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8bet casino Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTo improve your local-language experience, sometimes we employ an auto-translation plugin. Please note auto-translation may not be accurate, so read article for precise information. In Brief Santiment notes that the continued growth in larger wallets—particularly those holding between 10 and 1,000 BTC—indicates a strong likelihood that the bull market will persist into 2025. Market intelligence platform recently released an analysis noting that Bitcoin and altcoins have demonstrated strong recovery leading up to Christmas Day, showcasing the so-called “Santa Rally.” Bitcoin has rebounded, reaching as high as $99,000, with traders optimistic about a potential $100,000 milestone before the end of the year. is currently trading at $98,409, marking a 4.22% increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a high of $99,178, recovering from a low of $94,434 during the same period. Trading volume, however, has decreased by 14.44%, dropping to $46.5 billion from an average of $70 billion the previous day. Additionally, Bitcoin’s market dominance has risen to 56.76%, reflecting a 0.52% increase over the last 24 hours, according to the data from CoinMarketCap. Notably, this surge comes despite the $338.4 million in net outflows from the Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Tuesday, which marked the fourth consecutive day of outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs, contributing to negative market sentiment. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) saw its largest outflow, amounting to $188.7 million, while Fidelity’s FBTC had an outflow of $83.2 million, followed by ARKB with $75 million, according to SoSoValue. 📈 Bitcoin and altcoins have recovered well heading into Christmas Day. BTC has rebounded as high as $99K with traders hoping for a $100K Xmas gift. Here are the number of BTC wallets by size: 🦐 0-0.1 BTC Wallets: 50.17M 🐠 0.1-10 BTC Wallets: 4.31M 🦈 10-1,000 BTC Wallets:... The firm notes that regarding wallet distribution, the number of Bitcoin wallets by size presently is as follows: 50.17 million wallets hold between 0 and 0.1 BTC, representing individual retail investors. 4.31 million wallets contain between 0.1 and 10 BTC, likely belonging to a mix of retail and smaller institutional holders. 150,130 wallets hold between 10 and 1,000 BTC, indicating more serious investors or high-net-worth individuals. Lastly, there are 2,050 wallets with over 1,000 BTC, likely owned by large institutions or Bitcoin whales with considerable holdings. Sentiment notes that the continued growth in the number of larger wallets—especially those holding 10 to 1,000 BTC—suggests a strong likelihood that the bull market will persist, provided these investors maintain their accumulation trends throughout 2024. In line with the , please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance. Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid for a fourth straight NFC South title and fifth consecutive playoff berth is gaining momentum. Back-to-back wins over a pair of last-place teams , combined with Atlanta’s three-game losing streak, have propelled the Bucs (6-6) to a tie atop the division. Although the Falcons (6-6) hold a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams, Tampa Bay can control its own destiny by finishing strong against a less than imposing schedule. The Bucs, who are back in the thick of the race after beating the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, figure to be favored in four of their five remaining games. “Every week, we said it’s a playoff game, we got to take care of us. It’s not going to be easy. As it was (Sunday), it’s going to be a dog fight every week,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. “We got to clean up some things, we know that, but it's hard to win in this league,” the coach said of the mistake-filled victory that lifted the Bucs back to .500. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it.” After facing Las Vegas (2-10) this week, the Bucs will finish with road games against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), followed by home dates vs. Carolina (3-9) and the New Orleans Saints (4-8). Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of team’s most consistent performers, converting 21 of 23 field goal attempts. He was 4 of 5 against the Panthers, including 51-yarder to force overtime on the final play of regulation. He missed from 55 yards in OT before winning it with a 30-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s next possession. Just when it appeared the defense was beginning to trend in the right direction, Carolina's Bryce Young threw for 298 yards without an interception against the Bucs in one of his better outings of the season. “In the first half, he did it with his feet and the second half he did it with his arm,” Bowles said. Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-best 152 yards and finished with 185 from scrimmage against Carolina, making him the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to have consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. A week after playing well offensively and defensively in a 23-point rout of the New York Giants, the Bucs were sloppy against the Panthers. In addition to throwing two interceptions, Mayfield was sacked four times. Tampa Bay was penalized seven times for 54 yards, and the defense was only able to sack Young once. Mayfield (sore leg), linebacker K.J. Britt (sprained ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) will be on the injury report this week. Bowles said he’s not sure what Mayfield's practice status will be when the team reconvenes Wednesday, however he expects the quarterback to play Sunday. 37 and 101 — Wide receiver Mike Evans had another big day against Carolina, posting the 37th 100-yard receiving performance of his career — fifth among active players. He also moved ahead of Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list for TD receptions with 101. The Buccaneers host Las Vegas in Tampa Bay's first home game in a month and the third consecutive outing against a last-place team. The Raiders (2-10) have lost eight in a row. