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Amazon reveals the 10 best books of 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.The best books of 2023, as chosen by Amazon editors If you love books, Amazon’s editors have the list for you. Every year, they read over 1,000 books to help customers find the best titles to add to their “to read” piles and then compile their annual list. It’s finally out, so here they are: Amazon’s Best Books of 2023. This year’s picks include some formidable female protagonists and several books with a common theme: found family and community.If you prefer to listen to your books rather than read them, Audible has an amazing Black Friday deal going on now — 60% off for your first four months. You can listen to these titles and more for just $5.95 a month until March, but act fast because this is a limited-time offer.Shop this article: “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride, “The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Ob...

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, CU Boulder research finds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

A cat-borne parasite that infects about 40 million people in the United States may cause adults to be more frail as they age, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study.The parasite is already associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness, according to a release, and the CU Boulder study found it may also contribute to signs of frailty including exhaustion and loss of muscle mass.The parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, affects about 11% of people in the United States, or roughly 40 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates tend to be higher in older people, and in some countries, more than 60% of people have been infected, according to the CDC.“We often think of T. gondii infection as relatively asymptomatic, but this study highlights that for some people it may have significant health consequences later on,” Christopher Lowry, CU Boulder professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, said in a release.For the s...

CU Boulder to host Taylor Swift laser shows

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

The University of Colorado Boulder will hold Taylor Swift laser shows in November and December that will bring some of her biggest hits to life with laser lights.A cutting-edge projection system will mesmerize with vibrant colors and a 360-degree wrap around screen.The show begins at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 25, Dec. 9 and Dec. 21 at Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Drive. For tickets, details on the playlist and more event information, visit tinyurl.com/k8cyy95a.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.

One arrested in fatal shooting outside El Paso County courthouse, Colorado Springs police say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

One person has been arrested in a shooting outside the El Paso County courthouse that caused chaos and confusion in courtrooms Thursday morning.Colorado Springs Police announced in a post on X at 12:03 p.m. that there is one suspect in custody in the shooting, but did not state the person’s gender or age or explain how or when the person was arrested.Colorado Springs police officers just after 10 a.m. found one person dead on the ground outside the El Paso County Judicial Building at 270 S. Tejon St. with an apparent gunshot wound, Colorado Springs Police spokesperson Ira Cronin said in a news conference.HAPPENING NOWCSPD is responding to a shooting at the El Paso County Courthouse. PIO en route. Media staging will be at the corner of Tejon and Vermijo. Media should approach from the south.— Colorado Springs Police Department (@CSPDPIO) November 16, 2023Police did not believe anyone else was shot in the isolated incident, Cronin said, and it was “not an active shoo...

UCLA files lawsuit against Mattel after the company walked back $49 million children's hospital donation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

UCLA and its health system have filed a lawsuit against Mattel, the company behind popular toy franchises like Barbie, Hot Wheels and American Girl, claiming the toy company failed to make good on its pledge to donate $49 million to the university's children's hospital.The lawsuit states that in 2017, Mattel agreed to donate $49 million in installments over 12 years to the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.The two organizations have had a partnership since 1998, when Mattel donated a separate $25 million to the UCLA Foundation to help support the construction of the children’s hospital Westwood campus, the Los Angeles Times reported. In exchange, the hospital agreed to include Mattel in its name.The deal seemed to proceed smoothly, with Mattel delivering the initial funds by 2004 and agreeing to host an annual party at the Santa Monica Pier to raise money for the hospital, according to the publication. Thousands of children have been treated at the hospital in the years since.But afte...

