Monthly Archives: November 2025

‘Pluribus’ Episode 4—‘Please, Carol,’ Explained

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Episode 4 of Pluribus might be the most brutal moment for Carol (Rhea Seehorn) that we’ve seen yet, as she probes the knowledge of the hivemind, and hears an uncomfortable truth. What Happens In ‘Pluribus’ Episode 4? The episode begins by introducing Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga), the immune man from Paraguay who has isolated himself away from the hivemind, the one who Carol yelled at over the phone in the previous episode. Manousos is deeply unsettled by Earth’s new overlords, maybe even more than Carol, to the point where he is locked inside his house listening to the radio and surviving on dog food, refusing to engage with them. It’s a miserable life, and when he answers the phone and hears Carol’s stuttering attempt to speak Spanish, he hangs up, assuming it’s the hivemind playing tricks. When Carol calls back and loses her temper, he’s struck by a realization-the hivemind can’t get mad. That was a real human. No doubt, Carol and Manousos are going to find a way to connect and bond over their shared hatred of the new world order, but for now, Carol is experimenting. In episode 3, Carol realized that the hivemind will give her literally anything she asks for-even a nuclear bomb, having handed her a hand grenade after misunderstanding her sarcasm. The grenade injured Zosia (Karolina Wydra), the body that has been assigned to chaperone Carol. Zosia was specifically chosen as an appealing figure for Carol, and despite knowing that Zosia has no real individuality, Carol can’t help but feel affection for her. Carol wants o know if the melding of all humans into a hivemind can be reversed, but Zosia grows uncomfortable and refuses to answer. Carol reckons that her silence speaks volumes. One would think that there would be, at the very least, strange side-effects, even if Carol does manage to cure the world-would remnants of other people’s personalities still remain? Can individuality really be reconstructed after being blended into billions of minds? Still, Carol reckons it’s worth pursuing. She writes down what she knows about the hivemind on a white board, but she only has a few scraps of information. She knows they are pacifist, eager to please, and seek to absorb her into their blob, despite the fact that she clearly does not want to. “They” seem to genuinely believe that leaving Carol out of the unified mind would be doing her a disservice. Carol concludes with her last observation, writing that they are “weirdly honest.” She wonders-can they lie? Carol goes outside to fetch one-any will do, they’re all flesh puppets to the unity-and chooses a guy dressed in a cycling outfit (Jeff Hiller), who confirms that his body was once known as “Lawrence.” Carol sits down with Lawrence and asks him careful questions about her fantasy romance novels. Amusingly, Lawrence has nothing but flattery for Carol, suggesting that her books rival the work of William Shakespeare-they love her books, and love all of the words. It sounds a bit like Elon Musk talking to his alarmingly sycophantic bot, Grok, empty flattery with no substance. But when Carol pushes for details, she realizes that Lawrence and the others have “read” her books many times through all of her fans, and can quote them by memory. They’re not lying, exactly, but channeling the feelings of her biggest fans. Lawrence even mentions a reader from Kansas, Moira McAllister, who credits Carol’s books with saving her life during a depressive episode. Carol seems secretly flattered to hear this, and the sentiment echoes the words of her late lover, Helen (Miriam Shor), who always assured Carol that her work is more valuable than she believes. Carol digs deeper, and asks what Helen really thought of her best-selling romance series. Before dying, Helen was absorbed into the hivemind, meaning that talking to “them” is the only way Carol can still communicate with Helen, or