts to wishful thinking by attempting to suppress discussion of the country’s deep-seated economic and social challenges rather than addressing them directly.
“If anything, contemporary Chinese history has repeatedly demonstrated that top-down ideological campaigns can hardly eradicate the social roots of problems,” Simon Sihang Luo, an assistant professor of social sciences at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, told the BBC. “Even with a powerful government like the Chinese one, it is hard to arrest pessimist sentiments when the economy looks bleak, the job market is cruelly competitive, and birth rate hits rock bottom.”
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/23/2025 – 21:20
Brooks Koepka se convierte en el primer jugador en desertar de LIV
Por DOUG FERGUSON
Brooks Koepka, cinco veces campeón de torneos major, se convirtió en el primer jugador en desertar la LIV Golf, un golpe significativo para la liga financiada por Arabia Saudí y que deja en duda si podrá regresar a la Gira de la PGA.
LIV Golf publicó un anuncio en su sitio Web bajo un comunicado, según el cual, Talor Gooch será el nuevo capitán del equipo Smash que Koepka había liderado.
Scott O’Neil, el nuevo director general de LIV, dijo que el golfista saliente y la liga saudí “acordaron de manera amistosa y mutua” que Koepka ya no competirá en la liga.
“Brooks está priorizando las necesidades de su familia y permaneciendo más cerca de casa”, afirmó O’Neil. “Apreciamos el impacto significativo que ha tenido en el juego y le deseamos éxito continuo, tanto dentro como fuera del campo”.
LIV no revela contratos, pero se creía que a Koepka le quedaba otro año desde que se unió en junio de 2022.
La política de la PGA, que veta de sus torneos a los jugadores que se han unido a la liga rival, requiere que se ausenten durante un año desde su última participación. LIV terminó su temporada el 24 de agosto.
Koepka comenzó su carrera en la gira europea y podría volver ahí. Jugó cuatro eventos del tour europeo este año, terminando cuarto en el Abierto de Francia una semana antes de la Copa Ryder. Participó en la Copa Ryder 2023, pero no fue considerado este año debido a su mala forma.
Blake Smith, el representante de Koepka en Hambric Sports, dijo que no habría comentarios más allá de una declaración emitida a través de LIV Golf en la que Koepka está agradecido por su tiempo en la liga saudí.
“La familia siempre ha guiado las decisiones de Brooks, y él siente que este es el momento adecuado para pasar más tiempo en casa”, indicó en la declaración. “Brooks continuará siendo un gran partidario de LIV Golf y desea a la liga y a sus jugadores éxito continuo. Brooks sigue apasionado por el juego de golf y mantendrá a los fanáticos informados sobre lo que viene”.
Koepka había alertado a la PGA de sus planes antes del anuncio de LIV, según una persona al tanto de la comunicación. La persona habló bajo condición de anonimato porque no se ha divulgado públicamente.
El primer paso para que Koepka regrese sería solicitar de nuevo la membresía.
Koepka, quien pasó 47 semanas en el puesto número uno del mundo en 2018 y 2019, fue uno de los fichajes más importantes de LIV en 2022, cuando se lanzó. Había estado lidiando con lesiones y luego sugirió que podría no haberse unido si su salud hubiera sido mejor.
El estadounidense fue el primer jugador de LIV en ganar un torneo importante en 2023 cuando conquistó el Campeonato de la PGA en Oak Hill para su quinto major. Bryson DeChambeau ganó el Abierto de Estados Unidos el año siguiente.
LIV no precisó cómo se reemplazaría a Koepka.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
El Salvador: Bukele responde a Hillary Clinton sobre supuestas torturas a venezolanos en megacárcel
Associated Press
SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El presidente salvadoreño Nayib Bukele dijo a la ex secretaria de Estado de Estados Unidos, Hillary Clinton, que si ella está convencida de que hay torturas en el Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), El Salvador está dispuesto a colaborar y liberar a toda la población carcelaria del país centroamericano.
