Giving season is here: It is ‘sharing time’ in Edenton – The Daily Advance

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Over the three days of Dec. 3 through Dec. 5, 2020, Edenton Lions and friends helped the kettle krowd gather gifts.

Lions are sporting red vests showing the Salvation Army motto Doing the Most Good. The signature hand bells ring. Strangers relax when they hear the music! Friendships resurface or comfortably begin.

Known for their work with the hearing and visually impaired, Lions are now known for helping the other Army.

Members of various faith communities join in manning the buckets!

Sharing Time is even more important this year as the pandemic of COVID-19 remains among us. Nearly everyone shows up with mask on. Excellent! Nippy weather quickens some steps.

Eyes are alert and forward. Many are unglued from iPhones in their hands. Good. Since Thanksgiving many have relearned to enjoy others face to face!

We care....We wear is on one cheek of Lions face mask. We Serve on the other cheek notes 83 years of service 1937-2020.

Chilly temps today are harbingers of severe cold to come. Community needs food on the table, clothes on the back, heat in the house and a roof overhead to keep out the rain.

Familiar greetings ring out. Hows the family? Whatcha been doing lately?

Whats for lunch? Whos cooking? Whos paying? Grub with or without calories?

Shadboat Willis is among the first to be at his station. Notices new unwrinkled greenbacks. George, Thomas and Abe crowd into the red buckets. Nothing like new money without the smell of tobacco juice, snuff or fish!

Eye contacts multiply as folk approach business entrances.

Lions initiate light conversation. Yes, coins are welcome here... You seriously welcome pennies and dimes!? Yes, all day long. We appreciate all gifts and givers.

I notice a friend exiting Food Lion. Where is your good-looking lady today? Home, she gave you folks too much last year! There is mischief in his eye. I suspect he does more than his fair share of good trouble today.

Ole Tar Heel looks around and is surprised.

Recognizes nice lady approaching but who is the small one she is carrying? Is this the 4th Wise Man? No, its Grogu the baby Yoda from the Disney+ show The Mandalorian! Lady shushes me. Explains in a whisper that her hubbie is a secret admirer of the Star Wars celebrity. Gag Christmas gift. Stifle your wise-cracks! No autographs until after Christmas! Or tweets either! Lady hustles to her pick-up truck and discreetly place Grogu in a secret place! Darn.

Others arrive. People thin out then regroup. Approaching my post is a vivacious 4th-grader with a head of red hair! Followed by grandmother type. This should be interesting.

Young lass jumps for joy! Spies coins on the pavement. Bends to retrieve a new quarter and two super-new bright Lincoln pennies. While others slip their gifts into the kettle bucket I eye the youngster.

Instead of pocketing her treasure Emma heads my way. Points to the red kettle. Yes! Wants to know if we accept small coins. Yes, all gifts are welcome! Cute as a speckled puppy! Emma tells me of life in the 4th grade.

Have I ever been in the fourth grade? Before I can answer, we are talking rivers like the Amazon, the Nile, the Ganges and the Mississippi. Silently I wonder to myself, Is this the little red-haired girl that Charlie Brown has been seeking all his life?

Friday I am posted to Roses, having been assigned to Food Lion on Thursday and Saturday. After a time, I notice a young woman with two one-dollar bills in hand leaving the store. Her clothing is clean but simple. For whatever reason, I asked her why she donates.

She tells of growing up in Perquimans County. In January or February while age 14, the house she and her parents lived in burned to the ground. Completely gone. Brutally cold weather. No family or neighbors to take them in. Somehow the Salvation Army found a simple place the threesome could live in through spring. It was dry enough that she could do her homework for school. Family survived the winter.

She muses, I have never forgotten that kindness. I can never repay. But I remember. That is why I give two dollars. That is how I say, Thank You.

Folks, your gifts are a major benefit in the life of real people today. Readers who are still with me will be delighted to know that the public of December 2020 has been most generous. Significantly better than 2019 which was good too. Difficult challenges have not overwhelmed us.

Thank you for being true to the best any of us know.

Meanwhile, Lions continue to mask up. Hope you will too.

We care. We wear. We serve.

New members welcome, especially red heads!

John Mitchener is past president of the Edenton Lions Club, 2010-11.

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Giving season is here: It is 'sharing time' in Edenton - The Daily Advance

Ecchi horror game "Red Colony" heads to Switch on Jan. 7th, 2021 – GoNintendo

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The Red Colony was supposed to save the human race, not end it. . . After a crazy scientist plays God and experiments with the colonists DNA, a deadly virus infects them and turns them into blood-thirsty zombies. Maria is trapped in the turmoil and desperately searches for her daughter in this Ecchi inspired Horror Game. However, the secrets she finds in her personal life and the colony means she will have to be the Hero and rid the colony of the wicked virus.

Red Colony Features:

- Anime character design.- Twisted story.- Blood, gore and horror!- 2DTCT (2D Tear-Clothes-Technology)...(!?)- Drama inspired by 'The Bachelor' and 'High School of the Dead'.- Graphic Novel story-telling with more interactive and immersive gameplay.- Solo Developed by me, Rune Storm.

Hi! I'm Maria, CEO of LAB. LAB is one of the most exciting places to work at in the Colony. At LAB we are paving the way for the future.

I've been CEO for five years and have been leading the way on some groundbreaking projects that will help all of us in the Colony.

Even though the Red Colony follows a strict Communist Code and each individual's work is as important as the next, I do believe that LAB is the heart of the Colony and the most important thing for our future. Recently we received a big check from the Mayor, which we have put towards upgrading our equipment, expanding the LAB facility and hiring new staff (some of which come from the Blue Colony... That will be interesting...)

Plus, our most exciting and revolutionary project at the LAB is. . . Sorry, I get so carried away with work! I can't tell you all of our secrets.

I forgot to mention that I'm married to James, the Mayor of the Red Colony (Convenient, I know) and we have a beautiful daughter together called Diana. She's just as smart and beautiful as her mother. Life in the Red Colony is perfect, there's nothing that could ever spoil our wonderful commune.

The Red Colony follows a strict communist code. The inhabitants all aim towards a common goal for the betterment of the Colony and humankind as a whole. Insulting another person's work can lead to huge fines, imprisonment or in the worst case; banishment from the Colony.

In the early days, it was clear that capitalism and competition would cause more harm than good for the Colony. Thus the Founders wrote "The Communist Code" whereas the neighbouring Colony chose capitalism as a founding principle. Over time, the colonies have become rivals, leading to an arms-race. Ironically, both colonies have similar goals but very different approaches. Thus, the arms-race is to see who will succeed first.

Travel between the colonies has become more difficult than ever, especially since you have to travel by air. To do this, inhabitants must be presented with a special permit to visit the neighbouring colony. Therefore, interaction between the inhabitants of the two colonies is near impossible.

2DTCT (2D Tear-Clothes-Technology)

To get to the flesh, Zombies like to tear through peoples' clothing. When Maria's clothing reaches 0%, she can no longer fight off the zombie horde and will get bitten. Be careful!

This game contain Mature Content such as Blood, Gore, Nudity and Swearing.

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Ecchi horror game "Red Colony" heads to Switch on Jan. 7th, 2021 - GoNintendo

Christmas dinner can be festive – and thrifty – with this $60 feast for four – The Durango Herald

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One of the realities of Christmas 2020 is that many people are on tighter budgets than usual. That doesnt have to be an impediment to a sumptuous, festive holiday meal instead, let it be like a little puzzle to solve.

I set myself the goal of figuring out a dinner for four that felt 100% holiday-worthy, but cost just three Andrew Jacksons. I hope youll agree there is nothing about this menu that feels downscale.

The centerpiece is a glazed ham, and the good news is that hams are available in many sizes. A boneless ham portion of about 3 pounds is ample for four people, with leftovers so you can think about ham and biscuit sandwiches, bean soups studded with chopped ham, grilled ham and cheese, maybe a quiche Lorraine later in the week.

If this all sounds really good, you might go for a 4-pound ham.

I cannot tell you how much my family likes my Cheddar Potato Gratin. There is nothing frugal about this lush dish. If you have a few more dollars to throw into the pot, treat yourself to some top-of-the-line cheddar. Leftovers will be fought over (and in my house, I will win, because I will know where they are hidden in the fridge).

And then the humble cabbage is transformed into a silky, jewel-toned side dish. This whole side is the sum total of about $3 worth of ingredients (a fact you can keep to yourself). When cabbage is first seared and then braised, it becomes meltingly tender, with a sweetness complemented by a level of flavor you can only get with caramelization and a knob of butter.

Tie it all together with a simple lettuce salad with a mix of any of your favorite lettuces. You can go robust (endive, radicchio, escarole), mild (butter, bibb, mesclun), or somewhere in the middle. Toss it with a tangy vinaigrette to round the plate out with a little acidity and texture.

