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Daniel Clowes’s Monica Goes to Hell and Finds It Is Us

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

Daniel Clowes sets the stage for his latest graphic novel, Monica, by jumping right into the deep end of history’s primordial slop — protozoa, dinosaurs, pharaohs, Christ, plague, Columbus, Hitler, the bomb, a dying JFK, and the Beverly Hillbillies all make colorful cameos on the opening pages.Then you start meeting the characters, including a soldier in Vietnam and his girl back home, Penny, who steps out with a snarky hipster painter fond of jerking the chains encumbering the bourgeoisie: “Don’t you love rich people? They’re so happy and they smell great! … We have to warn them about the revolution! ATTENTION BARONS OF INDUSTRY: DOOM IS NIGH! BOARD YOUR WINDOWS!”The flighty (not to say bipolar? schiz?) Penny moves from apartment to apartment and man to man and a couple of years later begets the book’s namesake, who spends much of her life seeking out the identity of her father. Finding success by following in her mother’s hippie-entrepreneurial footsteps when she opens a shop sell...

Larry Magid: Tech New Year’s resolutions for 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

I’m well aware that New Year’s resolutions are often abandoned by the end of January, but that’s no reason to avoid thinking about how we can improve our lives in the year to come. As a tech journalist, I’m not going to lecture you about getting to the gym more often, although I, and probably you, could benefit from a bit more exercise. Instead, I’ll focus on how to use your tech devices and services to make them more secure and more supportive of your mental and physical health.Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: Meta, Ray-Ban release second-generation smart glasses Business | Larry Magid: 2023 has been a tumultuous year for tech Business | Magid: Turning ordinary small appliances into smart ones Business | Magid: Using a personal computer to read and send texts Security, backup, passwordsLet’s start with basic security. You’ve heard this before, but in case you’re behind, make sure that all of your software, opera...

Gas prices will fall in 2024 and Americans will spend $32 billion less on fuel, GasBuddy predicts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

By Matt Egan | CNNNew York — Gas prices will fall in 2024 for the second year in a row, according to GasBuddy projections shared exclusively with CNN.GasBuddy, which had a forecast for 2023 that proved to be eerily accurate, expects US gas prices will average $3.38 a gallon in the key election year of 2024.That would represent a significant improvement from 2023’s average of $3.51 a gallon and an even bigger drop from 2022’s average of $3.95. Gas prices skyrocketed to record highs that year as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine set off global shockwaves.Even though the Russia-Ukraine war lingers and there is a risk the Israel-Hamas war spills into a regional conflict, GasBuddy is betting drivers will get more relief in 2024. GasBuddy expects Americans will spend about $32 billion less on fuel than in 2023 and $79 billion less than in 2022.“Next year should represent a continued march towards what most Americans would consider normal prices at the pump,” Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of...

Best of the West: Arizona on top but Mountain West claims five spots as best league in the region

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

With the calendar set to turn and conference play about to begin, the Mountain West remains the best league in the western third of the country.It’s 6-1 in head-to-head matchups against the Pac-12 and 16-6 against the West Coast Conference.It has five teams with at least 10 wins and five in the top 40 of the NET rankings.This, with one of the most anticipated matchups looming: San Diego State’s visit to Gonzaga on Friday night (6 p.m. on ESPN2).If the Aztecs win in Spokane, let there be zero doubt: The Mountain West will reign supreme.(Note: The Best of the West rankings will be published in this space each Wednesday for the remainder of the regular season.)1. Arizona (9-2)Last week: 1Results: beat Alabama 87-74, lost to FAU 96-95NET ranking: No. 2Next up: at Cal (Friday)Comment: There’s no secret to what derailed the Wildcats in their two losses: Purdue and FAU were 71-of-137 from the field (52 percent). Granted, that’s a high bar for Arizona’s opponen...

They eat what? New Year’s food traditions around the world

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

By Amanda Kludt | Special to CNNNew Year’s Day is meant for fresh starts. But maybe even more, it’s meant for food.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | 7 terrific Bay Area things to do over New Year’s weekend Restaurants, Food and Drink | Noon Year’s Eve and other ways to ring in the New Year in the South Bay Restaurants, Food and Drink | What to do when someone gives you a gift you don’t really want Restaurants, Food and Drink | The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year Restaurants, Food and Drink | Here’s a look at a few things about Santa Claus you may not have considered As the new year arrives around the world, special desserts abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck).The particulars vary, but the general theme is the ...

