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News from October 30, 2025

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J.K. Rowling Sides With Riley Gaines After AOC's Attack Over Trans Athlete Issue
Technology

J.K. Rowling Sides With Riley Gaines After AOC's Attack Over Trans Athlete Issue

J.K. Rowling is going to bat for Riley Gaines. Gaines dominated headlines this week after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez personally attacked the OutKick host on social media by mocking her collegiate athletic accomplishments. It all started when Gaines posted a photo of AOC, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders during a recent campaign event and captioned it, "We are being destroyed from within." AOC clapped back by referencing Gaines' fifth-place tie to trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship. "Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth," AOC wrote on X. Since then, it seems all of social media has weighed in — from far-left podcaster Jennifer Welch to Congresswoman Nancy Mace and now, even J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter author responded to an X user named Alex Cole, who accused Gaines of piggybacking off trans athletes for fame. "If you took every trans athlete out of sports, no one would have heard of Riley Gaines," he wrote. "She owes her livelihood to trans athletes." Rowling responded: ".@Riley_Gaines_ doesn’t defend women’s rights for attention or money, any more than I do. We fight because it’s the only thing to do if you’re not a coward, a pick me or a living doormat." Gaines, too, responded to the post, saying, "Moral conviction is a foreign concept to some." Both Rowling and Riley know a thing or two about taking on the mob. And both refuse to back down to them.

Unknown
Is Billie Eilish Shading Taylor Swift With This Anti-Billionaire Speech?! Some Swifties Are Hitting Back!
Technology

Is Billie Eilish Shading Taylor Swift With This Anti-Billionaire Speech?! Some Swifties Are Hitting Back!

Billie Eilish is putting her mouth where her money is… And riling up Swifties in the process! The Gen Z pop star appeared at the WSJ Innovator Awards in New York on Wednesday, where she accepted the prestigious Music Innovator Award. And she used her acceptance speech as an opportunity to call out the ultra ULTRA rich — some of whom were right there in the crowd! Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was there to hear Billie as she criticized the idea of even being a billionaire. While clutching her award, the Birds of a Feather singer unapologetically called out the elephant in the room: “We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than kind of ever, especially in our country.” She continued: “And I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and maybe give it to some people that need it … Love you all, but there are a few people in here who have a lot more money than me. If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but give your money away, shorties.” What a pointed line! “If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?” "if you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?" -Billie at the @WSJ Innovator awards tonight in New York! pic.twitter.com/YjSoi4Ei0R — Billie Eilish Society (@BillieSociety) October 30, 2025 While she didn’t clearly name any billionaire in particular, Taylor Swift’s fanbase QUICKLY got defensive on social media! Not only is their queen is the richest pop star on the planet, with an estimated net worth of around $1.6 billion — she’s also faced a TON of backlash for her billionaire status since The Life of a Showgirl dropped, promising to earn her even more. On X (Twitter), Swifties immediately started firing clapbacks at Billie, who is also a rich pop star, having amassed millions over the course of her career. Many saw her comments as hypocritical — but definitely as shady: “i never cared if someone is a billionaire or not and i don’t think anyone does except americans with their fake outrage about everything cause girl your [net] worth is over $250M you fall in the same category” “i’m sorry i usually try to keep it positive and avoid posting about people i don’t care about but this is pissing me tf off………… the virtue signaling, the performance of being a good person, the absolute lack of self awareness wow” “You’re a millionaire right? Why? Give your money away. When you do others may follow. Hypocrite” “If you’re a millionaire, why are you a millionaire?” Just donate those guitars to underprivileged kids; there is no need to earn any profit” “Mind you, this girl is a multimillionaire; like, just because you haven’t reached 10 digits yet doesn’t make you the hero of the working class.” “AND YOU HAVE A LOT MORE MONEY THAN MOST PEOPLE, BILLIE… So if you’re a MILLIONAIRE, why are you a MILLIONAIRE? No hate, but yeah. Give your money away, Billie, and stop being so performative!” Well, the Birds of a Feather did also put her money where her mouth is. Elsewhere in the evening, Stephen Colbert announced that Billie is donating an astounding $11.5 MILLION from her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour proceeds to support organizations fighting food insecurity, carbon pollution, and climate change. Now that’s a contribution! We have to wonder if Billie was even thinking of Tay when she said all this. We mean, Taylor may be the most ethical billionaire we know! Not only has she been a HUGE contributor to various organizations over the years, she also quietly gives thousands of dollars in private donations all the time to people in need, apparently scrolling through GoFundMe “like a social media app” in her downtime. We have to think Billie’s speech was more pointed at the billionaire who was ACTUALLY in the room. She did mention “there are a few people in here” when she said it. And Zuckerberg is worth $257.3 BILLION. Now THAT is someone who could really change the world with his money. Why would Swifties think Billie was talking about Tay? Well, there’s a history here. Last year, the 23-year-old dragged “wasteful” artists for pumping out “all sorts of different vinyl and packaging” variants for their albums “which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more.” She ranted at the time: “I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is. It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable … And then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making f**king 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more. It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favorite artists doing that s**t.” Taylor is known for creating SEVERAL variants of her albums with exclusive songs, voice notes, cover art, and more. So yeah, folks did think that was directed more at Tay than anyone else in the industry. What are your thoughts on this latest drama, Perezcious readers? Is Billie trying to punch up at Taylor? Or was she thinking about the REALLY rich guys who don’t seem to be doing any good with it all? Let us know in the comments down below! [Images via MEGA/WENN]

Perez Hilton
Schoolfriends who were ‘told they’d be bankrupt by 30′ bag £165,000 Dragons’ Den investment
Technology

Schoolfriends who were ‘told they’d be bankrupt by 30′ bag £165,000 Dragons’ Den investment