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be MachineGames' longest game yetORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — In a season that began with many questions and lowered expectations , it was apt watching Bills quarterback Josh Allen join coach Sean McDermott lay on the cold, wet sideline to make snow angels in celebrating Buffalo’s earliest clinching of a division title in team history. That Allen took part was no surprise. The newly engaged 28-year-old has maintained the happy-go-lucky approach he brought with him to Buffalo as a raw-talented athlete in 2018, while gradually blossoming into one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. For McDermott, it was a pleasant surprise to see the usually reserved eight-year coach finally let his hair down — figuratively, because the few jokes he does make are usually about being bald. With his latest do-it-all three-TD outing — one rushing, one receiving and, the coup de grace, being credited with receiving his own pass for a score off a lateral from Amari Cooper — in a 35-10 win over San Francisco on Sunday night , Allen continued making his strongest NFL MVP case. What’s also becoming apparent is how much McDermott deserves consideration for coach of the year honors. Without the two, the Bills (10-2) wouldn’t be in this position in becoming just the eighth NFL team — and first since Indianapolis in 2009 — to clinch a division title with at least five games remaining in their schedule. It’s reflective of how the two have grown together in what, on the outside, could be perceived as an odd couple relationship between an offensive-minded, swashbuckling quarterback and a defensive-minded coach, too often knocked for being too conservative. Perhaps, it’s Allen’s boyish nature that has brought out the risk-taker in McDermott, who has carried over the aggressive approach he takes to defense by placing trust in his quarterback. It’s become apparent in everything the Bills have accomplished so far in having at least 10 wins through 12 games for just the fifth time in team history, and first since 1991, when Buffalo was led by eventual Hall of Famers in coach Marv Levy and quarterback Jim Kelly. Buffalo has won seven straight since consecutive losses to Baltimore and Houston. And the Bills have scored 30 or more points in six straight outings, matching the team record set in 2004. Allen is doing more with less on an offense that was supposed to be hampered following the offseason departures of receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis and center Mitch Morse. The Bills are more balanced in leaning on their running attack, while Allen has also curtailed his turnover-prone ways. He's lost two fumbles and thrown just five interceptions after being picked off a career-worst 18 times last season. Meantime, McDermott has taken a different approach to fourth down situations. The Bills have converted 13 of 15 fourth down attempts after going 9 of 16 last season and 7 of 13 in 2022. The most fourth down attempts during McDermott’s tenure came in 2021, when Buffalo converted just 11 of 22. This is but an example of the bond the quarterback and coach have built in a shared objective of overcoming past playoff failures. Clinching a division title is but one step, with the Bills now focused on catching the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), whom they’ve beaten already , for the AFC’s top seed. In calling it the team’s next goal, McDermott went off script from his usual game-at-a-time message by noting the importance of celebrating a division-clinching win, if only for one day. “Being 50 years old and 20-plus years in this league, I’ve learned to try and enjoy the moments,” McDermott said. “And this is a moment, right?” It certainly was. What’s working Turnover differential. Buffalo’s defense forced three fumbles, including one at its goal line, while the offense didn’t commit a giveaway. The Bills upped their league-leading turnover differential entering Monday to plus-17. What needs help Run defense. Though the conditions were snowy and slick, the Bills allowed 119 yards rushing in the first half before the 49ers were forced to start passing the ball once the score became lopsided. Buffalo particularly struggled in stopping Christian McCaffrey, who had 53 yards on seven carries before leaving the game with a potential season-ending knee injury . Stock up LB Matt Milano was in on five tackles while playing 37 of 48 defensive snaps in his first outing in nearly 14 months after being sidelined by a broken right leg and torn left biceps. Stock down CB Kaiir Elam, the 2022 first-round pick was a healthy inactive for a second straight outing, and still having difficulty finding a regular role. Injuries None reported. Key number 9-0 — The Bills' home record going back to last season, marking their second-longest run in team history. Next steps Hit the road for two outings, starting with a trip to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl John Wawrow, The Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”

Enteral Feeding Tubes Market Size: Strong Growth Ahead (2024-2032)Swansea boss Luke Williams thought his side were second best for the majority of the contest despite earning a 2-1 win at Derby. The Swans stunned Pride Park into silence with less than two minutes on the clock when Zan Vipotnik sent a bullet past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom before Ronald slotted home his first of the season in the 14th minute. Cyrus Christie brought Tom Barkhuizen down inside the box and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing dispatched the resulting penalty to cut the deficit in half and, despite piling on the pressure, Derby succumbed to a second home defeat of the season. Williams told a press conference: “We started the game very well, we were good up until we scored the second goal then we lost the grip on the game and I thought Derby were the better team. “The next thing for us we have to be able to maintain that level throughout the game and we weren’t able to do that to be quite honest today. “They made it difficult, reacted very well after the second goal and didn’t go under, far from it.” Swansea leapfrogged their opponents into the top half of the table with their sixth win of the season and took three points back to south Wales following two last-minute defeats by Burnley and Leeds heading into the match. Williams added: “We’ve recently conceded late goals but they’re a very resilient group and we saw it out in the end. “We’ve dominated games a lot but probably failed to score when we’ve been that dominant and tonight we managed to score the goals when we were dominant. “We scored the goals at the right time today.” Derby had been unbeaten in their last three matches coming into this one but Paul Warne put defeat down to a poor start. He said: “We conceded two and didn’t get close enough, weren’t aggressive enough, not enough body contact and looked soft, that’s my fault. “Maybe I didn’t message it properly. Sometimes it doesn’t come down to shape and tactics but I thought that was what the difference was. “Credit Swansea for the win but after the 25 mins it looked like we would score. I really enjoyed it, that’s the truth. I had 70 minutes of a team giving everything, I don’t think we’ve had that many attempts in the Championship this season. “It’s a rude awakening, last year we would’ve won that 4-2.”

