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Decorating for Christmas early can make you feel happier

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Christmas decorating spikes dopamine, which makes you feel goodIf you’re waiting until after Thanksgiving or some other arbitrary date to bust out your Christmas decorations … why? Experts — and scientific studies — say that decorating for Christmas early can benefit us in multiple ways, including helping reduce stress and boost our overall moods.That’s all I needed to hear — time to trim that tree.Shop this article: Bottle Brush Trees for Christmas, 15in Ceramic Christmas Tree, 9-foot Christmas Garland with Lights Early Christmas decorating improves our moods chemicallyPsychologist Deborah Serani confirmed it in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show.“It does create that neurological shift that can produce happiness,” she said. “I think anything that takes us out of our normal habituation, the norm...

Texas oil field worker recovering after 50-foot pipe impaled him

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A man who was rushed to the hospital after being impaled by a 50-foot pipe at an oil field on Thursday is out of surgery, according to family members.According to Wichita County Sheriff David Duke, just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2023, multiple agencies responded to reports of an injury accident at an oil field off of Highway 25, between Electra and Kamay in Wichita County. Sheriff Duke said once first responders arrived on the scene, they discovered a Hispanic male, later identified as Felipe Carrillo, who had been impaled with a pipe. He said the pipe struck Carrillo's shoulder and exited below the belt.Photo courtesy Chelsey CarrilloAccording to Sheriff Duke, the pipe went three feet into the ground after impaling Carrillo and about 40 feet of pipe was still above him. Rescuers on the scene cut much of the pipe away, but Carrillo was still unable to fit into an Air Evac ambulance. Carrillo was then transported by AMR to the hospital with ab...

Men’s basketball: Gophers bounce back with 67-53 win over South Carolina-Upstate

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

Coach Ben Johnson acknowledges this year’s Gophers men’s basketball team is not going to routinely win by getting into offensive shootouts, but if it takes care of business in its own end, things could end like they did Saturday.Dawson Garcia scored a team-high 14 points, including a late 3-point play, and Minnesota did just enough offensively to beat South Carolina-Upstate 67-53 at Williams Arena.Mike Mitchell Jr., Joshua Ola-Joseph and Elijah Hawkins each had nine points in a balanced scoring attack. Pharrel Payne had seven points and tied a career high with four blocks.Minnesota (3-1) shot just 39.7% but scored 10 of the final 11 points and 14 of the final 21.“We can’t rely on making threes and making jump shots and scoring, you know, whatever it is, 89 points. That’s not a recipe for success. And so, we needed to find games where I kept telling them you have to win with your defense, we got to find ways to win with our defense, and I thought they really stepped...

Charley Walters: Vikings need to see more of Josh Dobbs before considering a contract

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

People who make decisions for the Vikings are naturally pleased with the quarterbacking of Josh Dobbs after two games, but also count coach Kevin O’Connell’s play-calling and direction for his success.Dobbs, 28, who is playing for $1.5 million, can become a free agent after the season. The Vikings understandably want a larger sample than two games before considering a new contract.Should Dobbs continue to excel, a new contract could be worth as much as $20 million a year. The Vikings also have the option of a franchise tag for him, but that cost would be prohibitive.— Despite his age (36 next August), if Kirk Cousins fully recovers from his Achilles tear and doesn’t receive an incentive-laden extension, he’ll be the the NFL’s top free agent QB in March. That could cost nearly $45 million a year guaranteed for two years.— Dobbs, much more mobile than Cousins, and Cousins, a better passer than Dobbs, have, coincidentally, the same agent, Mike McCartney.— The Vikings probably cannot af...

Theater Review: Guthrie’s “A Christmas Carol” lulls more than inspires

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

As the Guthrie Theater moves in on a half-century of annual adaptations of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” we can look back at productions that have ranged in quality from brilliant to perfunctory.At its best, it’s a heart-filling tale of transformation, full of energy and eye-popping design ideas. In its weakest incarnations, it carries an obligatory air, as if the cast understands it’s a cash cow intended to fund productions about which the company is considerably more excited.I certainly wouldn’t put the 2023 version down there with the least of the company’s “Carols,” but it certainly came off as a low-energy affair at Friday’s opening. It has little in the way of spark or sparkle, plodding along at an unvarying pace and lacking much in the way of charisma or colorful characterizations. Throw in the dim lighting and paucity of movement, and it’s a “Carol” that lulls more than inspires.Lavina Jadhwani’s adaptation is certainly not at fault, for the Guthrie debuted it last y...