Two childhood friends have secured a double investment on Dragons’s Den (Picture: BBC) Two schoolfriends who were warned that they would be ‘bankrupt by 30’ by their parents have secured a double investment on Dragons’ Den. Andy Aitken and Josh Mihill took the Dragons on in tonight’s BBC episode as they asked for a £110,000 investment for 1% of their company, Honest Mobile. Presenting to Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett’, the duo pitched their business, which solves bad signal and expensive roaming. Despite some initial hesitancy from Peter, both Steven and Deborah jumped at the opportunity to get involved. After answering the Dragons’ questions with style and poise, Deborah gave the childhood friends an offer of half the money for 1.5% of the company. Shortly afterwards, Steven offered the full amount for 3% of the company. Andy Aitken and Josh Mihill were given £1650,000 by Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden (Picture: BBC) The pair’s mobile network company is called ‘Honest Mobile’ (Picture: Honest Mobile) Following a short period of deliberation, the duo decided to take both Dragons on board, meaning they would be giving away their company for 4.5% for a £160,000 investment. Their offer marked a touching moment for Josh and Andy, who met on their first day of school and were each other’s best men at their wedding. The pair could also be seen sharing an emotional hug in the elevator as they left the Den. But this is certainly not the first time Steven has offered an enormous sum of money on the BBC show. Earlier this month, it was revealed that a Dragons’ Den company is now worth £140million after Steven’s investment ‘grew rapidly’. Natural energy drink brand PerfectTed’ is now valued at an incredible £140million – which ‘s value is reportedly the biggest payday to come out of the hit BBC business show. The pair’s pitch proved to be hugely popular with the Dragons (Picture: Honest Mobile) Their company aims to solve bad signal and expensive roaming (Picture: Honest Mobile) The matcha-powered drink company, founded by Marisa Poster and Teddie Levenfiche, first caught the attention of viewers – and the Dragons – when they entered the Den in 2023. While Peter Jones later stepped away, Bartlett stayed on board – and it has since ‘grown rapidly.’ The company’s valuation has soared after a major round of funding from venture capital firm Felix Capital, with The Grocer reporting the brand’s worth has climbed to around £140m. But it’s not the only success story, after a contestant was offered the biggest deal in the show’s 20-year history and a 15-year-old was backed by an investor with a £1,540,000,000 fortune. Dragons’ Den is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Milo Pope
Naivas opens its 111th store at Magadi
Technology

Naivas opens its 111th store at Magadi

Naivas Operations Manager Stanley Kariuki (left), and Naivas Magadi Branch Manager Tony Lenhart Otieno (third right) during the opening of the 111th branch at OUR Mall, Magadi road, Nairobi, on October 30, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Naivas Supermarket, Kenya’s leading homegrown retailer, has opened its 111th branch at OUR Mall, Magadi road, Nairobi, further expanding its footprint and reaffirming its commitment to delivering affordable, world-class shopping experiences to Kenyan households. The new outlet offers customers a wide range of fresh produce, groceries, household goods, electronics and lifestyle products, all under one roof and with the warmth and authenticity that define Naivas’ Kikwetu (Kenyan) spirit. Speaking during the launch, Naivas’ Operations manager Stanley Kariuki, said: “We are thrilled to open our 111th branch right here at OUR Mall, Magadi road. Every new Naivas store represents more than just expansion: It’s a chance to bring our customers closer to affordable, world-class shopping experiences that feel authentically Kenyan. Magadi road is a fast-growing community, and we’re excited to be part of its story.” The launch comes as Naivas celebrates 35 years of serving Kenyan families, a journey built on gratitude and partnership. As part of this celebration, Naivas is running its annual Kikwetu Campaign, a nationwide initiative rewarding loyal shoppers with daily, weekly, and monthly prizes. Shoppers stand to win a variety of rewards, from small daily surprises to bigger prizes including household appliances, motorcycles and even cars, with winners selected randomly at checkout. Naivas Limited marked its 35th anniversary with a Sh5 million donation to Mogra Children’s Home in Nairobi, deepening a partnership that has provided food and other support to the home for the past four years. The funds, raised through contributions from employees and suppliers and matched by the company, will help feed and house more than 650 children under Mogra’s care.

Esther Dianah,Standard Business
People terrified as photographer captures world's 'first-ever' white Iberian Lynx thought to be extinct
Technology

People terrified as photographer captures world's 'first-ever' white Iberian Lynx thought to be extinct

People have been left both terrified and amazed after a creature many thought had vanished from existence is captured on camera for the first time. The mysterious feline was spotted deep in the mountains of Jaén, southern Spain, by amateur wildlife photographer Ángel Hidalgo. The 29-year-old took to Instagram to share her story behind the encounter with what she's described as 'The White Ghost of the Mediterranean Forest'. Posting two of her incredible snaps, she wrote: "In a new area where I began tracking a few months ago, while reviewing one of my trail cameras, I observed something I couldn't believe… From then on, I dedicated all my available time to it; I had to see this marvel with my own eyes. "Time passed - hours, days, weeks, even months - without success, and on many occasions, I was on the verge of giving up… One morning, after a night of rain, I was walking as I had done so many times before when suddenly, in the distance, I saw a white shape that seemed to radiate its own light. "Upon seeing for the first time a 'White Iberian Lynx,' with its snow-white winter coat and those piercing eyes, I was paralyzed; I couldn't believe what I was seeing." The 29-year-old continued: "I felt incredibly fortunate to witness this moment, to be able to see this magnificent lynx in its natural habitat. "Encountering this feline was an unforgettable memory for me, and it made me reflect on the importance of nature and conservation… "I hope this long story inspires some to appreciate and protect the natural beauty of the world around us." The lynx, which has a rare genetic condition called leucism, lacks pigment in its fur, giving it a hauntingly pale appearance - but unlike albino animals, it still retains its piercing eyes. After footage hit social media, people didn’t hold back their reactions - and some were seriously freaked out. One person likened it to 'a mythical creature', while another compared the beast to the Pokémon 'Mewtwo'. A third joked: "Lmfao that’s an old, OLD ancient guardian. Look at the eyes. You can tell.. chills." According to Spanish outlet Ahora Jaén, the sighting took place on last Wednesday (October 22) in Jaén province. Authorities have kept the exact location secret, as the lynx was seen roaming without a tracking collar - which confirms that it is completely wild.

