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DEAR DOCTORS: I just turned 36, and I'm feeling the effects of drinking more than I used to. My boyfriend and I both have big families, so during this time of year, we have wall-to-wall holiday parties. Last year we did dry January, but this year we want to try a dry-ish December. How do you do that but still have some fun? DEAR READER: We're sorry to get to your letter so late in the holiday season, especially because it echoes the concerns that fill our inboxes as the leaves begin to fall. People are looking for a way to thread the needle between the rigour of complete abstinence and the ill effects of overdoing. We recently addressed the issue of holiday overeating, a challenge many of us face. Your question gives us the opportunity to talk about alcohol, which, like rich foods, becomes abundant during this time of year. Surveys show that drinking during the holiday season spikes -- often significantly. Many respondents report that having just one drink at each holiday gathering adds up to double their normal intake. There's only a handful of weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, but the additional alcohol use can take a toll. Adverse health effects include impaired blood sugar control, an increase in blood pressure, added empty calories, changes to mood and mental health, poor sleep and lowered resistance to risky behaviours. Health data show that emergency room visits in which alcohol has played a role dramatically increase during this time of year. So does the risk of being involved in an alcohol-related car accident. Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that car crashes due to impaired driving are 40% higher during the holidays. The bottom line is that your decision to limit drinking during that time is a wise one. You said you and your boyfriend were considering a "dry-ish" December. A good way to begin is by clearly defining the "ish" part of that goal. Look at your calendars, and decide ahead of time at which events you will indulge in alcohol and which you won't. When you do drink, set a limit and stick to it. That means not only counting the number of drinks, but also being aware of their size. If you've allowed for a refill, space it out with one or more nonalcoholic beverages. Food slows alcohol absorption. That makes it important to always eat something before you drink and also as you drink. Fibre and protein help stabilise blood sugar, so start with meat and veggies before you hit the desserts. When declining a drink, social pressure can be an issue. Coming prepared with a humorous or gracious refusal can deflect the attentions of a persistent host. Having your nonalcoholic beverage served in a wine glass or a Champagne flute will also help you fly under the radar. Another useful guideline is to set a specific time at which you will stop drinking. This is particularly important if you don't have a designated driver. With a bit of planning -- and let's face it, a bit of willpower -- you can meet your dry-ish December goals while still enjoying the pleasures of the festive season. And if not this one, perhaps next year. Universal Features Syndicate Dr Eve Glazier is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Dr Elizabeth Ko is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton point guard Steven Ashworth likely won't play Tuesday in the No. 21 Bluejays' game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday, and coach Greg McDermott said he didn't know how long he would be out. “He stepped on a guy's foot on a 3-point shot and you're defenseless in that situation," McDermott said after the game. "He torqued it pretty good.” An athletic department spokesman said Monday that Ashworth's status was doubtful for the game against the Aztecs. Story continues below video Ashworth is Creighton's second-leading scorer with 16 points per game and leads the team with 6.4 assists per game. He also is 23 of 23 on free throws. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballEXCLUSIVE I look like a normal mum but I'm a psychopath. No, I'm not a killer, but I've ruined countless lives. Here's how I do it - and how to spot people like me By LISA NEVILLE Published: 08:17 EST, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 08:17 EST, 8 December 2024 e-mail View comments It's the sort of threat you see all the time from idiots on Facebook , but in my case, it's true: If you get on my bad side, I will become your worst nightmare. If you were to see me on the street you'd see a regular - even friendly - mother of five in her mid-forties. I'm also a subclinical psychopath. What does 'subclinical' mean, you ask? Rather than being 'crazy' or 'violent', like the stereotypical psycho of Hollywood movies, I instead carefully plan how I can make your life miserable through manipulation, and then I do it. I won't kill you (not because I think murder is wrong, by the way - only because I can't be bothered to clean up the mess or deal with police), but I will devote every waking moment to breaking you down psychologically and turn your life into a living hell. You see, I'm always assessing people. It's a trait I can't turn off. I scan behaviour, remember what others say and calculate the potential benefits of social interactions. As soon as I decide you're not worth being around, or if you do something I find irritating - and it doesn't take much - what I call my 'other side' emerges. I become devious. The friendly mum disappears. I'll 'go blank', as I like to call it, and not feel anything at all. You're no longer human to me. Even if I've known you for years, if I feel you've wronged me, I'd happily watch you drown. I'd walk on by if I saw you bleeding in the street. It's a numbness I can't really explain. In my mind, my actions are just part of the natural order of things. Some people should be punished and others left alone. It doesn't feel like cruelty - I don't feel anything at all. It's just someone getting what they deserve, and I simply watch it play out, logically . It's the sort of threat you see all the time from idiots on Facebook, but in my case, it's true: If you get on my bad side, I will become your worst nightmare, writes psychopath Lisa Neville If you were to see me on the street you'd see a regular - even friendly - mother of five in her mid-forties. I'm also a subclinical psychopath I must admit, I will enjoy seeing you in pain. When I 'go