Category: News
Chicago Bears OL Joe Thuney wins NFL Protector of the Year, while Ben Johnson loses out for Coach of the Year
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Joe Thuney was the inaugural winner of the NFL Protector of the Year award, while Ben Johnson lost out to Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots for Coach of the Year.
The awards were presented at the NFL Honors ceremony Thursday night in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl weekend.
The Protector of the Year was decided by a panel of former All-Pro offensive linemen. On stage, Thuney thanked his family, his teammates and his coaches.
“I really appreciate all the former O-linemen who have played in this league,” Thuney said. “The unsung heroes of the past who have laid the foundation for us to play today the game that we know and love.”
Thuney, who primarily played left guard for the Bears, was one of six finalists for the award. The others were Denver Broncos tackle Garett Bolles, Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Denver Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz and Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell.
Thuney, 33, started all 17 regular-season games for the Bears at left guard. In the playoffs, he made the transition to left tackle for a divisional-round game against the Los Angeles Rams after starting left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Thuney was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection in 2025. This was his fifth All-Pro season and his third time making first-team All-Pro.
The Bears traded for Thuney in March 2025. The 10-year veteran previously won a pair of Super Bowls each with the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. Thuney was one of three moves the Bears made to rework the interior of their offensive line, also trading for guard Jonah Jackson and signing free-agent center Drew Dalman.
Thuney gave the Bears the type of veteran presence they hadn’t had on the offensive line in recent years. His teammates voted him a team captain in his first year in Chicago.
After their overhaul on the offensive line, the Bears became the No. 3-ranked rushing attack in the NFL. Quarterback Caleb Williams took just 24 sacks after taking a league-leading 68 in 2024.
Thuney has appeared in 163 regular-season games over his 10-year career, missing just two starts in that time. Not long after trading for him in March, the Bears signed Thuney to a two-year contract extension that will keep under team control through the 2027 season.
Among the six nominees for Protector of the Year, Bolles, Thuney, Humphrey, Meinerz and Sewell were all first-team All-Pro selections. Brewer was a second-team All-Pro.
Criteria for the award include advanced metrics, durability, quality of competition, weekly consistency and video evaluation.
Bears coach Ben Johnson greets players before the game against the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Johnson, 39, was up for the award along with the Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald and Vrabel — who will coach against each other in Super Bowl LX on Sunday — the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen and the San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan.
The award was voted on by a nationwide Associated Press panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. The same panel also selected the MVP, offensive and defensive players of the year, offensive and defensive rookies of the year and other honors. Voting took place before the playoffs.
How NFL Coach of the Year finalist Ben Johnson turned the Chicago Bears around in his 1st year
Johnson was seeking to become the first Bears coach since Matt Nagy in 2018 to win the award. Five Bears coaches have won it: George Halas (1963, 1965) and Mike Ditka (1985, 1988) twice each and Dick Jauron (2001), Lovie Smith (2005) and Nagy once each.
Johnson led the Bears to an 11-6 regular-season record, their first NFC North title since 2018 and their first playoff victory in 15 years. The Bears reached the divisional round, losing in overtime to the Rams.
The Bears hired Johnson on Jan. 21, 2025, and he inherited a team that went 5-12 in 2024 and lost 10 consecutive games. Under his tutelage, the offense improved from one of the NFL’s worst into one of the best.
Williams threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The defense led the NFL in takeaways. During one stretch, the Bears won nine of 10 games.
Vrabel, 50, took over a Patriots team that finished 4-13 last season, and they won the AFC East with a 14-3 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Vrabel is the eighth man to play in a Super Bowl and then reach one as a head coach. With a win over the Seahawks on Sunday, he can make NFL history as the first person to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach for the same franchise.
Associated Press contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/nfl-honors-joe-thuney-ben-johnson-chicago-bears/
Gotterup logra 63 golpes y Scheffler sufre en la 1ra ronda del Abierto de Phoenix
Por JOHN MARSHALL
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, EE.UU. (AP) — Chris Gotterup parece haber descifrado el campo TPC Scottsdale y se ha dado la oportunidad de finalmente presenciar el espectáculo del sábado en el Abierto de Phoenix.
Scottie Scheffler, número uno del mundo, necesitará un marcador bajo en su próximo recorrido si quiere llegar al fin de semana.
Gotterup firmó una tarjeta de 63 golpes, 8 bajo par sin incurrir en bogeys, para tomar una ventaja de dos impactos el jueves en la primera ronda del certamen en un día poco común en el que Scheffler tuvo dificultades.