Joe Yates
Comey asks court to toss indictment, arguing senator's questions were "confusing"
Technology

Comey asks court to toss indictment, arguing senator's questions were "confusing"

Washington — Former FBI Director James Comey is urging a federal court to dismiss the two federal charges brought against him over allegedly false testimony he gave to Congress in September 2020. He's arguing that the questions he answered, which were asked by GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, were "confusing" and "fundamentally ambiguous."In a new filing with the court in Alexandria, Virginia, Comey's lawyers argued that his testimony in response to Cruz's questions was "literally true" and cannot support a conviction. The former FBI director's legal team suggested that the government is attempting to try Comey on "cherry-picked statements" given during a four-hour long Senate hearing without specifying which parts of his testimony it believes were false or misleading.They argued that while the government has the authority to prosecute witnesses who mislead federal investigators by giving false answers to clear questions, "it does not authorize the government to create confusion by posing an imprecise question and then seek to exploit that confusion by placing an after-the-fact nefarious interpretation on the ensuing benign answer."Comey's lawyers also asserted that "basic due process principles in criminal law require that the questioner frame his questions with clarity so that a witness does not have to guess."A federal grand jury in Alexandria indicted Comey late last month on charges he lied to Congress and obstructed a congressional investigation. The alleged offenses stem from testimony Comey gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to both counts.Comey has already filed one tranche of motions with the court that argue the indictment should be tossed out on the grounds that it is based on a vindictive and selective prosecution. He is also challenging the validity of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan's appointment to that role. Comey's lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said in one of those filings that he would seek to dismiss at least the first count of the indictment — the allegation that Comey lied to Congress — because of Cruz's questioning.In addition to his latest bid to have the charges dismissed, Comey's lawyers are asking for more details about the conduct underlying the two counts. They are claiming the indictment is "sparse" and has a "total absence of factual allegations."The indictment against Comey references an exchange the former FBI director had with an unnamed senator, believed to be Cruz, during the Judiciary Committee hearing more than five years ago. During the questioning, Cruz asked Comey about testimony he gave in May 2017, in which the former FBI chief was questioned about whether he had ever been an anonymous source or authorized anyone to be an anonymous source about matters relating to investigations into President Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016.Cruz then referenced comments from Andrew McCabe, who was Comey's deputy at the FBI, and claimed McCabe publicly said that Comey authorized him to leak information to the press."Now, what Mr. McCabe is saying and what you testified to this committee cannot both be true; one or the other is false. Who's telling the truth?" Cruz asked Comey.Comey said in response, "I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by what, the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017."Cruz reiterated that Comey was testifying that he "never authorized to leak. And Mr. McCabe when if he says contrary is not telling the truth, is that correct?""Again, I'm not going to characterize Andy's testimony, but mine is the same today," Comey replied.But prosecutors have claimed that Comey's testimony was false because he authorized Daniel Richman, a longtime friend of his, to serve as an anonymous source in news reports about the FBI investigation involving Clinton.The government confirmed to Comey's lawyers that an unidentified individual referred to as "Person 3" in the indictment is Richman. A Columbia University law professor, Richman is a former federal prosecutor who also served as a "special government employee" at the FBI when Comey was director.Richman has not been charged with any wrongdoing. His name also did not come up in the exchange that appears to have led to the charges against Comey.In their bid to have the indictment dismissed, Comey's lawyers said that any false-statements charge that rests on an interpretation of a "fundamentally ambiguous question" must be dismissed."Fundamental to any false statement charge are both clear questions and false answers," they wrote. "Neither exists here."Comey's lawyers argued that a "reasonable person" would've interpreted Cruz to be asking only about whether the former FBI chief had authorized McCabe to be an anonymous source, rather than broadly inquiring about Comey's interactions with anyone at the FBI."The indictment contains no allegations that Mr. Comey's answers were false: it never alleges that Mr. Comey made a false statement regarding Mr. McCabe," they wrote. "On the contrary, the indictment omits Senator Cruz's statements about Mr. McCabe, obscuring the context necessary to understand both the questions themselves and Mr. Comey's responses."Comey's legal team reiterated that he maintains that his 2017 testimony was truthful, but was also argued that his "statement that he stood by his prior testimony was truthful regardless of whether that prior testimony was itself truthful."

Melissa Quinn
Blue Jays Have Proven Fans, Baseball Media, Former Players Wrong In World Series
Technology