blank', I flick a switch and I'm incapable of empathy. I enjoy the suffering. I don't have a way to stop it. When the numbness takes over, one of two things will happen. The first is that I'll become extremely transactional and manipulative, because you're now nothing more to me than something I can use, like a kitchen appliance. The second is that I no longer see you as anything useful at all. You're an inanimate object. At that point, it's a state beyond indifference. There's simply nothing - no reactions or emotions. It's as if you are not there. Usually right before this happens I go into what I describe as a 'rage' state. I'll make your life hell for days then discard you completely . Don't get me wrong, I am capable of human emotion. For example, I love my children. I cook for them and read to them. I'm a nice person, I'm loving and caring, it's only if someone does something unimaginable that you'll see my bad side. I must admit, I will enjoy seeing you in pain. When I 'go blank', I flick a switch and I'm incapable of empathy. I enjoy the suffering. I don't have a way to stop it Chatty people set me off. When I see someone who won't shut up or has to be the centre of attention, they become a target. It'll start innocuously enough. I'll shut down the conversation with a single, insensitive remark or knock over someone's wine glass. Then it begins... Read More The psychopath's wife: A confession on our wedding night confirmed my worst fears about my husband There are no specific triggers that will make me 'go blank' towards someone. Basically, if something pisses me off or feels like a direct challenge, I'm likely to have a psychopathic response. When I feel threatened, my typical reaction isn't exactly what most people would consider normal. It's calculated and intense. Even minor things can make me turn. For example, chatty people can set me off. When I see someone who won't shut up or has to be the centre of attention, they become a target. It'll start innocuously enough. I'll shut down the conversation with a single, insensitive remark or knock over someone's wine glass . Then it begins... I had a happy childhood for the most part but there was some emotional abuse and bullying from peers. As the oldest of three children, I had responsibilities to take care of them and, as a result, had no one to talk to about my feelings, not even my parents. Over time, I learned to bottle up my feelings rather than express them. I guess that's part of the reason why I am how I am today, but who knows? Maybe I was born this way. One thing I learned early on was a chameleon in social settings. I could change just like that. When I feel threatened, my typical reaction isn't exactly what most people would consider normal. It's calculated and intense. Even minor things can make me turn It wasn't until 2018 when my therapist started asking me questions about a break-up that she came to the conclusion I was a subclinical psychopath. My ex had been involved in a serious car crash. Yet when she showed me an image of the mangled car, I didn't react. 'You don't feel shocked or sad seeing this? This doesn't bother you?' she asked me. I shook my head while my face remained blank. She then asked me a series of questions from the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) test that indicates levels of psychopathic traits. Unsurprisingly, my scores were rather high. In short, I lack empathy for other people and don't feel guilty when I do bad things. I have an unstoppable urge to ruin lives. I don't want to become violent - who wants to deal with that mess? - but I'll do something equally destructive. Here's an example. A friend of mine tried to steal my man but she didn't know I found out. Rather than confronting her about it, I manipulated her to look like a fool in public. It was a simple catfish ploy. I lied about where he would be and she went to meet with him. He didn't show so, naturally, she thought he had stood her up. I watched from afar and took photos to send to her anonymously. Did it mess with her head? Probably a lot. She was lucky. Humiliating and frightening her like that was enough to satisfy me and I didn't subject her to any more suffering . I said to myself, 'Okay, I win.' The war was over and she was dead to me. In other cases, I play psychological games with people. If I know someone hates spiders, I'll just tell them, 'I saw a spider in your car,' or, 'Did you see that spider's nest inside your home?' It's not much but it freaks them out. Enough to ruin their day, at least. And I've become a proficient liar that it's easy for me to do. Now you're probably wondering: what happens when a psychopath meets another psychopath? Have I ever met my match? Not quite, but I did recently end a relationship with a man who I discovered was trying to manipulate me . But it wasn't because he was a psychopath; he was just an old-fashioned narcissist. A subclinical psychopath dating and a narcissist. What could possibly go wrong? After that break-up, I decided not to date again because of who I am. I can't help how I behave. I was born this way; I can't do anything to stop it. I've been on so many dates and all I can think is, 'Please don't give me a reason to hate you.' When I'm wronged in a relationship - and it doesn't take much - I have a script: I pretend to forgive them, then I dismantle everything in their life. Typically I have it all planned out weeks in advance. I also take advantage of the other person's guilt - an emotion I am incapable of feeling. I'll manipulate them into doing whatever I want: cooking, cleaning, running errands . Signs of an 'ordinary psychopath' By Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia Not every psychopath is a monster who preys on the innocent. Many seemingly ordinary people have a 'psychopathic personality' that blunts their empathy without leading them down a path of violence. There are six tell-tale signs that the toxic person in your life could share the same psychological 'DNA' as some of history's worst killers, according to serial killer expert Amanda Howard. They repeatedly say your name when speaking to you This is often a sign that someone has a façade. It is the psychopath's way of reminding themselves to be friendly - something which does not come naturally to them. Yes, it could be a sign they are simply 'fake' or trying to butter you up. They may also be a harmless person who has read too many self-help