“No sé si el campo ha cambiado en absoluto”, dijo Gotterup. “Simplemente siento que he estado definiendo mejor y manejando mejor mi juego. Estábamos volando de regreso desde la TGL (liga de golf) y pensé, ‘necesito ver el sábado aquí esta semana’”.
Gotterup tendrá su oportunidad después de un día cálido, incluso para el desierto, que produjo algunos drives largos y puntuaciones bajas.
El inglés Matt Fitzpatrick igualó el récord de los últimos nueve hoyos con un 29 para disparar un 65. Sam Stevens estuvo entre un grupo de cuatro jugadores con 66, y 26 jugadores dispararon 68 o mejor antes de que el juego se suspendiera al caer la noche.
Scheffler no estuvo entre los que lograron puntuaciones destacadas. El cuatro veces jugador del año falló dos chips que rodaron de regreso a sus pies durante un recorrido de 73 golpes, dos sobre par, que puso en peligro su racha de 65 cortes.
Brooks Koepka también tuvo dificultades. El cinco veces campeón de majors logró sólo un birdie en un 75. Disputa su segundo torneo desde que fue readmitido por la Gira de la PGA.
_____
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Ilhan Omar’s Winery Exposed As Fake Shell For Alleged Money Laundering
Ilhan Omar’s Winery Exposed As Fake Shell For Alleged Money Laundering
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
A damning on-site investigation has revealed that the winery co-owned by Ilhan Omar’s husband is nothing more than a phantom operation, fueling suspicions of fraud amid scrutiny of her skyrocketing wealth.
Angela Rose, the journalist behind the probe, visited the listed address in Santa Rosa, California, only to discover glaring discrepancies that point to a shell company setup.
“I visited the principal address of ESTCRU winery. This winery is co owned by US Rep of Minnesota Ilhan Omar’s husband, Timothy Mynett, yet seems to allegedly be a shell business used to launder funds,” Rose stated in her report.
Journalist visits Minnesota Rep Ilhan’s Omar’s winery and CONFIRMS IT’S FAKE
40+ wineries operate out of the same address, but the location owner says Ilhan Omar’s winery isn’t there despite this being the address (FRAUD)
Angela Rose “No business license exists for ESTRCRU… pic.twitter.com/V2qyxi0udu
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 5, 2026
She detailed the revenue surge: “In 2024 they made about $15,000 and in 2025 it exploded to up to $5 million dollars… yet they weren’t producing any wine.”
Rose highlighted the lack of legitimacy: “No business license exists for ESTRCRU (Ilhan Omar’s Winery) at this address. The other wineries here are properly licensed.”
The address, 1160 Hopper Ave Apt B in Santa Rosa, houses over 40 wineries, but the location owner confirmed ESTCRU isn’t among them. Public records show it’s tied to a foreign processing center with no actual business license for ESTCRU.
This bombshell comes as Omar’s finances face intense federal scrutiny. Her 2024 financial disclosure reported assets between $6 million and $30 million, a massive leap from the $40,000 to $250,000 in 2023. The bulk ties to her husband’s winery and a venture capital firm.
The Justice Department launched an investigation into Omar’s finances, campaign spending, and foreign interactions in June 2024 under the Biden administration. Though it reportedly stalled due to lack of evidence, President Trump has revived the push, vowing to expose any impropriety.
Ilhan Omar faces investigation after outrage over massive wealth gains and aid fraud in Minnesota https://t.co/tI5655FH4i pic.twitter.com/ANEeBgdOoG
— New York Post (@nypost) December 29, 2025
Trump highlighted the probe, noting Omar arrived from Somalia with little and now boasts family wealth up to $30 million, amid broader Minnesota fraud inquiries.
?BOMBSHELL: Ilhan Omar is DONE! The rats are scattering and most of them are BEGGING reporters to hear their stories!
Whistleblowers now confirm her campaign funneled a massive amount of money to her husband’s firm while Somali-linked networks in Minneapolis ran one of the… pic.twitter.com/KHCZAMr3XD
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 5, 2025
Last week Omar was accused of staging an “attack” at a town hall, where she was sprayed with apple cider vinegar by a man acting strangely, in order to divert attention from her wealth investigations.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 21:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ilhan-omars-winery-exposed-fake-shell-alleged-money-laundering
The Gaza ceasefire began months ago. Here’s why the fighting persists.
JERUSALEM — As the bodies of two dozen Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes arrived at hospitals in Gaza on Wednesday, the director of one asked a question that has echoed across the war-ravaged territory for months.
“Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?” Shifa Hospital’s Mohamed Abu Selmiya wrote on Facebook.