Blue Jays Have Proven Fans, Baseball Media, Former Players Wrong In World Series

The Toronto Blue Jays are just one win away from a championship after another dominant performance in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Behind rookie Trey Yesavage, and some more early luck, Toronto jumped out to a lead they'd never relinquish. And with the Los Angeles Dodgers' shaky bullpen unable to keep the game close, it spiraled to a 6-1 win as the series heads back to Rogers Centre. Yesavage was dominant, seven innings with just one run allowed, 12 strikeouts and no walks. It was a remarkable performance, given the stage, the opponent, and the importance of the game. Davis Schneider hit a leadoff home run that had an expected batting average of .230, meaning balls hit with that velocity and that launch angle are outs 77% of this time. In Game 5? It was a home run and early lead for Toronto. Is that luck? Or did Schneider, decades before he was born, influence the architects of Dodger Stadium in the early-1960's to put the fences exactly at the right spot so that he would one day hit a fly ball the exact perfect distance to defy the odds and help his team in the World Series? We'll never know the answer. Shohei Ohtani hit the second-hardest ball of the postseason, over 117mph, that had an expected batting average of .870. It was caught for an out. It also was a microcosm of why fans, the media and former players are often completely wrong about baseball. For example, here's a few quotes summarizing the attitude of baseball media towards the Dodgers offseason acquisitions after winning the 2024 World Series. "…terrible for baseball." — Jon Heyman, New York Post. "The payroll discrepancy is not a good thing for baseball." — Rowan Kavner. "Most worrisome is the rhetoric that fans are done with the game… That the financial imbalance ruins the sport." — Jeff Passan, ESPN. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo calls the Dodgers’ spending "a disgrace" and debates whether it’s "ruining a level playing field." — ESPN First Take. "In 2025, the baseball world mutters about them… allegedly ruining the game." — Bill Shaikin (L.A. Times) Mark Teixiera, who signed an 8-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees in 2009, said about their spending, "…This is getting ridiculous…I think this is starting to create fissures in the fan base, and the health of the game needs to be really dissected to see if there’s a way that we can make things a little bit more equitable, a little bit more fair." Trevor May said that the Dodgers' signings meant there was "…a really good chance there is a work stoppage again." The Dodgers are now down 3-2 in the Series after being outscored 12-3 by an extremely mediocre Blue Jays lineup in Games 4 and 5 at home. Welcome to baseball. Blue Jays Show Why It's Impossible To Ruin Baseball The World Series has demonstrated, for fans willing to engage in intellectual honesty, why it's not possible to "ruin baseball" or build a superteam. Here are some examples, based on data, showing how teams like Toronto can ride luck and beneficial timing to dominant series wins. Trey Yesavage is rightfully receiving praise for his start. But Yesavage, up through this start, was a mediocre pitcher, only in the rotation because the Blue Jays had no better options. In AA and AAA, he had a 4.37 ERA, walking 22 hitters in 47.1 innings. Through his first 14 regular season innings, Yesavage allowed 20 baserunners. He had a 4.26 ERA in the playoffs entering Wednesday after giving up nine runs in his last 13.2 innings pitched, with 23 baserunners allowed. But as is often the case, pitchers with good stuff and poor command are high variance, meaning they can periodically dominate after stretches of inconsistency. That's exactly what happened. Impressive in this one game? Yes. Predictive and meaningful? Not even a little. Another simple discrepancy is batting average on balls in play. League average BABIP is roughly .300. Toronto's team BABIP in the World Series is .297. The Dodgers team BABIP is .236. Addison Barger's BABIP in the series is .538, an insane, unsustainable level. The Dodgers have been extremely unlucky. The Blue Jays haven't. The Dodgers are hitting the ball harder than the Blue Jays, with an average exit velocity of 90.1mph to 86.2mph. For context, 86.2mph is poor to catastrophically low. Were that an individual player, it would rank tied for 233rd out of 251 qualified hitters in the 2025 regular season. Toronto's barrel rate is also much lower, at 6.2% to 11.0%. The Dodgers' 11% collective barrel rate would rank in the top 10 among individual players this year, well ahead of stars like Nick Kurtz, Manny Machado, Corbin Carroll, Bobby Witt Jr., and Rafael Devers. Toronto's 6.2% barrel rate is the same that Detroit's Colt Keith had this season. LA's hard hit percentage is higher than Toronto's, 39.7% to 35.2%. Consequently, the Dodgers' expected slugging percentage is .446, while Toronto's is just .406. The difference in the series? The Blue Jays have either been lucky and exceeded their expected stats, or been close to their underlying performance. Toronto's slugging percentage is .389, compared to .406 expected. The Dodgers? Their actual slugging is .354 compared to .446. It's much the same with weighted on base average. wOBA, for short, is similar to OPS, but more heavily weights for important events like home runs. As an overall measure of offensive performance based on run values, it's better for separating out quality players and teams. In the World Series? Toronto's expected wOBA, based on quality of contact, is .327. For the Dodgers, it's .323. Basically even. Once again though, Toronto's been closer to achieving their "deserved" results. The actual wOBA for the Blue Jays offense is .317 to .279 for LA. Four of the top six hitters in the series by expected wOBA have been Dodgers: The Blue Jays have scored 29 runs to the Dodgers' 18 because they are either matching or exceeding their expected stats, while Dodgers' hitters have generally been extremely unlucky. The two "luckiest" hitters in the series, by gap between actual and expected wOBA have been Toronto's Davis Schneider and Addison Barger. The fifth and sixth-luckiest hitters in the series are Toronto's Ernie Clement and Ty France. Six of the eight unluckiest hitters in the series have been Dodgers: Miguel Rojas, Andy Pages, Freeman, Smith, Alex Call and Teoscar Hernandez. Playoff Narratives Are Simply Wrong So what's the broader takeaway from all of this data? Most people paid to give their opinions about baseball professionally have no idea what they're talking about. Including, and often especially, former players. Nothing matters in October. There is no predictive value to anything, no number that shows that X team will beat X team in a short series. Playoff experience doesn't matter. Youth doesn't matter. Age doesn't matter. Managers don't really matter. Home field advantage is virtually nonexistent in the postseason. The one thing that does matter? Hitting more home runs than your opponent in an individual game. Teams that do that are now 29-5 in the 2025 playoffs. It's been that way for years. What do baseball media and most former players heavily criticize? Trying to hit home runs in the playoffs. Makes sense. The Dodgers in the offseason could trade for Tarik Skubal, sign Kyle Tucker, trade for Aaron Judge, and still get swept in the World Series. The gaps between teams are minuscule in Major League Baseball. The Blue Jays' run differential was +77, worse than the 81-81 Texas Rangers. Their expected win-loss record is 88-74, the Dodgers' expected win-loss record is 95-67. Even that gap in expected winning percentage is just 4%, over the course of 162 games. That's effectively meaningless in a small sample size, like a postseason series. And that's why it's not possible to ruin baseball. There are no narratives to learn from this series. No secret formula the Blue Jays have unlocked. Nathan Lukes is a career minor leaguer having the best few weeks of his life. Ernie Clement was DFA'd by the Guardians not long ago. Daulton Varsho has been a slightly below league average hitter in his career, and is hitting like a superstar in the postseason. Over 707 regular season plate appearances, Addison Barger has been well below average as a hitter. In the postseason, he's been 73% better than league average, or roughly Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. Alejandro Kirk has a .524 slugging percentage in the postseason, while his career number is .398. Andres Gimenez is hitting .221 in the postseason overall, yet is 7-14 with runners in scoring position. If these players could simply choose to be better in the playoffs, why do they not also choose to play better in the regular season, when this level of offensive production would lead to $200-300 million contract offers in free agency or lucrative extensions? They simply don't care enough about their own financial success to try harder in the regular season or the minor leagues? Bizarre priorities! The Dodgers entered the World Series 9-1 in the playoffs. They've lost three out of five. Is it remotely surprising that an unsustainably hot team has regressed afterward? Of course not. That happens all the time in the regular season. Nobody notices or cares. The Blue Jays are now 10-6 in October, the Dodgers are 11-4. None of this means anything, but that's a boring explanation people can't accept. So they simply make stuff up to rationalize what randomness can explain. LA could recover and win the World Series, and then all the now-silent critics will return to saying they've ruined the sport. Or if the Blue Jays finish out the series in Toronto, they'll return to saying the Dodgers are chokers and act like they never stomped their feet and clutched their pearls for a salary cap. It's a joke.