Donald Trump wants to end daylight saving timeCAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulcrum Therapeutics, Inc. ® (the "Company”) (Nasdaq: FULC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases, today announced that management will participate in the following conferences: December 3, 2024 Fireside Chat at 12:00 pm ET, Participation link: HERE New York, New York December 4, 2024 Miami, Florida December 5, 2024 Miami, Florida About Fulcrum Therapeutics Fulcrum Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecules to improve the lives of patients with genetically defined rare diseases in areas of high unmet medical need. Fulcrum's lead program in clinical development is pociredir, a small molecule designed to increase expression of fetal hemoglobin and in development for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Fulcrum uses proprietary technology to identify drug targets that can modulate gene expression to treat the known root cause of gene mis-expression. For more information, visit www.fulcrumtx.com and follow us on Twitter/X (@FulcrumTx) and LinkedIn. Contact: Chris Calabrese LifeSci Advisors, LLC [email protected] 917-680-5608

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A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!Cowboys set for Thanksgiving visit from Giants after ending 5-game losing streakNew York Giants (2-9) at Dallas (4-7) Thursday, 4:30 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 4. Against the spread: Giants 3-8; Cowboys 3-8. Series record: Cowboys lead 76-47-2. Last meeting: Cowboys beat Giants 20-15 on Sept. 26, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last week: Giants lost to Buccaneers 30-7; Cowboys beat Commanders 34-26. Giants offense: overall (24), rush (19), pass (28), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (19), rush (30), pass (7), scoring (17) Cowboys offense: overall (21), rush (31), pass (8), scoring (T22) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (31), pass (21), scoring (31) Turnover differential: Giants minus-6; Cowboys minus-9. WR Malik Nabers. The No. 6 overall pick in the draft had a team-high six receptions for 64 yards despite not being targeted in the first half as the Giants fell behind the Bucs 23-0. Coach Brian Daboll said he is not going to let that happen again. Against Dallas in Week 4, Nabers had a season-high 12 catches for 115 yards, with a long of 39 yards. He was targeted 15 times by Daniel Jones. He sustained a concussion on the last attempt and missed the next two games. Story continues below video RB Rico Dowdle just had his second game of at least 85 yards, finishing with 86 on the road against the Commanders. The undrafted fifth-year player who has taken over as the lead back is looking to sustain momentum for the first time. After finishing with 87 yards in a victory at Pittsburgh, Dowdle came home and was held to a season-low 25 yards in a 47-9 loss to Detroit. Dallas' 31st-ranked run game has been marked by that kind of inconsistency, or worse, all season. Giants DL Dexter Lawrence vs. Cowboys OL. Lawrence is tied for sixth in the NFL with a career-high nine sacks, and the Dallas offensive front has been in flux most of the season. Injuries and youth have kept the Cowboys from establishing a rushing attack in most games. Dallas is coming off an effective showing on the ground and Cooper Rush's best performance in three starts filling in for injured star QB Dak Prescott. Lawrence will test the Cowboys' ability to get the run game going and protect Rush. Giants QB Tommy DeVito emerged with a sore throwing arm from his first start replacing the benched and subsequently released Jones. Daboll said it was uncertain whether DeVito would play and that Drew Lock would get extra reps in practice just in case. ... OLB Azeez Ojulari, who has six sacks and 10 QB hits, was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury. ... LT Jermaine Eluemunor, who started the first 11 games, was ruled out with a quad injury. ... DL Armon Watts won't play because of a shoulder issue. ... The Cowboys will be without perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin for a second consecutive game with ankle and shoulder injuries. ... CB Trevon Diggs, a 2021 All-Pro, is questionable with groin and knee issues after also missing the Washington game. ... LG Tyler Smith, who injured an ankle about the same time Martin did late in the game against Houston on Nov. 18, says he will play after sitting against the Commanders. ... TE Jake Ferguson has been ruled out with a concussion for the second week in a row. ... WR Brandin Cooks was activated off IR. He hasn't played since the first meeting with the Giants because of a knee issue. The Cowboys have won 14 of the past 15 meetings with the Giants. Matching seven-game winning streaks for Dallas are separated by a New York victory in the 2020 season finale. ... This is the second Thanksgiving meeting in three seasons for the NFC East rivals. There had been just one before that, a 30-3 Dallas victory in 1992. The Cowboys won 28-20 two years ago. The Giants are 0-4 on the holiday since a 13-6 win at Detroit in 1982. The 16 combined losses for New York and Dallas are the most going into a Cowboys Thanksgiving game, according to Sportradar. The previous high was 14 three times, most recently in 2020 when Washington beat Dallas 41-16 in a matchup of seven-loss teams. Washington made the playoffs that season as the NFC East champ at 7-9. ... The first Dallas-New York meeting also was on Thursday. That happened last season with Green Bay and Detroit. The previous — and only other — time was 1923 with the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals. ... The Giants' six-game losing streak is their longest since a nine-game skid, the franchise record, in 2019. ... The Cowboys ended a five-game losing streak with the victory at Washington but are 0-5 at home. It’s the worst home start since Dallas lost all eight games at old Texas Stadium while finishing 1-15 in 1989, the year owner Jerry Jones bought the team. The home losing streak is six going back to a wild-card loss to Green Bay in January. Before losing to the Packers, the Cowboys had won 16 in a row at AT&T Stadium. ... DeVito was 21 of 31 for 189 yards in his first action this season against the Buccaneers. He was sacked four times. ... WR Wan’Dale Robinson has 61 catches, surpassing his career high of 60 in 2023. ... Nabers has 67 catches, the most by a player in his first nine games. Puka Nacua of the Rams set the record of 64 last season. ... WR Darius Slayton had his streak of catching a pass snapped at 26 games against Tampa Bay. ... New York has gone 11 consecutive games without a positive turnover differential, extending the longest single-season streak in franchise history. ... The Giants have not intercepted a pass in 10 consecutive games, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland Raiders. ... New York has one sack in the past three games after getting an NFL-high 35 through the first eight games. ... The Giants have the fewest points in the league (163) and they have played seven games without scoring a first-half touchdown. ... Rookie S Tyler Nubin has led New York with 12 tackles each of the past two games. ... Rush had his highest passer rating as the Dallas starter at 117.6 against the Commanders. He threw for two touchdowns with no interceptions. Rush beat the Giants for one of his victories when he went 4-1 filling in for Prescott early in 2022. He had a TD with no picks in a 23-16 win. ... WR CeeDee Lamb leads the NFL with 77 catches. He and Jarvis Landry are the only players in league history with at least 70 catches in each of their first five seasons. Lamb led the NFL last season with a career-high 135 grabs. ... Star pass rusher Micah Parsons had two sacks against the Commanders and has a sack in each of his three Thanksgiving games. ... WR/KR KaVontae Turpin, who returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Washington, is the fifth player since the 1970 merger to have TDs on punt and kickoff returns along with a scoring catch of at least 60 yards. The most recent was Chicago's Devin Hester in 2007. Lamb has averaged 91 yards receiving per game against the Giants in his career, but without a bunch of touchdowns (four). While the Giants lag in most team statistical categories, they do have the seventh-best pass defense in the NFL. