Featuring advice you need to navigate thehighs and lows of the holiday season. by Wm. Steven Humphrey

With election season in the rearview, it’s time to focus on the next upcoming traumatic event: THE HOLIDAYS. (Seriously, can we just have one 10-minute break from *waves arms frantically* everything??) Let’s face it: As joyful and fun as they can be, the holidays are also exhausting and take a lot of physical and emotional effort. That said, there are ways to get through the holiday season with your sanity intact, but it does take some brain training—and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to help you do with our annual Mercury holiday guide! (Pick yours up in print at more than 500 locations across Portland!)

That’s right, we’ve got lots of solid, no-nonsense advice gathered by the Mercury’s best writers and Portland’s top experts. Here’s just a sneak peek at some of the articles that can provide a lot of mental solace this holiday season:

Holidays for Humans: Let’s just say what everyone’s thinking: Aunt Barbara is a bitch. So when Barb—or any overbearing relative—insults your turkey day gravy, or says something that makes you want to curl up in a ball under the sink, how should you react? The hilarious and wise Courtenay Hameister has some hilarious and wise advice (with help from two qualified therapists) on how to answer that question, and take care of oneself during the holidays.

Zen and the Art of Holiday Pet Sitting: Alone on the holidays? THAT’S OKAY. In fact, despite what every media source, social media platform, and advertisement is trying to sell you, “togetherness” during the holidays—particularly during the Christmas season— is not the answer for everyone. In this sweet, smart piece, our Lindsay Costello documents her family estrangement, and how pet sitting for traveling friends offered her a furry and cute path to enlightenment.

Let’s Start Things! Let’s End Things!: Don’t know about you, but my New Year’s plans include spiraling down a mental rabbit hole of mistakes I made during 2024 and how 2025 isn’t looking much better. Thank goodness then for this particularly sharp article from HR Smith, who shares their ideas for stopping things (unhealthy habits) and starting things (like a creative project that will fill you with energy and hope)—and it’s jam-packed with great advice from four true experts in their fields: two therapists, one artist, and a witch. 

Or maybe you’re one of the 0.001 percent of Portlanders who are like, “My mental health is absolutely FINE, thankyouverymuch,” and the only help you need are what types of gifts to buy for friends and loved ones. To that I’d say, “congrats on that being your only problem and I have no resentment toward you, like, at all” AND that you’re doubly lucky the Mercury has tons of gift-giving ideas! For example: Look, you’ll be going to the airport at least once, if not multiple times over the next few months… so why not be like the smart and prepared Suzette Smith who has a lineup of thoughtful, interesting gifts you can find at the newly refurbished Portland International Airport? 

And if you’ve got someone on your list who spends a lot of time in the kitchen (or perhaps stabbing people?), check out Andrea Damewood’s terrific, and highly researched article on the best KNIVES for the foodie in your life. (We trust you won’t gift a knife to the wrong person.) And if your loved one is an audiophile who loves vinyl, we have not one but TWO articles from Jenni Moore and Corbin Smith that have some top-notch vinyl suggestions for those record lovers in your life. Don’t know where to start looking for prezzies? In our annual gift guide you’ll find poop-tons of inventive, cute, and highly sought-after products from some of Portland’s best small businesses—who you should ABSOLUTELY support this season and for the coming year!

For some, snackin’ and boozin’ are the true reasons for the season, and not only do we have a thirst-quenching roundup of holiday beers, but also an eye-popping list of the some of the best sweets that Portland has to offer, and where to snap them up! Or if it’s events you crave, then don’t miss my “critical review” of some of the city’s best holiday happenings, and (because my opinions just won’t stop) how they can be improved. And as usual, our EverOut calendar team has compiled the ultimate list of holiday picks that can’t be missed. And all that’s on top of our regular Mercury offerings including news, comedy, fun, AND a year-end wrap-up of the trashiest gossip of the year courtesy of Elinor Jones and The Trash Report!