Unknown
Amazon shares surge as AI boom drives cloud growth
Technology

Amazon shares surge as AI boom drives cloud growth

Amazon's share price skyrocketed by more than ten percent on Thursday after the online retail behemoth reported better than expected earnings, powered by surging demand for its cloud computing services. Quarterly sales rose 13 percent to $180.2 billion across the company, it said. Net income climbed to $21.2 billion from $15.3 billion a year earlier. Stoking investor sentiment, the company forecast fourth-quarter sales of $206-$213 billion, representing growth of 10-13 percent. The e-commerce giant's Amazon Web Services division, which recently suffered a global outage, saw revenues jump 20 percent to $33 billion in the third quarter, marking its fastest growth rate since 2022 as companies race to build AI capabilities. Amazon's major rivals in the cloud computing space on Wednesday also reported sales increases in their cloud computing business, with all companies pointing to adoption of AI services as the main driver. The tech giants are all making huge investments to build up their AI computing capabilities, money that the companies insist will be justified by increasing adoption of AI tools and applications by customers across the globe. While the company did not break out its specific investment in AI capabilities, Amazon said it increased year-on-year purchases of property and equipment by $50.9 billion, which is a massive jump in spending. Amazon also said it added 3.8 gigawatts of power capacity over the past year to support AI infrastructure -- more than any other cloud provider -- and launched a massive computing cluster with nearly 500,000 custom AI chips. AI computing demands enormous amounts of electricity, far more than traditional computing, and can put a strain on local resources, notably water supplies needed for cooling data center activity. Operating income, however, remained flat at $17.4 billion after Amazon took two major charges: $2.5 billion for a legal settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and $1.8 billion in severance costs tied to planned job cuts. Amazon said Tuesday it was reducing its workforce by 14,000 posts to streamline operations as it invests in artificial intelligence. The cuts are expected to target areas such as human resources, advertising, and management in a group that has 350,000 office positions, out of a total of more than 1.5 million employees. The settlement with the FTC was over long-running allegations from the US regulator that it used deceptive practices to enroll consumers in Amazon Prime and made it difficult to cancel subscriptions. The online retail giant, which admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, paid $1.5 billion into a consumer fund for refunds and $1 billion in civil penalties. Shortly after the results landed, Amazon's share price was up by 11 percent in after-hours trading. Source: AFP

Samuel Obour
Wisconsin voters against higher public school spending: Poll
Technology

Wisconsin voters against higher public school spending: Poll

That compares to 52% in June, 57% in February, and 55% in January, saying they would vote for a school referendum if it were proposed by a local school board. The poll asked 846 registered voters the questions between Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. “This is one to keep an eye on to see if this trend continues or it’s just a fluke of this sample,” Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin said. The poll also showed that 56% said they believe reducing property taxes is more important than increasing spending on public schools. That compared to 57% in June, 58% in February, and 55% in January, who said the same. Historical Marquette polling showed that 50% first said they would prioritize reducing property taxes in June 2023, after years of polling showing that spending more on public schools was more important to voters. That total has trended up since the 2023 polling. “People have gotten more concerned about school spending and property taxes in particular,” Franklin said. The polling comes after Milwaukee voters said they would prefer consolidating schools over another property tax referendum increase when Embold Research asked 535 likely Milwaukee voters in 2026 the questions between Oct. 6-10 on behalf of City Forward Collective and CFC Action Fund. Legislators are currently discussing a bill that would require districts to file the required paperwork before being eligible for a referendum. That bill passed the Assembly Committee on Education on Thursday. There is also a set of bills in the works on school consolidation. JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP FROM WITHHOLDING EDUCATION GRANTS OVER GENDER IDENTITY Public school enrollment in Wisconsin is expected to decline by 10,000 students annually for the five years that began in 2023-24, and the trend is expected to continue. The bill would provide a consolidation model process, funding for consolidation or shared service feasibility studies, and assistance for schools as they try to match up differing levies and determine school board positions when consolidation occurs.