Oakland PD details enhanced police deployment for New Year's Eve

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department has announced Thursday an enhanced police deployment in preparation for New Year’s Eve celebrations across the city. DUI checkpoints and added officer presence will be utilized to address public safety issues.There will be an increased presence of Oakland police officers on New Year’s Eve to provide rapid response to emergencies and enhance overall public safety, according to Oakland PD. Police patrols will focus on “key areas” and events, and officers will actively engage with the community.“We encourage residents to approach and communicate with our officers during these patrols,” a statement from Oakland PD said. Oakland Mayor Thao rejects list of police chief candidates DUI checkpoints will be conducted by Oakland police at “strategic locations” within the city on New Year’s Eve, according to authorities. Residents and visitors are advised to “celebrate responsibly and plan ahead for a safe ride home if they choose to consume alcohol,” O...

Clemson looking to end disappointing season on a high note against Kentucky in the Gator Bowl

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) vs. Clemson (8-4), Dec. 29, noon Eastern (ESPN).FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Clemson by 4 1/2.Series record: Kentucky leads 8-5.WHAT’S AT STAKEClemson tries to end its worst season since 2010 with a five-game winning streak. The Tigers, one of 11 Power Five teams to go undefeated in November, have won a postseason game (conference championship, bowl or playoff game) in each of the last 12 years — the longest streak in major college football history. Kentucky, meanwhile, dropped five of its last seven after a 5-0 start but ended the regular season with a 38-31 victory against in-state rival Louisville in the annual Governor’s Cup.KEY MATCHUPKentucky running back Ray Davis versus Clemson’s front seven, which will be without two of its top defenders. Davis, who totaled 1,383 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, opted to play in the Gator Bowl after announcing his decision to enter the NFL draft. He now faces a Tigers defense without star linebac...

Today in Sports – New England Patriots become 1st team in NFL history to finish regular season 16-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

Dec. 291926 — Merlyn Phillips of the Montreal Maroons scores five seconds into the game at Chicago for an NHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. The Black Hawks win the game in overtime, 5-4. It would be matched three times.1934 — The first college basketball doubleheader is played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. NYU beats Notre Dame 25-18 and Westminster defeats St. John’s 37-33.1957 — Tobin Rote passes for four touchdowns and scores another to give the Detroit Lions a 59-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game.1961 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Hershey, Pa., the future site of his 100-point game.1963 — Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston give the United States a 3-2 victory over Australia for the Davis Cup title.1968 — The Baltimore Colts shut out the Browns 34-0 to win the NFL championship at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.1968 — The New York Jets beat the Oakland Rai...

3 years after White’s Ferry closed, Md. group feels ‘betrayed’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

White’s Ferry stopped running on Dec. 28, 2020 after a stalemate between then-ferry owner Herb Brown and Libby Devlin, owner of Rockland Farm, which is the landing site in Virginia.(WTOP/Neal Augenstein) White’s Ferry stopped running on Dec. 28, 2020 after a stalemate between then-ferry owner Herb Brown and Libby Devlin, owner of Rockland Farm, which is the landing site in Virginia.(WTOP/Neal Augenstein) On the third anniversary of the shutdown of historic White’s Ferry, which runs between Montgomery County, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia, people on the Maryland side of the Potomac River say they feel “beyond frustrated” and “betrayed,” that the ferry remains closed with “no e...

Today in Sports – Week Ahead, December 29 January 4

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 06:05:51 GMT

Dec. 291926 — Merlyn Phillips of the Montreal Maroons scores five seconds into the game at Chicago for an NHL record for the fastest goal from the start of a game. The Black Hawks win the game in overtime, 5-4. It would be matched three times.1934 — The first college basketball doubleheader is played at New York’s Madison Square Garden. NYU beats Notre Dame 25-18 and Westminster defeats St. John’s 37-33.1957 — Tobin Rote passes for four touchdowns and scores another to give the Detroit Lions a 59-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game.1961 — Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scores 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at Hershey, Pa., the future site of his 100-point game.1963 — Chuck McKinley and Dennis Ralston give the United States a 3-2 victory over Australia for the Davis Cup title.1968 — The Baltimore Colts shut out the Browns 34-0 to win the NFL championship at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.1968 — The New York Jets beat the Oakland Rai...