At least 556 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since a U.S.-brokered truce came into effect in October, including 24 on Wednesday and 30 on Saturday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza in the same period, with more injured, including a soldier whom the military said was severely wounded when fighters opened fire near the ceasefire line in northern Gaza overnight.
Other aspects of the agreement have stalled, including the deployment of an international security force, Hamas’ disarmament and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction. The opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt raised hope of further progress, but fewer than 50 people were allowed to cross on Monday.
Israel violates ceasefire, striking Gaza tent camp and killing 30 Palestinians, including children
Hostages freed as other issues languish
In October, after months of stalled negotiations, Israel and Hamas accepted a 20-point plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel.
At the time, Trump said it would lead to a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
Hamas freed all the living hostages it still held at the outset of the deal in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the remains of others.
But the larger issues the agreement sought to address, including the future governance of the strip, were met with reservations, and the U.S. offered no firm timeline.
The return of the remains of hostages meanwhile stretched far beyond the 72-hour timeline outlined in the agreement. Israel recovered the body of the last hostage only last week, after accusing Hamas and other groups of violating the ceasefire by failing to return all of the bodies. The fighters said they were unable to immediately locate all the remains because of the massive destruction caused by the war — a claim Israel rejected.
The ceasefire also called for an immediate influx of humanitarian aid, including equipment to clear rubble and rehabilitate infrastructure. The United Nations and humanitarian groups say aid deliveries to Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians have fallen short due to customs clearance problems and other delays. COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid to Gaza, has called the U.N.’s claims “simply a lie.”
Ceasefire holds despite accusations
Violence has sharply declined since the ceasefire paused a war in which more than 71,800 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government and maintains detailed records seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.
Hamas-led fighters killed some 1,200 people in the initial October 2023 attack and took around 250 hostage.
Both sides say the agreement is still in effect and use the word “ceasefire” in their communications. But Israel accuses Hamas fighters of operating beyond the truce line splitting Gaza in half, threatening its troops and occasionally opening fire, while Hamas accuses Israeli forces of gunfire and strikes on residential areas far from the line.
Palestinians have called on U.S. and Arab mediators to get Israel to stop carrying out deadly strikes, which often kill civilians. Among those killed on Wednesday were five children, including two babies. Hamas, which accuses Israel of hundreds of violations, called it a “grave circumvention of the ceasefire agreement.”
In a joint statement on Sunday, eight Arab and Muslim countries condemned Israel’s actions since the agreement took effect and urged restraint from all sides “to preserve and sustain the ceasefire.”
Israel says it is responding to daily violations committed by Hamas and acting to protect its troops. “While Hamas’ actions undermine the ceasefire, Israel remains fully committed to upholding it,” the military said in a statement on Wednesday.
“One of the scenarios the (military) has to be ready for is Hamas is using a deception tactic like they did before October 7 and rearming and preparing for an attack when it’s comfortable for them,” said Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesperson.
Some signs of progress
The return of the remains of the last hostage, the limited opening of the Rafah crossing, and the naming of a Palestinian committee to govern Gaza and oversee its reconstruction showed a willingness to advance the agreement despite the violence.
Last month, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in brokering the truce, said it was time for “transitioning from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.”
That will require Israel and Hamas to grapple with major issues on which they have been sharply divided, including whether Israel will fully withdraw from Gaza and Hamas will lay down its arms.
Though political leaders are holding onto the term “ceasefire” and have yet to withdraw from the process, there is growing despair in Gaza.
On Saturday, Atallah Abu Hadaiyed heard explosions in Gaza City during his morning prayers and ran outside to find his cousins lying on the ground as flames curled around them.
“We don’t know if we’re at war or at peace,” he said from a displacement camp, as tarpaulin strips blew off the tent behind him.
Associated Press reporter Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/gaza-ceasefire-fighting-continues-explainer/
Senate Bill Would Ensure Data Centers Do Not Pass Energy Costs Onto Consumers
Senate Bill Would Ensure Data Centers Do Not Pass Energy Costs Onto Consumers
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is circulating a bill to require data centers to bring their own power when constructing these new power-hungry facilities, Axios reports this morning.
We’ve detailed the growing resistance to the construction of new data centers for months now as several studies have demonstrated electricity prices spiking around new data center facilities, as they usually consume significantly more power than the grids they’re connected to can offer.
To prevent skyrocketing electric bills, every state has to follow the Texas example: each data center must have its own “behind the meter” onsite power generation.
“We believe data centers should pay for the full cost of their power,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Aaron Ruby… https://t.co/0u1owTeAs8 pic.twitter.com/8W421s3rzV
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 23, 2025
One of the most frequently identified solutions is requiring new data centers and other large power loads to construct their facilities alongside new power generation facilities, i.e. “behind-the-meter.”. This could prevent and even reverse much of the rate increases that have been plaguing households across the US.