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Holiday shopping for Gen Zs and Alphas can be quite the adventure! Teens and tweens are perpetually ahead of the curve with their ever-evolving tastes and interests, which makes finding the perfect present a tricky task for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, and more. To hit the mark, though, you’ll do well to consider anything that’s Taylor Swift-coded , tech gadgets that keep them connected, trendy fashion or beauty items that let them express their unique style and personality, or complex craft kits and subscription boxes that can help fuel their imagination and awaken their creative spirits. As a mom of three very young Gen Alphas, I’m always trying to figure out exactly which games, toys, and trinkets will win them over, but the tween and teen set (Gen Z’s youngest are 12 years old right now) is even more impossible to please. Best Gifts for Tweens and Teens So, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting to bring you a list of 20 gifts guaranteed to have all the 10-somethings in your life flooding you with MAJOR aura points (i.e. your coolness is essentially off the charts). Bic BODYMARK Temporary Tattoo Markers Bic BODYMARK Temporary Tattoo Markers Amazon/Bic Price: $20, instead of $35 Okay, so we’re not saying that your teens should be inking up with reckless abandon, but if they want to flex some rebellion in their not-quite-an-adult-yet years, then these skin-safe markers might do the trick (I mean, remember how obsessed we all were with Milky Pen scribbles all over our arms and hands back in the early aughts?). With a variety of vibrant colors and tip types, teens 13 years old+ can draw freestyle or use the enclosed BODYMARK stencils to create eye-catching designs that showcase their unique sense of self, what they love, and what they stand for. BONNYCO Pink Cinema Light Box with 400 Letters & Emojis & 2 Markers BONNYCO Pink Cinema Light Box Amazon/BONNYCO Price: $28, instead of $40 Any gift that gives your tweenager a voice will have them heart-eyesing for days — quite literally, too, when emojis are involved. Prep it with a very special message and then put it under the tree, and come Christmas, they’ll be lit up with excitement. FlashCatch Light Up Football FlashCatch Light Up Football Amazon/FlashCatch Price: $28, instead of $35 Even though it gets dark at like 5 p.m. these days, your little baller can still keep their game in play with this glow-in-the-dark, professional-level football. They’ll need to pump it up before it’s ready to go (pump isn’t included), but the box come with a spare set of batteries and over 30 hours of run-time, so no one needs to retire too early. Stanley x Barbie Icon 30-Ounce Quencher Stanley x Barbie Icon 30-Ounce Quencher Stanley/Mattel/Barbie Price: $50 If you’re shopping for a mini Barbie with a certifiable water bottle obsession, then you have to add to their growing collection with this best-selling hot pink Stanley Quencher. With a high-gloss “Barbie” signature in brush script and the doll’s unmistakable high-pony silhouette near the handle, this easy-to-hold sipper will be in hand everywhere they’re going. HASAKEE Q9 Drone HASAKEE Q9 Drone in Blue and Green HASAKEE Price: $40, instead of $50 This drone isn’t just about flying; it’s about creating a neon light show in the sky with its vibrant green and blue LEDs. It’s super easy to use, even for beginners, and it’s built to withstand all those inevitable crashes (bound to happen if you have a boy in between the ages of 8 and 12). Trust me, this drone will keep your young adventurer entertained for hours with its cool tricks and double flight time. CrunchLabs Subscription Box CrunchLabs Subscription Box CrunchLabs Price: starting from $25 per box (if paying annually for 12 months) You really can’t get a more “fire” gift than a subscription box straight from the mind of a real-life former NASA engineer. With a CrunchLabs Build Box subscription , your budding builder will get a cool new STEM project (like a disc launcher, coin spinner, or trip wire) that they can create, play with and learn from — via Mark Rober’s fun video guide. Plus, every box comes with a chance to win a Platinum Ticket to go to CrunchLabs and meet Rober himself. #Totalfankid approved. TOSY Flying Disc TOSY Flying Disc TOSY Price: $28, instead of $36 Some kids just cannot stay inside, and this TOSY light-up frisbee (basically) was made exclusively for them. The disc glows with bright, built-in LED lights, and it packs up to 90 minutes of air time. Your ultimate “W” in the gift-giving department might even convince your kiddo to commission a Christmas or New Year’s Eve throw challenge for the whole family... That’s the goal, right?! Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera Fujifilm Price: $79 What Polaroid had on lock in the 90s and 2000s is now being finessed for a new generation in Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera . This shutterbug-satisfying snapster — available in five pretty pastel colorways — prints out high-quality, 2-inch x 3-inch INSTAX mini instant photos in approximately five seconds. But, let’s be honest, it’s the built-in “selfie” mirror on the lens that’s just the total cherry on top. Bose New SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen Portable Bluetooth Speaker Bose New SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen Portable Bluetooth Speaker Bose Price: $119, instead of $149 Looking for a no-brainer gift idea for any music-loving 10 to 19-year-old? We got you! With up to 20 hours of battery life, they can jam out all day long without missing a beat. Its portable, waterproof, and dust-proof design means they can take their tunes anywhere — whether they’re having a sleepover party with friends or chilling at the beach or the park with their crew (when it’s finally nice outside again). And before you ask, YES, they can even charge their phone from the speaker, so they’ll never have to worry about their favorite Spotlfy playlist cutting out. UGG Ultra Mini Platform UGG Ultra Mini Platform UGG/Kids Foot Locker Price: $130 UGG boots are as much on the radar of our mini-mes as they are for us, so if you really want to earn yourself a “best gift giver of ALL time” superlative this season, going with a trendy pair of sheepskin slip-ons will help you do it. Featuring a unique asymmetrical design and super-cushy midsole, the fur-lined platforms — available in best-selling UGG colorways — are all they need to slay the day. Sorry, we just had... Even more gifts that hit different with this discerning crowd e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil for $8 SUSSED The Wacky ‘What Would You Do?’ Card Game for $13, instead of $15 Flipslide Game — Electronic Handheld Game for $15, instead of $18 MAREE Star Pimple Patches for Face for $16 Pretty Me Wall Collage Kit for $20, instead of $25 SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen with Display for $37 BAGGU Medium Nylon Crescent Bag for $52 Beats Solo 3 — Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones for $95, instead of $200 LoveShackFancy Oran Weekender for $295 PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim) for $374, instead of $450 The Best Gift Guides of 2024 12 expensive gifts that are so worth it, you actually won’t feel bad buying them for yourself or loved ones 20 unique gifts your girlfriend will actually love and use 21 white elephant gifts you can buy last minute on Amazon 15 coworker gift ideas for your next office holiday party 20 unique gifts for the boyfriend who has everything Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .

Ukraine must be placed in the “strongest possible position for negotiations” to end the war with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”is below the turkey on your list of Thanksgiving necessities, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. Whether you’re looking to enhance the festivities through sharing drinks, laughter, and stories or avoid the awkwardness of discussing politics, navigating family dynamics, and explaining your personal life (we’ve all been there), whiskey helps. That’s precisely why having a good, reliable bottle of the brown stuff nearby helps the holiday season go down smoothly. To aid you in your attempts to either survive or thrive this Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving), we put together a list of to bring along with you. As a bonus, we broke them all up into price segments because even though it the most festive time of the year, . That said, we’ll start with fantastic budget bottles you won’t mind sharing because of the price, leaving you looking like a hero because they’re eagerly enjoyed. Next, we’ll get into the pricier mid-shelf range, a real sweet spot for showing off some high-quality bottles that will impress everyone trying them. Finally, we’ll end with high-end bottles that are worth the cost to prove to your loved ones that you don’t just have the extra cash but also the discerning taste and class to match. Now, without further ado, let’s dive in! Bottles from $10-$30 4. Duncan Taylor 12-Year Blended Scotch Whisky Duncan Taylor’s 12-year blend of malt and grain whiskey from the Speyside, Islay, Highland, and Lowland regions of Scotland makes for an approachable entry point into the brand, which also carries several rare and exorbitantly priced single malt options. The nosing notes open with a floral aspect of lavender honey before a faint bit of smokiness and sweet malt come wafting up to greet the nose. Overall, it has an arrangement of light but clearly well-developed aromas with lemon zest, dried apricots, and toasted multigrain bread notes. Once on the palate, there’s a creaminess that comes and quickly dissipates as the light flavors lay claim to the tongue. Primary among those notes are the bits of dried apricot and lemon zest alone with lavender honey and gentle, well-incorporated peat smoke. The succinct finish welcomes an uptick in the smoky flavor, a touch of salinity and black pepper, plus a final flourish of the citrus notes found at midpalate. For a $30 blended whiskey that delivers on flavor and can open the eyes of your friends and family to a world beyond Johnnie Walker ( ) Duncan Taylor is the right choice. The approachable flavor profile and moderate ABV will allow you to enjoy from the time the hors d’oeuvres are served, right up until the big bird hits the table. 3. Maker’s Mark Bourbon Maker’s Mark features the bourbon world’s most iconic bottle design, the same one they’ve been utilizing since their founding in 1953, and a mash bill that’s been used for just as long. This wheated bourbon is one of the best-selling whiskeys in the entire world, making it a ubiquitous sight on liquor store shelves. On the nose, you’ll find a bit of corn pudding, vanilla extract, and indistinct red berry aromas wafting out of the glass. There’s also a bit of graham cracker sweetness and white pepper. On the palate, Maker’s Mark greets the tongue with a bunch of honeyed graham cracker notes that soon make way for vanilla pod and cornbread. A second sip morphs the vanilla pod into a custard note, complete with caramelized sugar and some red berry compote. The finish of Maker’s Mark features some mellow spice and more red berry compote, as those natural sugars fuse with vanilla notes to quickly dissipate from the palate. Despite its modest proof point, Maker’s Mark has a ton of flavor, meaning you won’t blow out your palate or scare off if you decide to sip this one neat. It’s ubiquitous on liquor store shelves and should be a staple on your bar cart, primarily if you aim to offer Thanksgiving guests a smooth bourbon they can enjoy all night long. 2. Evan Williams Bottled In Bond Bourbon Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is often named as . Aged for at least four years, per the Bottled in Bond regulations, this 100-proof bourbon is almost as readily found around the country as Evan Williams’ flagship “black label” expression. The nosing notes open with honey, lemon zest, and a distinct peanut note on this bourbon. From there, the periphery aromas are faint — a touch of brown butter, apricots, and cumin, but otherwise nondescript. In the mouth, those initial three notes make the most substantial impression, along with a piquant texture that slightly prickles the tongue and adds a bit of pop to the citrus flavors in the liquid. On the finish, you’ll find some black pepper spice and youthful oak that curtail the peanut and lemon zest flavors. The finish is short-to-medium, giving just enough room to make a satisfying impression on the palate before encouraging repeat sips. Evan Williams’ Bottled in Bond Expression is a masterclass in delivering a high-quality, no-frills bourbon. At 100-proof, it can stand tall in cocktails, bringing an abundance of flavor to classics , but it has just enough depth to perform well on its own—making for a delicious, cost-friendly sipper. 1. Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon is not only the most classic expression in the brand’s lineup, . Wild Turkey’s signature 101-proof designation was first formulated in the 1940s by Austin, Nichols & Co. executive Thomas McCarthy, and it’s been a benchmark for high-quality, budget-friendly bourbon ever since. The nose on this whiskey encapsulates what Wild Turkey is all about. There’s a lovely dusting of baking spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove resting atop stone fruits like stewed red apples, bruised peaches, and a faint dose of caramel and oak. On the palate, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon offers a familiar range of flavors, from apple chips, cinnamon bark, and oak to vanilla extract, nutmeg, and clove. The mouthfeel is intriguing, maintaining enough grip on the palate to heighten the impact of the various baking spices but enough give for the fruit-forward flavors to strut their stuff. The finish is where black pepper flares up, along with a more forceful impression of the oak and clove notes. It’s a short-to-medium finish that pairs