Center Square
Trump’s New Rule On Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Who Loses Eligibility And What Borrowers Need To Know
Technology

Trump’s New Rule On Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Who Loses Eligibility And What Borrowers Need To Know

The US Department of Education has announced a new rule that will change who qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The rule will take effect on July 1, 2026, and aims to restrict eligibility for borrowers working in certain organizations. The PSLF program, created in 2007, forgives student loans for government and non-profit workers after 10 years of payments. Under the new Trump administration policy, groups that “engage in unlawful activities,” including “supporting terrorism or aiding illegal immigration,” will no longer qualify as eligible employers, as per CNBC report. Concerns Over Targeting Non-Profits The rule has sparked backlash from advocacy groups who say it unfairly targets organizations that help immigrants and transgender people. Mike Pierce, co-founder of Protect Borrowers, accused the Trump administration of using the program to punish nonprofits it disagrees with. “Donald Trump is weaponizing debt to police speech that does not toe the MAGA party line,” he said on X. Impact on Borrowers More than 40 million Americans have student loans totaling over $1.6 trillion, and about 9 million borrowers may qualify for PSLF. Under former President Biden, more than 1 million borrowers had their student debt forgiven after the administration made it easier to qualify. Those currently working for non-profits that may lose eligibility will still receive credit for their service until the rule takes effect. Experts predict the new regulations will face legal challenges once implemented. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.

Dimple Singh
FOX Super 6 Contest: Geoff Schwartz's College Football Week 10 Picks, Predictions
Technology

FOX Super 6 Contest: Geoff Schwartz's College Football Week 10 Picks, Predictions

What's better than watching football? Watching football and winning money! You can partake in the best of both worlds while watching college football Week 10 with our free-to-play FOX Super 6 game. How do you play? Enter the college football Super 6 contest by predicting the correct answers to six questions before the games start for your chance at weekly cash prizes. All you have to do is finish in the top six to win a prize. It really is that simple, and again, it's free. And if you need a little help before heading to the app to make your picks, I have you covered this week. Read below for my thoughts on college football Week 10. 1. Which of these teams will allow THE FEWEST POINTS this week? No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 21 Michigan Wolverines, No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Penn State is just in bad shape. The Nittany Lions lost their coach and their quarterback, and now they're facing a Buckeyes team that's clearly one of the best squads in the country. Good luck, Penn State, getting on the board. Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes 2. Which BIG TEN QB will have the MOST PASSING YARDS? Jayden Maiava, Athan Kaliakmanis, Julian Sayin, Fernando Mendoza I've been high on Jayden Maiava, but I noted in my weekly column that SC underperforms on the road. I like Sayin, but the Buckeyes could be up by a lot early, so he might not see a lot of action in the second half. The best option, I believe, is backing the Hoosier. Prediction: Fernando Mendoza 3. Rank the teams by who will SCORE THE MOST POINTS (highest to lowest): No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores, No. 20 Texas Longhorns, No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners, No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers The Commodores have been through the gauntlet of ranked teams recently, but they're facing a Texas team that might be without Arch Manning so they could have an edge. When I look at the OU-Tennessee game, I have to consider the fact the Sooners haven't looked quite as sharp since quarterback John Mateer returned from his injury. Prediction: Vanderbilt Commodores, Tennessee Volunteers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns 4. Which player will have the MOST RECEIVING YARDS? Makai Lemon, Chris Brazzell II, Jeremiah Smith, Malachi Toney I like Tennessee's Chris Brazzell in this spot. He's had monster games against Georgia, Mississippi State and Kentucky. And I trust that his QB, Joey Aguilar, will target him and help him have a big game against Oklahoma. Prediction: Chris Brazzell II 5. How many RUSHING YARDS will Bo Jackson (Ohio State) have this week? 0-59, 59-72, 72-85, 85-100+ Bo had some big games early in the season, but those stats have fallen off recently. He rushed for 47 yards against Illinois and only 26 against Wisconsin. Prediction: 0-59 yards 6. What will be the outcome of the "Big Noon Kickoff" BIG TEN battle on FOX? Penn State Nittany Lions win or lose by 20 points or fewer OR Ohio State Buckeyes win by 21 points or more Again, Penn State is just treading water at this point. Because this game is traditionally competitive, I could see the Nittany Lions maybe scoring in garbage time and keeping it closer than the 21 points. Prediction: Penn State Nittany Lions win or lose by 20 points or fewer Tiebreaker: What will be the final score? Prediction: Ohio State 42, Penn State 24 Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!

Geoff Schwartz
ChatGPT Down? Thousands of Users Report Outage, Open AI Responds
Technology

ChatGPT Down? Thousands of Users Report Outage, Open AI Responds

Just days after a major Microsoft Azure outage, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is facing technical issues affecting thousands of users. According to monitoring site Down Detector, reports of problems with ChatGPT began rising shortly before 3:00 PM ET, with more than 1,000 issues logged within half an hour. OpenAI confirmed the disruption on its official status page, stating at 3:24 PM ET: "We have identified the issue and are working to mitigate it." Reports of outages peaked at over 2,600, before showing signs of decline. By 3:40 PM ET, Down Detector recorded just over 1,100 reports as OpenAI worked towards restoring service. Get Latest News live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.

Rounak Bagchi
Is Broncos QB Bo Nix Trying Too Hard to Be Sean Payton's Next Drew Brees?
Technology

Is Broncos QB Bo Nix Trying Too Hard to Be Sean Payton's Next Drew Brees?