It’s a simple supply and demand issue. A new power consumer shows up and immediately starts draining hundreds of megawatt of power while the new power generation being developed by the utility servicing the connected grid takes several years to add new generation capacity. The pitch circulated by lawmakers is to require new data centers to show up with their own power and hand, therefore preventing the pass on of costs to household rate payers.
There’s a slew of ways to go about powering a multi-megawatt or gigawatt scale data center. The method most frequently referenced for reducing rate payer burden is behind-the-meter arrangements. This means the power generator is directly connected to the facility through on-site transmission structures without interacting with the grid in any way.
Alternatively, facilities could opt for the front-of-the-meter arrangement where they still bring their own power, but transmit the power through the local grid, even if they are located physically near each other. This arrangement supports the grid while still minimizing cost to the rate payer because of the addition of overall capacity. Connecting to the grid and utilizing existing transmission lines and transformers could minimize time to initial operation, as well as require grid infrastructure upgrades. Requiring the new data center to finance the grid upgrades would reduce consumer costs as well.
The bill being pushed by Sen Hawley is calling for behind-the-meter arrangements, but the legislation could change as it passes through everyone’s hands. Most grid advocates have called for front-of-the-meter arrangements to maximize household consumer benefit.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 21:20
Whiting Oilmen tossed out of stadium as city looks at new options
The Northwest Indiana Oilmen are struggling to salvage their baseball season months before the first pitch in June.
The city tossed a curve at the Oilmen last month, evicting them from the Oil City Stadium, their home for the past 15 years.
Mayor Steve Spebar defended the move, calling growth stagnant in the Oilmen’s five-team Northern League.
He said the city has a verbal agreement with the Crestwood Collegiate League, which just launched in 2024. The wood-bat league is for college-bound players, like the Northern League.
Spebar said he expects the agreement to be finalized by the Board of Works in April.
“We want to go to a league that’s growing, not one that’s stagnant,” said Spebar on Thursday. He said Whiting would be the 13th team in the Crestwood league.
The city and Calumet College of St. Joseph just partnered in a $1.5 million project, installing new field turf at the stadium, where the college’s baseball team plays.
It’s also the home field of Whiting High School’s baseball team.
Spebar said he’s fielded new inquiries about the stadium for the past few years. In deference to the Oilmen, he said he held off making a move.
He hopes the re-turfed stadium will draw more attention to the 1,100-seat ballpark at 1700 119th St.
“We look forward to more people coming and more concessions. We will advertise throughout the year. The last couple of years we expanded out-of-town tournaments and teams were here for days. I’ve seen first-hand they patronize downtown,” he said.
Travel teams with younger players are usually accompanied by parents, and typically, they will play on weekends.
Spebar said a second team, affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, has inquired about playing at the stadium, as well.
“There is interest,” he said. “It’s nothing definite.”
Meanwhile, the Oilmen are searching for a new stadium, but their options are limited.
Don Popravak, president and general manager of the Oilmen, said Spebar gave him the news Jan. 12.
“The mayor called me to his office and told me they were going in another direction,” said Popravak.
He said he made an offer to Spebar in October to ensure the team’s longevity for the next decade. He offered $30,000 in annual rent, and a percentage of alcohol and ticket taxes. He said he also offered to take over maintenance and operations of the ballpark.
“It would have been very lucrative,” said Popravak, who said the Board of Works rejected the offer.
He wants the team to remain as the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, but there aren’t many baseball stadiums available in the region. Gary has the SouthShore RailCats stadium, but it’s an unlikely choice, said Popravak, who’s the Lake County Council’s appointee to the new Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission.
“I’m open to all options and (we) are pursuing them now.
“We’ll survive and we’ll be a greater fabric of Northwest Indiana. Our fan base travels.”
Popravak said the Oilmen boosted Whiting’s economy.
“What’s being lost in the city’s decision is the Oilmen’s 15-year role as a community anchor: five league championships, more than 100,000 plus fans through the gates, 7,000-plus kids impacted through our camps and youth events, and 40-plus players who have advanced to affiliated professional baseball and two to the Major Leagues.
“The organization has also been a steady local employer of seasonal staff and interns and a visible partner to civic groups, chambers, youth sports, and charities across Northwest Indiana.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Lindor, Correa y Báez quedan fuera del roster de Puerto Rico para el Clásico Mundial, por seguros
Por RONALD BLUM
NUEVA YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa y Javy Báez quedaron fuera del roster de Puerto Rico para el Clásico Mundial de béisbol debido a la cobertura de sus seguros, mientras que el campeón defensor Japón presentó el jueves un grupo destacado en el que sobresalen Shohei Ohtani y Yoshinobu Yamamoto, campeones de la Serie Mundial.