rather, an echo of who Helen used to be. Lawrence reluctantly tells her that Helen thought the books were “harmless,” comparing them to cotton candy. Sugary fluff, basically. Carol always knew this, of course, but she seems slightly hurt to hear Helen’s true thoughts. So she asks what Helen really thought of her unpublished novel, Bitter Chrysalis, the only story that Carol is proud of, the book that Helen encouraged her to release to the public. The answer is devastating-Lawrence reveals that Helen “didn’t hate it,” and didn’t even bother to finish it. Learning that her prized piece of writing is just “meh” seems to deeply wound Carol, and she asks why Helen encouraged her to publish it. Lawrence tells her that “it wouldn’t hurt your career, and it would make you happy.” The revelation seems to shatter something, challenging Carol’s perspective of herself as a gifted writer trapped in a trashy genre, revealing that Helen was only trying to please her-almost like the hivemind. Carol has heard enough and dismisses Lawrence, writing on her white board that “they” cannot lie to her. Zosia wouldn’t reveal the truth of how to reverse the joining, but Carol reckons that she just needs a bit of chemical encouragement. Asking the hivemind for heroin (which they reluctantly provide), Carol secretly steals Pentothal from a lab, which functions almost as a truth serum, and injects it. Carol records herself, knowing the drug will wipe her memory, watching it the next morning after sobering up. Carol watching her intoxicated self spill all her secrets on camera is surprisingly compelling-one gets the sense that Carol is, on some level, trying to understand herself, listening to repressed feelings that she can’t admit to anyone, even herself. Under the influence, Carol allows herself to grieve, wailing and crying for Helen. Eventually, she cheers up and even reads aloud from her trashy romance series, proposing that her book would make a great movie (clearly, Carol isn’t quite as ashamed of them as she makes out). Finally, she hears herself admitting that she is sexually attracted to Zosia, and turns the camera off. She’s heard enough-the truth serum works. Carol heads to the hospital where Zosia is recovering and sneakily doses her with serum, taking her to an isolated spot outside where they can talk privately. The Pentothal enters Zosia’s veins and she becomes confused and drowsy, while Carol questions her frantically about a cure. Of course, the hivemind can feel the disruption. In a particularly unsettling scene, a group of “them” slowly surround Carol, unable to force her to stop, but merely repeating “Please, Carol.” It’s a moment that highlights the zombie-like takeover of Earth, underlining the fact that Zosia has no individuality within. But she has a body that is affected by the drug, and while Carol grills her with questions, Zosia collapses, entering cardiac arrest. One of the hivemind passively asks if they can save her, and Carol quickly confirms-the attempt to resuscitate Zosia begins. The episode ends without revealing what happens to Zosia, with Carol panicking at the thought of losing another companion. Is Zosia Dead? We’ll have to wait until episode 5 to find out, but it seems likely that Zosia might survive the ordeal. After learning that Carol is attracted to Zosia, it would be something of a narrative dead end to let the only human connection Carol has with the hivemind just slip away. It’s not a “real” connection-Carol is being manipulated with Zosia’s body, tricking her into letting down her guard slightly. Zosia is just a mouthpiece for the hivemind, but after losing Helen, she’s the only romantic interest left in Carol’s life. While Carol being a dedicated hater is important to the series, her “connection” to Zosia is just as vital. Even a hardened cynic like Carol will allow themselves to be fooled under the right circumstances, even if she hates the illusion.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/pluribus-episode-4-please-carol-explained/