Finally, end the meal with a dessert that feels classic, merry and even elegant. Pears, poached in apple cider, lemon and brown sugar are then drizzled with a rich chocolate sauce and sprinkled with chopped crystallized ginger.

If you have leftover cream from another dish, whip a cup or so with a touch of powdered sugar and vanilla and bloop it next to the plated pears for an even grander finale.

The $60 total presumes you have some things on hand (such as peppercorns, oil, vinegar and salt), but otherwise, you should be able to stick to this budget.

Drinks are not included, but, if youre on a budget, go into your favorite wine store or grocery, share your menu with them, give them a price limit and ask for recommendations. Think about prosecco or cava as your sparkling wine cheaper than champagne, but just as effervescent and cheery. Or try sparkling apple cider!

Happy and merry and cheers to all. Heres how we recommend tackling this meal: Poach the pears first or even a day before the meal. On the day you plan to serve, make the potato gratin first. Then, lower your oven temperature and make the ham and cabbage, which cook at the same temperature. While they cook, finish preparing the dessert and make the salad.

When you remove the ham from the oven, re-cover the potatoes and slip them back in the oven to reheat for about 10 minutes before serving.

Apricot-Bourbon Glazed Ham

Time: Active: 15 minutes | Total: 2 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

A store-bought cooked ham doesnt need additional cooking to be safe to eat, but baking it a second time allows you to add a lacquer-like glaze that provides sweet tanginess. Basting the ham a few times during the course of the cooking allows the outside to get shiny and caramelized.If youd prefer not to use bourbon, you can swap in apple cider or pineapple juice instead. For a few dollars, you can buy one of those little bottles of bourbon like they sell on airplanes; it really gives the glaze a memorable depth of flavor.

Make Ahead: The glaze can be made up to 3 days in advance.

Storage Notes: Leftover ham can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

INGREDIENTS: cup apricot preserves or jam2 teaspoons minced or finely grated fresh ginger2 tablespoons bourbonOne (3-pound) uncured, cooked boneless hamMethod:

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Line a shallow baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray.

In a small bowl, combine the apricot preserves, ginger and bourbon and mix until well combined.

Using a sharp paring knife, score the ham by making crosshatch cuts all over the surface about inch deep and -inch apart, creating a square or diamond pattern. Place the ham cut side down in the baking pan and brush it with about a third of the glaze.

Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Brush the ham with another third of the glaze. Bake for about 45 minutes longer, then brush with the remaining glaze. Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the ham is nicely browned and caramelized on the outside.

Remove the ham from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition: (based on 4 servings) Calories: 478; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 151 mg; Sodium: 2940 mg; Carbohydrates: 32 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugar: 32 g; Protein: 72 g.

Source: Recipes from food writer Katie Workman, founder of The Mom 100 site.

Braised Red Cabbage Wedges

Time: Active: 45 minutes | Total: 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings: 4

Cabbage rocks: Its cheap, plentiful, versatile and its there in the winter when the variety of fresh vegetables is at a nadir.In this recipe, cabbage is cut into wedges, seared and then oven-braised in cider and a bit of vinegar. It becomes soft and buttery and hard to stop eating. Dont worry if some of the wedges fall apart as you are cutting or cooking them; just scoop up all the pieces and toss them into the pot. When you serve it, try to arrange it so the prettiest wedges are on top.

Storage Notes: Leftover cabbage may be tightly covered and refrigerated for up to 4 days.

INGREDIENTS:3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided1 large red onion (about 10 ounces), halved and thinly sliced1 medium head red cabbage (about 2 pounds)Kosher saltFreshly ground black pepper2 tablespoons cider vinegar (may substitute red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar) cup apple cider or juiceMETHOD:In a large, heavy, ovenproof lidded pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer the onions to a plate. Remove pan from heat.

Meanwhile, using a chefs knife, cut the cabbage in half through the stem. Place a cabbage half on the cutting board, flat side down and slice into roughly 1-inch wedges, leaving enough of the core so that the wedges hold together as much as possible. Trim away the thickest part of the core, as needed. Repeat with the remaining cabbage half.

Position the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees.

In the same pan, melt another tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add half the cabbage wedges, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, without moving them, until lightly browned on the bottom, about 5 minutes, then carefully flip the wedges with a thin metal spatula, season again with salt and pepper, and brown on the other side, about 5 minutes. Toss any loose cabbage leaves in the pan so that they brown on all sides. Transfer the wedges and leaves to another plate. Repeat with the final tablespoon of butter and the remaining cabbage. Transfer the second batch of cabbage to the plate with the first batch.

In the same pan, add the vinegar and apple cider. Return half of the seared cabbage and loose leaves to the pan, sprinkle the cooked onions over, then add the rest of the seared cabbage, placing the prettiest wedges on top.

Cover the pan and place in the oven. Braise for 1 hour, or until the cabbage is tender (a sharp knife should slide in easily).

Serve directly from the pan or arrange on a platter and serve family-style.

Nutrition: Calories: 282; Total Fat: 9 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Cholesterol: 23 mg; Sodium: 103 mg; Carbohydrates: 50 g; Dietary Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 40 g; Protein: 4 g.

Source: Recipe from food writer Katie Workman, founder of The Mom 100 website.

Cheddar Potato Gratin

Total time: 2 hours

Servings: 4

This budget-friendly recipe is scaled generously on purpose, because a plate of leftover gratin heated up in the microwave is truly a post-feast breakfast worth getting up early for.You can use any cheddar that fits your budget, from shredded bagged to a fine aged, hand-grated block. Youll really taste the cheese, so if you have a few extra bucks to throw into a dish, this would be a good place to do that.

Storage Notes: Leftover gratin can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

INGREDIENTS:Butter or cooking spray, for greasing the dish1 cup low-sodium chicken broth1 cup heavy cream2 tablespoons Dijon mustard1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme), plus more for optional garnish2 pounds 8 ounces russet potatoes, peeled and sliced about 1/8-inch thin8 ounces (2 cups) grated sharp cheddar cheeseMethod:Position the rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-by-9-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

In a medium bowl or a liquid measuring cup, combine the chicken broth, cream, mustard, salt, pepper and thyme.

Layer half the potatoes in the prepared baking dish. Then sprinkle on half the cheese and pour in half of the liquid mixture. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, cheese and liquid.

Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 45 minutes or so, until the potatoes are tender (a knife slides should in easily) and the top is browned and crispy. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving; and sprinkle with more thyme, if using.

NOTE: You can make this dish in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Youll get more crispy potatoes on top and a thinner layer of the creaminess, but it is just as good. Bake just as directed.

Nutrition: Calories: 676; Total Fat: 41 g; Saturated Fat: 26 g; Cholesterol: mg; Sodium: mg; Carbohydrates: g; Dietary Fiber: g; Sugar: g; Protein: g.

Source: Recipe from food writer Katie Workman, founder of The Mom 100 website.

Poached Pears With Chocolate Sauce and Crystallized Ginger

Time: Active: 30 minutes | Total: 2 hours 20 minute

Servings: 4

Be sure to use pears that are just turning ripe, not hard but not soft either for this budget-friendly, festive dessert. Bosc, Bartlett and DAnjou produce delicious results. For a twist, try replacing a cup of apple cider with an equal amount of riesling.

Make Ahead: The poached pears may be refrigerated for up to 1 day before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

INGREDIENTSFor the pears:2 cups apple cider2 cups water cup light or dark brown sugarZest strips from 1 washed lemon, preferably organic3 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)6 black peppercorns4 just-ripe pears, such as DAnjou, Barlett or BoscFor the chocolate sauce: cup heavy cream cup (5 ounces) finely chopped semisweet chocolate teaspoon kosher or sea salt, or more to taste cup chopped crystallized ginger (optional)Sweetened whipped cream, for serving (optional)Method:Make the pears: In a saucepan just large enough to hold the pears, combine the apple cider, water, brown sugar, lemon zest, rosemary, if using, and peppercorns.

Using a vegetable peeler, peel the pears, leaving them as smooth and neat as possible; try to leave the stem intact. Add the pears to the pot, and cover with a circle of wax or parchment paper to prevent discoloration as the pears cook. Use a lid or a heatproof plate that will fit just inside the diameter of the pot to hold the parchment down.

Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the liquid to a simmer. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the pears are fairly tender but not super-soft, turning every 10 minutes or so, so that all parts of the pear have a chance to be submerged, for 25 to 30 minutes total. The pears are done when the tip of a sharp paring knife or a wooden skewer glides fairly easily into the outside of the pear and meets some resistance as it heads toward the middle. To test this, gently lift a pear out of the pot and insert the tester into the bottom this will keep them unblemished on the sides.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the pears cool with the parchment still on but the lid or plate removed in the poaching liquid until they reach room temperature. The pears will continue to cook in the hot poaching liquid. Either hold at room temperature for a few hours, or transfer the pears to a container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Make the chocolate sauce: When ready to serve, place the heavy cream in a small microwave-safe bowl and warm on HIGH until hot but not boiling, about 15 seconds. Place the chocolate chips and salt in another small bowl and pour the hot cream over. Let sit, without stirring, for about 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and the salt is dissolved.