Paul Skenes y Tarik Skubal, ganadores del premio Cy Young, encabezan lo que parece ser el cuerpo de lanzadores más fuerte que ha tenido Estados Unidos en las seis ediciones del torneo. Los peloteros de posición estadounidenses incluyen al Jugador Más Valioso de la Liga Americana Aaron Judge, capitán de la selección, junto con Bryce Harper y Bobby Witt Jr.
Mike Trout, el capitán de Estados Unidos en 2023, quedó fuera.
Setenta y ocho peloteros elegidos al Juego de Estrellas, incluidos 36 del año pasado, están en los rosters de 30 jugadores de los 20 equipos. Estados Unidos tiene la mayor cantidad con 22, seguido por 16 en un roster de República Dominicana encabezado por Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. y Manny Machado.
Japón venció a Estados Unidos por 3-2 en la final de 2023 para obtener su tercer título y el primero desde 2009, cuando Ohtani terminó el juego ponchando a Trout. Ohtani no lanzará en el Clásico de este año.
El torneo de este año se llevará a cabo del 5 al 17 de marzo en Tokio, Houston, San Juan y Miami, donde se jugará la final por segunda vez consecutiva. Los estadounidenses ganaron en 2017 y la República Dominicana en 2013.
Los más recientes ganadores de los premios al Jugador Más Valioso y el Cy Young están en el torneo por primera vez.
Nolan Arenado jugará con Puerto Rico después de haber aparecido con Estados Unidos en 2017 y 2023.
Edwin Díaz regresará con la selección boricua después de romperse un tendón rotuliano en 2023, mientras celebraba una victoria sobre la República Dominicana. La lesión en la rodilla derecha le hizo perderse toda la temporada de los Mets de Nueva York.
El roster de Puerto Rico se vio afectado por problemas de pólizas de seguros. El torneo es copropiedad de las Grandes Ligas y el sindicato de peloteros, y el seguro es proporcionado por National Financial Partners.
La política de NFP para el torneo tiene un límite para un jugador de posición con un contrato de ligas mayores o menores cuyo segundo año garantizado sea en la temporada en la que cumple 37 años y para un lanzador cuyo cuarto año garantizado sea en la campaña en la que cumple 37 años, dijo una persona familiarizada con la política, quien habló bajo condición de anonimato porque los detalles no habían sido anunciados.
La aseguradora también revisa a los jugadores que se sometieron a cirugía en el receso entre campañas, dijo la persona.
El seguro podría convertirse en un problema si los jugadores de las Grandes Ligas terminan siendo elegibles para los Juegos Olímpicos de 2028.
Lindor, un campocorto de 32 años que tiene un contrato de 341 millones de dólares con los Mets de Nueva York hasta 2031, se sometió a una desbridación del codo derecho después de la temporada pasada.
Correa, torpedero y tercera base de 31 años de los Astros de Houston con un contrato de 200 millones hasta 2028, se sometió a una cirugía en 2014 para reparar una tibia derecha rota. Ni San Francisco ni los Mets aprobaron sus exámenes físicos para un contrato durante el receso entre temporadas 2022-23.
Báez, un infielder y jardinero de 33 años de los Tigres de Detroit, tiene un contrato de 140 millones hasta 2027. Se perdió tiempo en 2024 debido a inflamación lumbar y de cadera.
“Confiamos plenamente en el talento y el compromiso de cada jugador que representará a Puerto Rico”, dijo el presidente de la federación de la isla José Quiles, en un comunicado.
Clayton Kershaw y el venezolano Miguel Cabrera se perdieron el torneo de 2023 debido a problemas de seguros. Kershaw, que cumple 38 años dos días después de la final de este año, es el jugador más viejo en el roster de Estados Unidos de esta edición, pero se ha retirado de las Grandes Ligas y no tiene un contrato para 2026.
El infielder cubano Alexei Ramírez es el jugador más viejo en cualquier roster con 44 años. El derecho Adam Ottavino, que cumplió 40 años en noviembre, está en el roster de Italia.
Joseph Contreras, derecho brasileño de 17 años que es hijo del exjugador de grandes ligas José Contreras, es el pelotero más joven en cualquier roster.
Travis Bazzana, un segunda base australiano de 23 años, se unió a Skenes y Harper como selecciones generales número uno en el torneo.
El jardinero cubano Alfredo Despaigne, líder de jonrones en la historia del Clásico con siete, estará en su quinto torneo.