Bitcoin Price Today: BTC Price Reclaims Strength at $87K, but Bulls Must Overcome the $100K Block

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After briefly dipping earlier in the week, Bitcoin has stabilized above crucial demand zones, attracting fresh trader interest. Market sentiment is shifting as buyers eye a potential surge toward the highly anticipated $90K-$100K range. Weekend Momentum Accelerates, but Analysts Urge Caution Market commentator Ted (@TedPillows)-known for tracking Bitcoin liquidity flows and weekend volatility patterns-highlighted the recurring nature of weekend-driven rallies, noting that they often fade once institutional trading volume returns. “TC weekend pump is here. And we know what will happen next,” he wrote, suggesting that Bitcoin frequently loses momentum without strong weekday follow-through from institutional desks. Bitcoin’s weekend pump returns, but traders warn real momentum must show up on weekdays. Technical charts referenced by traders show consistent selling pressure around this region, which continues to serve as a major barrier to any attempt at a new Bitcoin all-time high. Some analysts attribute this behavior to thinner weekend order books. According to multiple order-flow tools used by traders, weekend depth can be 10-30% lower than weekday levels, magnifying both upward surges and sudden corrections. Critics refer to these conditions as “low-liquidity weekend traps”, though not all analysts agree on the reliability of this pattern. Large Sell Orders Emerge as Market Approaches Resistance In a separate update, Ted noted that significant sell-side liquidity has been forming between $88,000 and $91,000. “Some big sell orders are emerging. Bitcoin is trading $2,000 above the CME gap, which isn’t a good sign,” he remarked, referencing common futures-market dynamics tracked by many traders. Bitcoin faces heavy sell walls near $88K-$91K as traders brace for a possible Monday top and a CME gap-filling drop. Red candles appeared as large sell walls developed across Binance. Coinbase and other major venues have visible liquidity clusters totaling nearly $800 million across multiple exchanges. While some traders interpret heavy liquidity as a sign of potential rejection, others argue that CME gaps do not always fill quickly, and their timing remains widely debated. Some previous gaps have taken weeks or months to close, while others remain unfilled entirely. This ongoing debate highlights the uncertainty surrounding Bitcoin’s next decisive move. Short-Term Technicals Support Upside-If Key Levels Hold A technical breakdown from TradingView analyst SMC-Trading-Point-who specializes in Smart Money Concepts (SMC) and institutional order-flow analysis-offered a more constructive outlook, pointing to strong structural signals on the 1-hour BTC/USDT chart. BTC holds above the 85. 3K-86K demand zone, signaling bullish continuation toward the 90K liquidity target. Price action remains above the EMA 50, while approaching the EMA 200, a level many traders associate with potential trend reversals when broken convincingly. Higher lows and the break of minor structure highs suggest that bullish momentum is gradually building. The analyst highlighted the next upside target at $90, 000-$90, 100, which aligns with a liquidity pool and resistance cluster monitored by short-term traders. Looking Ahead: Can Bitcoin Break the $100K Barrier? Bitcoin’s weekend rally shows that buyers remain active, but the next major test will come when weekday trading volume returns. The $88,000-$91,000 region has emerged as a critical battleground, with order-book data showing heavy liquidity in this range. Breaking above it could open the path toward another challenge of $100, 000, while failure may lead to a broader retracement toward the lower CME gap area. Bitcoin was trading at around 86, 990, up 2. 93% in the last 24 hours at press time. With Bitcoin’s market cap recovering alongside resilient ETF inflows, the broader uptrend remains intact-but volatility is likely as BTC approaches one of its most important resistance zones of the year.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/bitcoin-price-today-btc-price-reclaims-strength-at-87k-but-bulls-must-overcome-the-100k-block/

Napoli vs Qarabag Prediction and Betting Tips | November 25th 2025

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SSC Napoli lock horns with Qarabag FK on matchday five of the UEFA Champions League league phase on Tuesday. Both sides are in the knockout phase play-off places. Antonio Conte’s Napoli warmed up for their continental commitment with a comfortable 3-1 Serie A home win over Atalanta at the weekend. A David Neres brace and a Noa Lang strike on the cusp of half-time put the Partenopei on their way before Atalanta bagged a second-half consolation through Gianluca Scamacca. Thanks for the submission! Second in Serie A after 12 games, Conte’s side haven’t fared as dominantly in Europe, though, winning only one of four matches. In their previous game, the Partenopei drew goalless at home with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this month and are 24th in the 36-team standings, with four points from as many games, winning one. Meanwhile, Gurban Gurbanov’s Qarabag are fresh off a 4-2 win at Sumqayit in the Azerbaijani Premier League on Friday. Four different players two in each half were on the scoresheet for the Horsemen, who are three points clear at the top after 11 outings. In Europe, Gurbanov’s side have fared marginally better than their upcoming opponents, though, coming off a 2-2 home draw with Chelsea to move to 15th in the continental standings, with seven points from four matches, winning two. On that note, here’s a look at the head-to-head stats and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips for the Napoli-Qarabag Champions League clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona: Napoli vs Qarabag head-to-head stats and key numbers The two teams are meeting for the first time in a competitive outing. The Partonepei have never before met a team from Azerbaijan, while Qarabag are winless in six games against Italian teams, losing five. Napoli are unbeaten at home this season, winning six of eight games, including one in the Champions League. Qarabag have won eight of their nine road outings this season, losing one, but that loss has come in the Champions League (proper), having won thrice in qualifying. Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Napoli: W-L-D-D-W; Qarabag: W-W-D-W-D Napoli vs Qarabag prediction Both sides have prospered in their respective domestic leagues but haven’t quite hit their stride in Europe, especially Napoli. There isn’t any previous history between the two teams, but the Partenopei will draw confidence from their unbeaten home form this season. While Qarabag have been impressive on the road, they will have their task cut out at the Stadio Diego Maradona, having never before beaten an Italian team. A win for Conte’s side looks to be the most probable outcome on Tuesday as they seek a move up the standings. Prediction: Napoli 2-1 Qarabag Napoli vs Qarabag betting tips Tip-1: Napoli to win Tip-2: Qarabag to score (They have scored in every road game this season.) Tip-3: Over 1. 5 goals.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/napoli-vs-qarabag-prediction-betting-tips-november-25th-2025