Slice a sliver off the bottom of each pear so they stand up straight. Place each pear on a plate and drizzle each with chocolate sauce. Sprinkle the pears with the chopped crystallized ginger, add a dollop of whipped cream, if using, and serve.

Source: Recipe from food writer Katie Workman, founder of The Mom 100 website.

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Christmas dinner can be festive - and thrifty - with this $60 feast for four - The Durango Herald

8-year-old’s esports contract is turning heads – SVG

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When you were eight years old, you might have dreamed of a career that involved getting paid to play video games. While sites like Twitch and YouTube have made those aspirations possible, the dream has evolved thanks to esports teams. Instead of just making a plain old career out of video games, talented gamers can transform into celebrities and receive everything that comes with stardom. That includes legions of cheering fans, merchandise with their faces on it ... and the occasional questionable contract.

Team 33, a relative newcomer to the esports scene, just signed on Joseph Deen who will go by his nom du game of 33 Gosu as part of their exclusive player roster. If you've never heard of Deen before, that's because he's eight years old, which is younger than many of the current teenage esports players. The kid isn't even old enough to learn basic geometry and algebra, but he's already building wooden towers and floss dancing like a pro, and the internet is up in arms over a single question: Is this legal?

Even though Deen received a $33,000 signing bonus and a free gaming setup estimated at over $5000, audiences can't agree on how to react to the news. Many wish him the best; a few don't quite understand it,and some are curious about the contract and whether it flaunts child labor laws. Kotaku, curious about the latter issue, contacted Team 33 founder Tyler Gallagher, who claimed the contract is legally permissible because of one crucial detail: Gaming isn't work (according to him, anyway).

Even though Deen is now a member of an esports team, he won't participate in tournaments, and the contract lets him skip weekend practice sessions. And, Deen's mother can cancel the contract if gaming gets in the way of his schoolwork. The agreement is, as Gallagher described it, a "reverse contract." It is designed to help Team 33 mentor Deen and is essentially an investment to mold him into a future pro esports gamer, rather than an actual contract. All Team 33 asks in return is a cut of his YouTube and merchandise profits, as well as first dibs on signing him when he turns 13.

While Gallagher insisted that all things gaming aren't work, others starkly disagree. Kotaku also contacted esports attorney Ryan Fairchild, and their response was decidedly different. According to Fairchild, if a Commissioner of Labor or a Secretary of Labor were to examine Deen's contract and obligations, they would find a ton of red flags. To add to the legal conundrum, Gallagher claimed that Team 33 has been testing Deen since he was six to see if he was esports material.

This contract might end up being a case for the courts, since nobody can seem to find any common ground.

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8-year-old's esports contract is turning heads - SVG

CD Projekt Red Tells Investors Company Reputation is More Valuable than Cost to Fix Cyberpunk 2077 – mxdwn.com

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Cassidy Hidalgo December 16th, 2020 - 7:42 PM

CD Projekt Red heads are saying the cost of their reputation is more valuable than the cost it will take to improve their latest release, Cyberpunk 2077. In a transcribed call to investors, CD Projekt Red addressed the controversy surrounding the highly-anticipated title. This comes after Cyberpunk 2077s launch on last-gen consoles, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, was (to put it nicely) less than favorable to customers. CD Projekt Red Joint-CEO Adam Kicinski, CFO Piotr Nielubowicz, Marcin Iwiski the Joint-CEO and cofounder, and Micha Nowakowski the Board member responsible for publishing were all answering questions during the call.

Kicinski explained to investors how the company displayed only PC or next-gen console gameplay to potential customers and, after the game failed to deliver on less powerful consoles, it generated major distrust among the gaming community. The CEO said on the call, thats why our first steps are solely focused on regaining those two things. We are concentrated on fixing Cyberpunk on last-gen consoles. During the emergency meeting, he also mentioned how fast developers are working to improve the game, with the first set of fixes released last weekend and more coming over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, when asked on the planned Cyberpunk 2077 DLC and separate multiplayer, Kicinski responded to be honest, its too early to judge.

New hotfix to #Cyberpunk2077 is now live on PlayStation consoles and PC. For Xbox systems, we are working to have the update out as soon as possible.

Here is the list of changes: https://t.co/k11sRdeI6g pic.twitter.com/RYDG2pMNRM

Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) December 11, 2020

After widespread outcry from last-gen console players, the official Twitter account for Cyberpunk 2077 apologized for their underperformance on older consoles and offered refunds to players having problems. Players reported countless glitches that made the game almost impossible to play for some. When asked about refunds, Iwinski told investors they had just started the process and sincerely hope that gamers will prefer to wait for updates since they had waited so long for the game. Since then, developers have been working hard to deliver what was originally promised.

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CD Projekt Red Tells Investors Company Reputation is More Valuable than Cost to Fix Cyberpunk 2077 - mxdwn.com

Officially Licensed 1979 GMC A-Team Van Heads To Auction – GM Authority

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Hatching the perfect scheme is one thing, but having the right equipment at your disposal can be just as important. And while the A-Team may have had a group of highly talented ex-special forces ready to dole out justice, some would argue that the GMC Vandura A-Team van was every bit a member of the squad. Now, this 1979 Vandura officially licensed by Universal Studios to promote the A-Team TV series is up for auction.

This particular example is one of six officially licensed GMC A-Team vans in existence, and was used for exhibition purposes and promotional tours throughout the United States and Canada between 1983 and 1987. Although this vehicle was never actually featured in the show, its still a faithful recreation straight from the studio, and is sure to delight fans of the original series.

Instantly recognizable as one of TVs most iconic vehicles, this is a highly entertaining promotional exhibition vehicle that would be welcome at shows and events everywhere, says the seller.

Highlights include a classic gray-and-black two-tone paint treatment, bisected by orange striping. The front end is equipped with a prominent bash bar, while the multi-spoke wheels are done in red. Up top is a large spoiler added to the rear of the van.

The good stuff continues inside, where we find numerous weapon props, including submachine guns, a shotgun, and an assault rifle, as well as a gun turret mounted in the cargo section for use in quick getaways.

The odometer reads 90,298 miles.

Now, this 1979 GMC A-Team van heads to auction in an upcoming Worldwide Auctioneers event at no reserve. Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the J. Kruse Education Center, a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to providing careers pathway development for students and transitioning veterans.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Source: Worldwide Auctioneers

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Officially Licensed 1979 GMC A-Team Van Heads To Auction - GM Authority

STRAW: Perez must master the delicate art of the F1 wingman – RACER

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Dubbing a Formula 1 driver a good number two feels like damning with faint praise. As Valtteri Bottas once famously said when informed of how Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff described him after the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2018, wingman hurts.

But while the rarest commodities in F1 or any auto racing category for that matter are the gold-standard drivers the support acts are also highly valued. That Bottas heads into a fifth season as Hamiltons teammate in 2021 is proof of that, as is Red Bulls struggle to find the right partner for Max Verstappen.

Sergio Perez has justifiably been deemed the solution to Red Bulls problem, and he ticks many of the boxes. Hugely experienced, with 10 F1 seasons under his belt, and a consistent force in the ultra-competitive midfield not to mention now a proven winner. Hes also a driver who sits in that tier just below the superstars, which is the well teams must draw from to find the right support act.

Perez has not been signed to fight with Verstappen or to challenge for the title. But he is there to be a regular feature at the front, pick up consistent podiums and ensure Red Bull has a second bullet in the chamber in races. Over the past two years, Red Bull has lacked this, as first Pierre Gasly then Alex Albon proved to be too far behind Verstappen, and too often caught up with the front of the midfield.

So his targets will be clear. His job is to qualify, on average, within 0.3s of Verstappen and to be there in the front pack in the race. But as Gasly and Albon have shown, that isnt as straightforward as it might sound. Its the value of a driver like Bottas who on adjusted qualifying average was within a tenth of Hamilton over the 2020 season. By contrast, Albon only just dipped inside the 0.5s mark behind Verstappen.

Perez can certainly achieve this, although having to measure up to Verstappen in the same team will be the toughest challenge of his career. Yes, he went up against Jenson Button at McLaren in 2013 and did a better job than people remember although his approach and attitude didnt endear him to the team in the first half of the season before improving too late to save his place but this is a new level. The McLaren break should have been his shot in a frontrunning team, but the car wasnt competitive. The Red Bull will be, and in Verstappen, he faces a difficult yardstick.

