**The Telegraph**
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**To: Timber Rattler**
Who coaxed you out of your Trump-hating site? You smell blood in the water, snek?
*Posted by dforest*
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**To: Timber Rattler**
*Posted by plain talk*
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*Disclaimer:* Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by applicable laws.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4351673/posts
A massive apartment complex fire displaced more than 200 Amherst residents this weekend, leaving a major cleanup job and the community reeling.
### Fire Origin and Spread
The fire originated at an under-construction building located at 47 Olympia Drive. Due to its proximity, intensity, and wind conditions, the blaze quickly spread to the nearby building at 57 Olympia Drive. Both buildings have been deemed a total loss. Demolition efforts to aid in extinguishing the fire were expected to be completed over the weekend.
“The building is still burning,” Amherst Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgen told the Herald Sunday morning. “We can’t fully extinguish this because of its size, and in fact, we can’t get to the far side—you can see it’s the woods. The only way we can actually put all of the fire out is to tear it down.”
### Impact and Evacuations
No injuries were reported in the massive blaze, but around 230 residents—mostly UMass Amherst students—have been displaced from the complex. The State Fire Marshal, Amherst Fire Department, and Amherst Police Department are investigating the cause of the fire. However, according to the Amherst Fire Department, “the fire is not suspicious in nature.”
Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman issued a state of emergency on Saturday, urging residents to halt non-essential water use to conserve water for firefighting efforts. Fire Chief Stromgen anticipated that the state of emergency would be lifted soon as the fire department’s water needs lessened.
### University Resources and Response
UMass Amherst has compiled a dedicated webpage providing updates and resources for affected students, including information on food aid, basic needs, counseling, financial assistance, and donation opportunities. The university has placed some students in temporary on-campus residences.
“While we are incredibly relieved that no one has been injured, the Friday night fire at the Olympia Drive Apartment complex has had a significant impact on the more than 220 affected students who were displaced and lost their personal effects,” UMass President Marty Meehan said in a statement. “In recognition of that, I ask all members of the UMass community to keep these students in their thoughts and to consider supporting them directly during this difficult time.”
Meehan encouraged community members to support the Foundation Student Care and Emergency Response Fund. Additionally, a resource center has been set up on campus for affected students, and displaced residents can access dining halls for free.
“I’m deeply appreciative to Chancellor Reyes for his leadership, and thankful for all first responders, the town of Amherst, and so many others who have gone above and beyond to support our affected students and community throughout this weekend,” Meehan added. “I also wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Governor Healey, whose consistent outreach, engagement, and partnership throughout the weekend have been an invaluable source of support to our students and the university community.”
### Fire Details and Timeline
The first 911 calls came in around 8:19 p.m. Friday, reporting a fire at the under-construction building at 47 Olympia Drive. Upon arrival, fire units found the blaze had already spread to nearby buildings.
The Amherst Fire Chief confirmed that explosions occurred at the construction site, likely caused by fuel tanks and other construction equipment. A crane also collapsed during the fire.
The construction site featured a four-story building in the framing stage—primarily wood with windows but no exterior walls or sprinkler system, according to Chief Stromgen. The building burned to the ground in about half an hour. It was situated approximately 15 feet from the 57 Olympia Drive apartment building.
Though the 57 Olympia Drive building did have a sprinkler system, Stromgen explained that these systems are designed to combat smaller fires, such as trash fires, rather than the full-scale blaze experienced here.
### Ongoing Demolition and Firefighting Efforts
On Saturday afternoon, crews began demolishing 57 Olympia Drive while the fire was still active.
“The reason that demolition is done so quickly is that the building is unstable,” Stromgen said. “There’s no way to put firefighters inside, let alone let occupants go in and get their belongings. This is totally, completely unsafe for anybody in the building.”
Remnants of the torn-down building were still smoking Sunday morning as crews worked to fully extinguish the blaze. The fire chief noted that fires continued to flare up sporadically in the still-standing units.
The entirety of the building was expected to be torn down by Sunday afternoon, with the hope that demolition and extinguishment would be completed by Monday morning. Afterward, the next steps would be turned over to the building owners.
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The community continues to support the displaced residents as cleanup and recovery efforts are underway following this devastating fire. For ongoing updates and resources, please visit the UMass Amherst dedicated fire response page.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/09/fire-crews-continue-battle-at-massive-umass-apartment-blaze/
When Apple finally updated the AirPods Max at the early 2025 AirPods event, people were excited. The original AirPods Max were among the most expensive Bluetooth headphones ever released, and despite being on the market for four years, they hadn’t seen any significant updates. Yet, the long-awaited AirPods Max 2 turned out to be only minor improvements.
Apple announced the addition of USB-C support in compliance with EU regulations, aligning the AirPods Max 2 with the rest of Apple’s product lineup. They also introduced a few new colors. However, beyond these changes, there was little else: no new design featuring lighter construction, no enhancement in noise-canceling capabilities, no audio improvements, and no changes to the core drivers. Additionally, the headphones still do not fold. Notably, Apple did not introduce a new carrying case, despite longstanding criticism of the included leather “bra”-style pouch.