Why Does ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Still Cast Such a Wicked Spell? Because It’s the Movie That First Flipped the Patriarchy on Its Head

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“Wicked,” the stage musical, took its first bow 22 years ago. The novel it’s based on, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” was published in 1995. All of that happened well before the #MeToo revolution. Yet in the years since that revolution kicked off (you can date it to the week of October 2017 when the Harvey Weinstein story broke), one of the many forms that the new feminist consciousness took was to seize upon stories of women from the past and “reframe” them, only now with a more enlightened understanding of everything those women accomplished (and the odds they were up against). We might be talking about a rocket scientist like Dana Ulery, a politician like Shirley Chisholm, or Britney Spears. And “Wicked,” with an impish defiance that anticipated the #MeToo project of reconfiguring the sins of history, dared to place the Wicked Witch of the West in that hallowed company. It said: She has been misjudged, misunderstood, misportrayed. As a stage musical, and as a lavish two-part Hollywood movie, culminating in the newly released “Wicked: For Good,” that fuses confectionary psychedelic imagery with enough sisterly conflict and transcendence to make a lot of us swoon, “Wicked” presents itself as the backstory of “The Wizard of Oz.” But it also seems to be challenging “The Wizard of Oz,” peering at it from a 21st-century vantage point of feminine struggle and liberation. There’s a reason that “The Wizard of Oz” is uniquely suited to that reverse-angle treatment. Certainly, it’s one of the most transporting movies ever made. Yet what is it about “The Wizard of Oz” that speaks to us with such mythological timelessness? We tend to think of it in terms of the film’s eye-popping imagery (no sci-fi movie, and no CGI, can match the cockeyed splendor of how the land of Oz looks), its etched-in-time performances, the barely suppressed freakishness of it all, the whole MGM-on-mushrooms backlot dream atmosphere, not to mention the singular incandescence of “Over the Rainbow.” Beneath its candified surface, though, what remains haunting about “The Wizard of Oz” is that the film unveils a surreal cosmology of topsy-turvy gender-role reversals. Simply put, it’s Hollywood’s first vision of the patriarchy. that dares to imagine a world after the patriarchy. And that’s why in “Wicked,” “The Wizard of Oz” proves to be so ripe for “reframing.” It’s a movie that reframes society and reframes itself even as you’re watching it. In black-and-white dustbowl Kansas, the quintessence of the “ordinary” old America, Judy Garland’s pigtailed Dorothy lives on a farm with her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, surrounded by eccentrics like the mean Miss Gulch and the quackish Professor Marvel. But when she lands in Oz, what she discovers isn’t just a land of chattery Munchkins and acid-head Technicolor décor. She discovers. a radically different power structure. Two women loom large, like good and evil goddesses: Billie Burke’s aristocratic Glinda, arriving inside a giant soap bubble, and Margaret Hamilton’s hypnotically seething Wicked Witch of the West, one of the three or four ripest images of evil a Hollywood movie ever gave us. (What are the others? Offhand, I’d say Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Darth Vader.) These women rule the roost, setting the tone for what “The Wizard of Oz,” beneath its glowing colors and fairy-tale story, really is: Hollywood’s first radical vision of matriarchy. And here’s the sleight-of-hand trick of it all. The land of Oz doesn’t present itself as a matriarchy. The most powerful figure in the kingdom is a man: the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Everyone drops his name in awed tones. The regal Glinda defers to him. Even the imperious Wicked Witch is intimidated by his power. So the land of Oz, in form, is a traditional patriarchy. Except that it’s not. Because what we finally learn is that “the Wizard of Oz” doesn’t exist. That looming patriarchal monarch is an illusion, a hologram glimpsed through smoke and fire. Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West really are the two most powerful figures in Oz. And as you look more closely at Margaret Hamilton’s extraordinary performance as the Wicked Witch, another level of this phantasmagorical landscape clicks into place, a kind of submerged reverie of identity. What is it about the Wicked Witch that’s so uniquely scary and mesmerizing? It’s that Hamilton invests her with a look and energy that fuses the masculine and the feminine. The movie is telling us, in a nightmare way, what is going to frighten people about matriarchy: the primal anxiety that women will subsume and replace men. That fear asserts itself in the homicidal gaze of Hamilton’s presence. The Wicked Witch’s dream mission is to murder femininity (“My pretty!”). But this, in fact, is a perversion of what true matriarchy is. The more enlightened version is the one presented by Dorothy and her three friends: the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, all visions of men who have had their power taken away. Yet their love for Dorothy is real; that’s what their power becomes the desire to transcend their goofball selves by protecting her. What this all adds up to is that “The Wizard of Oz,” in the guise of a 1930s Hollywood kitsch fantasy musical, is really presenting us with a hallucinatory, time-tripping vision of a future that is female one where the old patriarchal rulers, like the Wizard, are façades waiting to be torn down, where the passion of women (good and evil) exerts far greater power, and where ordinary dudes, trying to make themselves better (by improving their brains, hearts, and valor), exist to serve and defend the transcendently soulful teenage heroine who has landed in their midst. In the end, of course, she does go back to Kansas. But by then she’s ready to rule.
https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/wizard-of-oz-wicked-feminism-patriarchy-critic-analysis-1236589628/