The pressure will be on Perez to justify his appointment. Hes certainly got the skillset, as hes a decent though not extraordinary qualifier, but he is a driver who executes superb race performances. Not only is he the master tire-manager, with what Racing Point technical director Andy Green has called built-in traction control, but within that ability to pace himself hes also capable of making key passing moves and deploying the pace when its most needed. Theres a touch of the Alain Prost about his Sunday capabilities, which makes him perfect for the style of racing in F1.

The key question is how good the car will be. The Red Bull RB16 had some fundamental limitations in faster corners that led to compromises that caused limitations elsewhere. The car was tricky to drive, and as a result, was at a disadvantage to Mercedes when it came to tire management. The cars are frozen, but enough can change to iron out these weaknesses next season. Perez can also play a part with his set-up philosophy, which has always been to privilege the race over qualifying. But first and foremost, he must be and can be a consistent presence in the lead group in qualifying and the race.

At the same time though, a good support must not be too quick. While there are obvious benefits to having two absolute top-liners, such partnerships are rare in F1. They can also prove fractious, as was most famously showcased by the alliance of Prost and Ayrton Senna at McLaren in 1989-90. There are other examples, such as Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet at Williams in 1986-87 and Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007.

Whats often misunderstood about number two drivers whether they are defined contractually or by performance is that in the long-run the stronger driver always becomes the leader. Performance is at a premium in F1, and teams will only ever contain the perceived number two in a support role for a short time. Thats why every driver goes into a team expecting to assert themselves as the leader. This is exactly what Charles Leclerc has done at Ferrari, ending teammate Sebastian Vettels time at Maranello in the process. It just takes an extraordinary driver to do this given the level that the very best drivers operate at.

But there have been some formidable support players in F1 history. Bottas is the great exponent of the role for this age, with Hamilton and Mercedes winning four titles in his four seasons at the team. That makes him the latest in a long line of strong number twos. As Bottas might say, that hurts, but its a role that requires huge ability.

Rubens Barrichello is statistically the greatest of them, having spent six seasons in his long grand prix career as teammate to that years world champion. It happened five times at Ferrari alongside Michael Schumacher, with history repeating itself at Brawn in 2009. Of course, Barrichellos number two status was clear, with the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, where he had to hand victory to Schumacher, the most famous example.

Before Barrichello came Irvine as Schumachers number two. A surprise choice for Ferrari to recruit for 1996, especially given it had to pay $5million for the privilege, his approach fitted in well with Ferrari. He even had his unsuccessful shot at the title in 1999 after Schumacher broke his leg, but just fell short. But he then translated that into a lucrative three-year stint with Jaguar, just as Barrichello would leave Ferrari to join Honda.

But Schumacher is not the only one to have benefited from the support of number twos. Sebastian Vettel had Mark Webber at Red Bull from 2010-2013, although the Australian came close to taking the title in the first of those years, while a few years before that Fernando Alonso had Giancarlo Fisichella as his Renault wingman. The list goes on David Coulthard to Mika Hakkinen at McLaren, Riccardo Patrese to Nigel Mansell at Williams and Nelson Piquet at Brabham, Gerhard Berger to Ayrton Senna at McLaren, Francois Cevert to Jackie Stewart at Tyrrell. You can even stretch back to 1959-60, when Bruce McLaren was a strong support act for Jack Brabham at Cooper.

Whats remarkable when you look at the list of most frequent title-winning teammates at least, before you get into the 1950s and line-ups become larger and more muddy is how rare it is for these drivers to be championship winners in their own right. Since 1960, only 11 drivers who have won the world championship have been teammates to a title-winner in a season. Considering the top drives are usually monopolized by the best drivers, thats very telling. That list includes Hamilton and Nico Rosberg thanks to the upset of the 2016 season, Prost, Senna, Mansell and Lauda. But beyond that, its mostly a collection of drivers with good, race-winning, reputations but firmly regarded in that second tier of drivers.

Most importantly, they are usually although not exclusively drivers who their former team-mates speak highly of. After all, while the perfect number two is there to rack up points in the constructors championship and take them off rivals of the lead driver, they are also there to be helpful. Hamilton speaks highly of Bottas because the Finn is a very good driver capable of pushing him in qualifying in particular and contributing to the team, but not quite at his level. Ask any driver and that would be the perfect profile for a teammate.

It also requires a good temperament. As Bottas exemplifies, you usually need a driver who sees themselves as a potential world champion to ensure they keep pushing themselves and dont slide into a cruise and collect mode. In order to do that, it requires an admirable robustness of personality. At times in his stint as Hamiltons teammate, Bottas has seemed like a broken man most famously at the end of the 2018 season but every time he picks himself up and goes again. Far from deserving ridicule, he should be given enormous respect for that quality. There are some, such as Irvine at Ferrari, who accepted their lot but they are rarer beasts.

This determination must fall short of ruthlessness, of the willingness to destabilize a team for personal gain. This is recognized as a necessary, if not especially attractive, quality in a star driver, but can be disastrous in a number two who cant back it up with team-leading performances as they attempt to usurp the established order. Thats the tightrope that Perez must walk he cant simply cruise and collect, and you can be sure he will head into 2021 wanting to, probably even expecting to, beat Verstappen. Thats simply the mindset of the competitive animal in elite sport. But he must ensure he channels that drive into maximizing his own performance and certainly ensure he avoids some of the on-track clashes he had with former teammate Esteban Ocon in their days together with Force India/Racing Point.

Perez doesnt quite have the magic that Verstappen does, despite being a superb driver in his own right. If he gets it right, he could set himself up as the ideal partner for Verstappen over the coming years, which will give him the chance to rack up more wins and perhaps, if circumstances allow, even a title bid. If he gets it wrong, theres a whole gaggle of Red Bull juniors in the queue to take his place.

Perez will most likely make it work. Hes no longer the less mature driver he was when he drove for McLaren, understands how the world works and is capable of channeling his competitive drive into maximizing his own performances and racking up the points.

And if he does become the perfect number two to Verstappen, history tells us thats an achievement to be celebrated rather than derided.

After all, plenty of drivers given such a chance have ended up being more of a number three driver in a two-driver team.

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STRAW: Perez must master the delicate art of the F1 wingman - RACER

Foote: Toney’s highly touted Cajuns’ defense ready to do his talking for him – The Advocate

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Upon learning ULs opponent for Saturdays 2:30 p.m. First Responder Bowl in Dallas on ABC, the first thought for many around the Ragin Cajuns program was thats where defensive coordinator Patrick Toney came to Cajun Country from a few years ago.

Unfortunately, we won't really know his feelings about how cool this bowl matchup is for him.

The way much of college football works these days, however, assistant coaches are off limits to the media.

Oh, maybe a zoom call once or twice in a year perhaps, but nothing that allows you to dig deep into a coach's psyche at all.

Throughout the season, however, were given glimpses of Toneys value to ULs program by those around him. Statements from coach Billy Napier and his players allow us to know Toney a little more than say UTSAs current defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix or safeties coach Jess Loepp.

One personality trait seems to be his aggressiveness.

As if the UL Ragin Cajuns didnt have enough of a chip on their shoulders, the All-Sun Belt team notably light on Cajuns players was rele

Safety Bralen Trahan hinted at it when he said, We talk about it every week, Get turnovers, Get turnovers, Youre going to turn over the game.

But linebacker Ferrod Gardner peeled back another layer to that general philosophy by detailing the mindset behind Toneys heavy emphasis on that goal.

Coach Toney always preaches to us takeaways, he said. Its not turnovers. Theyre called takeaways because were taking the ball away. Thats something we work on on defense.

Perhaps thats why Toney opened some eyes early in his career at Sam Houston State when he led helped that Bearkats defense force 24 turnovers, including 17 interceptions.

Another part of Toneys approach is being relentless and always reaching for new heights.

In the last game, we had three interceptions, Gardner said earlier this season, but we didnt have any forced fumbles. So Im going to take it upon myself this game to try and get that done.

Perhaps thats why the Southeastern Lions secondary ranked No. 1 nationally in the FCS in pass efficiency defense, second in interceptions and fifth in red zone defense in 2013-14.

On a different note, Napier revealed earlier this season that he can tell how nervous Toney is by how many empty cans of soda are on his desk during long film study sessions.

OK, so aggressive, relentless and perhaps a bit obsessive.

Like most coaches, Toney has his unique saying and motivational tactics to get his players to perform and reach goals.

The UL Ragin Cajuns will be heading to the 10th bowl in school history to face Texas-San Antonio in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dalla

Like junior cornerback Eric Garror revealed earlier this season, Toney is big on junction points isolated situations during the course of a game where one of his defenders is essentially put in a one-on-one situation and must win that battle for the good of the team overall.

We take that to heart and we do great with that, Garror said. We do drills in practice to get better at that and we just go into the game and execute.

Perhaps thats why Toney helped UTSAs Roadrunners reach the first bowl in programs history in 2016 while his safeties combined for 282 yards, 15.5 stops for losses and 20 pass break-ups.