Bo Nix has admitted that it hasn’t been easy to get quality sleep this month. In October, the Denver Broncos traveled from Philadelphia to London and back to Denver. Different time zones, different hotels, different beds. No consistency. But maybe something else is haunting the second-year quarterback. It is spooky season after all. I wonder if he’s worrying about the ghost of Drew Brees. Nix is running coach Sean Payton’s offense, and no one has ever run it better than Brees. But Nix can’t be Brees. Nor should he waste his time trying. And perhaps that’s what has bogged down this Denver offense to start the season. Nix hasn’t always played to his own strengths, and it’s almost as if he is doing a Brees impression that’s coming up short. Now, to be clear, it’s far, far, far from catastrophic. In fact, on the surface, everything looks good for the Broncos. They won four straight games in October. They’re 6-2. But they’ve had to overcome Nix's erratic play from game to game and even quarter to quarter. There was a three-game run from Week 5 to Week 7 when he couldn’t get things going until the fourth quarter, which was why they won those games by one-score margins. "I just told the guys to start doing some of that fourth-quarter stuff a little earlier," Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said last week. "When you look at it, we started slow [against the Giants], and [there are] a lot of reasons for that. We … felt like they were playing faster than us a little bit." That was the game in which the Broncos scored 33 points in the final quarter, the most in NFL history by a team that was shut out for the first three quarters, to win 33-32. Last week, Nix looked great in Denver's win over the Cowboys — particularly after the opening drive when the quarterback threw an interception where he either seemed to be attempting a no-look throw or simply had his eyes in the wrong place. He finished the game with 247 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and the one interception. "His feet got away from him a little bit. He bounced right back. He was magnificent. He was outstanding," Payton said of Nix. Before the season, Nix met with Brees to seek advice. Brees was a great quarterback, and he should have no shortage of wisdom to impart to Nix. Brees was a great pocket passer. Nix might someday be a great pocket passer. It’s only natural that Nix puts Brees on the horizon as a developmental north star, especially because Brees and Payton did special things and had a rare chemistry. "It got to the point where I knew what he was going to call before he called it," Brees said in a recent interview with Rich Eisen. The Giants game — from Week 7 — was when Nix and the Broncos had a breakthrough. He and Payton made major use of the key difference between Nix and Brees: mobility. Nix is a dangerous runner, and it makes the offense better. "It’s really just math," Payton said Monday when asked about running the ball with Nix. "When he’s the quarterback, you’re playing 10 versus 11 in the run game, and when he becomes a running back, you get that number back." Against the Giants, Nix scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter — two passing and two rushing. No one had ever done that in the history of the NFL. He didn’t run against the Cowboys, because he didn’t need to. Dallas has one of the worst defenses in the league, particularly when defending the pass. The Cowboys allow the second-most passing yards per game (258.6) in the league. But Nix’s mobility will be his bailout solution for blitzes and man-coverage. There will be opportunities for him to generate splash plays with his legs. And that’s something Brees could never really do. But that was back when he was one of the best in-structure passers in NFL history, along with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. We’re now in the era of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. It's the time of the dual-threat QB. Nix might not be an on-the-run thrower, but he can change a game by taking off downfield. Against the Texans on Sunday (1 p.m. ET on FOX), Nix will need his legs to beat Houston's defense, which is allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (178.4). Houston’s offense is hot, too. In Week 8, quarterback C.J. Stroud had one of his best games since his rookie season, a dominant outing against the San Francisco 49ers. So Nix and the Broncos will have to keep pace. That'll only happen if Nix plays like himself. Trusts his skill set. And operates the offense in his own authentic way. Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

Henry McKenna
Netflix announces ten-for-one stock split, shares rise
Technology

Netflix announces ten-for-one stock split, shares rise

Netflix on Thursday announced a ten-for-one stock split, making the streaming company's shares more affordable for retail investors. The company said it would issue nine additional shares for each share held after close of trading on Nov 10, adding that the split will make its stock more accessible to employees participating in its stock option program. Trading is expected to begin on a split-adjusted basis at the market open on November 17. The streaming giant, which has benefited from a strong line-up of shows, including the recent success of the animated "KPop Demon Hunters", currently has a market capitalization of $461.44 billion, as of Thursday's close. Its shares have risen more than 360 per cent over the past three years, far outpacing media rivals Walt Disney and Comcast . The stock was up about 3 per cent at $1,123.49 in extended trading. This marks Netflix's third stock split since it went public in 2002, with the last one in 2019 that reduced the company's per-share price to about $100 from $700. "A split will make it easier for small investors to buy in but it doesn't change anything about the company or its attractiveness to institutional investors who drive the market," said Ross Benes, senior analyst at EMarketer. Netflix's forward price-to-earnings multiple (P/E), a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 45.96, compared with Walt Disney's 17.54 and Comcast's 6.89.

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OpenAI, Oracle plan 1 gigawatt Stargate data center in Michigan with Related Digital
Technology

OpenAI, Oracle plan 1 gigawatt Stargate data center in Michigan with Related Digital

OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital will build a data-center campus of more than 1 gigawatt in Saline Township, Michigan, as part of their Stargate push to expand U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure capacity. The announcement made on Thursday underscores the AI industry's surging appetite for computing power, driven by the pursuit of technology capable of matching or surpassing human intelligence. The companies said it was a multi-billion dollar investment, without disclosing the exact figure. Industry executives have said 1 GW of computing power, enough to power roughly 750,000 U.S. homes, can cost around $50 billion. The construction is slated to begin in early 2026. The project is part of Oracle and OpenAI's 4.5-GW Stargate expansion and, together with six other U.S. sites, raises the infrastructure group's planned capacity to more than 8 GW and total investment to over $450 billion in the next three years. OpenAI said the move kept Stargate ahead of schedule to meet its $500 billion, 10-GW commitment. The startup has shared few details on how it plans to fund the spending. Earlier this week, it completed a restructuring that frees the ChatGPT maker to move away from its nonprofit roots. Reuters has reported it was laying the groundwork for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion. But surging valuations of AI companies and their massive AI spending commitments, which total more than $1 trillion for OpenAI, have raised fears that the AI boom is inflating into a bubble. OpenAI said on Thursday Related Digital would develop the Michigan project, which is expected to create more than 2,500 union construction jobs. "This project will help ensure Michigan is a key part of building the AI infrastructure that will power the next generation of American innovation," said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI's vice president of industrial compute.

