S&P/TSX composite index slightly up Wednesday, U.S. stock markets also riseDURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke coach Manny Diaz says quarterback Maalik Murphy will face discipline “internally” after extending both of his middle fingers skyward in celebration after throwing a long touchdown pass early in the weekend win against Virginia Tech . Diaz said Monday that Murphy's exuberant gesture, caught on the ACC Network national broadcast, was directed at offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer in the booth after a bit of practice “banter” from a few days earlier. Diaz said the Texas transfer just let his excitement get away from him but still called it “unacceptable in our program." “There was a practice in the middle of last week when we throwing post after post after post, and we weren't completing them,” Diaz said. “And it was again and again and again and again. And at the end of that, there was a remark made in jest that, ‘If you throw a post for a touchdown in the game, then you can flick me off,’ from Coach Brewer.” Murphy's gesture came after he uncorked a deep ball from deep in Duke's own end and caught Eli Pancol perfectly in stride across midfield, with Pancol racing untouched for an 86-yard score barely 2 minutes into the game. As he began skipping downfield to celebrate, Murphy chest-bumped teammate Star Thomas and then extended both arms in the air with his middle fingers raised. Brewer said Monday he missed the gesture in real time, but then saw it on a replay moments later. “Some things you say on the field when you're coaching obviously isn't meant to be taken literally when you're trying to get after somebody in that world,” Brewer said. Murphy threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions in the 31-28 win for the Blue Devils (8-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who close the regular season at Wake Forest. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballAn online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition
Daily Dose of Social Media: Alcaraz and Shelton courtside for Knicks’ win, Naomi Osaka shine as film producer
Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left legOTTAWA — Justice Minister Arif Virani said the Liberal government will split up its contentious online harms bill, putting a priority on passing measures to fight child sex predators. Virani told reporters Wednesday the move will create an opening for a swath of the bill's measures to swiftly pass through the House of Commons before the next election. The online harms bill will be cleaved into two new packages, the first dealing with keeping children safe online, combating sex predators and issues related to revenge pornography. "We are putting our emphasis and prioritization and our time and efforts on the first portion of the bill," Virani said. That includes establishing a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. The new regulator would compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would have the power to levy fines and evaluate companies' digital safety plans. Virani said the first portion will also include new tools for prosecuting child sex predators. Those measures deal with the mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse material by internet service providers and some online services. The bill targets seven categories of online behaviour, from the non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child. The House has been gridlocked for months over a parliamentary privilege debate raging between the Liberals and Conservatives that has prevented most legislation from moving forward. Virani said that means there has been only one day of debate on the bill since September, a situation he described as "frustrating." "That obstruction has caused us to rethink how we can better use the precious time that we have left in this Parliament," he said. Critics have long called on the government to split up the bill to have the most controversial matters debated separately. The second package of measures will deal with Criminal Code and Human Rights Act amendments targeting hate, which include stiffer penalties for hate-related offences. Advocates and some legal experts have said the changes risk chilling free speech. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association welcomed the move to split the legislation Wednesday. "It is crucial that this new Act, which proposes to regulate online content, now be the subject of a broad public and parliamentary conversation," Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, the organization's director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program, said in a statement. Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair in internet and e-commerce law at the University of Ottawa, called the move to split the bill in two "long overdue." He said in a post on X that the inclusion of Criminal Code and Human Rights Act provisions "undermined public support and placed (the) entire bill at risk." In response to a question about whether the government is wiling to make changes to the second part of the bill to address concerns by civil liberties activists, Virani said he is willing to consider amendments proposed by witnesses at committee. He made the announcement a day before a parliamentary committee begins hearing testimony from witnesses on the bill. Virani said the "goal is to work to find consensus amongst parliamentarians on the things that we can agree to immediately." Emily Laidlaw, a Canada Research Chair in cybersecurity law at the University of Calgary, and who was part of the government’s expert advisory group in developing the legislation, said the first part of the bill should be "should be bipartisan." She said in a post on X the first part of the bill "aligns with global standards, some of which were developed" by Conservative governments. But Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has previously vowed to repeal the legislation entirely should it become law. Asked whether Conservative MPs would support the government’s move to split the bill in two, the party shared a statement from Conservative justice critic Larry Brock that indicated a future Conservative government would repeal online regulation bills passed by the Liberal government. He said Virani is "desperately trying to salvage his deeply flawed legislation. He should give up on creating his massive, $200 million censorship bureaucracy and instead adopt our superior common sense Bill C-412 that has been widely well received." Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner introduced the private members’ bill in September. It would modernize the existing law against criminal harassment so a victim can ask a judge to force social media companies to identify someone who has repeatedly harassed them online. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Kyle Duggan and Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian PressNone
Soccer-Villa end winless run with nervy win over Brentford
All the hard work the Vikings put in on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field almost fell by the wayside after they failed to recover an onside kick in the final minute. That paved the way for Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos to send the game into overtime with a 48-yard field goal as time expired. ADVERTISEMENT As proud as head coach Kevin O’Connell was that the Vikings still managed to escape with a 30-27 overtime win, he also was irked that lack of execution on the onside kick nearly cost them. What went wrong? Though it looked like nothing more than a fluky bounce, it was actually a misread by tight end Johnny Mundt that resulted in the ball hitting him. Asked about the particular play, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels said as soon as Mundt realized it was going to be a watermelon kick, he should’ve attacked the ball rather than engaged in a block. “He’s got to have some awareness right there,” Daniels said. “He didn’t see where the ball was at.” The use of the watermelon kick has become much more common across the NFL over the past few seasons. It’s executed by placing the ball on its side and kicking the point to create a spinning motion. The hope is to create enough spin with the watermelon kick that the ball travels the required 10 yards. The only issue? The rules say the kicking team can’t touch any member of the receiving team on an onside kick until the ball crosses 10 yards. ADVERTISEMENT That’s why Daniels has stressed to his players the importance of attacking the ball in those situations. “That’s the No. 1 thing,” Daniels said. “As soon as we see it’s a watermelon kick, we are going to go get the ball.” After suffering a hamstring injury over the weekend, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve. As a result, he will have to miss at least the next month, with the Vikings hoping he can be ready to return by the time the playoffs roll around. It’s a tough blow for the Vikings heading into the home stretch as Pace has developed into a key contributor on defense. As a way to add some depth amid the loss, the Vikings signed linebacker Jamin Davis to their active roster, poaching him from the Green Bay Packers, who had signed him to their practice squad. There might be some untapped potential in Davis considering the Washington Commanders selected him in the first round of the 2021 draft. He has totaled 282 tackles, seven sacks, an interception and a pair of forced fumbles across 50 NFL games. Additionally, the Vikings also activated edge rusher Gabe Murphy from injured reserve. ADVERTISEMENT The benefit of having veteran left tackle David Quessenberry on the roster is that he has proven capable of going into a game on short notice. After stepping up last month when star left tackle Christian Darrisaw went down with a knee injury, Quessenberry had his number called over the weekend when veteran left tackle Cam Robinson left the game with a foot injury. Though there were some ups and downs for Quessenberry in the game, his presence allowed the Vikings to continue to run their offense. “I thought he came in and played really well,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “The left side really wasn’t an issue with him in there. We weren’t thinking like, ‘Oh god. We’ve got to get chips over there. We’ve got to try to formation these things where we can help him out every play.’ We felt pretty comfortable with him felling in and playing that role.” After being cut by the Vikings over the weekend, cornerback Akayleb Evans was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers. It will be a fresh start for Evans as he looks to get his career back on track. Though he started 15 games for the Vikings last season, Evans barely played at all on defense this season. He was buried on the depth chart behind veteran cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy Jr., and Shaq Griffin. Why didn’t it work out for Evans? ADVERTISEMENT “Sometimes it becomes a numbers situation,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “He’s a talented player who has a place in this league. I wish him all the best in Carolina. He’s going to do a great job for them.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .New spiking offence aims to bring law up to date, minister says
Man City blow three-goal lead in Champions League, Bayern beat PSG
The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024Adriana E. Ramírez: It is time to send in the clownsWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
Percentages: FG .491, FT .286. 3-Point Goals: 7-19, .368 (Johnston 2-2, Anderson 2-4, Bronson 1-2, Molnar 1-3, P.Smith 1-5, Hien 0-1, House 0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Bowser 3, Molnar). Turnovers: 9 (Bowser 2, P.Smith 2, Bronson, Hien, Humphries, Johnston, VanderWal). Steals: 6 (Bowser 2, Bronson, Hien, Molnar, P.Smith). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .315, FT .571. 3-Point Goals: 4-23, .174 (Camara 1-3, Oden 1-4, Johnson 1-5, Berry 1-8, Harris 0-1, Wilkins 0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Gibson 3, Berry, Jones). Turnovers: 14 (Johnson 5, Berry 4, Kelly 2, Camara, Harris, Wilkins). Steals: 3 (Berry, Kelly, Oden). Technical Fouls: None. A_784 (881).
Gift cards can be a quick and easy present for those who don't know what to buy and offer the recipient a chance to pick out something nice for themselves, but sometimes they can still miss the mark. If you find yourself with a gift card you don't think you're going to use, experts say you have options. Natasha Macmillan, director of everyday banking at Ratehub.ca, says we've all been in that situation where someone doesn't know you, but still wants to get you something and gives you a gift card for a store that you probably won't use. If that’s the case, she said you have options. "You might be able to use the gift card for a present for a friend or a family member. That will actually help you save money while using the gift card at the same time," she said. Macmillan also said you can look to resell a card through a platform such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or other websites that specialize in buying and reselling gift cards. “You do have to be careful with some of the scams and things out there, but it's also helpful and that way you can get cash for the gift card or even exchange it for another gift card,” she said. If you’re considering that option, she said to always ask for the cash or e-transfer before handing over the gift card. According to Accenture’s 2024 Canadian holiday shopping survey, 64 per cent of consumers received gift cards last year, each of whom received four on average. But despite being a popular choice, the report said four-in-10 recipients failed to redeem the full balance of the card from the holiday season last year. That resulted in an unspent total gift card balance of $136 on average per consumer. The Accenture report noted 31 per cent didn’t use their gift card because it was exclusive to only a few brands or stores and 27 per cent could not find items to purchase. If regifting or selling don't appeal to you, some charities will accept gift cards as a donation. The rules around what kind of gift card a charity might accept can vary and not all charities will accept all gift cards, but if they do, and depending on the amount, it could mean a charitable donation tax receipt that will help reduce your bill come tax time. Mark Aston, executive director at Covenant House Toronto, which helps young people who are experiencing homelessness and trafficking, said the holidays can be tough for a young person who is isolated and does not have the support of family and friends that many of us rely on. A gift card can help a young person buy themselves a treat that they would not otherwise be able to afford. “Helping to normalize the experience around the holiday season is really helpful and impactful and to that end, gift cards can be really helpful,” Aston said. He added that Covenant House is open to accepting all kinds of gift cards as donations that it can pass on to those in need to help with the cost of living and offer a little cheer. Gift cards to grocers, drugstores and coffee shops can help with the day-to-day essentials, but he said gift cards for less obvious treats like movie tickets are also welcome. “We're extremely appreciative of any gift card donations,” he said. Meanwhile, Macmillan said donating a gift card that isn't going to be used can be a win-win. "The gift card doesn't go to waste and you get that tax receipt in return, and it does help you save money at the end of the day," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. Craig Wong, The Canadian PressDevon Energy: 'When Will I Be Loved?'