Simi Valley man arrested in tire-slashing spree that damaged at least 11 cars

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A Simi Valley man has been arrested in connection with a tire-slashing spree that left nearly a dozen vehicles damaged on a quiet residential street, police announced Saturday. Russell Myers, 32, of Simi Valley, was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism after investigators linked him to the Nov. 20 incident on the 4100 block of […]
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/simi-valley-man-arrested-in-tire-slashing-spree-that-damaged-at-least-11-cars/

In his words: Trump’s rhetoric about Zelenskyy and Putin has evolved

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President Donald Trump repeatedly said during his White House campaign that if he won the 2024 election, he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine “in 24 hours.” But in the 10 months since he took office, the road to a peace deal has been fraught with changing dynamics involving the American leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s rhetoric toward both men has evolved. It continues to do so. At the outset of his second term in January, Trump was conciliatory toward Putin, for whom he long has shown admiration. Over time, Trump expressed increasing exasperation with Putin, while seemingly softening criticism of Zelenskyy after their February blowout in the Oval Office. Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Russia and he was suggesting by the fall that Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia. That was a dramatic shift from his repeated calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. By late November, Trump had endorsed a peace plan favorable to Russia. Some Democratic senators suggested the proposal was a “wish list” that originated with Moscow and they had heard just that from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The State Department disputed it and Rubio insisted the plan was written by the United States. American allies in Europe nonetheless worried it was too conciliatory to Russia. Trump had returned to slamming Zelenskyy in ways that recalled how Trump and Vice President JD Vance had hounded the Ukrainian leader out of the Oval Office months earlier. Trump was now suggesting Zelenskyy was not appearing grateful enough for years of U. S. military support. The Republican president also chided European countries for not doing more to put economic pressure on Russa. Here is a look at what Trump has said this year and how his tone has changed: Jan. 31 “We want to end that war. That war would have not started if I was president.” Trump said his new administration had already had “very serious” discussions with Russia and that he and Putin could soon take “significant” action toward ending the conflict. Feb. 19 “A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left.” Trump’s harsh words for Zelenskyy on his Truth Social platform drew criticism from Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress, where defending Ukraine from Russian aggression has traditionally had bipartisan support. Zelenskyy said Trump was falling into a Russian disinformation trap. He was quickly admonished by Vance about the perils of publicly criticizing the new U. S. president. Feb. 28 “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.” Trump and Vance berated Zelenskyy over the war, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Vance on the question of diplomacy with Putin. The argument in the Oval Office was broadcast globally. It led to the rest of Zelenskyy’s White House visit being canceled and called into question the U. S. support of Ukraine. A few days after the blowup, Trump temporarily paused military aid to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskyy to seek peace. March 30 “I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. You’re talking about Putin. I don’t think he’s going to go back on his word. I’ve known him for a long time. We’ve always gotten along well.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he trusted Putin to hold up his end of a potential peace deal. April 24 “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” In a Truth Social post, Trump reacted to Russia attacking Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones. It was the first of his rare criticism of Putin as Russia stepped up its attacks on Ukraine. April 29 “A lot of his people are dying. They’re being killed, and I feel very badly about it.” Trump addressed the toll It was the first time the two leaders had met since the Oval Office spat and it signaled a shift in Trump’s attitude toward the Ukrainian president. May 25 “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump’s Truth Social post made it clear he was losing patience with Putin as Moscow pounded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles. June 25 “He was very nice actually. We had a little rough times, sometimes. He was . Couldn’t have been nicer. I think he’d like to see an end to this, I do.” Trump had a closed-door meeting with Zelenskyy during a NATO summit in The Hague. Trump’s comments to reporters later also opened the possibility of sending Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. July 8 “We get a lot of bull–t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” Trump also said