San Jose police standoff near SJSU ends in arrest Saturday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

SAN JOSE — A standoff with a man who barricaded himself in a home near South 11th and East Reed streets ended with the suspect in police custody Saturday afternoon, authorities said.San Jose police officers were called to the residence — roughly three blocks east of San Jose State University — around 5:45 a.m. to try to locate a man who had an arrest warrant issued for a parole violation, according to an SJPD spokesperson.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Judge orders teens held without bail in classmate’s killing Crime and Public Safety | ‘A man enraged’: San Carlos beheading case goes to jury after erratic trial Crime and Public Safety | Armstrong gets 90 years for killing pro cyclist Wilson Crime and Public Safety | Police arrest 2 in connection with woman found dead in duffle bag in Golden Gate Park Crime and Public Safety | 65-year-old California fugitive sentenced t...

Ustby leads No. 17 North Carolina women past Elon 68-39 with 16 points, 11 rebounds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Alyssa Ustby scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and No. 17 North Carolina defeated Elon 68-39 on Saturday.Maria Gakdeng and Deja Kelly added 13 points apiece for the Tar Heels (4-0). In addition to her second double-double of the season and 24th of her career, Ustby had three blocks and three steals.Jessica Booth and Maraja Pass had eight points apiece for the Phoenix (1-3), who had seven field goals in the first quarter and 14 in the game. They ended 1 of 14 from 3-point range and 14 of 46 overall (30%) with 21 turnovers.North Carolina never trailed and when Kelly hit a jumper the lead was 18-8 with 2:50 left in the first quarter. The Phoenix scored the next seven with a 3-pointer by Ajia James cutting it to 18-15 at the end of the first quarter.Elon got it down to one early in the second quarter but Kelly hit a pair of jumpers and finished a 9-0 run with three free throws to restore the 10-point lead. Iowa State transfer Lexi Donarski had a layup and...

Eastern Illinois downs Robert Morris to secure 8-win season for first time in a decade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Pierce Holley threw for three touchdowns and MJ Flowers ran for 179 and a score and Eastern Illinois beat Robert Morris 28-14 on Saturday.Eastern Illinois (8-3, 4-2 Big South, OVC Association) won its eighth game in a season for the first time since the 2013 season.Holley threw a 26-yard score to Eli Mirza for the game’s first score with 4:12 left in the first quarter. Chaese Jackson knotted it for Robert Morris (4-7, 2-4) early in the second when he ran into the end zone from 3 yards out.Holley threw an 18-yard score to DeAirious Smith with 6:18 left before halftime, and found Justin Thomas on a 14-yard scoring pass with 11 seconds before intermission for a 21-7 advantage. After a scoreless third, MJ Flowers dashed 38 yards with 7:27 remaining for a three-touchdown lead.The Colonials’ Robert Tanner threw a 14-yard touchdown to Noah Robinson for the final score. Tanner threw for 156 yards.___Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the...

Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania qualify for Euro 2024. France crushes Gibraltar in record 14-0 win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

The Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania all secured places at Euro 2024 on Saturday, and France racked up the biggest-ever win in European Championship qualifying by beating Gibraltar 14-0.The Netherlands needed a win over Ireland to be sure of qualifying and Wout Weghorst gave his team the lead in the 12th minute, blasting a shot into the top-right corner. The goal was awarded despite Weghorst appearing to pull on Ireland defender Nathan Collins’ jersey just before he received the ball.The Netherlands had 18 shots to Ireland’s three but couldn’t score again.SWISS STREAKSwitzerland drew 1-1 with Kosovo to make sure of qualifying and continue a run of not missing any major tournament since Euro 2012.The Swiss team dominated possession but couldn’t get through the Kosovo defense until Ruben Vargas headed in a deflected ball in the 47th. Kosovo’s Muhamet Hyseni leveled the score in the 82nd with a shot in off the post. A draw was enough for Switzerland to...

Zevi Eckhaus throws for 394 yards and 6 touchdowns in Bryant’s 45-21 win over SEMO

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:34 GMT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Zevi Eckhaus threw for 394 yards and six touchdowns and Bryant beat Southeast Missouri State 45-21 on Saturday.Eckhaus found Konor Lathrop on a 1-yard pass for his sixth TD of the game. Eckhaus tied the season and single-game touchdown record on the score. Eckhaus also became the all-time leader in touchdowns at Bryant with a 9-yard connection with Anthony Frederick, who has 20 scores on the season. Frederick hauled in a 48-yard catch to become the third player in program history to record 2,000-plus yards receiving.Bryant (6-5, 4-2 Big South-OVC) won three of its last four games of the season — with a 45-44 loss in overtime to Gardner-Webb. SEMO (4-7, 3-3) ended the season with three straight losses.Frederick and Matthew Prochaska each had four catches, 100-plus yards and one touchdown. Jalen Powell added five catches for 76 yards and two scores. Prochaska’s touchdown was from 67-yards out.Geno Hess rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns for SEMO and ...