AP News Summary at 11:11 a.m. ESTKeir Starner will never grow economy if he keeps swelling civil service... workshy are being well paid for mediocrity
Black Friday 2024 is officially here! This is the moment we’ve all waited for and we’re finally shopping like it is our job. Because it is ! As we have with the last two Prime Days , our shopping and deals crew has rounded up the top items we’ve decided to buy this week during all of the big Black Friday deals . We’ve got a decade of experience with shopping online and watching Black Friday sales, so these are our predictions for products we expect to see on sale this week. Some of these hot-ticket items are also expected to sell out fast . We saw an early Black Friday Dyson Airwrap deal sell out in a day just a few weeks ago. Each member of the team has narrowed down some of the top coveted items we’re hoping to snag at a discounted rate during all of these Black Friday sales. New skincare from Paula’s Choice , Belif and BIODANCE I plan to restock my skincare lineup when Belif, BIODANCE, and Paula's Choice run their Black Friday deals. Amazon I’m Ana, the manager of the Content Innovation & Digital Growth team, and I am still trying to recover from the days of using St. Ive’s face wash and over-exfoliating my skin. I wait all year and snag everything during Black Friday or Prime Day to stock up on what I need. Black Friday always tends to be the best day to score the biggest deals on the brands I love, like Paula’s Choice , Belif , and BIODANCE . The big bottle of Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant is normally a whopping $35, but for Black Friday it is down to $27. While Paula’s Choice has markdowns, I’ll also snag some of their C15 Super Booster (24% off) to help get rid of hyperpigmentation on my skin. I’ve read online these two are like a power duo to minimize the appearance of pores and help bring more life to your skin. These might just be buzzwords, but they’re working on me. For the last three Black Fridays, I’ve bought this belif The True Cream Moisturizing Eye Bomb for anywhere between 30% to 50% off and I plan to do the same in 2024. It always lasts me the full year, since I use it only at night and I’ve never had an issue with it in all of these years. It is perfect for my sensitive skin and keeps the skin around my eyes soft and smooth. I’ll probably pick up the brand’s Cooling Eye Gel for a morning pick-me-up since it is 34% off. As I’ve mentioned before, I am the TikTok-obsessed member of my team. That means I got sucked into trying BIODANCE Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask , and the hype is real. This mask is like a breath of fresh air for my skin. It is so intensely hydrating, which means I need to snag as many discounted packs as I can get ahead of the cold winter months. A 4-pack is currently 32% off for Black Friday, while the 16-pack is 30% off. A new pair of HOKA Clifton 9 sneakers I'm hoping to score a great deal on the HOKA Clifton 9 during Black Friday sales this week. HOKA For me, Black Friday is typically a restock time. I don’t want a PS5 or a new TV, I want to replace my favorite things that desperately need it. I am a HOKA girlie and have been for years now. I’ve worn my Clifton 9 sneakers into the ground. Literally . The bottoms of my soles have officially worn out around the toes and I need to put my current pair to rest. I have a pair of Bondi 8 sneakers but have found those are better suited for my 30,000 step days in Disney World and my HOKA Clifton 9 sneakers are my preferred shoe for walks around my neighborhood and at my Rumble boxing classes. My current pair is just the classic Black/White colorway , and I want to restock those exact sneakers. But, if I were to see these on super sale, I’d be inclined to snag two pairs and get a new color as well, I’ve got my eye on the Sunlit Ocean / Lilac Mist and Frost / Rose Gold colorways. A slew of Amika hair products Another restock I plan to do for Black Friday is on Amika haircare, when the brand slashes prices by around 30% off. Amazon I wasn’t kidding that Black Friday has a recurring theme for me: restocking. The final thing I plan to restock is my Amika staples. I have been growing my hair out for years and it has been a success in large part due to investing in quality hair products, and Amika is a brand I’ve grown obsessed with over the last few years, but it comes with a hefty price tag. The Top 2 Amika products that I’m planning to grab when they go on sale are the Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner and Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask . Both smell absolutely amazing and leave my hair feeling softer than ever. I tend to use the mask once a week and then use the leave-in conditioner every few days, I’d love to use it daily but at $29 per 200 ml, I try to conserve it. I’ve got my eye on the Amika Power Hour Curl Refreshing Spray to see if it goes on sale as well because I’m always on the hunt for a good curl product. Solo Stove Yukon Smokeless Fire Pit I plan to buy the Yukon Backyard Bundle while it is currently marked down by $290 for Black Friday. Solo Stove Hi, I’m Dawn, one of our team’s Shopping Tips & Deals writers and this is going to be a stellar year for Black Friday savings. I’m already seeing so many cheap sale prices, but I have my sights set on a few key items for the holidays. At the very top of my Black Friday shopping list is a Solo Stove Smokeless Fire Pit . This is a major splurge and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it’s been on the wishlist since summer. Our current fire pit burnt its last fire in early June and my husband and I’ve been mulling over a new one ever since. But unlike last time, we’re going big with the Solo Stove Yukon Smokeless Fire Pit . This fire pit carries a hefty price tag normally ($450) and if you decide to go with the Backyard Bundle like we are, it’ll cost you $940. But Solo Stove has big savings on its smokeless fire pits for Black Friday and the Yukon Backyard Bundle is $290 off, dropping its price to $650. Normally, I’d balk at the price but there are a few additional factors in this decision. First, the Yukon Backyard Bundle has everything (removable base plate, ash pan, shield, stand, lid, and shelter). So, instead of piecing all the accessories together afterward, you get them all in a bundle at a discounted price. Second, this fire pit is “smokeless,” and if you’ve ever seen the meme, no matter where I sit the smoke follows me. Yes, that is my superpower. Lastly, this fire pit has a lifetime warranty and I’m not buying another one ever again. The viral Orolay Down Jacket The Orolay Women's Thickened Down Jacket is 45% off on Amazon for Black Friday. Amazon More out of necessity than style, I’m grabbing the Viral Orolay Down Jacket for Black Friday. This viral jacket has sold out so many times on Amazon, I’ve lost count, but I’m expecting it to sell out again this year. The main reason this jacket is on my Black Friday wishlist is for warmth. I want a jacket that’s extremely warm to layer up with this winter. I am done freezing to get the mail, walk the dogs, take the garbage out, and run to my car in the snow and ice. I just want to be warm and this jacket looks like it will fit the bill. With over 28,000 positive ratings, the Orolay Down Jacket has become a fan favorite with its wind-resistant and waterproof design. It’s touted for its fleece-lined hood, numerous pockets, and fitted wristbands that keep the cold out. Reviewers have said, “Very warm, stylish, soft, and full of down for a cold winter,” and I hope when it arrives, I’ll agree. Currently, the Orolay Down Jacket is on sale for 45% off on Amazon, and I don’t expect it to creep any lower before the holidays. This one’s already in my cart in green. The kitchen essential Our Place Always Pan 2.0 The Always Pan is currently $55 off at Our Place for Black Friday. Our Place I waited a long time to finally decide that I needed and deserved the Our Place Always Pan . I’ve seen the commercials, read the articles, seen it in action online, and lusted over it on my social feed. But finally, I am giving into temptation and buying what I now consider an essential part of dinner planning and preparation. If you’re not familiar with the Always Pan , this famous pan replaces 10 pieces of cookware, including your fry pan, saute pan, steamer, roasting dish, baking dish, skillet, saucier, nonstick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. So, basically, this is the only pan you’ll ever need (or rather I’ll need) to cook with. This is also a viral product that has sold out multiple times since its release back in 2019. Now in its second generation, the Always Pan 2.0 has a toxic-free design, is oven-safe up to 450 degrees, and is just so nice to look at with a variety of colors to choose from. Thankfully, Our Place is having a Black Friday sale with the “lowest prices of the year” and the Always Pan 2.0 is now $95, instead of $150, for a savings of $55 off. So, this one is getting wrapped up under the tree just for