Swear to baby Jesus, anything you’re looking for in regards to making it through the coming season is right here in the Mercury’s Holiday Guide! Look for it at more than 500 spots around the city, and never forget: In 2025 and beyond, the Mercury is here to entertain and inform you of the best our city has to offer—and that, my friends, is the gift we intend to keep on giving.

Happy holidays from all your Mercury pals and me,

Wm. Steven Humphrey

Editor-in-Chief

Portland Mercury

(he/him)

January 16, 2015 Demonstrators shutdown 1-93 near Boston this week crippling traffic for hours, putting the black lives matter and I can't breathe protests back on the front page. The latest actions occurred days after the opening of the critically acclaimed movie Selma.Selma's social justice campaign is on the big screen just as current protests push the conversation about race and civil rights beyond the teachable moment to a more forceful, uncomfortable demand for change. We look at the artistry and history portrayed in Selma against a backdrop of contemporary social justice movements.


Panelists:
- Callie Crossley, host, Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, WGBH News
- Kim McLarin, Assistant Professor of Writing, Literature, and Publishing, Emerson College
- Brandon Terry, Prize Fellow in Economics, History, and Politics at Harvard University
- Sarah Jackson, Assistant Professor in Communication Studies, Northeastern University
- Brenna Greer, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences and History, Wellesley College (Italics: from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech at the March on Washington 1963. Photo credit: Atsushi Nishijimi)

Rutgers Health study uncovers vulnerabilities in drug-resistant TB, offering hope for improved treatments.

Argonne National Laboratory researchers to showcase leading-edge work in high performance computing, AI and more at SC24 international conference.

Rutgers Health study uncovers vulnerabilities in drug-resistant TB, offering hope for improved treatments.

KRICT sets a new world record for large-area perovskite solar module efficiency and accelerates commercialization

Mastercard has introduced Biz360, a digital platform...

A cosplay gathering in the Anaheim Convention Center's Grand Plaza during WonderCon Anaheim 2014.; Credit: Kevin Green/SDCC

For all the sad comic book and pop culture fans who weren't able to get tickets to San Diego Comic-Con, we've got good news for you: They run another convention, and it's closer to Los Angeles. Their little brother WonderCon Anaheim has been growing, with some comparing it to the Comic-Con of old — before it got way too crowded. It's this Friday through Sunday, April 3-5. They're starting to have big stars and lots of great panels, so if you want to get your geek heart sated, here are some of the events you won't want to miss.

Warner Bros. Presentation: San Andreas, Mad Max: Fury Road

San Andreas trailer

The most highly anticipated event at this weekend's convention, Warner Brothers is putting on a special presentation with footage from these two upcoming action films. They haven't announced which stars will be on hand, but these panels often surprise with star power, so you may get a visit from stars like "San Andreas's" Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson or "Mad Max: Fury Road's" Tom Hardy or Charlize Theron. At the Comic-Con panel last year for the "Mad Max" flick, the director talked in detail about the film, so you'll probably at least get his take on the franchise and its resurrection.

DC Comics TV shows: The Flash, Gotham, iZombie

The Flash trailer

While Marvel has been dominant on the big screen, DC has put out a diverse slate of TV shows, with "The Flash" being the biggest hit among them. It's among those getting a spotlight at WonderCon, with creators and stars dishing on the programs that have captured the imaginations of TV fans and comic fans alike. All three shows are also getting special video presentations, likely showing clips of what you can expect the rest of this season. And in case you didn't already know, "iZombie" comes from "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas, so come find out about his latest project.

World Premiere: Batman vs. Robin

Batman vs. Robin trailer

It's become a tradition at both WonderCon and San Diego Comic-Con for DC Comics to debut their latest animated movie, and the new one is based on the critically acclaimed "Court of Owls" storyline by writer Scott Snyder. (Be sure to check out our previous interviews with Snyder — he's even an NPR fan.) The original story is based on how Batman thinks he knows everything there is to know about Gotham City and faces the discovery that there are deep secrets about the city that he had no idea about, and the film also emphasizes him fighting his son Damian.