No catchy slogan, however, works over the long haul without displaying consistent leadership throughout the year.

Redshirt junior Jalen Johnson gave us a glimpse into Toneys leadership qualities last month.

Its starts from the safety spot, weve got to hold everybody accountable, Johnson said of Toneys actual position group. Were doing a really good job with that this year.

Perhaps thats why the Cajuns defense is only allowing 21.8 points a game with 15 interceptions in 10 games so far this season.

Veteran linebacker Joe Dillon has been around this program since 2015 and has played under multiple defensive coordinators during that time. He knows what UL has in its 30-year-old first-year coordinator.

You just have to know Toney, Dillon said. Hes one of them guys that you would like to play for. You would want to go out on the frontlines for him, because he would do the same for you. The last DC was like that as well, Toney hes more of a relatable type of person in a way.

Perhaps that's why first-year starter at linebacker Lorenzo McCaskill is one of the nation's leaders with 72 tackles in 10 games.

Perhaps we shouldnt have been caught off guard so badly.

Under Toneys leadership, new players on the scene like redshirt sophomore cornerback Mekhi Garner have begun to realize their potential, thanks to a new mindset.

I controlled my opportunity, Garner said of his breakthrough season with 24 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. Thats all it was. Im still trying to get better, though. At the end of the App. game, it wasnt my best game. I just need to watch film and do what I can do to be better for my team.

And longtime reserves, like redshirt senior Cameron Solomon, has shined both as a starter when called upon as well as in a safety rotation.

I feel like our whole defense can play, Solomon said. Even the freshmen we brought in. Weve got an outstanding defense and offense to be honest. All of us can play, so when one person goes down, its really no worries. We know the next man will do his job, because all of us can play.

Indeed, from the outside looking in, Toney doesnt appear to be a guy looking for the easy way out. Perhaps thats why the defense has maintained focus despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down operation just one week after Toney was named as ULs new defensive architect after Ron Roberts left for Baylor.

Its why the defense bailed out the offense's slow starts for much of the season.

As a defense, really as a whole team, we uplift each other, Solomon said. So like the offense comes out and they dont get the job they want, we just like to talk to each other and be like, Its OK. Were going to come out and do this for yall. Keep your heads up.

Were going to get a three-and-out and yall get the ball back and go score.

So when Toney walks on the field at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday, there will be members of both programs that know him better than many of us do.

Most of his talking, though, will be done by ULs defense on the field once the ball is kicked off.

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Foote: Toney's highly touted Cajuns' defense ready to do his talking for him - The Advocate

What could Shore Conference football divisions look like in 2021? Heres a thought – nj.com

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What will the Shore Conference football divisional alignments for the 2021 season look like?

That all depends on what the Shore Conference Football Committee deems fact and fiction based on what transpired in 2020. The football committee is schedule to meet later this week and new divisional alignments could be in place before 2021 arrives or shortly thereafter.

With all the not-so-good issues the COVID-19 pandemic created during the fall, it was a season of enlightenment in many ways -- and not just in the Shore Conference.

In Monmouth and Ocean counties it was discovered a four-team playoff to crown a Shore Conference champion would not only be a Hamilton-like smash among players, coaches and fans, but that the title would be coveted -- even in a season with state playoffs.

Next, the six-game, regular-season schedule and plus-two pod pairings were successful giving teams of all ability levels competitive games. We learned competitive games could be created by abandoning the group classification notions that teams from Group 3 cant play against those from Group 5 and Group 1 programs cant compete versus those from Group 3.

Group sizes are about enrollment, not about ability on the football field. We saw when there are honest intentions at work, fair matchups can be created whether teams are 6-0 or 0-6.

NJ.com football writer Joe Zedalis and Steve Falk from the Asbury Park Press collaborated on 2021 divisional football alignments that would take into consideration overall records over the past three seasons (a staple in the building of new divisions by the Shore Conference and other football leagues around the state) and the number of returning All-Divison and All-Shore selections. The All-Division teams were selected by the 43 conference head coaches.

It is believed information on returning players has never been considered by the Shore Conference. It does, however, shed light on which teams will have the strongest nucleuses returning for 2021.

The division alignments listed below were not requested by the Shore Conference and may, or may not, be utilized by the governing body in its division-building process.

Things to consider:

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Joe Zedalis covers Shore Conference football for NJ.com. He may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.

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What could Shore Conference football divisions look like in 2021? Heres a thought - nj.com

It’s a winter’s wonderland in Las Vegas – Lasvegasmagazine

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Each year, the iconic Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens changes out its fall display for a winter theme and, despite the challenges faced this year, has done it again for this season, bringing visitors into the magical world of Queen Bellissima with four beds of floral-inspired fantasia in its new Hopeful Holidays exhibit. Its a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Visitors start by checking out the frolicking of the Coca-Cola polar bears amid huge spire and ball ornaments near the entrance. They then move on to the main bed, where spire and starburst ornaments hang overhead and surround the 42-foot silver-tipped fir tree from Northern California. Its decorated with 2,500 red and gold ornaments and 7,000 white lights. A five-car toy train races around its track below.

Near the tree is the lovely queen in a white Dior-inspired dress with red accents. Upon her hand perches a bright red cardinal, an element that designer Ed Libby drew over from the fall exhibit. It represents a kind of message from the heavens that things were going to be OK, says Libby. Its actually the first time that a design element has been used from one exhibit to the next.

That design continues in the next area of the display, where massive pine cones and huge floral poinsettias, fir trees adorned in white lights, and masses of live green plants and poinsettias set off a huge jewel-encrusted egg, which is open to reveal a pair of cardinals perched inside. Says Libby, Weve chosen poinsettias to represent a story in Mexican culture where little children went into the church and they ... didnt have any gift to lay by the manger and they laid weeds. And then the next day the (weeds were) beautiful, spectacular, colorful flowers, and thats kind of the background story of poinsettias. I think theres something really special about flowers made out of flowers, and that really is something that I love. Im an event designer in my outside world. I love bringing that component to my role here at Bellagio and doing these floral sculptures.

In the center bed is the queens fairytale-like carriage being drawn by a team of four magnificent white horses. Inside, the plush area makes a good spot to capture an Instagram pic (or two), and windows and entrances let you glimpse the other beds.

And in the south bed, a quick look reveals a team of elves decorating away, an homage to the hard-working team of gardeners, florists, designers, engineers and electricians who make the exhibit come to life each season. It takes six months to plan, and then it takes six days (to assemble), says Libby. Around the clock, 75 people, 24 hours a day for six days. Theres a team thats worked so hard to stay together this year to produce the show So thats our kind of tribute to the camaraderie of the team.

Each little detail has a meaning, says Libby, from the tiaras on the polar bears, which match the queens, to the authentically painted ornaments. Its a much deeper dive than weve done before and a lot more detail that weve done in the past.

Bellagio, 702.693.7111

Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. As part of your subscription, each week via email you will receive the latest edition of Las Vegas Magazine, full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.

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It's a winter's wonderland in Las Vegas - Lasvegasmagazine

Motorist dies of injuries from November car crash in west Las Vegas – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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A 57-year-old man who was critically injured in a car crash in the western Las Vegas Valley last month has died, Las Vegas police said Monday.

Police did not release the identity of the man.

On the morning of Nov. 30, the man was driving a Nissan Pathfinder east on Flamingo Road toward Sandalwood Drive. Another man was driving a Kia Forte traveling west on Flamingo when the Nissan turned left into its path.

The Kia hit the Nissan, sending both cars off the road and into a concrete wall. Impairment was not suspected in the crash, according to police.

The 22-year-old driver of the Kia and a 12-year-old passenger in the Nissan were hospitalized with minor injuries.

The 57-year-old driver of the Nissan was critically injured. On Dec. 16, the Clark County coroners office notified Las Vegas police of his death.

His death marked the 99th traffic fatality in the Metropolitan Police Departments jurisdiction this year, according to police.

Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar @reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.

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Motorist dies of injuries from November car crash in west Las Vegas - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas Raiders will need a miracle or two in Week 16 to stay alive – Just Blog Baby

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If the Las Vegas Raiders want to stay alive in the AFC Playoff race in Week 16 of the 2020 NFL season, they are going to need a miracle or two.

Incredibly, despite losing four of their last five games, the Las Vegas Raiders are not technically eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 16 of the 2020 NFL season. They will need a lot of help the rest of the way, including from some teams that have been terrible this season, but let us dive in none the less.

For the Raiders, this is another disappointing season, their second in a row that has seen them get out to a hot start against tough opponents, only to fade down the stretch in games they likely should have won. On Thursday night, the Raiders season may have hit a low, as they had plenty of chances to beat the Los Angeles Chargers at home, but lost in overtime to the Bolts and their rookie quarterbacks.