Hay 306 jugadores con contratos de ligas mayores y menores, incluidos 190 en rosters de 40 jugadores. Además de Ohtani, Judge, Harper y Kershaw, los Jugadores Más Valiosos incluyen al venezolano Ronald Acuña Jr. y al estadounidense Paul Goldschmidt.
El segunda base José Altuve dijo el fin de semana pasado que los Astros le pidieron que no jugara para Venezuela. Altuve se rompió el pulgar derecho cuando fue golpeado por un lanzamiento de Daniel Bard durante el torneo de 2023, lo que le hizo perderse los primeros 43 juegos de los Astros.
Colombia tiene el roster más viejo con un promedio de 29,9 años, seguido por Estados Unidos con 29,7. Taiwán tiene el más joven con 26,7, justo por debajo de Brasil con 26,9.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
How To Feel Joy In A Dopamine-Saturated World
How To Feel Joy In A Dopamine-Saturated World
Authored by Sheridan Genrich via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Your brain treats what it sees in Instagram reels the same way it treats cocaine. Both experiences flood a thumbnail-sized region of the brain with dopamine—a chemical that makes you want more, right now. The problem is that after a certain amount of dopamine hits, your brain adapts by turning down the pleasure volume. As a result, things that once made you feel good are no longer enough.
If you’re finding it harder to feel simple joy and genuine connections, you’re experiencing what addiction psychiatrists now recognize as dopamine overload, a state where constant stimulation—especially from cellphones, social media, and ultra-processed foods—quietly erodes your ability to feel your happiest emotions and leaves relationships feeling painfully empty. However, there is hope—through learning to rebalance our reward systems, we can rediscover contentment in simple things.
The Dopamine Hijack
Dopamine is a brain chemical messenger that helps drive motivation, heightens anticipation, and reinforces the experiences your brain labels as rewarding. In healthy balance, it nudges us toward naturally meaningful activities—such as working toward goals, sharing meals, spending time with friends—that have long supported survival and human connection.
However, modern life delivers dopamine in doses and speeds the human brain is not equipped to handle.
“Things that are addictive release a whole lot of dopamine all at once in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens,” Addiction psychiatrist and author Dr. Anna Lembke, a leading voice on how modern habits hijack the brain’s reward circuitry, told The Epoch Times. “The more dopamine that is released there, and the faster it is released, the more likely we see addictive behavior.”
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With long-term exposure to highly addictive substances and behaviors, Lembke said, the brain undergoes neuroadaptation. “It starts to downregulate dopamine receptors to bring levels back to baseline, and people actually end up in a dopamine deficit state—below normal levels of dopamine firing.” In other words, the brain turns down its sensitivity to dopamine, leaving people feeling flat unless they keep chasing stronger stimulation.
Over time, this process fundamentally shifts what it takes to feel normal.
“We change our hedonic set point. We need more of the substance, in more potent forms, just to bring dopamine levels back up to baseline,” Lembke said. Sugar and short‑form videos strongly stimulate the same dopamine‑based reward pathways targeted by drugs and alcohol, which can lead the brain to treat them as if they were vital rewards.
To adapt to all the dopamine, the brain may settle into a dopamine deficit state, which can feel like clinical depression, anxiety, or emotional numbness.
When Everything Feels Numb
As dopamine overload persists, many people describe a kind of emotional numbness: feeling flat, struggling to enjoy life, and growing distant from loved ones.
“You can have this numbing or narrowing phenomenon where nothing brings joy anymore,” Lembke said. “People feel flat, anxious, or disconnected, and it can look a lot like depression.”
The difference is that clinical depression often responds to medication and therapy. Dopamine overload requires something simpler, though not easier: you have to stop the activity that creates it.
Growing evidence links heavy digital use to mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, and altered decision‑making. Lembke pointed to experiments in which people either quit social media for three to four weeks or cut back to about 30 to 60 minutes a day, which resulted in reported improvements in anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Lembke offered a practical diagnostic test: “If you’re not sure you’re addicted to something, just try stopping it for 30 days. The level of difficulty you have doing that can tell you a lot about the nature of your attachment.”
The 30-Day Reset
The good news is that the brain’s reward system is not fixed. It is adaptable and can relearn to find satisfaction in real, offline experiences. A long enough break from high‑dopamine habits, Lembke said, gives the brain space to switch its reward system back on and start producing feel‑good chemistry again.
“When people stop an addictive behavior, their dopamine levels do not crash forever—they tend to feel worse at first, then gradually better,” Lembke said, noting that most people begin to emerge from acute withdrawal after about 10 to 14 days as cravings ease. By weeks three and four, many report feeling better than they have in months or even years.