books about social interaction. But it's also a known trait among psychopaths because it's a textbook example of their superficial charm, which is strongly associated with psychopathy. They quickly drop the 'nice guy' act under pressure Nearly every serial killer Amanda has spoken to - minus the repulsive Richard Ramirez - possesses a superficial 'nice guy' persona. Everyone knows a nice guy: they remember your name, they smile, they ask questions, they listen in return. It's easy to see why women fall for them. If they're a genuine nice guy with nothing to hide, these warm gestures are just part of their good nature. But if they are a psychopath in disguise, you'll soon find out it's all front. Everyday psychopaths are known for their superficial charm, but show their true selves when backed into a corner. They rely on social habits like calling you by your name to mimic friendliness. And they can't stand anyone else having the last word (stock image) The moment you push them into a conversation or situation where they don't feel 100 per cent in control, they drop the 'nice guy' act fast. This is when the mask slips and they reveal their true selves - and it's your cue to run. They seem normal... but never get it quite right When the law finally catches up to a psychopath, those around them will often say they weren't perfect, but they were normal enough to fit in. So often we imagine psychopaths as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde-type characters. But Amanda emphasises there is no abrupt 'personality switch'. They instead find ways to adapt when in company to avoid detection - but even the most accomplished actors can't deliver a perfect performance. If your gut tells you someone is trying too hard to appear normal, there's a good chance you're right. They love the attention 'Non-killing psychopaths' want to be the most exciting person in the room. When they lay on the charm, it isn't subtle, by any means. They command attention because it gives them a sense of control, which they crave. They are so convincing with their charm, many won't even know it's a façade. They always demand the last word One observation Amanda has made during her years of correspondence with serial killers is they usually want the last word in an argument, especially if they feel shamed or slighted. This often serves as the perfect opportunity to unleash their vitriol - in the hope you will be too blindsided to offer a response. They adopt a fake persona We all have a public face - the one we use at work, for example - which is different to our 'normal' self - who we are with family and friends. For most people, the public persona isn't fake; it's just a socially acceptable front. But for psychopaths, the public persona is a total sham. It's purpose is to deceive others and disguise the wearer's true personality. One way to bring the psychopath out from behind this 'mask of sanity' is to not give them the attention they crave. Starve them of attention and you will soon see their cruel and vindictive side. Advertisement Clinical vs subclinical psychopaths Most people don't understand there are two types of psychopaths: clinical and subclinical. Clinical psychopaths are more intense, impulsive and violent. They could literally stab you and not care. Subclinical psychopaths, on the other hand, plan their next move for a very, very long time. In my opinion, people like me are slightly worse, even if we are less disposed to violence. I watch people like a hawk and they have no idea. I know in the past I've driven people to distraction with something as simple as blocking them then unblocking them on social media. It's a ll a mind game. You might be thinking: why can't I just be a nice person? It's not about being 'nice' - it's that there are two people living inside of me. The 'good me' - the one my children see - and the one who will turn your life into a nightmare. The transition between the two is almost imperceptible. Sometimes I don't even know when it has happened until I've started turning the screws on someone . I try to avoid certain situations and people I know are likely to trigger me. People who annoy me, those who don't fit my standards. I see them a mile off and keep my distance. It's for their own good . When you know you are capable of toying with someone like a cat taunting an injured mouse, the least you can do is try to minimise the number of lives you destroy. As for the 'good' side... I'm a caring mum, I make music, and I run a non-for-profit specialising in art therapy. I want to help people who have personality disorders to redirect their emotions in more positive ways. It's the other me you don't want to mess with. So don't make me hate you. Imagine for a moment you're a marketing consultant. I would get a certificate this week that surpasses your skills, apply for a job at your workplace, become your boss, fire you, then quit. And that might just be the beginning. Is that a true story, or just a lie to freak you out? I'll leave that up to you decide. As told to Carina Stathis Share or comment on this article: I look like a normal mum but I'm a psychopath. No, I'm not a killer, but I've ruined countless lives. Here's how I do it - and how to spot people like me e-mail Add comment

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Matt Gaetz withdraws as attorney general nomineeBy Louis Collins Housing has been one of the trickiest portfolios for successive governments. Its quality, supply, warmth, and affordability have all been problems. Theories about how to fix 'the housing crisis' are common. Suburban New Zealand is thick with ex-state houses. They show that housing has been in crisis before, and has been managed. Nearly a century since the first state houses, they remain a crucial service. Kāinga Ora's 72,000-plus properties make it the largest residential landlord in the country. Debt loads, hefty waiting lists and a mismatch between available housing and what is needed are identified as issues. During the annual review of Kāinga Ora this week , Housing Minister Chris Bishop told the Social Services Committee 60 percent of people on the housing register required one-bedroom homes, but only about 10 percent of the ministry's homes fit the bill. Bishop suggested the problem was also true of New Zealand housing stock generally. "It all comes down to rent and affordability, and we just have an undersupply of houses across the continuum... [The wait-list] people classified as 'in severe and urgent need of housing' ... can't afford the private rental market because we haven't built enough houses over the last 30 years, when we've had the fastest house price growth in the OECD... and we've made it nearly impossible to build housing in this country." Bishop is also the minister for RMA reform - an area he seems passionate about. During the Kāinga Ora hearing, Bishop lamented low land availability and regulation as barriers to housing, saying "the evidence is really clear". "Cities that have functional land markets and infrastructure that is allowed to be built without barrier after barrier in the way, have cheaper and affordable housing." Nodding supportively beside Bishop was his junior minister, Tama Potaka, responsible for emergency housing. In Question Time some questions are known in advance and deflection is easy. There are fewer escapes in an annual review hearing. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty suggested Potaka was avoiding questions. "Whenever we've tried to ask you about this in the House, frankly, it's been dismissed," McAnulty said. "At least give us an acknowledgement that the change in criteria has played a part in the reduction of the emergency housing numbers." Potaka didn't give McAnulty as straight an answer as he wanted. "In terms of the declines, there has been a slight increase in the number of applications that have been declined, but nearly 50 percent of those that have been declined in the month of October were actually triaged and helped in a different way to get into housing, not into emergency housing. So I think there's some 'good news stories', and how we are making sure that the system operates in a manner to help people get into housing that is not emergency housing." There certainly isn't an easy fix to housing - results will take time. The combined housing and emergency portfolios require both addressing short-term needs, while also working to fix systemic housing issues over the longer term. It's a role unlikely to show real success until years after a minister has departed. RNZ's The House , with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clerk. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.None

I look like a normal mum but I'm a psychopath. No, I'm not a killer, but I've ruined countless lives. Here's how I do it - and how to spot people like meSingapore, Singapore–(Newsfile Corp. – December 23, 2024) – FingerMotion, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNGR) (the “ Company ” or “ FingerMotion “), a mobile services and data company, today announced the closing of its previously announced registered direct offering of 3,333,336 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,004 shares of its common stock. Each share was offered and sold together with one and one-half warrants at a combined public offering price of $1.50. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.50 per share, are exercisable immediately, and will remain exercisable for a term of five years from the date of issuance. Roth Capital Partners acted as the exclusive placement agent of the offering. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $4.44 million from the offering, after deducting the offering expenses payable by the Company, including placement agent’s fees and expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate and working capital purposes. The securities described above were offered by the Company pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-274456) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and declared effective by the SEC on September 29, 2023. The offering was made solely by means of a prospectus relating to the offering, including a prospectus supplement, that forms part of the effective registration statement and has been filed with the SEC. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting Roth Capital Partners at 888 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach CA 92660, by phone at (800) 678-9147. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About FingerMotion, Inc. FingerMotion is an evolving technology company with a core competency in mobile payment and recharge platform solutions in China. As the user base of its primary business continues to grow, the Company is developing additional value-added technologies to market to its users. The vision of the Company is to rapidly grow the user base through organic means and have this growth develop into an ecosystem of users with high engagement rates utilizing its innovative applications. Developing a highly engaged ecosystem of users would strategically position the Company to onboard larger customer bases. FingerMotion eventually hopes to serve over 1 billion users in the China market and eventually expand the model to other regional markets. For more information on FingerMotion, visit: https://fingermotion.com/ Forward Looking Statements Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes “forward-looking statements” as such term is used in applicable United States securities laws. These statements relate to analysis and other information that are based on forecasts or future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “estimates” or “intends”, or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as “forward-looking statements”. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations about future events or performance, including the intended use of proceeds from the public offering. While we believe these expectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in our forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: international, national and local general economic and market conditions; demographic changes; the ability of the Company to sustain, manage or forecast its growth; the ability of the Company to manage its VIE contracts; the ability of the Company to maintain its relationships and licenses in China; adverse publicity; competition and changes in the Chinese telecommunications market; fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results; business disruptions, such as technological failures and/or cybersecurity breaches; and the other factors discussed in the Company’s periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy our securities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234985 #distro

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