Looking ahead, Josh Jacobs and company will need to take care of their own business in Week 16, and they take a look at the scoreboard.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts all with double-digit wins, they will likely all join the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs this season. The seventh spot is still up for grabs, as the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens have nine wins, and will look to get to ten and make some waves, possibly eliminating some of the above teams outside of Buffalo, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh, all of which have clinched a spot.

For the 7-7 Raiders, the only other AFC team still alive in the playoff race, they will need two things to happen this weekend. First, they have to beat the Dolphins, who are fresh off a victory against New England. Then, the Baltimore Ravens must lose to the New York Giants, which, with how well the Ravens are playing right now, seems like the biggest longshot.

The Giants looked downright terrible on Sunday night, as they were shredded by Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns. Even if the Ravens lose to the Giants, they will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, and while the Bengals shocked the world on Monday night, could they really beat a Lamar Jackson-led team looking to clinch a playoff spot?

The chances of the Silver and Black making the playoffs are slim to none heading into Week 16, but not zero.

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Las Vegas Raiders will need a miracle or two in Week 16 to stay alive - Just Blog Baby

NDOT New Years Eve Freeway restrictions announced for Las Vegas – KTNV Las Vegas

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The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will close the south and northbound Interstate 15 offramps at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 at Tropicana Avenue/Frank Sinatra Drive and Flamingo Road. However, motorists can still enter and exit I-15 at Spring Mountain and Russell roads. Vehicle access will also be restricted at the following locations:

Tropicana Avenue eastbound at Industrial Road/Dean Martin Drive

Flamingo Road eastbound at Valley View Boulevard

The event will stop on the southside of Spring Mountain Road. (However, Spring Mountain Road will remain open to both east and westbound traffic).

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to impact the scale and scope of New Years celebrations, several additional visitors are still expected in Southern Nevada, with many of them welcoming 2021 on the Las Vegas Strip, said NDOT spokesman Tony Illia. As such, we are making several temporary road and highway ramp closures, thereby ensuring a safe and successful event for both motorists and revelers.

RELATED: New Years Eve celebrations in Las Vegas | 2020

Ramp restrictions will be lifted between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., Jan. 1, 2021, or at the discretion of the Joint Operations Center. NDOT works with Waze to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but unscheduled construction changes, closures and restrictions are possible due to weather or other factors. For the latest state highway conditions, visit nvroads.com or call 511 before driving.

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NDOT New Years Eve Freeway restrictions announced for Las Vegas - KTNV Las Vegas

Circa’s Legacy Club offers homage, along with cocktails and atmosphere – Las Vegas Weekly

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If the cavernous, energetic sportsbook and rooftop pool are the centerpieces of the new Circa Resort and Casino, its Legacy Club, set to debut on December 28, is an elevated escape from all the action.

Perched atop the 458-foot hotel tower that also opens for the first time this week, the luxurious lounge marks a completely different direction for Downtown nightlife while fitting neatly into the newly established Circa brand.

I think its hard to compare, because there definitely is nothing like this Downtown, says Alice OKeefe, Circas director of design and architecture. When we developed the concept, we looked around Las Vegasbut also outside Las Vegas, because it was important to create a destination. You cant say its like the Foundation Room [at Mandalay Bay] or the other bar rooftop experiences. Thats not to take away from whats already been done, but really its about creating something new, because people in Las Vegas and visiting Las Vegas are hungry for something new.

Like Circa, Legacy Club aims to attract Vegas visitors from all over, not just the Downtown customer. And its striking features should create that kind of excitement in no time.

An incredibly rapid elevator ride from the first-floor casino to the 60th floor opens into a lobby decorated with busts of Las Vegas founding fathers, including Steve Wynn, Bob Stupak, Howard Hughes, Jay Sarno, Benny Binion and Jackie Gaughan. Commissioned portraits of the same figures line the hall leading into the indoor-outdoor venue, which provides a first glimpse of the stunning panoramic views of our Valley.

Fire pits and cozy seating arrangements line the expansive outdoor space, and the plan is to adjust operating hours so sunset viewing is always available. Indoors, high ceilings add drama surrounding the 12-seat bar with a build-your-own Old Fashioned program, and intimate lounge seating areas offer flexibility. A photo-worthy display of more than 60 pounds of gold bars centers the space near a dancefloor.

It might be serene in the late afternoon hours or even rowdy into the night, but Legacy Club showcases Circas diversity. The few seats at the bar provide an interesting juxtaposition to the 165-foot-long Mega Bar in the casino downstairs. And there will be a dress code at the sky-high lounge.

Were not encouraging people to come right out of the pool up here, OKeefe says. The idea is to go back to your room, get presentable and come up. There are a lot of different zones and more intimate areas at Legacy Club, and to have this size and scale, I dont think theres anything else like it. Its not just a Downtown attraction. People are going to be coming from the Strip, and thats really what we wanted.

LEGACY CLUBOpening December 28. Sunday-Wednesday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m.-4 a.m. Circa, 702-247-2258.

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Circa's Legacy Club offers homage, along with cocktails and atmosphere - Las Vegas Weekly

Derek Carr expected to make a big push to play on Saturday – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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If Derek Carr has his way, hell be the starting quarterback on Saturday when the Raiders play host to the Miami Dolphins.

Thats despite injuring his groin in Thursdays 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that all but eliminated the 7-7 Raiders from the playoffs.

Carr was injured while legging out a third-down scramble late in the first quarter. He immediately left the game and was unable to return. On Friday, coach Jon Gruden pegged Carrs availability for Saturdays game against the Dolphins at 50/50.

Carr, though, is a known gamer who has missed just two regular-season games in his seven-year career and figures to fight as hard as possible to play on Saturday.

A particular motivation for Carr, who has not spoken to the media since his injury, is the importance of the Raiders finishing the season strong. Even if they are not able punch a ticket to the postseason, he knows its important to build momentum heading into next season.

Given all the upheaval caused by COVID-19 and the slew of injuries that have struck the Raiders, a 9-7 record would be considered an achievement and a building block.

To get there, the Raiders need to sweep their last two games against the Dolphins and Denver Broncos.

While it is Grudens job to protect his quarterback, Carr will make a big push to be on the field with his teammates when they return to practice on Tuesday. His goal will be to convince the coaching staff that he is physically able to perform come Saturday.

If he cant play, the Raiders will turn to Marcus Mariota, who played well in relief of Carr against the Chargers, completing 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards and rushing for 88 on nine carries.

Carr has had one of his best seasons, throwing for 3,396 yards. He has completed 68 percent of his pass attempts while throwing 24 TD passes and only seven interceptions. He also has scrambled effectively, rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

Carr has fought through injuries in the past.

In his rookie season in 2014, he injured his knee against the Dolphins in London but was able to play two weeks later after the Raiders returned from their bye week. In 2017, Carr missed just one game after suffering a back injury against the Denver Broncos.

The only significant time Carr has missed in his career was when he broke his leg in the second-to-last regular-season game of the 2016 season and could not play in the regular-season finale or the wild-card playoff game. The Raiders lost both.

Carrs determination to finish the season strong is shared by Gruden.

Were going to continue to fight, continue to develop and continue to work hard and try and get our eighth victory and see if somehow we can get a winning season, which would be a great accomplishment, Gruden said.

Doing so would halt the frustrating late-season swoon that has seen the Raiders lose four of their last five games.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter.

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Derek Carr expected to make a big push to play on Saturday - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Review-Journal partnering with CTA on virtual CES show – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Next years CES may not be in Las Vegas, but organizers are keeping ties to the city strong by partnering with the Review-Journal.

The newspapers partnership with the Consumer Technology Association which produces, manages and owns CES will allow the Review-Journal to broadcast CESs anchor desk, media day press conferences and keynotes throughout the virtual convention, which runs Jan. 11-14.

It should bring your readers more insight and more stories, Jean Foster, CTAs senior vice president of marketing and communications, said. Las Vegas is so important, and we want to keep those ties because were going to be in Las Vegas (in 2022). Its our home from home.

The trade show is typically an economic boon to the city, but CTA shifted it to a virtual format in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last in-person CES in January 2020 was estimated to bring in roughly $291 million to the city based on 180,000 attendees, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Our readers know theyll find the best coverage of CES in the Review-Journal and at reviewjournal.com, Executive Editor Glenn Cook said. Were excited to continue providing CES content for our audience, and we look forward to covering the 2022 event in person.

Media partnerships are nothing new for CES, but this will be the first time the trade show is partnering with a local media outlet.

We thought it really made sense for us to partner with somebody in Las Vegas to help get our voice out there, Foster said. Las Vegas is such an important home for CES, and we have such a strong tie to the community. We really wanted to keep that connection.

Foster said CTA is set to partner with up to 12 media organization, although some have not yet been finalized. Other partners include USA Today, Future plc, Protocol, Digital Trends and Reviewed.com.

Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter.

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Review-Journal partnering with CTA on virtual CES show - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Hallmark holiday movies offer viewers balm in tough year – Las Vegas Sun

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Published Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 | 3:10 p.m.

Updated 52 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) For the past decade, the Hallmark Channel has been a reliable destination for holiday programming. And in a year when many Americans are homebound because of the COVID-19 pandemic, network executives say there's been a craving for the feel-good movies.

Hallmark's ratings are up 2% over 2019's holiday season, the Nielsen company said. That may not seem like much, but year-to-year increases are the exception rather than the rule in modern television.

The network turned its programming over to holiday fare on Oct. 23 and has been the top-rated entertainment cable channel, excluding news and sports, for the fourth quarter, Nielsen said.

What we have seen is just how much our movies mean to our viewers, said Michelle Vicary, programming chief.

When coronavirus-related closures began in March, Hallmark tried to calm anxieties by airing a series of its holiday movies then.

But this season, COVID-19 did not affect the type of movies Hallmark made or how they were scheduled, Vicary said. Of the 40 new movies planned for this season, only one had to be canceled because filming couldn't be done because of the pandemic.

We made a choice not to let COVID affect us thematically, she said. There are a lot of places you can find information about COVID. What we provided was a respite from that.

This season's most popular movie has been If I Only Had Christmas, about a perky publicist who teams with a cynical executive to help a charity. It stars Candace Cameron Bure, probably the most reliable draw among a collection of actors who often return to Hallmark each holiday season.

Hallmark says it has also been pleased with the reception for The Christmas House, the first time the conservative programmer has prominently featured gay characters in a holiday film.

CBS was the top-rated broadcast network last week, averaging 4.4 million viewers in prime time. NBC had 3.8 million, Fox had 2.9 million, ABC had 2.7 million, Univision had 870,000, Ion Television had 830,000 and Telemundo had 620,000.

Fox News Channel was the most popular cable network, watched by an average of 2.38 million people in prime time. ESPN had 2.07 million, MSNBC had 2 million, Hallmark had 1.72 million and CNN had 1.68 million. The only non-news or sports programs among cable's 40 most popular last week were two Hallmark movies.

ABC's World News Tonight won the evening news ratings race, averaging 9.7 million viewers. NBC's Nightly News had 7.9 million and the CBS Evening News had 5.9 million.

For the week of Dec. 14-20, the 20 most popular prime-time programs, their networks and viewerships:

1. NFL Football: Cleveland at N.Y. Giants, NBC, 15.61 million.

2. NFL Football: L.A. Chargers at Las Vegas, Fox, 12.96 million.

3. NFL Football: Baltimore at Cleveland, ESPN, 12.42 million.

4. 60 Minutes, CBS, 11.59 million.

5. NFL Pregame," NBC, 11.31 million.

6. NFL Postgame, Fox, 10.96 million.

7. College Football: Alabama vs. Florida, CBS, 8.92 million.

8. The Masked Singer, Fox, 7.41 million.

9. NFL Pregame, Fox, 7.34 million.

10. The Voice (Tuesday, 9 p.m.), NBC, 7.27 million.

11. The Voice (Monday), NBC, 7.09 million.

12. Football Night in America, NBC, 6.92 million.

13. Young Sheldon, CBS, 6.86 million.

14. Blue Bloods, CBS, 6.38 million.

15. Monday Night Kickoff, ESPN, 6 million.

16. The Voice (Tuesday, 8 p.m.), NBC, 5.89 million.

17. Garth & Trisha Live! CBS, 5.82 million.

18. Grey's Anatomy, ABC, 5.66 million.

19. Station 19, ABC, 5.63 million.

20. Magnum, P.I.," CBS, 5.48 million.

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Hallmark holiday movies offer viewers balm in tough year - Las Vegas Sun

Biden: Reversing Trump immigration policies will take months – Las Vegas Sun

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Published Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 | 3:23 p.m.

Updated 36 minutes ago

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) President-elect Joe Biden says it will take months to roll back some of President Donald Trumps actions on immigration, offering a slower timeline than he promised on the campaign trail and one that may rile advocates pushing for speedy action on the issue.

His Tuesday comments echo those made by two of his top foreign policy advisers in an interview with Spanish wire service EFE on Monday hitting the brakes on rolling back Trumps restrictive asylum policies. Susan Rice, Bidens incoming domestic policy adviser, and Jake Sullivan, his pick for national security adviser, as well as Biden himself, warned that moving too quickly could create a new crisis at the border.

Speaking to reporters in Wilmington, Delaware Wednesday, Biden said hes already started discussing the issues with the Mexican president and our friends in Latin America and that the timeline is to do it so that we in fact make it better not worse.

The last thing we need is to say were going to stop immediately, the access to asylum, the way its being run now, and then end up with 2 million people on our border, Biden said.

He noted that more funding is needed for more asylum judges to process claims, and promised that while he will work to loosen Trumps asylum restrictions, its going to take probably the next six months to put that in place.

His comments come as interceptions along the border have increased in recent months. According to data from Customs and Border Patrol, detentions in October increased by 30 percent from September, and remained at that rate in November. Some experts predict the surge could increase in the early months of Bidens presidency, as a response to the damage wrought by the two hurricanes that have pummeled Central America and the economic fallout from the pandemic, as well as expectations of a more humane approach to immigration from the Biden Administration.

Sullivan and Rice both said in their interview with EFE that Biden will take executive action where possible to address issues with the immigration system, and emphasized plans to provide humanitarian aid and help bolster Latin American economies to try to address the root cause of the influx of immigrants to the U.S.

Biden will work to promptly undo Trumps deals with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador that let the U.S. transfer asylum seekers to those countries, and will follow through on his commitment to end a Trump-era program that returns undocumented border crossers to Mexico to await their legal proceedings, Sullivan said. On his campaign website, Biden promised to end the agreement with Mexico, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, within the first 100 days of his presidency.

But Sullivan emphasized that many of those reforms will take time.

He cautioned that increasing processing capacity and changing policy at the border will take time, and warned those considering fleeing for the U.S. to wait, predicting it will take months for the Biden Administration to fully implement their plans with respect to Latin America.

Given the pandemic and the large number of migrants already waiting in northern Mexico, now is not the time to undertake the dangerous trip to the United States, he said. It will take months until we are able to fully implement our plans.

Rice said that processing capacity at the border is not like a light that you can just switch on and off.

Our priority is to reopen asylum processing at the border consistent with the capacity to do so safely and to protect public health, especially in the context of COVID-19. This effort will begin immediately but it will take months to develop the capacity that we will need to reopen fully,she said.

But Michelle Heisler, medical director of Physicians for Human Rights, expressed concerns about the pace of change during a conference call with reporters Tuesday and said there should be no public-health rationale to maintain extraordinary powers to immediately expel people from the United States without an opportunity to seek asylum.

Rice was noncommittal about when Biden would withdraw that authority, which Trump introduced in March on grounds that it would contain the coronavirus even though reporting by The Associated Press and others has found that government scientists saw no evidence for it.

Still, other pro-immigrant advocates said Tuesday that while they understood it would take time to untangle some of Trumps changes at the border, they underscored a sense of urgency. They hailed Bidens emphasis on working with Mexico and Central America on joint solutions.

The Biden administrations work to end cruelty must start immediately, said Linda Rivas, executive director and managing attorney of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas. Human rights and dignity must take center stage.

Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, said it was a matter of life and death, with many asylum-seekers waiting in extremely violent Mexican border cities for their cases to be heard in the United States.

She said in a conference call with reporters that she was concerned about how many asylum-seekers will be allowed in by Biden but we are here, ready, determined that the process works for all those that are impacted.

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AP writer Elliot Spagat contributed reporting.

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Biden: Reversing Trump immigration policies will take months - Las Vegas Sun

Efforts big and small needed to fight poverty – Las Vegas Sun

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By Kyle Rahn

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 | 2 a.m.

When I got the call that United Way of Southern Nevada would be receiving its largest gift in our 63-year history, a thousand emotions hit me at once. Joy, shock and pride were among them.

But most of all, I was filled with gratitude that with her donation of $10 million, philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott had sent a clear message that the work we do, and the community in which we do it, matters.

This support of our work shows that Scott believes in United Way of Southern Nevada. She believes in the vision of our board of directors. She believes in the meaningful work of our staff, partners and volunteers. She believes in the generosity and commitment of our donors and is adding her support to stand with them and encourage others to join them.

Over the past nine months, need in our community increased dramatically, and we stepped up to help Southern Nevada respond and recover. We raised $2.4 million to help 127,000 individuals struggling through the pandemic to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads and the lights on. We helped coordinate efforts for more than 200 nonprofits to provide resources to those in need. Our Volunteer Connect platform was up and running in a matter of days, when we were told it would take months. We distributed 274,000 face coverings and 6,780 bottles of hand sanitizer to keep local businesses and nonprofits safe and open.