me (in Spice). BÉIS best-selling luggage BÉIS luggage is at the top of my list, because I’ve written about the brand so many times, I know I finally need to join the party. BÉIS Hi, I’m Danielle, another Shopping & Commerce Writer on our Content Innovation team. To be completely honest, I’m not planning any huge frivolous Black Friday purchases this year because my husband and I spent a nice chunk of change on an end-of-year vacation for our 10-year wedding anniversary and we’re Christmas shopping for three kiddos already. I have a few things that I’d be happy to buy, though, if the price is too good to pass up. BÉIS luggage is at the top of my list because I’ve written about the brand so many times, I know I finally need to join the party. The last time we got new luggage was right before our wedding and, while the soft-side Samsonite 3-piece has served us well over the last decade, it’s high time we invested in some hard-shell suitcases. BÉIS has some of the sleekest carry-ons and check-in luggage around, and the neutral colors are trendy, but totally timeless, too. So, I’ve been thinking about snagging a Large Check-In Roller , a Medium Check-In Roller , and a Carry-On Roller for our family of five. BÉIS already has bundling offers where you can get 10% off when you combine two rollers and 15% off when you combine three rollers, but I’d love to see each piece 20-25% off for Black Friday, which would bring my total expense down by over $200 (reduced to well under $700). We’re thinking about a trip to Disney next year, so I might even take the opportunity to stock up on some kids’ luggage and backpacks for my little mousketeers , as well. The Real Life Play Kitchen from Lovevery At $300, this definitely isn’t a cheap gift, but Lovevery is offering up to 25% off sitewide / holiday bundle savings for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Lovevery My youngest, who is two years old now, was a Lovevery baby through and through. He had Play Kits for every developmental stage, and we’ve passed everything down to my sister for her newborn to use as he grows up. Even my middle child, my little girl — who is 5 years old now — got an incredible amount of use out of her 4-year-old Play Kit last year. I have hyped the brand for years, telling parents, friends, and family members how amazing all of the playthings, books, and activity mats are, so I was so excited to hear about The Real Life Play Kitchen coming out. Designed for toddlers aged 18 months and older, this adorable pretend and practical play mini kitchen is a perfect Christmas present for my son — I can already picture it in the middle of his presents with a huge bow on it. What sets this play kitchen apart is its thoughtful design, which takes inspiration from always-popular water tables and trendy sensory bins. The sink has a gentle water flow and a spill-proof basin, so when the littles are playing, they won’t be making too big of a mess. The child-sized utensils and food-grade accessories, like a colander and cutting board, also lets toddlers and preschoolers mimic grown-up activities in a safe and scaled-down environment. Plus, the interchangeable colored and patterned backsplashes — six of them — add a personalized and highly aesthetic touch. I’m seriously obsessed with this kitchen because it’s not obnoxiously primary-colored or blaring with earworm-y songs or sounds and it encourages creativity and a sense of responsibility. I can imagine my little guy rinsing vegetables, chopping pretend food and drying dishes, and I can only hope those simple building blocks breed important life skills, cooperation and the concept of everyone in our family having a role and contributing. At $300, this definitely isn’t a cheap gift , but Lovevery is offering up to 25% off sitewide / holiday bundle savings for Black Friday/Cyber Monday. This first-time-ever move for the brand is knocking 10% off spends of $80+, 15% off spends of $125+, 20% off spends of $250 or more and 25% off spends of $500 or more. So, I can get the kitchen for $240, instead $300, through Dec. 8! Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Face Moisturizer Right now, the Jumbo Bottle is 35% off — $82, down from $108 — but if Black Friday brought an additional 10-15% off in discounts, I’d be sold. Beekman 1802 During this time of year, my hands are usually dry, red, and cracked. And I’ve used every hand lotion and body moisturizer out there to fix the problem, from Kiehl’s and CeraVe to Aveeno and Aesop. I honestly just tried Beekman to placate my mom, who couldn’t stop talking about how great “the goat’s milk beauty products” were, but after only a few days of using the Wicked Defy Gravity Whipped Body Cream (which I was, fortunately, able to sample ahead of the “Wicked” premiere), my hands were changed for the better — well, for the best, really. My skin has never felt softer and more youthful, and I’m a TOTAL convert now. Not only has this whipped body cream gone on without a greasy after feel, but it also absorbs instantly, and it leaves my hands smelling like fruity pebbles in the best way, thanks to the sweet Elphaba-inspired gourmand scent. I’m obsessed with this fluffy paraben and sulfate-free rich goat milk and creamy butter salve, and I’ll be heartbroken when the container is wiped clean. So, I plan on replenishing the “Elphie lotion mommy loves!” and also stocking up on some other hero body creams . While I’m at it, I’d also love to try Beekman’s famous Bloom Cream Daily Face Moisturizer with moisturizing goat’s milk, hydrating and pore-minimizing niacinamide. The company says this bestselling “elegant, lightweight formula is designed to work on all skin types and it literally blooms out of the bottle with every pump.” And if it works in any way like the Whipped Body Cream, then I will become a customer for life. Right now, the Jumbo Bottle is 35% off — $82, down from $108 — but if Black Friday brought an additional 10-15% off in discounts, I’d be sold. TCL 50-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV (2024 Model) Amazon has the TCL 55" TV on sale of the lowest price of the year for Black Friday. Amazon I’m Victoria Rosenthal, associate editor for SEO/commerce on the Content Innovation Team. My TV is a relic from my college years. Despite it being an old geezer, it has withstood the test of time — 12 years to be exact. This 21-inch Samsung flat-screen has seen it all: all-nighters, breakups, procrastination, (not great) dorm room dance practice, Beyonce’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, the whole final season of “Breaking Bad.” Although this baby has been at my side for over a decade, it’s time for an upgrade. That upgrade won’t be so difficult or pricey since I’m going with the latest model of the TCL 50-inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart TV with Fire TV . It’s a big enough size for a bedroom with a renter-friendly footprint. It has enhanced visuals and sound thanks to its 4K UltraHD resolution screen, Dolby Atmos Audio, and Enhanced Dialogue Mode for more intelligible and clear audio. Plus, I can actually enjoy playing video games with my Nintendo Switch , FireTV Stick with the Xbox Game Pass app, PlayStation 2, and PS4 on this larger TV in Auto Game Mode. It automatically turns on when you hook up a gaming console and uses the lowest possible input lag and latency for improved gameplay. It already has a 4-star rating on Amazon and a 4.2-star rating at Best Buy . And you can’t beat Amazon’s Black Friday deal that gives you 23% off, bringing the price down from $300 to $230. As a replacement for my beloved college TV, this one might be a winner. Ticket to Ride Board Game Amazon has “Ticket to Ride” on sale for $25 during its Black Friday sale. Amazon As a board and card game fan, I love trying out as many of them as possible. My favorites range from “13 Dead End Drive” and “Exploding Kittens” to “Jumanji” and “Nightmare The Video Board Game.” But one game I’ve always wanted to play more is “Ticket to Ride.” After playing it once in a board game café, I was hooked. A board game that’s meant to transport you into another world, time, or dimension and immerse you in the story will always be added to my cart. While going cross country to claim the most train lines and points, the competition, strategy, and fast pace bring excitement to the game, unlike some slow-burn titles that one might call boring (cough cough, “Monopoly” ). “Ticket to Ride” is easy to learn so anyone can quickly understand the gameplay and join in. Also, there’s a feature where Amazon Alexa can act as a player for a more immersive experience. She can keep track of gameplay and points and add atmospheric sound effects and music that transports you back to 1910 in the United States. Because of its $55 price point, I’ve always been hesitant to spend that kind of money on a board game. But now that Amazon has “ Ticket to Ride ” on sale for $25 during its Black Friday sale, that’s over half off the retail price. I have no reason not to buy it! The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024