Bukele reaccionó así en su cuenta de la red social X luego que la exsecretaria Clinton compartiera un enlace de un reportaje en video producido por el medio estadounidense ProPublica para FRONTLINE titulado “Surviving CECOT”. Este incluye testimonios de venezolanos que afirman haber sufrido torturas en esa megaprisión de máxima seguridad que Bukele mandó a construir para recluir a los pandilleros más peligrosos del país y donde fueron trasladados venezolanos que, según alega el gobierno del presidente Donald Trump, son presuntos miembros de la pandilla Tren de Aragua.
“¿Tienes curiosidad por saber más sobre CECOT? Escucha a Juan, Andry y Wilmer compartir de primera mano cómo la administración Trump los tildó de pandilleros sin pruebas y los deportó a la brutal prisión salvadoreña”, escribió Clinton en X.
Bukele contestó a Clinton que, si ella está convencida de que “en el CECOT se están produciendo torturas, El Salvador está dispuesto a cooperar plenamente”.
Como segundo mensaje, Bukele aseveró que están “dispuestos a liberar” a toda la población carcelaria que hay en El Salvador, “incluidos los líderes de pandillas” y los “descritos como ‘presos políticos’ a cualquier país dispuesto a recibirlos”, aunque el gobernante señaló que tiene una “única condición”: “deben ser todos”.
Según el video reportaje compartido, los venezolanos cuentan cómo fueron arrestados en Estados Unidos y cómo fueron supuestamente maltratados al llegar a El Salvador y ser trasladados al CECOT.
Andry Blanco Bonilla aseguró en el vídeo que recibieron golpes de los custodios y que “las esposas estaban tan apretadas que nos hicieron lesiones en los tobillos, muchos botan incluso sangre porque nos cortábamos con las mismas esposas”.
Bukele rechazó públicamente las denuncias.
Pentagon Partners With xAI Service For Military’s Growing Artificial Intelligence Toolset
Pentagon Partners With xAI Service For Military’s Growing Artificial Intelligence Toolset
Authored by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
The U.S. military is set to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) toolset in a new partnership with Elon Musk’s xAI service.
The xAI and Grok logos are seen in an illustration photo on Feb. 16, 2025. Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Musk’s xAI service owns the Grok family of generative AI chatbots, which are available on the X social media platform. Those Grok-based models are now set to join the military’s GenAI.mil platform of artificial intelligence tools, which the Pentagon launched earlier this month.
The xAI models will integrate with GenAI.mil in early 2026, according to a Dec. 22 Pentagon press statement.
The Pentagon said xAI’s models will allow both uniformed and civilian personnel within the Department of War to securely handle so-called controlled unclassified information in their daily workflows. The term “controlled unclassified information” describes materials that are not considered classified, but which are not marked for public release.
“Users will also gain access to real‑time global insights from the X platform, providing War Department personnel with a decisive information advantage,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
On Dec. 9, the Pentagon announced the launch of GenAI.mil as the central platform for onboarding different artificial intelligence models and capabilities into the military’s various workflows. This artificial intelligence platform launched with Google’s Gemini for Government AI service, but the Pentagon said from the start that it planned for “several frontier AI capabilities to be housed on GenAI.mil.”
At launch, GenAI.mil was made available for desktops used at the Pentagon and across military installations around the world.
“The War Department will continue scaling an AI ecosystem built for speed, security, and decision superiority,” the Pentagon said Monday.
Artificial intelligence was one of six critical technologies identified by the Pentagon last month, alongside quantum computing, biomanufacturing, directed energy weapons, hypersonic weapons, and innovations for conducting logistical operations in contested spaces.
“We are pushing all of our chips in on artificial intelligence as a fighting force. The Department is tapping into America’s commercial genius, and we’re embedding generative AI into our daily battle rhythm,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said earlier this month.
In a company statement on Monday, xAI described its venture with the Pentagon as a long-term partnership.
“In addition to Enterprise use cases, xAI is bringing the power of Frontier AI and real-time insights directly to the warfighter,” the company said. “Through an ongoing, long-term partnership with the DoW and other mission partners, xAI will make available a family of government-optimized foundation models to support classified operational workloads.”
This summer, the Pentagon awarded contracts to xAI, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI to develop artificial intelligence capabilities for the military. Those contracts each came with a $200 million ceiling.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/23/2025 – 20:55
Which Countries Export The Most Christmas Decorations?