Sing-alongs: Dr. Horrible & Batman's The Music Meister

Batman: The Brave and the Bold: Drives Us Bats

People go to comic conventions to geek out, and what's geekier than a good old-fashioned singalong? In addition to one for geek god Joss Whedon's much loved Web series "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," they're also doing one for the musical episode of animated series "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" — which, just like "Dr. Horrible," features singing by the one and only Neil Patrick Harris. In the Batman cartoon, he plays the Music Meister, a Batman villain who makes both heroes and villains sing, as he drops some tunes of his own.

Superman: The Richard Donner Years Celebrity Super Reunion

Superman: The flying sequence

There's a reunion of stars from the first two of the classic Christopher Reeve Superman movies, including Lois Lane herself, Margot Kidder. You can also see the actors who played characters like Jimmy Olsen, several of the villains and more, as well as two of the producers. Find out what you don't know about the movie that broke ground when it came to depicting flight on-screen and, like the ads promised, made you believe a man could fly.

TV writing panels

Two panels will give you a peek into the world of the writers who write some of the hottest shows on TV: "TV Guide Magazine's Fan Favorites Showrunners" and "Inside The Writers' Room: Earth's Mightiest Writers Re-Assemble Redux." The first of those includes legendary TV showrunners like Dan Harmon of "Community" and the minds behind shows including "Orphan Black," "The Goldbergs" and more. Meanwhile, at the writers room panel, you'll get writers who've worked on shows like "Lost," "Firefly," "Heroes," "The Big Bang Theory," "Agent Carter" and more.

Fan culture programming track

This includes a lot of different panels, but it's a sign of the way fandom is shifting — it's a lifestyle that's far more diverse than it used to be, with a lot more gender parity. This track includes panels on topics like body confidence in cosplay, fashion, fitness, race and more. See what sparks your interest and might invite you into having an identity as a fan being a bigger part of your life while not letting anyone make you feel excluded.

There's so much more, like Will Forte doing a panel promoting his new show "The Last Man On Earth," the annual cosplay masquerade and so much more. Tickets are sold out for Saturday, but at press time, tickets were still available for both Friday and Sunday at WonderCon.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

In L.A., community leaders are working to prevent an undercount of Asian Angelenos. ; Credit: via NPR

The 2020 Census kicks off in a matter of weeks. Census officials say Asian immigrants are “hard-to-count” because many have limited English and distrust government. 

Leo Moon is learning about the census with friends at a city-led workshop in Koreatown. He didn’t fill out the form in 2010, mostly because he didn’t want the government knowing he’s undocumented. But Moon says he’ll take part next year because the census determines how much funding and representation people get.  

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

In this file photo, job seekers line up to enter Choice Career Fair at the Los Angeles Convention Center on December 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Overall, the number of unemployed Californians ticked up by 1,000 over the month to nearly 1.4 million for August 2014, but the rate remained unchanged, at 7.4 percent. The national unemployment rate is down to 6.1 percent.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

California's unemployment rate is unchanged for a third month, holding at 7.4 percent in August.

The California Employment Development Department reported Friday that the state added 44,200 nonfarm jobs during the month, bringing the state total to 15.5 million in August.

Last month's gains mean the state has added 1.4 million jobs since February 2010, when the jobless number hit a peak of 12.4 percent.

Overall, the number of unemployed Californians ticked up by 1,000 over the month to nearly 1.4 million. The national unemployment rate is down to 6.1 percent.

Construction posted the largest increase over the month, adding 13,600 jobs. Manufacturing, financial activities, business services, education, health, leisure and government all added jobs in August.

Trade, transportation and utilities, along with information, posted job losses of 8,300.

A baker’s dozen is a familiar expression that has been around for generations and even centuries. Why has the baker’s dozen continued on as a perpetual phrase? For ideas, products, even industries to perpetuate, they must connect to a sense of truth or emotional certainty. There are two values the baker’s dozen phrase aligns with, no matter what the conception. Those two values are integrity and generosity.

eCommerce further integrates itself with the alcohol industry, leading beverage brands to take a greater look at the channel.