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True Romance: Fiancée Admits She Had Threesomes With Friends, Girlfriend Caught In The Act & Signs Of Cheating
Technology

True Romance: Fiancée Admits She Had Threesomes With Friends, Girlfriend Caught In The Act & Signs Of Cheating

My friends, it's the day before Halloween or Halloween Eve to some folks, and there's love in the air. I'm back in the home office this week trying to get a handle on all of it. I'm a little distracted by some news I missed while I was off over the weekend. We all know that Aunt Becky is back on the market, but the piece of news that came out was the extent Lori Loughlin went to trying to save her marriage. She was reportedly hitting up Mossimo Giannulli’s favorite strip club to quiz strippers about her estranged husband's activities. That's love. She wanted the marriage to work. SIGN UP for The Daily OutKick. New Look, Same Attitude. Sometimes it's not meant to be. What is meant to be is getting back out there and finding someone who it will work with. That takes us to the latest involving former Tiger Woods mistress Rachel Uchitel. The now 50-year-old has found the one. She's planning to walk down the aisle for the third time with a Palm Beach businessman. They met on a dating app, became friends first, and over the weekend Uchitel was in Nashville for her bachelorette party. This is a woman who refuses to give up on love. That's what True Romance is all about. Let's dive into things this week with tales of those who haven’t quite made it over the hump like Rachel Uchitel has and are still going through the trials of relationship drama. We kick the week off with a fiancée who admitted that she used to have threesomes with the couple's friends. Shocking news to him. As you would expect, he's having trouble processing this new piece of information. First things first, go follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Fiancée admits she used to have threesomes with their friends What's a threesome among friends if not a good way to get to know one another? Probably some knowledge that this woman's fiancé would have liked to have known prior to popping the question. In other words, not that big of a deal in her mind. He learned of the handful of threesomes that his fiancée of four months had with Lucy and Rob, a couple that she has known since college, and that they currently frequently hang out with. They've gone on couples dates and even vacations together. It was on one of these vacations that he learned all about his fiancée's past. "We had rented an Air B&B villa and after a few drinks in the evening, Rob and Lucy were getting a bit handsy and said they were going to bed. Me and my fiancé stayed by the pool and just lightly joked about how we knew they were obviously going upstairs to do," he wrote on Reddit. "After another drink, my fiancée started talking a bit more about Rob and Lucy and how she’d known them both since university. She then told me how they’d once all slept together as a threesome after a party and how that had eventually led to them having a threesome ‘just about four or five times’ before she met me." Not a big deal, right? Well, all attempts on his behalf to shrug it off failed. The news almost made him sick. He can't help but feel like "they've all been in on one big secret." When they got home, he tried to discuss the matter further. He told her that it was something she should have told him early in their relationship. It's something that he says would have caused him to reconsider dating her. His fiancée responded by saying it all happened years ago and that he should get over it. He then suggested they shouldn’t hang out with Rob and Lucy as much, which is destined to cause problems given that Lucy is her best friend. Where do they go from here? Is a handful of friendly encounters before they started dating really worth tossing an entire relationship into the wood chipper? I don't think Aunt Becky would give up that easily, so neither would I. There’s always a way to make it work. This Week in True Romance: Follow True Romance on Twitter and Facebook. Man catches girlfriend in the act when he comes home unexpectedly Now to a situation that's slightly easier to navigate. Not that anyone wants to catch their girlfriend in bed with someone else, but it's much more cut and dry with what to do next. Long story short, he was supposed to stay with his brother for a few days and came home unexpectedly when his brother canceled on him at the last minute. He tried calling his girlfriend of four years, who he lives with, but she didn’t answer. He walked in the front door of his home and was reportedly greeted with "sex noises" coming from his bedroom, reports Metro. When he opened the bedroom door, he expected to find another man in bed with his girlfriend. Instead, "I was stunned to catch her in the middle of a sex act with her friend." A friend who is always around and whom she's known since they were in school together. I know what you're thinking, but no, he didn’t join in despite being invited to do so. "Their reaction was one of guilt and shock, with the friend trying to make a joke of it, asking if I’d like to join in," he said. "I know that’s a fantasy for a lot of guys, but I felt so sick I just slammed the door shut and went to the pub to try and get my brain around what I’d just witnessed." He ignored several calls from his girlfriend and when he eventually went back home, she told him that "it was a drunken one-off." She begged for forgiveness and didn’t want it to cause them to break up. He can’t get over the thought that she isn’t the person he thought she was. Like I said, this one is easy. She needs to end it. She needed to end it the moment he stormed out of the room and went drinking. It pains me to come to that conclusion, but I don’t see anyway forward. Let me know if I'm wrong here, but this seems like an overreaction on his part. What else will he overreact about in the future? What’s a sign someone’s cheating that isn’t obvious until you’ve been through it? Some signs that you're being cheated on aren’t as obvious at the time the infidelity is taking place. But when the dust settles, and you look back, you see much clearer what was going on. Like the time your ex claimed she got herpes from the blood pressure machine at Walmart. Or the suspicious late nights at the office. It all comes into focus and that ends up making for an interesting Reddit thread. Enjoy and keep your eyes peeled: The latest True Romance post - Bob in Alabama writes: Hey Sean, I loved the latest true romance post you put up. I do have a couple of points to make about the hotel workers spotting folks having an affair hookup, especially the ones dealing with folks from the same town as the hotel checking in. There are other reasons for such behavior. My wife and I used to do that when we wanted some time away from kids in the house, especially when they got older. A date night might be dinner and then a couple of hours of "us" time in a quiet setting without yelling, screaming, running, etc. Now that her mother with Alzheimers is living with us full time, we are in the same situation. The woman has ears like a bat and is nosy as all get out. It is nice to escape from the constant monitoring and caregiving of her mother for a few hours. Your reader in Alabama, Bob SeanJo Thanks for reading, Bob, and thanks for sending in the email. You do bring up a valid point. It's not all cheaters renting hotel rooms for some alone time. It could be a happily married couple in search of some peace without others bothering them at home. Thanks again Bob. ------------- That's it for this week. Have a great Halloween weekend. As always feel free to reach out, anonymously if you prefer, with your True Romance stories sean.joseph@outkick.com. Also, do me a favor and go follow along on Twitter and on Facebook.

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