Which Countries Export The Most Christmas Decorations?
Christmas decorations are a global business, with supply chains that stretch across continents well before the holiday season begins. From ornaments and lights to artificial trees and festive displays, most of these products are manufactured and shipped months in advance.
This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte, highlights the world’s largest exporters of Christmas decorations in 2024.
The data for this visualization comes from UN Comtrade via Statista.
China’s Overwhelming Lead
China is by far the world’s largest exporter of Christmas decorations. In 2024, it shipped $5.97 billion worth of festive goods globally. This figure is more than 20 times larger than that of the second-ranked exporter.
China’s dominance reflects its massive manufacturing base, cost efficiencies, and deep integration into global retail supply chains. For many countries, Christmas decorations are almost synonymous with Chinese production.
Europe’s Specialized Exporters
The Netherlands ranks second, exporting roughly $249 million in Christmas decorations. While small compared to China, the country acts as a key logistics and re-export hub within Europe.
Germany, Poland, France, and Denmark also appear among the top exporters. These countries often focus on higher-quality or niche products, including premium ornaments, lighting, and traditional designs that cater to European and North American markets.
Rising Asian and Regional Suppliers
Beyond China, several Asian countries play growing roles in this market. India exported $117 million worth of Christmas decorations in 2024, while Cambodia shipped about $103 million. These countries are increasingly attractive to manufacturers looking to diversify supply chains.
Mexico and the U.S. also appear in the top 10, reflecting regional production aimed at serving nearby markets more efficiently and reducing shipping times.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The World’s Biggest Importers in 2024 on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/23/2025 – 20:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/which-countries-export-most-christmas-decorations
5 things we learned from the Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams fueled by naysayers when told ‘I can’t win here’
The Chicago Bears’ agenda this week couldn’t be more clear: Beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday and clinch the NFC North Division.
It will take a Bears win or a Green Bay Packers loss (or a tie from each) during each team’s remaining schedule for the Bears to win the division for the first time since 2018.
The team took a moment Tuesday to celebrate three of their own — safety Kevin Byard III and offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman — being named to the Pro Bowl, but their focus is locked on one of the tough opponents they’ll see all season.
“We’ve got a tall task ahead of us,” coach Ben Johnson said. “I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge. A lot of stuff (is) going on this week with distractions potentially and things of that nature, but I think it’ll be a good thing for us to go on the road and really focus in on this game.”
Here are five things we learned on Tuesday.
1. The Niners put on a showcase on “Monday Night Football.”
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey runs in for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
The Bears didn’t need a reminder of how daunting the perennial playoff contender can be, but they got one anyway during the 49ers’ 48-27 road win over the Indianapolis Colts in prime time.
San Francisco produced 440 yards of total offense and 28 first downs, while dominating time of possession 33:05 to 26:55.
“They’re playing high-level football,” Ben Johnson said. “Last few weeks, (they’ve had) what, a five-game winning streak? I think they’re averaging over 30 points a game over that span (34.4, to be exact); 48 last night. They haven’t punted the ball in a bit.”
The Niners have had 19 consecutive possessions without punting, dating back to Week 13’s 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns (they had a Week 14 bye and ended one Week 15 drive against the Tennessee Titans with a lost fumble).
“I think (49ers Head Coach Kyle) Shanahan is one of the best, if not the best, in the business in terms of doing this, calling plays at a high level for as long as he has,” Johnson said. “He’s probably the first to truly marry that run game and pass game as well as you see some of these other teams doing it now.
“You always like to turn on that San Francisco tape each week, whether you’re playing them or not, just to look at some of the stuff that they’re doing.”
Kevin Byard admired the versatility of Shanahan’s system:
“When you talk about Christian McCaffrey, (who has) been one of the best running backs in this league, running the ball — and I think he’s more dangerous out of the backfield, being a receiver,” he said. “George Kittle being one of the most versatile tight ends in the league, blocking, catching, doing all those good things. And then obviously, Kyle Juszczyk, who they say he’s a fullback, but they use him a lot of different ways: as a tight end, good receiver.