For many, this made the AirPods Max 2 a disappointing release. However, if you’re an Apple user looking for headphones that feel exceptionally premium, look stunning, sound fantastic, and rival the best in noise-canceling technology, it’s hard to complain.
### Design and Build Quality
Many perceived flaws of the AirPods Max come down to design choices and compromises that set them apart from competitors. The headphones are neither as lightweight nor foldable like Bose or Sony models because Apple opts for premium materials such as brushed aluminum for the cups and buttons instead of plastics. While they lack a protective carrying case, the unique “bra” design may be less protective but is easy to slip on and convenient for everyday use.
### Controls and User Experience
One of the standout features of the AirPods Max is their intuitive control scheme. While I personally prefer the slightly more complex controls on the Nothing Headphones (1), the AirPods Max rank a close second. They utilize a version of the Apple Watch dial for play, pause, and volume controls, complemented by a second long-press button for toggling noise-canceling and transparency modes.
### Sound Quality and Performance
Though updates have been minimal, the underlying formula remains superb. The AirPods Max drivers deliver fantastic sound with a wide, bright, and vocal-centric tuning right out of the box. The sound profile is relatively balanced and neutral enough to please most listeners, despite lacking an EQ customization option.
In terms of overall sound quality, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen. 2 currently holds the top spot for Bluetooth headphones, provided you set aside the exceptional but less reliable $1,549 Bang & Olufsen H100. Still, the AirPods Max are competitive, and your personal taste will ultimately decide which you prefer.
### Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound
When it comes to noise cancellation, Bose remains the undisputed leader in the market, and the AirPods Max don’t quite reach that level. However, the AirPods Max shine with the best ambient sound mode available. If you can overlook their weight, transparency mode makes it feel like you’re not even wearing headphones during conversations.
### New Features
It’s not entirely accurate to say the AirPods Max 2 received no changes. The headphones now support Lossless Audio when connected via USB-C, enabling users to take advantage of one of the best features of Apple Music.
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In conclusion, while the AirPods Max 2 may not offer revolutionary updates, their premium materials, excellent sound quality, superior ambient sound mode, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration keep them a compelling choice for those invested in Apple’s products.
https://www.nysun.com/article/airpods-max-are-still-the-best-premium-headphones
The Browns will not change quarterbacks for their Week 11 game against the Ravens.
In a press conference following Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Jets, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked if Dillon Gabriel will remain the team’s starter. The coach confirmed that he plans to give the rookie his sixth straight start.
“We’re gonna stick with Dillon,” Stefanski said. “Obviously this is a young player, you’re always trying to get one game better and those types of things. We have to play better as an offense, we have to coach better, all of the above.”
Gabriel completed 17-of-32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked six times in Sunday’s loss. Although a number of his incompletions were major misses, Stefanski is not yet ready to see what Shedeur Sanders might bring to the helm of the offense in Cleveland.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/browns-will-stick-with-dillon-gabriel-as-their-starting-qb
Por DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
EAST RUTHERFORD, Nueva Jersey, EE. UU. (AP) — Nueva York logró touchdowns en un retorno de kickoff y un retorno de despeje en el mismo juego por primera vez en la historia de la franquicia.
Además, Breece Hall recibió un pase de pantalla de Justin Fields de 42 yardas para la anotación.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/09/jets-logran-touchdowns-en-devolucin-de-kickoff-y-vencen-27-20-a-browns/
RIJÁD, Saúdská Arábie – Dnes bylo v Rijádu zahájeno 26. zasedání Valného shromáždění UN Tourism, které představuje historickou premiéru pro region Rady pro spolupráci v Perském zálivu (GCC). Jde zároveň o největší zasedání od založení UN Tourism před 50 lety.
Přibližně 160 delegací z členských států, včetně ministrů, vysokých úředníků a lídrů z celého odvětví a občanské společnosti, se shromáždilo, aby oslavilo pět desetiletí mezinárodní spolupráce.
Letos je Valné shromáždění organizováno pod tématem „Cestovní ruch řízený umělou inteligencí,“ které klade důraz na využití moderních technologií pro rozvoj a inovace v oblasti cestovního ruchu.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107016963/cs/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-Q-tiwWZwkcswR1UZtV7eGe24xL9TZOyQUMS3J72mJlQ7fxFuNFTHSunhvli30RlBNXya2izy9YOgHlBiZQk2LOzmn6JePCpHPCiYGaEx4DL1Rq8pNwkf3AarimpDzQGuQ%3D%3D
Europe can postpone recognition of failure, but it cannot postpone the bill.
Europe now faces a stark choice forced by its disastrous war policy against Russia: either allow the EU to successfully move toward a centralized state over the heads of its member states, risking a mass Eurexit that may or may not succeed in reaction to that gamble, or delay the larger crisis through member states quietly accepting one of several schemes that will cripple the economy and create social strife regardless.
The Union must decide whether to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to finance a €140 billion “reparation” loan for Ukraine, or to issue joint debt through Eurobonds. Both paths carry severe legal risks and impose heavy costs on citizens: one through contingent liabilities, the other through immediate taxes, austerity, and political instability.