Snoop Dogg says he's giving up smoking weed

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg is dropping smoke like it's hot. The Long Beach native made a shocking announcement on social media Thursday morning. "I’m giving up smoke," he posted to Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.Snoop Dogg performs a DJ set as "DJ Snoopadelic" during the "Concerts In Your Car" series on Oct. 2, 2020, in Ventura. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press)The caption accompanied a black-and-white photo of Snoop with text that read: "After much consideration and conversation with my family, I've decided to give up smoke."He ended the note saying, "Please respect my privacy at this time."Fans immediately flooded the comment section and thought either the 52-year-old-old was joking or he was just making the switch to edibles. "I'm sure his account got hacked," commented one follower. "But what about our 420 deal?" asked Carl's Jr. "This is like me giving up Taquitos," 7-Eleven commented alongside a few heartbreak emojis. "I know an 'I’m doing edibles now' post w...

Why Bitcoin (BTC) Continues to Dominate the Cryptocurrency Arena

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

Sponsored ContentBitcoin’s undeniable dominance in the world of cryptocurrencies is evident. Since its creation in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto to its emergence as a force in the financial landscape, Bitcoin has consistently held a strong position setting the stage for the development of other digital currencies. The question that often arises is: Despite competitors, what keeps Bitcoin at the forefront of the market?The power of Bitcoin lies in its decentralized nature. Unlike currencies that depend on authorities  like banks or governments to regulate their circulation and value, Bitcoin operates differently. It functions through a peer-to-peer network, facilitating interactions among users without the need for any governing body. This decentralized structure goes beyond being a theoretical benefit. It guarantees that no single entity has control over Bitcoin, establishing trust through cryptography and consensus mechanisms. Anyone interested in Bitcoin (BTC) can visit Binance, ...

Man convicted in vicious 2019 attack on woman along Mountain View trail

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

MOUNTAIN VIEW — A man was convicted this week of viciously assaulting a woman on the Stevens Creek Trail in 2019, a rare stranger attack that raised serious public safety fears and risked going unsolved if not for a chance arrest a few days later, according to authorities and court records.Michael Wendy Adonis, 34, shown here in a 2019 booking photo, is a French citizen who was convicted of kidnapping and attacking a woman on the Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View on Feb. 25, 2019 in what authorities described as a stranger assault. (Mountain View Police Dept.) Jurors found 34-year-old Michael Adonis guilty Tuesday of kidnapping for the purpose of rape as well as several other felony counts including assault, dissuading a witness by threatening force and criminal threats.Adonis, a French citizen, faces seven years to life in prison for the kidnapping conviction. A second trial phase will begin Dec. 14 to determine his sentence for the remainder of the convictions, which...

After meeting with Xi, Biden pivots to Asia-Pacific economies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

By Colleen Long and Aamer Madhani | Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — Fresh off his meeting with the leader of China, President Joe Biden on Thursday is addressing CEOs who are grappling with the risks to their businesses from world crises. He’ll also spend time trying to persuade other Indo-Pacific leaders that the U.S. is committed to nurturing economic ties throughout the region.“We’ve got a few busy days ahead of us,” Biden said during a welcome reception, ticking off a list of concerns and challenges for the leaders to examine. “Our strongest tools to meet those challenges remain the same … connection, cooperation, collective action and common purpose.”Biden is courting world leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and through his administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a group that includes most of the 21 APEC member economies and a few others, like India, that aren’t members of the larger forum.Mike...

Rob Manfred: A’s had no ‘viable path forward’ in Oakland, John Fisher has been ‘a good owner’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:47 GMT

Shortly after MLB owners unanimously approved the relocation of the Oakland A’s franchise to Las Vegas on Thursday morning, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred shared some insight into the process and what’s next for the A’s.Among the topics discussed were the A’s temporary home until their new ballpark is expected to be ready in 2028, MLB’s relationship with the city of Oakland and whether or not it would be a viable location for an expansion team.“I know this is a terrible day for fans in Oakland,” Manfred told reporters at the owners’ meetings in Arlington, Texas. “I understand that. That’s why we always had a policy of doing everything humanly possible to avoid a relocation, and I truly believe that in this case.”He added, “I think it’s beyond debate that the status quo in Oakland was untenable … I am absolutely convinced there was not a viable path forward.”Here’s the remaining portion of the press conference as it relates to the A’s:Q: Talk a...