“So I’ve got a lot of respect for Kyle Shanahan and what he’s done this year.”
2. Caleb Williams went full “Rudy” at the podium Tuesday.
Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams talks after a game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Soldier Field. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
It’s a classic scene from the movie “Rudy.”
Motivational janitor Fortune (played by Charles S. Dutton) chastises everyone’s favorite underdog, Rudy Ruettiger (played by Sean Astin), for quitting the Notre Dame football team despite defying the odds: “You’re 5 feet nothin’, 100 and nothin’, and you’ve got hardly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years.”
When asked about taking any personal satisfaction in the team’s success, Williams must’ve been channeling “Rudy,” because he skipped right past all the draft pundits who called him a generational talent two years ago and honed in on the naysayers.
“I’ve said it in a couple of speeches that I’ve had before that I wasn’t the biggest, I wasn’t the strongest, I wasn’t the tallest, fastest, whatever the case may be. I get drafted here, (and I’m) told that I’m not a special player, told that I’m not a good fit here, told that Coach (Ben Johnson) and I won’t work. I’m told I can’t win here.
“And so I know that’s going to keep going on, but I do take a little satisfaction (in) being able to help this team, help this organization, (being) a part of it to get to the playoffs. And my goal isn’t to just get to the playoffs, my goal is to win and win big.”
3. D’Marco Jackson apologizes for his “crowd-surfing” penalty.
Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Ben Johnson has been tight-jawed when asked about the 10 penalties the Bears committed during their 22-16 win against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
“Those 15-yard penalties, they really add up,” Johnson said Monday. “We ended up having four of them on the game.”
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Two were for roughing the passer, but the other two were for unnecessary roughness, which was grating to Johnson.
“All the other 15-yarders, as far as I’m concerned, those are all preventable and at times egregious,” he said. “We can’t do that.”
On Tuesday, D’Marco Jackson explained what was going through his mind when he led off the game with an unnecessary roughness penalty while covering the opening kick return.
He jumped on top of the scrum that formed around returner Bo Melton and drew a flag.
“You’re talking about my ‘crowd-surfing?’” Jackson asked. “That’s what everybody around me’s calling it. Man, I hate I put the defense in that situation, that field position, the ball starting on the 50.”
The Packers started on their 47-yard line, but the point is taken.
“I just had a lot of emotion going into that game. … You ever seen that game where you’re trying to catch the …”
Whac-a-Mole?
“Yeah, I just seen that little yellow helmet popping up and I tried to get me some,” Jackson said.
But he said whichever unit he’s on, special teams or defense, the goal is to eliminate penalties.
“It ain’t good football being played, so we’ve got to do better about being more disciplined,” Jackson said.
4. Kevin Byard picked up two awards on Tuesday.
When Kevin Byard stepped onto the podium to talk to reporters Tuesday, he already knew he had been named to the Pro Bowl, but he was surprised when informed of another honor.
He was presented with the Jeff Dickerson Good Guy Award for exceptional cooperation with the media, given by the Chicago chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. He was a unanimous choice.
“Thank you to everybody who voted for me, that’s definitely an awesome award,” Byard said. “Honestly, every single day I just try to be as authentic as I possibly can. I try to be a good human being and just try to be the same person every day. “
The award is named for the ESPN reporter who covered the Bears for two decades and died of colon cancer in 2021.
Byard turned to Dickerson’s parents, who were in attendance.
“I honestly didn’t know I was getting the award,” he said. “I didn’t know the award was named after your son. Actually, this past week my wife and I have worked with the Rally Foundation. It funds cancer research for children’s cancer. … For the holidays, we hosted a milk and cookies party for the children.
“We have worked with them for the past nine years and it’s been an awesome thing. So I definitely know the impact of what cancer can do to people.”
For winning the award, Byard will receive a $1,000 donation to the charity of his choice from the Vaughn McClure & Jeff Dickerson Foundation.