Pushing through the Eurobond option would amount to a structural coup, a radical re-engineering of the EU against its current form. A recent…
https://www.sott.net/article/502868-Destroying-Europe-in-order-to-save-it-Extortion-theft-and-the-EUs-two-disastrous-choices
**Giants Suffer Another Heartbreaking Collapse in 24-20 Loss to Bears at Soldier Field**
CHICAGO — The New York Giants relived their worst nightmare Sunday night. Just like three weeks ago in Denver, the Giants’ defense blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead after dominating play for the first three quarters. Only this time, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart wasn’t around to keep fighting back, having failed a concussion test between the third and fourth quarters.
Head coach Brian Daboll’s lack of faith in benched veteran Russell Wilson — and Wilson’s own hesitancy — was apparent in the final minutes. The question now looms: can Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen survive another collapse, marked by allowing two touchdowns in the last four minutes of a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears at a blustery Soldier Field?
Caleb Williams ran for the go-ahead 17-yard touchdown with 1:47 remaining, after a long run that took the Bears down to the Giants’ 2-yard line on the previous drive. Williams also threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze to start the Bears’ comeback.
One of Daboll’s most regrettable decisions came with 10:19 left in the game when he opted for a field goal from the 1-yard line. While this put the Giants ahead by two scores, 20-10, it proved insufficient against a defense struggling to close out games in today’s NFL.
The Giants’ defense did make a crucial fourth-down stop — their third of the game — while holding a 10-point lead. However, it wasn’t enough. The Bears responded with a 91-yard, 2:17-minute drive culminating in a touchdown that tightened the score, causing the Giants to retreat into an offensive shell.
A three-and-out drive was punctuated by Wilson taking an 11-yard punt, and Jamie Gillan compounding the field position disadvantage with a shanked 26-yard punt.
This meltdown mirrors the Giants’ recent collapse against the Broncos 21 days ago, when they allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter and squandered a 19-point lead in a season-defining loss. Both devastating performances now contribute to the Giants’ franchise-record-tying 10-game road losing streak.
In challenging conditions that included sideways snow flurries and a depleted roster featuring third-string running backs and receivers, Jaxson Dart was nearly flawless during his three quarters on the field. He amassed 308 yards from scrimmage and scored two rushing touchdowns before exiting due to concussion protocol.
Russell Wilson, who was benched after Week 3, reminded fans why during his late-game stint as he threw four straight incompletions to end the game, sealing New York’s fate. Wilson finished with 45 passing yards, but 41 of those came on a catch-and-run by Devin Singletary, who made a crucial play during the drive that led to an 18-yard field goal, putting the Giants ahead 20-10.
**CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND GIANTS STATS**
https://nypost.com/2025/11/09/sports/giants-fall-apart-after-jaxson-dart-concussion-in-loss-to-bears/
As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, many people begin to notice a shift in their mood, a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This type of depression typically occurs around the same time each year—most often in the fall and winter—when sunlight is limited.
Stephanie Marcello, chief psychologist at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care in New Brunswick, New Jersey, emphasizes that having the right tools can make a significant difference in how you feel during these months.
### What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD affects people in different ways, but common symptoms include:
– Feeling sad most of the day, nearly every day
– Low energy
– Sleeping more than usual
– Changes in appetite, such as overeating or losing your appetite
– Weight fluctuations
– Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy
Some individuals may also experience feelings of hopelessness or have thoughts of suicide. Doctors typically diagnose SAD when these symptoms occur for at least two winters in a row and improve during the spring and summer months.
### How to Manage Seasonal Affective Disorder
Because reduced sunlight plays a major role in SAD, spending time outdoors during the day can help boost your mood. Even short breaks outside or sitting near a sunny window can increase serotonin, a brain chemical linked to feelings of well-being.
Another effective option is light therapy, which involves exposing yourself to bright, artificial light. Research suggests that light therapy can help up to 85% of people with SAD, especially when started early in the season.
For those with more severe symptoms, treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and certain antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be beneficial.
### Simple Daily Habits to Improve Mood
In addition to medical treatments, simple daily habits can make a real difference:
– Stay physically active
– Connect with friends or family
– Eat a balanced diet
– Engage in activities you enjoy, even if your motivation is low
### Don’t Suffer in Silence
Most importantly, researchers urge anyone experiencing symptoms of SAD to reach out for help. You don’t have to face it alone.
### More Information
For further details and resources on seasonal affective disorder, visit the [Mayo Clinic’s SAD information page](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651).
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Taking proactive steps can greatly improve your well-being during the darker months. If you or someone you know is struggling with SAD, support is available.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/11/09/dark-days-seasonal-depression/8681762718340/
Luis Arraez and his wife, Gladys Penalver, are enjoying a romantic getaway in Italy.
Their journey began in the historic city of Rome, where they explored ancient landmarks and soaked in the vibrant culture.
Now, the couple has arrived in Venice, the enchanting city of canals, ready to experience its unique charm and beauty.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-adrian-morejon-s-wife-melany-reacts-luis-arraez-s-spouse-gladys-turning-heads-chich-winterwear-venetian-getaway