Commercial drivers in Orange County who are in need of expert legal representation should contact Mr. Ticket.

Atlanta tinting company, The Tint Guy, would like to discuss some of the benefits of getting your commercial tinting done in the off season.

TyreGo.ie has recently launched its first batch of Easy Balance Balancing Compound to the website.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 4:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Have you ever been interested in being a part of a Fortune 100 retailer supporting the heart of the business? If so, The TJX Companies, Inc., the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, and Sierra are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences to join our Merchandising team as we believe it is important thatour workforce reflect the diversity of our customers and the communities we serve. Merchandising is the heart of our business. Our Buying and Planning & Allocation teams work together to drive sales and profit for TJX. They create the “WOW” you find in our stores!Ifyou have an entrepreneurial spirit and are passionate about blending youranalytical and creative mindset to drive a business, we are currently recruiting Sophomores and Juniors for our Merchandising Internship Program for Summer 2025.Please see below to review our opportunity. Should you choose to apply, we will be reviewing your resume and be in touch with any next steps.CLICK HERE TO APPLY TODAY! 

Clinical functional proteomics of intercellular signalling in pancreatic cancer  Nature.com

The Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) reported decreases in commercial and residential air conditioning shipments year-to-date in the fourth quarter.

Enercare Inc. has announced the introduction of its Preferred Customer Program for multifamily buildings. The program provides property managers, landlords, and developers with cost savings and a single point-of-contact for efficient delivery of services for their building’s sub-metering, water heating, and heating and cooling needs.

Canadian home and commercial services company Enercare Inc., Toronto, is reported to have entered into an agreement to acquire Service Experts, a U.S. provider of HVAC services based in Plano, Texas. The purchase price is said to be $340.75 million.

Enercare Inc. has announced the launch of the Enercare Fresh Start Program, a new corporate social responsibility program designed to help families transitioning between temporary shelters and a home of their own.

In May 2014, the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., launched a national effort to encourage consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods.

BISHKEK, 8 July 2016 – As part of the first phase of the two-day military Command-Staff Exercise ‘Barrier 2016’, representatives of the State Border Service (SBS), local authorities and civil society of Osh region focused on border security and management problems during a roundtable discussion and video-conference supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The discussions, held at the SBS headquarters, aimed to promote co-operation between the military, law enforcement agencies and civil society and improve the existing mechanisms of co-ordination. Participants were able to directly ask border management-related questions to the deputies of Jogorku Kenesh (the parliament), government officials and SBS representatives.

Head of the SBS Colonel Abdikarim Alimbaev detailed the complex measures taken by the Service to strengthen the Kyrgyz-Uzbek and Kyrgyz-Tajik border areas, such as improving the infrastructure of border units and setting additional border barriers and posts. “Through improved relations with neighbouring countries, the strengthening of border security and management will ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State and in this way safeguard peace and stability in the specific border areas and in the broader Central Asian region,” he said.

Daniele Rumolo, acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek highlighted the crucial significance of border security for Kyrgyzstan: “Effective counter-efforts to the current challenges remain the most relevant strategic priority for continuous co-operation and also an important aspect of OSCE activities in the framework of transnational threats. The OSCE Centre in Bishkek greatly values its engagement and interaction with the Kyrgyz Government and the SBS, and expresses its readiness to further develop the co-operation in this field.”

Vice Prime-Minister on border issues Jenish Razakov stressed the importance of co-operation between security and law enforcement agencies and local governments, stating that in their absence it would be impossible to resolve border crises. He also noted that in the past two years such joint exercises to enhance the combat readiness of units have demonstrated positive results.

On 8 July, following the roundtable discussion and video-conference in Bishkek, the practical phase of the ‘Barrier 2016’ simulation exercise took place in Osh with the participation of the Special Forces Unit, the SBS, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Command-Staff Exercise ‘Barrier 2016’ was held jointly by the SBS and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek as part of the Centre’s project to enhance the ability of the Kyrgyz Government to engage in regional co-operation on border security and management. 