5. Byard has his pick of picks.
Chicago Bears free safety Kevin Byard celebrates after his interception in the third quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Nov. 28, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Bears free safety has a league-leading six interceptions, including picks against the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders (two), New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
Asked about his favorite, or most impactful, Byard chose his third-quarter interception against the Eagles in which he hunted the ball down from the deep middle of the field and caught it near the sideline.
“The pick I had in Philly was probably the more special one just because obviously I’m from Philly,” he said. “(Eagles quarterback) Jalen Hurts hadn’t really turned the ball over a lot, at least up until that point, and just the range I was able to show to go get it.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/chicago-bears-caleb-williams-fueled-by-naysayers/
Familias hacen “peregrinación de la masa” para tamales navideños en popular tienda de LA
Por JAIMIE DING
LOS ÁNGELES (AP) — Christina Chavarria ya había preparado casi 200 tamales, pero regresó al mercado Amapola, en el sur de California, el martes temprano más masa.
La masa de maíz de ahí era la mejor, así que no le molestaba que la fila rodeara el estacionamiento.
“Siempre está sazonada a la perfección, lista para usar”, afirmó Chavarria.
Durante la temporada navideña, decenas de miles de personas se dirigen a una de las tres ubicaciones del mercado en el área metropolitana de Los Ángeles en busca de la masa recién hecha, que es un ingrediente básico para los tamales. Muchas familias latinoamericanas se reunirán para hacerlos como si fuera una línea de montaje, extendiendo la masa sobre hojas de maíz secas y rellenándola con ingredientes dulces y salados.
Chavarria está emocionada de hacerlos este año con su madre y su hija de 26 años, quien “está en esa edad en la que no siempre quiere hacer cosas conmigo”. Su madre traerá chiles asados de El Paso, Texas, dando a sus tamales un toque de la herencia familiar de Chihuahua, México.
El mercado Amapola lo llama la “peregrinación anual de la masa”.
“Queremos que tengan una buena Navidad”, dijo el director general Rolando Pozos. “Se convierte más en una responsabilidad que en un trabajo”.
Algunos de los clientes del mercado viajan desde lugares tan lejanos como Bakersfield, California, o Las Vegas. Muchos llegan antes del amanecer para hacer fila. Un grupo condujo desde Hesperia, a unos 95 kilómetros (60 millas) de distancia, y acampó durante la noche para estar en la ubicación de Downey temprano el martes.
Pozos no toma a la ligera la responsabilidad de 64 años del supermercado. La masa es tan crucial para las fiestas que, en 2016, cuando el supermercado vendió masa en mal estado que enfermó a algunas personas, los clientes leales declararon que la Navidad estaba arruinada. La empresa prometió hacer mejor las cosas.
Con su cabello canoso peinado hacia atrás, Pozos es bien conocido por los clientes habituales de la tienda, repartiendo apretones de manos y saludos personales en español. Pozos es un personaje habitual en las cadenas de televisión locales para mostrar el arte de hacer tamales. Tomó el mando de la empresa hace cinco años y dice que está orgulloso de mantener los precios estables por tercer año consecutivo, ya que las familias sienten la presión de la inflación.
Los precios son importantes para las familias que generalmente hacen cientos de tamales a la vez y necesitan mucha masa, dijo Melissa Perkins, quien estaba esperando en la fila con su padre. Su familia ha usado la masa del mercado Amapola durante casi 30 años, desde antes de que ella naciera. La línea de producción ahora incluye una veintena de hermanos, sobrinos, tías y tíos.
“Esta es la masa favorita de mi mamá”, comentó Perkins.
La tienda vende masas preparadas para tamales salados como de cerdo y enchilada, hasta versiones más dulces con sabor a piña y fresa. También hay otros usos, como para tortillas y champurrado, una bebida caliente mexicana.
En la temporada alta, los empleados comienzan a producir bolsas de masa a las 3 de la mañana todos los días, y salen por la puerta tan rápido como se producen.
En la parte trasera, el maíz cocido se entrega para ser molido en enormes cubas en combinación con sal, manteca y otros ingredientes en mezcladoras industriales. Los tazones se elevan 2 metros y medio (8 pies) en el aire y se vierten en un embudo gigante que llena bolsas que luego son doblemente embolsadas por un trabajador. Detrás de ellos, cientos de tortillas recién hechas salen en una cinta transportadora.