well with the flavor profile, giving the impression that this blend is perfectly proofed. Wild Turkey 101 might conjure memories of crazy college nights for some people, but serious connoisseurs know that even with its rowdy reputation, this is one of the best-kept secrets in bourbon. With a robust, spice-heavy profile, Wild Turkey 101 is bold enough to while offering the depth of flavor that makes it great to savor at length in the evening’s quieter moments, too. Bottles from $30-$60 4. Bushmills Single Malt 12-Year Irish Whiskey Bushmills 12, made from 100% Irish malted barley, is part of the well-known brand’s core range. Alongside Jameson and Redbreast, Bushmills is perhaps the most widely known Irish whiskey brand, and that’s due to their 237-year legacy of producing high-quality liquid. For this expression, they marry ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks together, then finish them in ex-Marsala casks for 6-9 months. The nose opens with dilute honey and bright apple notes with a lovely infusion of faint nutmeg, pears, and vanilla beans, giving this whiskey a distinctly autumnal vibe from the outset. Once the liquid crosses your lips and hits your palate, those lovely aromas from the nose spring to life as full-figured flavors on your tongue. Apple chips dipped in honey come to mind at the tip of the tongue before the graininess of Cheerios curtails the sweetness and allows you to appreciate the creamy texture as it barrels toward the finish. The finish is short to medium in length and introduces a bit more baking spice, caramel, and dried apple flavors. Bushmills 12 is a beautiful display of balance when using finishing casks, as each of the barrels selected contributes a little bit of oomph to the overall flavor profile. Caramel and faint coconut from the bourbon casks, rich apple notes from the Oloroso, and a slight nuttiness offer a more full-bodied texture with the Marsala casks, making this one ideal for holiday enjoyment. 3. Nikka Whisky From The Barrel Nikka Whisky From The Barrel features a blend of whiskies from Japan and Scotch, mingling single malt and single grain whiskies for this singular release. Offered “overproof” at 51.4% ABV, this stout bottle packs quite a punch. Also, for clarity’s sake, while this whisky was produced in Japan and contained Japanese whisky, it cannot legally be called a Japanese whisky as of 2021, thanks to new regulations and its inclusion of Scotch whiskey in the blend. Orange marmalade and dark berries (think blueberries and blackberries) inform the nose right away that this is going to be a rich, full-bodied whisky experience. There’s also some strong oak with a faint leather backbone to go with an elusive level of smoke that grows in prominence once you initially detect it. On the palate, those jammy berry notes come to the fore along with some stern oak, a stronger presence of smoke, and further accenting notes of roasted hazelnuts, toasted multigrain bread, and caramelized sugar. At this hefty proof, it definitely sits on your palate with some density, making it a treat to chew and enjoy at length. The finish is lingering and strips away some of the sweeter, fruit-forward notes in favor of the slight nuttiness and oak influences. Toffee is there, but white pepper, hazelnuts, and tobacco leaf flavors close things out. While American palates are more accustomed to the bold flavors of bourbon and rye whiskies, this nifty blend of Japanese whisky and Scotch offers a range of rich flavors capable of not only dispelling that myth but also standing up to the assortment of flavors found in your typical Thanksgiving meal. Even better, it can definitely enhance protein dishes like baked ham and the main event — the turkey. 2. Glenglassaugh Sandend Inspired by the crescent beach of Sandend Bay, home of Glenglassaugh, this expression of single malt Scotch utilizes bourbon, sherry, and manzanilla casks to create a floral and fruity flavor profile. Also of note is that this was voted for 2023. The nose opens with an explosion of tropical fruit and vanilla ice cream as chunks of pineapple greet bright red cherries as some slight salinity and crème brûlée notes fill the air above the glass. The flavor wheel starts spinning with more of those lively fruit notes from pineapple chunks to bright red cherries and blood orange before the crème brûlée’s caramelized sugar and vanilla custard flavors have their say. There’s some salted caramel to be found as well, and the texture is very supple, gently coating the palate while remaining spry enough to bounce around from corner to corner of the mouth. The finish is appropriately medium-length with more fruit and crème brûlée undulating against the cheeks while white pepper and a touch of allspice close out each sip with a baking spice flourish. What makes Glenglassaugh’s Sandend expression so ideal for enjoyment during Thanksgiving is that it brings forth a ton of sweet, fruity notes that seem tailor-made for the spice profile and dishes served during the holiday. Try serving this one up alongside cranberry sauce, for example, to exploit all of that fruity flavor, or use it as a counter to savory dishes or sweet potatoes. 1. Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon Russell’s Reserve’s 10-Year Bourbon was initially released in 2001 as an age-stated, 101-proof expression. In 2005, much to the chagrin of Wild Turkey fans, the ABV was brought down to its current level, making this a 90-proof expression. The nose on Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon contains varying vanillas, from ice cream to vanilla extract. There are also pastry notes and the aroma of brioche buns, along with a touch of salted caramel, warm oak, and fresh nutmeg. The palate on Russell’s Reserve 10-Year Bourbon is distinctly earthy at first, with toasted walnuts, apple leather, and mature oak leading the charge. As you chew the bourbon, you’ll notice that those notes grow in prominence with the oak and walnut flavors outpacing the restrained fruitiness and baking spices like clove and cinnamon become more pronounced. The mouthfeel is middle of the road, which serves well to carry all of those earthy flavors without being overly slick and distracting from them. The finish is marked by more vanilla tones, think vanilla pod more so than vanilla extract, and there’s more hazelnut flavor to be discovered alongside oak and red apple skin. It’s a medium-length finish that works well because it fades before that mature oak begins to dry out the back of your palate. Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon is one of the best values in American whiskey, offering a well-aged expression at an affordable price. This expression is perhaps the best example of Wild Turkey’s ability to deliver that consistently competes with bourbons at twice the price. Let’s face it, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than bringing one of Wild best bourbons to Thanksgiving dinner. Bottles from $60-$100 4. WhistlePig 10-Year Small Batch Rye Whiskey WhistlePig’s 10-year-old rye whiskey, sourced from Canada, is so damn good (and well-known at this point) that it’s probably the contemporary standard for Canadian whiskey among American whiskey enthusiasts. Aged for at least 10 years, these bottles have been known to house liquid that pushes up to 11 or 12 years old and beyond. The nosing notes open with some applewood, cedar, slight mint, and red apples. I’m immediately put into an autumnal state of mind when nosing this whiskey as a touch of butterscotch and salted caramel rounds things out. On the palate, the whiskey is immediately mouth-coating and creamy, with those notes of fresh red apples and cedar claiming the lead in terms of prominence while butterscotch, faint hints of dill and mint, plus cedar wood begin to blossom at midpalate. The medium-length finish is drying like apples can be, as the fruit sugars dissipate and leave the edges of your tongue slightly astringent. There’s more cedar, cinnamon bark, and a faint bit of clove to be found before it all ends. This viscous, sweet whiskey fits perfectly under the “crushable” descriptor while offering enough intrigue to keep you from hurriedly tossing it back. It is the perfect whiskey for a holiday party because it’s good enough to warrant conversation but simply enjoyable enough to enhance all of the conversation happening around it. 3. Lagavulin 16 Considered by many to be the benchmark of smoky Islay Scotch whisky, Lagavulin’s well-earned reputation is difficult to escape. This peated Scotch classic achieved its status as the King of Islay for balancing that smoky profile with a deft touch of sweetness. The nose opens with bold billows of peat smoke, but as those gently waft away, you’ll notice some meaty undertones with slight salinity reminiscent of savory bacon fat, a touch of smoked honey, sweet sherry, and creamy vanilla ice cream with a touch of cinnamon bark. On the palate, this whiskey remains true to its aroma notes as it opens with enveloping smoke that then introduces the savory bacon fat notes, which then subside, allowing space for the sherry sweetness along with a touch of honeyed black tea and the flavor of crème brûlée. The texture is robust, and it simultaneously coats your palate while also spryly rolling over your tongue, searching for new territory to claim. The finish continues the interplay of savory and sweet with a gentle kiss of smoke as it lingers for quite a while after the final sip is gone, gently and slowly receding as it beckons you to re-fill your glass. While isn’t for everyone, this bottle is sure to sink its hooks into someone. At the very least, it’s a cool idea to bring this classic example of Islay Scotch for guests to try, but you shouldn’t be shocked if a smaller group of discerning individuals slowly drink the bottle into extinction over the course of the night. 2. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon This bottle, a single-barrel version of Four Roses’ OBSV recipe ( ), is an absolutely classic bourbon. The brand describes the OBSV recipe as having a delicate, fruit-forward yeast and a high-rye mash bill. The nosing notes are resplendent with red berries as the aroma of raspberries and black cherries leap out of the glass, along with a touch of sage, singed mint, Brazil nuts, and blood oranges. This is one expressive and inviting nose. On the palate, those flavors continue to develop as the blood orange fuses with black cherries, and they’re joined by black pepper spice, singed mint, sage, and even a bit of cedar at midpalate. The juxtaposition of citrus, sweetness, woodsiness, and baking spice might seem like a cacophony of flavors, but they all come together harmoniously. The finish is where the baking spice slightly wins out over the fruit-forward notes as it lingers with medium length on the tongue, sizzling the tip and leaving bits of bright cherry and Valencia orange meat on the back end. If you aren’t picking up on a theme here, this bottle should help spell it out. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is packed with flavor but still maintains an approachability and sweetness that will make it appealing to connoisseurs and novices alike. Furthermore, it has a berry-forward flavor profile that pairs well with Thanksgiving dishes and still lands at a price point that makes it fair game for mixing in cocktails. 1. Benriach The Smoky Ten Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Benriach’s use of Highland peat sets them apart from the bruising Islay peated expressions that most whiskey drinkers are familiar with. The Highlands’ wood-rich peat is more delicate and fruit-forward, and it’s part of what makes Benriach’s Smoky Ten (and their fabulous Smoky 12) expression so unique. This one is made from a blend of peated and unpeated whiskey that was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels, ex-Jamaican rum casks, and virgin oak that was toasted to the distillery’s specifications. The nose gives you an indication of that intricate lineage with a faint bit of tropical fruits like overripe mangoes and bananas joining forces with butterscotch, dried apricots, and smoked applewood. Once on the palate, this whiskey opens with spiced pear flavors along with smoked honey and dried apricots. Wow, the first sip is so complex and full of well-defined flavors that a second sip is immediately necessary, and once you take a second sip, the joy of unlocking that mystery takes hold. The liquid is moderately textured, which means that its viscousness doesn’t stand in the way of your picking apart each layer of flavor and savoring it at length. The medium-length finish is where the smoke takes hold, and as promised, it’s a gentler smoke profile than most Islay Scotches and comes complete with an applewood and honey sweetness that makes it more palatable for beginners and more intriguing for avid imbibers. Benriach’s