he was “not happy” with Putin and that the war was “killing a lot of people” on both sides. Trump’s comments during a Cabinet meeting came a day after he said the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine. It was a dramatic reversal after earlier announcing a pause in the delivery of previously approved firepower to Kyiv, a decision that was made amid concerns that America’s military stockpiles had declined too much. July 13 “I am very disappointed with President Putin, I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. He’ll talk so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.” Trump’s remarks to reporters came as Russia has intensified its aerial attacks. July 14 “I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy. It’s been proven over the years. He’s fooled a lot of people before.” Trump pushed harder against Putin during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Trump said if there was no deal to end the war within 50 days, the U. S. would impose “secondary tariffs,” meaning taxes would target Russia’s trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow. Trump and Rutte also discussed a rejuvenated pipeline for U. S. weapons. European allies planned to buy military equipment and then transfer it to Ukraine. Aug. 15 “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Trump failed to secure an agreement from Putin during a summit in Alaska even after rolling out the red carpet for the man who started the war. Trump had wanted to show off his deal-making skills. Instead, he handed Putin long-sought recognition on the international stage after years of Western efforts to make Putin a pariah over the war and his crackdown on dissent, and forestalled the threat of additional U. S. sanctions. Sept. 23 “Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger.’ ” Trump posted on social media soon after meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the U. N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders. He also said he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, a departure from Trump’s previous suggestions that Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all the territory that Russia has occupied since it seized the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Oct. 17 “Stop the war immediately.” After again hosting Zelenskyy at the White House, Trump implied that Moscow should be allowed keep territory it has taken from Kyiv if doing so could help end the conflict more quickly. “You go by the battle line wherever it is otherwise it’s too complicated,” Trump said. “You stop at the battle line and both sides should go home, go to their families, stop the killing, and that should be it.” Trump had a lengthy phone call with Putin the day before Zelenskyy arrived and announced he soon planned to meet with Putin in Hungary. That meeting never materialized, in part because of a lack of progress on ending the war. Trump also signaled to Zelenskyy that the U. S. would not be selling Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles, which the Ukrainians believed could be a game changer in helping prod Putin to the negotiating table. Oct. 22 “Hopefully he’ll become reasonable.” Trump made the comment suggesting Putin could be more favorable to a peace agreement after the Treasury Department announced sanctions against Russia’s two biggest oil companies and their subsidiaries. But Trump added, “And, hopefully Zelenskyy will be reasonable, too. You know, it takes two to tango, as they say.” Nov. 21 “He’s going to have to approve it.” Trump suggested that Zelenskyy would have to accept the U. S. peace plan. Trump pressed Zelenskyy to agree to concessions of land to Moscow, a massive reduction in the size of Ukraine’s army and agreement from Europe to assert that Ukraine would never be admitted into the NATO military alliance. Trump set a Nov. 27 deadline Thanksgiving Day in the U. S. for Zelenskyy to respond to the plan. Trump also said more time could be allotted to Ukraine as long as progress was made to a lasting peace. Nov. 22 “I would like to get to peace.” Asked if the peace plan was his final offer, Trump said it was not. He did not elaborate. But his comment suggested he would be willing to negotiate past the Nov. 27 deadline and alter the peace plan in ways that Ukraine wants. “We’re trying to get it ended. One way or the other, we have to get it ended,” Trump said of the war. Senators from both parties who have been critical of Trump’s approach to ending the war said they spoke with Rubio, who told them that the plan Trump was pushing Kyiv to accept was actually a “wish list” of the Russians. The State Department called that account “false” and Rubio later took the extraordinary step of insisting that the plan was U. S.-authored. But the incident raised still more questions about its ultimate fate. Nov. 23 “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA.” In a post on his social media site, Trump went after Zelenskyy and the Europeans once more: “With strong and proper U. S. and Ukrainian LEADERSHIP” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “would have NEVER HAPPENED,” Trump said, again blaming his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for allowing the conflict in Ukraine.
https://ktar.com/national-news/in-his-words-trumps-rhetoric-about-zelenskyy-and-putin-has-evolved-3/5781614/