Después de llegar a las 4:15 de la mañana en pijama, Giselle Salazar esperó con su hermana y prima, abrigadas en mantas mientras se ponían al día. Algunas familias enviaron a niños somnolientos a mantener su lugar en la fila mientras buscaban estacionamiento a cuadras de distancia, trayendo sillas y bocadillos cuando regresaron.
Las tres mujeres estuvieron esperando nuevamente dos horas después en una fila separada por más masa de piña.
“Al principio sólo eran nuestras mamás juntas”, dijo Salazar. “Básicamente nos pasaron la antorcha. Somos la nueva generación de tías”.
Ya habían llenado una pequeña carretilla y un carrito de compras con casi 45 kilos (100 libras) de masa. La prima Alexa Campos examinó cada bolsa cuidadosamente, intercambiando una que parecía aguada en el fondo. La consistencia es clave para que los tamales se cocinen adecuadamente, dijo.
“Después de Navidad, terminamos con los tamales por el resto del año”, expresó Campos. “Porque hacemos muchos y los comemos durante una semana seguida”.
A medida que salía el Sol, la fila afuera del mercado Amapola avanzaba, pero más personas llegaban igual de rápido.
Mark Monroy estaba transmitiendo la tradición a su hija de 9 años, Avery, llevándola en la travesía de la masa por primera vez. Condujeron una hora y media desde Riverside.
Criado en el área metropolitana de Los Ángeles, Monroy tiene recuerdos de ir a Amapola cuando era niño, por lo que su familia regresa cada año a pesar de haberse mudado.
“Puedes tener un poco de regalos o tal vez ni siquiera ningún regalo en ciertos años, pero siempre tendrás un tamal para desenvolver”, dijo Monroy.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
No Excuses: Throw A Party!
No Excuses: Throw A Party!
Authored by Jeffrey A. Tucker via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
So many people these days are reluctant ever to throw a house party. The house is too messy. Cannot cook. It costs too much money. Not enough friends. No real dining table. I’m too busy. No one will show up anyway. And so on.
Millions this holiday season will sit at home wishing they had some party to attend. They will think their lives lack meaning and adventure, as they scroll through their social feeds that reveal people they know living their best lives. This is a perfect prescription for depression and substance abuse.
There is something you can do about it. Throw a party yourself. Invite everyone you know. Pack them all in. Even if they sit on the floor. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is the human connection you have enabled and the lives you will make better, including your own.
It just takes a bit of bravery.
To be sure, it is more expensive to entertain now than it ever has been. That said, there are cheaper options out there, including making all the food yourself. This is where people get confused and attempt too much. The best way is the familiar, even if it is cheese, crackers, and store-bought pizzas or burgers. In this case, it really is the effort that counts.
Another major preventive here is the fear of being judged: the decor, the food, the not-entirely-clean house, and so on. This is entirely understandable. Opening up your home is an act of vulnerability. You are inviting people into your private space at a time when we are all concerned about our privacy. We also live in a culture of distrust of everything and everyone. That encourages a tendency toward not letting anyone into our lives.
But there is another side to this. It is precisely because inviting people in is so rare that it is so enormously valued. Just the invitation alone is enough to send a signal: you are valued, trusted, and part of what I consider my community of friendship. That’s a beautiful thing. What happens after that concerning food and drink is really not nearly as important as it seems.
That said, there are ways to gussy this up. If you have 4–8 people over, the sitdown dinner is the highest and best option, daring to attempt simply because most people never have. Under the ideal conditions, you have your best china, crystal, and silverware. You have the candles, flowers, and cotton/linen napkins, with a tablecloth on a gorgeous table.
If you do not have all that—nothing wrong with the aspiration—there are other methods.
Then there is the ever-useful excuse: I have no time. It’s nearly always incorrect. We are surrounded by technologies designed to save us time and yet we claim to have less time than ever. The claim to have no time is what it was when we were 10—an excuse not to do what we should do.