Through this, we continued our work to break the cycle of poverty. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, we remained committed to helping children start school ready to learn, ensuring students can graduate, helping people pursue college, and assisting individuals in getting back to work. Our community entrusted us with $1.7 million in CARES Act funding to provide childcare so parents could return to work, and children could get the education they deserve. Our investment in education, workforce development and community support ensured that Southern Nevadans could continue the path to success.

It is said a crisis does not build character; it reveals it. If thats true, then Las Vegas can rest assured in the strength of its character. Scotts donation is not just a validation of United Way of Southern Nevadas efforts, but in the way all of our partner nonprofits rallied when the community needed us most.

While we are honored and humbled to receive such a gift to support this essential work, this is only the beginning. Many more people are losing their jobs, facing eviction and wondering how to put food on the table. The needs of our community are escalating every day, and we depend on local and national support to meet them. Just as Scott invested in us, we are hopeful our entire community will continue to invest in a stronger future for Southern Nevada.

Every donation you make to United Way of Southern Nevada is a step closer to Southern Nevadas long-term recovery. It will take all of us working together to help our community recover and rebuild. Please join us at uwsn.org.

Kyle Rahn is president of the United Way of Southern Nevada.

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Efforts big and small needed to fight poverty - Las Vegas Sun

Performing in the pandemic, by zoom, drive-in and doorstep – Las Vegas Sun

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Chris Pizzello / AP

Comedian Daphnique Springs performs to an empty room during a Laughter is Healing stand-up comedy livestream event at the Laugh Factory comedy club, Monday, April 20, 2020, in LosAngeles.

By Jake Coyle, Associated Press

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 | 12:23 p.m.

NEW YORK A good way to hear what weve missed this year is to listen to Sam Cookes landmark live album, Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963. On a warm January night in downtown Miami, Cooke was well into his torrid set when, in the middle ofBring it on Home to Me,he asks the audience to join in.

Let me hear you say yeah, coos Cooke.

The Yeah! that follows instant, exuberant, loud is one of the great call-and-responses in music, a euphoria of performer and audience as one.

Anything like that blissful moment has been painfully out of reach in 2020. Music halls have been closed since March. Broadway is shuttered. Comedy clubs empty. Live studio audiences mostly sent home. Cinemas with only Wash your hands on the marquee. The entertainment world has trudged on, by live-streaming, zooming and improvising. But its in-person soul was nearly snuffed out, and with it a lifeblood of human connection.

The pandemic has upended entertainment industries, driving thousands out of work, reshaping time-tested institutions and accelerating digital transformations. For the arts, which are predicated on bringing people closer together if only for a song or a few acts, a year of isolation and social distancing goes against nature. Yet despite gathering being nearly impossible in 2020, many have found ways to connect nevertheless even if applause is on mute, and standing ovations are sounded by car honks.

The show isnt the same, but it goes on.

After a month of practicing and playing inside, Los Angeles Philharmonic membersCathy and Jonathan Karolydecided they had had enough. Cathy, a flutist, and Jonathan, a cellist, began playing on the porch of their Pasadena, California, home. At first, they didnt tell anyone but their neighbors. Friends came and sat on the lawn. Passersbys inquired. And before they knew it, the Karolys had played 25 concerts, through heat and (until recently) virus spikes. They got adept at printing programs and putting out folding chairs. A steam of Philharmonic colleagues joined them. Some wept.

We take it very seriously, Jonathan says, speaking with his wife. The fact that its on our porch is irrelevant. We never wanted to sacrifice the quality. People come and theyre going to hear a first-rate concert. We challenged ourselves.

As if were playing Carnegie Hall, says Cathy.

With famed concert halls and neighborhood joints alike closed around the world by COVID-19, new venues took their place.The drive-in, a barely surviving remnant of the 50s, proliferated, filling everywhere from box-store parking lots to deserted high-school ball fields. Playingnot just movies but concerts, graduations and church services,the drive-in was reborn as the pandemics unlikely ark.

Much of the years entertainment was left to the streaming services,an ever-expanding array of subscription optionsthat offerednew oceans of content, and potentiallya vision of Hollywoods future. Not everything worked.Remember Quibi?But media goliathsincreasingly reoriented their operationsfor the unfolding streaming wars. Warner Bros., the studio of Casablanca, detoured dramatically, sending "Woman Woman 1984," straight into homes and potentially forever downsizing the movie business.

Digital was both a lifeline and an imperfect stopgap. Zoom performances, virtual cinemas, filmed theater even when done really well, as inHamiltonorDavid Byrnes American Utopia were all inevitably insufficient imitations of the genuine article. But they made weathering the storm possible. Some pandemic-fueled creations zoom reunion shows, podcasts stitched together people otherwise quarantined from one another. Artists like Taylor Swift and Fleet Foxes used time shut in to create arguably their most bracingly intimate work.

One moment of grace came in late April withthe virtual 90th birthday concert for Stephen Sondheim. The theater community, settling in for a dark year, was beleaguered and lonesome.

Were dealing with so much grief that it feels kind of petty to be concerned about whether we can perform, says Ral Esparza, who hosted the concert. Yet theres something about the intimacy of live performance that you feel bereft without it. Like emptiness the world over. Its not a small thing. Its how we live.

Technical troubles plagued the concerts start. Eventually it began, with Merrily We Roll Along.

Part of what made it so special was the mess, says Esparza. The fact that things went so wrong made it seem like things couldnt possibly go right.

Yet they did, andEsparzas rendition of Take Me to the World Take me to the world/ Out where I can push through crowds took on a new poignancy in lockdown. Later, Esparza would watch a Twitter map of the shows hashtag lighting up around the globe as the performance went on. At one point, probably during Ladies Who Lunch, New York starts to glow, says Esparza.

Performers like Esparza have moved on to other virtual productions, TV and film work. But reopening for Broadway remainsat least months away, part of the endless, indefinite postponements of the pandemic. A summers worth of a blockbusterspulled up stakesand now waits in the wings, while theaters await financial relief from Congress to stave off bankruptcy.

But 2020 also brought with it a sense of urgency. Protests and uprisings following the death of George Floyd werefelt acutely in entertainment, where diversity still lags in many meaningful areas. Many of the years most vital works spoke directly to the moment, even if they were created long before it.

Steve McQueen dedicatedhis Small Axe anthologyto Floyd, and one of its stars,John Boyega, memorably joined throngs of protesters. Other films delved into deep and painful roots of racism, including Garrett Bradleys documentaryTime, Spike Lees Vietnam veteran dramaDa 5 Bloodsand the August Wilson adaptation,Ma Raineys Black Bottom,starring Viola Davis.

I feel now that its up to us now that its really out there in the open to challenge each other in every facet our lives, says Davis. If we want that change, then we have to face some really undeniable truths about ourselves and about our country. We have to challenge that in our personal and professional spaces. This is not a time to be silent. This is not a time to question. This is not a time to make people feel comfortable. I think were over that. And that translates into art.

Maybe the years greatest music act was the 7 p.m. pots-and-pans clatter for hospital and essential workers that echoed through New York, and many other places as the pandemic surged around the country. Death was always close at hand, and the drumbeat of losses in the arts, whether from COVID-19 or other causes, was constant.John Prine.Chadwick Boseman.Alex Trebek.Bill Withers.Sean Connery.Little Richard.Carl Reiner.Eddie Van Halen.Charley Pride.

In June, the comedian and Conan writer Laurie Kilmartin lost her mom, JoAnn, to complications from COVID-19. While her mother was in the hospital, Kilmartin tweeted with heartache and humor through her moms agonizingly quick descent. One example: She is barely breathing but it would be great if she could awaken from all this and tell me to wash my robe.

It always helps me to write jokes about a real situation, says Kilmartin. Then I can take whatever emotion it is grief and make it useful.

Like most stand-ups, Kilmartin, believes getting in front of an audience for her, five times a week since 1987 is necessary to stay sharp. Zoom sets have helped, but living without the thing she does best has been disorienting. On stage, Kilmartin knows shes good. She knows shes in control.

Its brain to brain, says Kilmartin. When youre on stage, youre actively finding common ground with a whole bunch of strangers for 30 minutes or an hour. And its super intense. When youre in the audience, its also super intense. Its someone changing the temperature of your body for an hour.

The outlook for live performance in 2021 is, of course, uncertain. Vaccines are rolling out, but daily cases are extremely high and global deaths exceed 1.7 million. Nobody knows how soon it will be before movie theaters are again packed, Broadway is bustling and concert stages are booming. But whenever it is, something innate and beautiful about us will be restored.

Let me hear you say yeah.

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Performing in the pandemic, by zoom, drive-in and doorstep - Las Vegas Sun