Are you up on your Thanksgiving trivia?

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When was the first Thanksgiving? The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621. Although there are several accounts as to where the first celebration took place, the most well-known version describes the inaugural Thanksgiving as a three-day pilgrim celebration that took place in 1621 at the Plymouth Colony (now Plymouth, Massachusetts). Most traditional historians recognize this as the first American Thanksgiving feast. Over 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday in November as a day to give thanks. It wasn’t until 1941 that congress made Thanksgiving an official national holiday. Why is there a presidential pardoning for a turkey? Every year since 1947, a ceremony known as “The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation” has been conducted at The White House a few days before Thanksgiving. During the ceremony, the current president is presented with a live turkey. The commander-in-chief does not eat the turkey; instead, he “pardons” the bird and spares it from being slaughtered. After being pardoned, the turkey gets to live out its days on a farm. History of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Macy’s has put on a parade every Thanksgiving since 1924. The tradition of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 in New York City. The parade was originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade and was created to help spur the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was put together by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park zoo. These days, giant floating balloons are the parade’s primary feature. In the modern era, it is estimated that about 3 million people attend the parade in person each year and that 44 million more watch it on TV. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. Thanksgiving day is the busiest travel day of the year. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has estimated that over 42 million Americans travel 50 miles or more by car over the holiday weekend. Another 4 million people fly to visit their loved ones for the holiday. Thanksgiving then and now. Thanksgiving dinner hasn’t changed much over the years. The food eaten at the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621 was not too different from our modern standard. The pilgrims’ meal consisted of turkey, venison, waterfowl, lobster, fish, clams, pumpkin, squash, berries, and fruit. Aside from the seafood, most of these foods are still staples of our present-day Thanksgiving dinners. Why do Americans eat a lot of turkey? While there is no official reason why turkey is the quintessential main dish used in Thanksgiving dinners, it was likely the most plentiful type of meat in Plymouth Colony in 1621. We’ve carried on the tradition of eating Turkey for Thanksgiving dinner ever since. According to the National Turkey Federation, over 95% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Around 280 million turkeys are sold during the weeks leading up to the holiday. Why cranberries? Cranberries are more than just a side dish. They are one of only three fruits considered to be native to North America. Indigenous Americans were the first to reap the many benefits of cranberries. In addition to eating them, the red juice from cranberries was used as a dye for clothing, rugs, and blankets. They also included cranberries in medicine to treat arrow wounds and other ailments. Native Americans believed in the medicinal use of cranberries long before scientists discovered their health benefits. Nowadays, cranberries are an essential side dish in our Thanksgiving feasts. The official thanksgiving postage stamp. In 2001, the U. S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. The stamp was designed by artist Margaret Cusack to resemble traditional folk-art needlework. The intention behind the stamp’s creation was to commemorate the tradition of being thankful for the abundance of goods we enjoy in America. What is the wishbone tradition? Turkeys’ wishbones are commonly used in a good-luck tradition on Thanksgiving. Usually, the practice consists of two people tugging on either end of the brittle bone while silently making a wish until it breaks. It is said that whoever wins the larger piece will have their wish granted.
https://signalscv.com/2025/11/are-you-up-on-your-thanksgiving-trivia/