Smoky Ten expression perfectly encapsulates the type of fun, flavorful whiskeys that the Highland distillery is making across its portfolio. While it remains true to the delicate, sweet, and slightly floral profile that Highland single malt is known for, by adding that twist of Highland peat, Benriach elevates this whiskey to must-try status with ease. As a holiday companion, this is one you’re likely to stick to like glue throughout the entire night. Bottles over $100 4. Heaven Hill Grain To Glass Rye (2024) Heaven Hill’s brand-new Grain To Glass lineup features three whiskeys intended to highlight the carefully grown grains (Beck’s 6158 corn) they sourced from hand-selected local farming partners. For the lineup’s lone rye offering, they bottled a whiskey that utilizes a different grain source and mash bill from their other standout expressions like Parker’s Heritage 10-Year Rye and Pikesville Rye. Tobacco leaf, almond, mint sprigs, and oak all take turns rising and falling on the nose for a dense, impressive melange that makes you want to sit with your glass for extended consideration. The heavy mouthfeel brings milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, oak, and smoked mint across the palate on the first sip. The layers of flavor go deeper on the second sip, with cayenne, caramel, and cinnamon dancing on the center of the palate, while the influence of ethanol causes the periphery of the tongue to pulsate with delight. The finish is long-lasting, drying the palate out a bit while black tea, oak, freshly cracked black pepper, and mint linger at the back of the tongue. Heaven Hill’s Grain To Glass series hit the mark across the entire lineup, but the rye is easily the star of the show. They’ve delivered a bottle of rye that can go toe-to-toe with the best of them by switching up their grain source and tinkering with the mash bill to optimize it. You’ll want your friends and family to appreciate what makes this whiskey different from the others in . 3. Octomore 15.2 For Octomore 15.2, the whiskey was initially aged in second-fill wine casks (42%) and second-fill Bourbon casks (58%) before being finished in second-fill French oak ex-Cognac casks that push the flavor profile in an intriguing direction. The 15.2 features the same batch of Scottish-grown barley as 15.1, also malted to 108.22 PPM. The aroma notes sing with Brie cheese, lime zest, walnuts, and cherries. Despite having the same phenol level of 15.1, the 15.2 comes across as less smoky thanks to its pine-like woodsiness, with moss, ginger cookies, and brown butter. Once on the palate, those nosing notes delicately unfurl with wisps of moss and smoke, subtly masking the vanilla custard, dried apricot, and Rainier cherry notes. The slick, velvety texture finds a home in every corner of the mouth as it gently coats the palate, allowing each flavor note to develop with ample space. The finish is where a greater infusion of smoke comes through with pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and a slight salinity. While this year’s Octomore 15.3 is drawing a lot of attention for being a phenomenal phenolic force, . With a balanced bouquet of aromas married to a patient, revealing palate, Octomore 15.2 is a testament to the delicate deployment of peat. It’ll make an awesome companion to some of the holiday’s savory dishes. 2. Redbreast 15-Year-Old Irish Whiskey Utilizing first fill and refill casks (ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, to be exact) combines a bevy of classic flavors for this exciting Irish whiskey offering aged for at least 15 years. Redbreast is well known for being in the world, and this 15-year expression, a step up from their flagship 12-year, is where the whiskey starts hitting its stride. The aroma notes begin with caramel-drizzled pineapple for an unexpectedly sweet opening that then lends itself to a touch of savoriness in the form of cooked dates and bacon fat before the fruit-forward aspect lurches to the top of those aromas with cooked blueberries and Manuka honey. On the palate, the whiskey has a rich texture atop the tongue, which quickly recedes like a bubble bursting to reveal all of the fruity flavor hiding underneath its initial viscousness. Star anise and vanilla pod flavors accent notes of hazelnut spread, dark chocolate chunks, ripe oranges, and grilled peaches. As it takes a turn to the finish, you’ll also pick up hints of cinnamon, dandelions, and ginger. The finish is where the sweetness becomes more restrained as hazelnuts, ginger, and vanilla pods linger on the palate, leaving a touch of citrus and cacao behind before things slowly come to a close. Whether you’re already an avid fan of Irish whiskey or new to the game, it’d be hard to do better than exploring the Redbreast core lineup. This 15-year whiskey is capable of creating converts across the whisk(e)y spectrum, and you’d be wise to put it to the test at your next holiday gathering to see how many hardcore Scotch and bourbon drinkers find themselves gravitating towards this tasty treat. 1. A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12, Scene 1 . Though the expression has seen its price creep up in recent years, the enthusiasm around the brand hasn’t abated, making the blend of rye whiskies finished in both Tawny and Ruby port barrels one of the season’s hard-to-find bottles that are worth it. The nosing notes open with the sweetness of the port wine casks as a slight nuttiness envelopes the overall profile before jammy red berries, allspice, cedar, and a faint bit of mint pick up in prominence. On the palate, this whiskey begins a bit austere but soon blossoms to reveal the red berry notes from the nose in lockstep with allspice, mint, and honeyed, toasted multigrain bread. The texture, too, begins a bit austere before unwinding as the whiskey travels toward the back of the palate, revealing ribbons of black pepper and more mint before reaching the finish. The medium-length finish is where black pepper, raspberry compote, and singed mint can be found, along with some vanilla pod flavor and restrained sage. While High West’s Midwinter Night’s Dram offering has waxed and waned in quality over the years, what remains consistent is that this unique flavor profile is a perfect fit for holiday enjoyment. While it’s exceedingly welcome at the Thanksgiving table, don’t feel bad if you can’t secure a bottle before then; it’ll be an equally delicious treat for Christmas.