For many, a 30‑day abstinence trial—or “dopamine detox”—is a realistic window to start resetting reward pathways and feeling the benefits, she said. In practical terms, that often means roughly two tough weeks, a couple of weeks of gradual relief, and about a month to sense a genuine reset.
Experts have found that the goal of a dopamine detox is not to eliminate dopamine—which would be impossible and unhealthy—but to reduce overstimulating habits so the brain can rebalance and you can enjoy slower, more meaningful rewards again.
To make a detox doable in everyday life, Lembke focuses on self‑binding—setting up guardrails that make it harder to slide back into the habit.
Create Physical Barriers: Don’t rely on willpower. Delete apps and unsubscribe from feeds. Clear alcohol, drugs, junk foods, and trigger foods out of your house.
Choose Low‑Dopamine Substitutes: Swap mindless scrolling or snacking for reading, walking, hobbies, or time in nature that offer calmer, more lasting rewards.
Set Firm Boundaries: Build device‑free blocks into your day, keep phones out of the bedroom, and avoid constant multitasking that chases tiny hits of stimulation.
Build Basic Routines: Regular movement and sleep, and nourishing food help steady both dopamine and stress systems.
Watch for the Binge Cycle: Notice any “all or nothing” streaks—days of restraint followed by blowouts—that tend to spike dopamine and crash mood.
Do Hard Things in Small Doses: Cold showers, morning exercise, cleaning out a messy closet, meditation, are activities that require effort up front but leave you feeling better afterward. They teach your brain to generate its own satisfaction instead of depending on quick hits.
Track the Evidence: Track sleep, mood, and focus for a few weeks as you cut back; small changes are often a sign your reward system is resetting.
Rediscover Natural Rewards
Once you start lowering quick dopamine spikes, it becomes essential to lean into natural sources of pleasure—the kinds of activities that have long supported human well‑being.
Exercise: Regular movement can lift mood and support healthy dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin signaling in a steady, sustainable way. A 20-minute walk does more for your brain than an hour of scrolling.
Social Connection: Deep conversations, laughter, and physical affection engage reward and bonding systems that help protect against stress and isolation. Face-to-face always beats FaceTime.
Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can calm the stress response and gradually restore motivation for simple, everyday joys.
Creative Engagement: Making or enjoying art activates reward pathways without the same risk of desensitization seen with high‑intensity digital rewards.
Meaningful Challenge: Working toward meaningful goals gives real dopamine hits linked to effort and progress, not just novelty.
[ZH: Men, stop jerking off so much]: So we hear…
Scientific reviews and clinical programs highlight that turning toward natural rewards, rather than engineered instant ones, is how the human brain is built to thrive.
It may be time to get professional help if cutting back makes you very anxious, low, or causes withdrawal‑like symptoms that make normal life harder. You should also talk to a clinician before any dopamine detox if you have serious mental health symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or very bad depression or anxiety; a history of addiction or substance problems; or take medicines that affect dopamine, such as antidepressants, stimulants, Parkinson’s drugs, or antipsychotics.
Build Lasting Contentment and Hope
Lasting contentment rarely comes from a one‑time “detox.” It grows from small, steady changes, ideally with support from others.
Staying connected to encouraging friends, family, or groups makes it easier to keep healthier habits and to recover from relapses. Simple routines such as swapping one high‑dopamine habit at a time, checking in daily on triggers and small wins, and giving yourself credit for each step forward help progress stick.
If emotional numbness or compulsive cycles continue, seek help from a mental health professional who can guide you toward feeling stable and engaged with everyday life again. For anyone feeling overwhelmed or out of control, take heart—with support and steady effort, many people rebuild their lives and rediscover real pleasure in simple, everyday moments.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 20:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/how-feel-joy-dopamine-saturated-world
Atentado contra equipo de seguridad de senador colombiano deja dos escoltas muertos
Associated Press
BOGOTÁ (AP) — Un atentado en contra del equipo de seguridad del senador colombiano Jairo Castellanos, en Arauca, en el este de Colombia, dejó el jueves dos escoltas muertos, confirmaron las autoridades.
El hecho violento ocurrió cuando la caravana de seguridad del congresista, que no se encontraba en el vehículo, se dirigía desde el departamento del Norte de Santander para retirarlo en Yopal, en el vecino departamento de Casanare, declaró el ministro del Interior, Armando Benedetti.
El presidente colombiano, Gustavo Petro, se solidarizó con el legislador con quien mantuvo un contacto telefónico, informó en la red social X, y ordenó investigar el paradero de otro vehículo donde se encontraban integrantes del equipo del trabajo de Castellanos.