The 30k ‘Range Rover dupe’ you can quickly defrost from the comfort of your bed

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Hailed the ‘Temu Range Rover’, the Jaecoo 7 has quickly become one of the fastest selling new cars in the UK this year boasting many luxury features There’s a brand new car on the roads which only hit the UK this year but has quickly become a very common sight outside the school gates in 2025 and for good reason. As if school run mornings aren’t hectic enough for many parents, defrosting the car is another added time-consuming task which needs to be done now that winter is officially upon us. However, for those who own a Jaecoo 7 car, it has literally never been easier to get the car ready to go in the winter as the vehicle comes with a mobile app that allows motorists to demist their vehicle without even having to go outside. The app includes a pre-conditioning feature that allows you to remotely activate the defogging and heating functions which starts the car’s car’s climate control and defogging system, warming the car up and clearing the windshield. That is just one luxury feature of the £30, 000 Jaecoo 7 cars, which are a Chinese-made family SUV that only hit the UK earlier this year. The motor may have an unfamiliar foreign badge on it but looks like a swanky and expensive dupe of a Range Rover car for just a fraction of the price. Hailed the ‘Temu Range Rover’, the Jaecoo 7 has become very popular in the UK, particularly among young mothers who want the Range Rover mum look for half the price. The Jaecoo 7 went on sale in the UK in January of this year as the debut model from the sub-brand of China’s largest car exporter, Chery. The name Jaecoo is a mix of the German word ‘jäger’, meaning hunter, and ‘cool’ and it seems they are living up to the latter as they have already been named in a list of the UK’s 10 best-selling new cars in the last three months. By the start of November, the new brand had sold over 20, 000 Jaecoo 7s in Britain, which is more than any other model from a Chinese manufacturer, according to the company. Social media has been rife with positive reviews from customers, mainly female in their late 20s and early 30s, who claim to have ditched their aspirations of a Range Rover and turned to this cheap Chinese newcomer ride instead. And we can completely understand why as the Jaecoo 7 boasts countless luxury features including a large central touchscreen, advanced driver assistance systems, and comfort features like heated and ventilated seats. The Daily Mail and This is Money spoke to a TikTok and Instagram influencer, who goes by the name of Diaries of a Business Mum, about why she made the switch from a Range Rover Sport Autobiography to the Jaecoo 7. After four years of owning a Range Rover, the influencer whose name is Chantel, explained that she and her husband were looking to save some money after having a child and renovating their home. Comparing the two, Chantel says the Jaecoo tech is ‘just as good, if not better’ than the Range Rover, although she admits the British product ‘feels like you’re driving a proper car’ whereas the Jaecoo ‘feels very lightweight’. However, Chantel adds that it’s worth it due to the cheaper petrol bills: “The Jaecoo only costs £60 to fill up and lasts forever, versus about £100 for the Range Rover. She told This is Money: “Once I looked into the features it had and saw one in person, I was sold. I love the look of a Range Rover, but it’s not realistically in my budget, especially with mum life and everything else. With the Jaecoo, I felt like I was getting a premium car for a fraction of the cost.” She added that the plug-in hybrid 7 SHS [Super Hybrid System] is ‘honestly the perfect car’ for mums. I always wanted something cheaper to run but without going fully electric. A plug-in hybrid feels like the perfect middle ground.”.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/30k-range-rover-dupe-you-36293021