Here’s a quick story. I was once friends with a new immigrant from Russia who came over before the Soviet Union fell. Arriving in America, he felt he had landed in Schlaraffenland. He would buy everything not nailed down and stuff it in his apartment. He also had a tendency to make friends with everyone, and thrill to invite them to dinner and drinks. All he had was a few card tables that he would link together, and folding chairs for the guests.
His meal consisted of a huge pot of chicken with every random vegetable and rice, which he would always announce with a fancy Russian name, even when it was not true. He would spread a big cotton sheet over the tables as a tablecloth and use big bowls he found at a yard sale and serve up the food, alongside tall glasses of vodka which everyone would drink. There was also cheese and sausages.
Who was invited? He was something of a celebrity given the times, so there were ambassadors, senators, friends like me, and also some random people he met here and there, including someone I think was homeless. Perhaps there were 12 to 14 people in total. The evening was always just a wild blast, filled with hilarity and adventure.
From these events at his house, I took away the central point. It’s the hospitality that matters more than anything. It’s the human connection, not even the quality of the meal. Another feature that made his evening salons and dinners work was his utter confidence and joy. If the host is happy, everyone else is happy too. If the host is squeamish and embarrassed about the food and place setting, guests feel that too.
If you have more than 8 to 12, and perhaps you should, there are options. You can invite 50 people for a come-and-go from 6–8pm. Guaranteed that some people will stay to 10pm or later, and that’s great. In this case, there might be a time when people are standing shoulder-to-shoulder or crowded in the kitchen, making their own drinks and so on. But this seeming chaos is also enormous fun, even more fun.
Here comes an issue that is absolutely essential to any such evening, whether it is a dinner party or a come-and-go cocktail party with dips and chips. As the host, you absolutely must quiet everyone down at some point and make a toast. Some people are absolutely terrified of such a thing. I don’t know what to say but you have to get over your fears.
Just clink your glasses and start talking. You will be happy to know that the number one problem with all toasts is that they are too long. You can reduce it to a few sentences. And here’s a tip that always helps me. Try not to offer a toast to a person present, who is then not entitled by the rules of etiquette to join in, but rather to something bigger, some big idea.
It could be to community, faith, the holidays, courage, compassion, the power of love, the season, family, friendship, anything. Before you begin the toast, come up with the one chosen word. That gives you a stopping point.
Start with a clinked glass. Say a few words about the moment and the times. It can be commonplace or profound, silly or serious, or it can be a verse or sentence from a book. Then it ends with a toast to fill in the blank. That’s the whole thing. Very likely, someone will be inspired by your gesture and pick it up. Ideally, everyone will join in.
I can promise you that this will be the main memory of the evening. That’s good and that’s the point. Every such gathering needs some central moment. Otherwise, people have a sense of come and gone and not much happened. That is especially true with a cocktail party. You never want this to happen. There has to be a theme or a point and it is up to you to provide it.
That’s the entire thing, the whole of your responsibility: invite, feed, offer drinks, and make a toast. Your party is done.
Another crucial tip is in order. Do not plan to serve anything that requires you to rush around, spend lots of time in the kitchen, or otherwise neglect your guests. You must always look and act like this is all effortless. That puts your guests at ease. If you are rushing around, cursing at the food, making a racket in the kitchen, or otherwise stressed about anything, your guests will feel every bit of it. You have to be as relaxed and joyful as they are, and that requires some planning.
Ease of preparation is as crucial as anything else for this very reason. A good host must look calm and fully in control of the situation, oozing confidence and conviviality at all times.
What about music? I choose classical or interwar jazz or something vaguely unfamiliar just to give a sense that the guests are somewhere special. Another option: blessed peace with no music at all. That might even be the best choice, and if the talking becomes loud enough, it does not matter in any case.
When the guests offer to help clean up, always say a polite no. That is not why they are there.
Friends, can we make an effort here? We all desperately need community back. In our homes: that’s the best place for it to form. It is the ultimate act of kindness. Yes, it does open you up to criticism but that’s the whole point: to push out of your comfort zone in order to be kind to others. And perhaps your efforts here will become a tradition and inspire others.
This is the way we rebuild the culture: with one household party at a time.
Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/23/2025 – 20:05