Comments

Comments

Compañías de todos los sectores han mostrado su apoyo a través de donaciones de dinero, alimentos y materiales Leer

Se acabó el cuanto mayor, mejor. Ahora se impone el consumo eficiente. La aerolínea estrena a nivel mundial el nuevo modelo de Airbus Leer

El sector estima que hay 15.000 millones de valor en juego. La CNMV alerta de las consecuencias de los cambios tributarios, que podrían afectar a la cotización y a la llegada de inversores extranjeros Leer

El Govern incrementa los contactos con el equipo de la vicepresidenta María Jesús Montero para sentar las bases de un modelo para Cataluña similar al concierto económico vasco Leer

Bezalel Smotrich, el polémico ministro de Finanzas israelí, iba a asistir justo antes a un acto de una organización cercana a la extrema derecha en París, lo que había subido todavía más la temperatura. Leer

La odisea de unos millonarios indios para conseguir sus ansiados Mercedes

Los centros comerciales y supermercados de la capital afgana han sido recientemente objetivos terroristas. Las empresas han comenzado a incrementar su seguridad y contratan incluso a vigilantes armados.

India's quick commerce market is booming and is set to reach USD 40 billion by 2030. This surge is driven by consumer demand for fast deliveries, with 46% of consumers reducing their reliance on traditional Kirana shops. Quick commerce platforms are projected to capture 21% of total Kirana sales by 2024.

Indian traders are worried about quick commerce platforms. CAIT says these platforms are using unfair practices to control the market. They are accused of hurting small businesses like Kirana stores. The traders want the government to take action. They want stricter rules for these platforms to protect small businesses.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice on Tuesday banning all flights to Haiti for at least 30 days following three gun attacks on planes flying to the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

The post U.S. Flights to Haiti Halted After Gangs Start Shooting Commercial Airliners appeared first on Breitbart.

Donald Trump moved one step closer to beating Alvin Bragg’s lawfare against him on Tuesday as Justice Juan Merchan rescheduled ruling on motions to set aside the politically motivated New York convictions.

The post Juan Merchan Delays Ruling on Trump Prosecution, Either Backing Down or Setting Trap appeared first on Breitbart.

The Infamous Stringdusters have released a new installment of their beloved cover album series, Undercover, Vol. 3.

Bermuda riders Jyire Mitchell, Zamair Darrell, and Aaron Canonier competed in the 2023 Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross in Daytona. Mitchell, competing in the 250 A Road to SX futures class, won the first moto before finishing fourth in the second moto, ending up at fourth overall. Darrell, competing in the 450 B class, finished 14th […]

The Bermuda Festival Outreach Programme is offering a drama based masterclass led by the Aquila Theatre Company. This workshop is being offered to high school students with an interest in drama. Drama students will get the opportunity to explore some of the vocal, movement and acting techniques used by members of the Aquila in rehearsal […]

Solomon Ball stole a pass and took it all the way for a transition dunk to extend the Connecticut Huskies' lead over the Le Moyne Dolphins.

Israeli jets carried out strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday, after previously issuing evacuation orders for Lebanese civilians, Al Jazeera reported. The strikes hit the commercial ...

TOKYO, Nov. 13, 2024 — NEC Corporation has received an order for a next-generation supercomputer system from Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), under the National Research […]

The post NEC Secures Order for Advanced Supercomputer to Drive Fusion Science Research at Japan’s National Institutes appeared first on HPCwire.

Nov. 13, 2024 — Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory will highlight their work in using powerful supercomputers to tackle challenges in science and technology at SC24, […]

The post Argonne Researchers to Highlight Breakthroughs in Supercomputing and AI at SC24 appeared first on HPCwire.

TOKYO, Nov. 13, 2024 — NVIDIA has announced a series of collaborations with SoftBank Corp. designed to accelerate Japan’s sovereign AI initiatives and further its global technology leadership while also unlocking […]

The post NVIDIA Supports SoftBank in Building AI Supercomputer, Unveils AI-Driven Telecom Network appeared first on HPCwire.

The states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh reported the highest levels of inadequate diversity in children's diets.