Imágenes reproducidas por medios colombiano dejaron ver el vehículo con orificios producto de los impactos de armas de fuego en sus carrocería y ventanas.
Según el ministro Benedetti, el senador “se encuentra “profundamente conmovido” por la muerte de sus escoltas.
La Unidad Nacional de Protección (UNP) colombiana identificó a las víctimas como el policía Esmely Valencia y el escolta conductor Wilmer Leal, perteneciente a esa entidad, señaló un reporte en X.
La UNP confirmó que otro vehículo del equipo de campaña del senador “fue interceptado por los atacantes y posteriormente se lo llevaron junto con las tres personas que viajaban en su interior”.
El ministro de Defensa, Pedro Sánchez, informó que se activó una recompensa de 200 millones de pesos (54.872 dólares) por información que permita identificar y capturar a los responsables del ataque “posiblemente perpetrado por el cartel del ELN”, señaló en su cuenta de X.
En esa zona tienen presencia la guerrilla del Ejército de Liberación Nacional y facciones de disidencias de las desaparecidas Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), que mantienen disputas por el control del territorio, según autoridades.
El director de la policía colombiana, general William Rincón, condenó el hecho. Dijo que se trató de un “acto terrorista” que “atenta contra la vida de los colombianos y la democracia de nuestro país”.
La vicepresidenta colombiana, Francia Márquez, se sumó al rechazo. “Este hecho criminal constituye un ataque directo contra la vida, la institucionalidad y el ejercicio de la democracia. Ninguna forma de violencia puede ser tolerada ni justificada”, escribió en su cuenta de X.
En agosto, otro hecho de violencia política acabó con la vida del precandidato presidencial y senador, Miguel Uribe Turbay.
Billions In Chinese Investment To Flee Panama – Beijing Livid Over Canal Ports Decision
Billions In Chinese Investment To Flee Panama – Beijing Livid Over Canal Ports Decision
China is lashing out at Panama after the country’s top court torpedoed a key Chinese-linked operations contract at the Panama Canal, warning that the Central American nation “will inevitably pay a heavy price” if it doesn’t reverse course.
Under immense US pressure from the Trump White House, Panama’s Supreme Court last week ruled to void the operating license of Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison for ports on both ends of the canal – Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristóbal on the Atlantic.
The decision effectively ejects a Chinese/HK-connected operator, specifically the Panama Ports Company which is the subsidiary under CK Hutchison, from one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints.
This was celebrated as a win by Washington, as President Trump has long made clear his intention to reassert American influence and control over the Panama Canal. Starting early in his administration Trump called it “vital to our country” and insisted that “it’s being operated by China.”
But China’s State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has newly blasted the court’s decision as “logically flawed” and “utterly ridiculous” – making clear that the ruling is vehemently opposed by both the Chinese government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
“The Panamanian authorities should recognize the situation and correct their course,” the office said, as translated in various media reports.
“If they persist in their own way and remain obstinate, they will inevitably pay a heavy price in terms of politics and economics!” the blistering statement added.
Beijing is now threatening an array of political and economic consequences, also as it prepares its legal challenge to the supreme court ruling:
China has reportedly instructed its state-owned enterprises to suspend discussions on new projects in Panama following the Central American country’s decision to nullify CK Hutchison Holdings’ port operations contract, Bloomberg reported.
Sources familiar with the situation have indicated that the move is part of Beijing’s broader response to the legal ruling that affects two ports along the Panama Canal.
This decision is expected to potentially impede investments worth billions of dollars. In addition, China is advising shipping companies to consider alternative routes for cargo, provided these do not incur significant additional expenses, according to unnamed sources.
Furthermore, Chinese customs are increasing inspections on imports from Panama, including bananas and coffee, which could affect ongoing trade.
So now Panama finds itself in a precarious position, smack in the middle between Trump’s controversial ‘Donroe Doctrine’ and Beijing, with Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino stating amid these threats of retaliation that he “strongly” rejects the Chinese government’s threats.
Panama’s ports just stepped into geopolitics.
China reportedly directed state companies to stop new negotiations for a Panama project after the port contract was dismissed. That’s operations, not just politics.
Balboa and Cristóbal continue to facilitate international trade on… pic.twitter.com/bztes66Cye
— The Maritime (@themaritimenet) February 5, 2026
He framed this as about upholding the rule of law and made clear he “respects the decisions of the judiciary, which is independent of the central government.” Still, he’s about to feel some pain from China, and there’s probably nothing at all Panama City can do about it.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 20:30
