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flea circus Suriname's government announced Saturday that the small South American nation will not hold a state funeral for its ex-president Desi Bouterse, who this week died a fugitive from justice aged 79. Current President Chan Santokhi "has decided, based on his powers and advice received, that there will be no state funeral... No period of national mourning," Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told a press conference. Bouterse was a former military man who twice mounted coups, in 1980 and again in 1990, to take charge as a dictator. He eventually returned to power after being elected president in 2010 and governed for a decade. He died Tuesday in the unknown location where he had been holed up as a fugitive, with in-absentia convictions for cocaine trafficking and murder. Bouterse's body was dropped off at his residence in the capital Paramaribo. An autopsy was ordered, though police said there were "no signs of criminal activity." Bouterse had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for the 1982 execution of political opponents, including lawyers, journalists, businessmen and military prisoners. He remained a popular figure with the poor and working class in the former Dutch colony. The foreign minister said that, out of respect for Bouterse's status as an elected former president, flags would be flown at half-staff on government buildings on the day of his funeral, whose date has not yet been given. str-jt/rmb/acb

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A plane burst into flames after veering off a runway at an airport in South Korea on Sunday, killing at least 28 people on board, emergency officials said. The fire engulfed the aircraft carrying 181 people when it skidded off the runway just after landing and struck a barrier. The country's emergency office said its landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned. Footage of the crash aired by YTN television showed the Jeju Air plane skidding across the airstrip, apparently with its landing gear still closed, and colliding head-on with a concrete wall on the outskirts of the facility. The transport ministry said the incident happened at 9:03 a.m. local time. The National Fire Agency said the fire was almost put out but officials were still trying to pull people from the Jeju Air passenger plane at the airport in the southern town of Muan. At least 28 people had died in the fire, the agency said. Emergency workers pulled out two people — one passenger and one crew member. It said it deployed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to contain the fire. Emergency officials said they were examining the cause of the fire. Local TV stations aired footage showing thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the plane engulfed with flame. The incident came as South Korea is embroiled into a huge political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. Last Friday, South Korean lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, making Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over. Choi ordered officials to employ all available resources to rescue the passengers and crew, according to Yonhap news agency. Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, will preside over an emergency meeting between senior presidential staff later on Sunday to discuss the crash.Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce seen together in New York amid wedding rumorsPerryville football prides itself on defense, and for good reason. The unit largely carried the Panthers to a state semifinal appearance and stymied opponents throughout the season. It was put to the test again Saturday against eighth-seeded Fort Hill, the three-time defending Class 1A state champions who upset the bracket’s top seed last week to give fourth-seeded Perryville a home semifinal game. The home team’s defense did enough to clinch a championship game berth, but an offense that deteriorated as the game went on kept the Panthers from capitalizing in a 24-21 season-ending loss. Still, the Panthers see growth. “Three years ago, we didn’t hold a candle to this team,” Sandora said. “That’s the three-time defending state champ, probably gonna be a fourth one. We took them to the brink.” Sandora’s defense forced two turnovers on downs, a punt and a fumble in the fourth quarter with Perryville trailing by just three. But each time, the Panthers’ offense had a similar outcome. A punt by Fort Hill preceded an interception by Perryville quarterback Joey Thomason. A goal-line stand by the Panthers returned the ball to their offense, which punted from the end zone four plays later. Fort Hill fumbled to give the ball back to the home team with three minutes to play, but a fumble by Perryville gave it right back 90 seconds later. One more fourth-down stop gave Perryville’s offense a final chance, needing to drive from beyond midfield with under a minute to play. Thomason escaped a collapsing pocket on fourth down, spun to evade a defender and threw short of the first-down marker. Senior receiver Devin Clore was brought down well before the line to gain, and Perryville’s season ended there. Perryville’s defense gave up just 17 points — one of Fort Hill’s scores came on a kickoff return touchdown. “We just didn’t make some plays toward the end of this game,” Perryville coach Sean Sandora said. “Our guys played with a lot of heart all year long. I couldn’t be prouder.” Related Articles Thomason and junior receiver Jayden Byard led an aerial attack that let Perryville race out to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter. The duo connected on an 80-yard touchdown, one of Thomason’s two passing touchdowns of the afternoon. They nearly had another, but Byard — who also added an interception on defense — fumbled nearing the goal line and Perryville pounced on the loose ball to complete the score. After Byard’s touchdown, Sandora told his two-way star on the sideline “I need more from you,” a plea to continue the scoring. But that was it for Perryville’s offense, which punted four times and turned it over twice in a scoreless second half. Fort Hill only needed one second-half touchdown to leap ahead for good. Thomason and Byard, both juniors, will return next season. They hope to lead their team back to this stage with a different result at the end. In the postgame huddle, with most heads pointed toward the turf, Sandora told his underclassmen to remember that feeling. He hopes it’ll provide the motivation needed to clear this last hurdle.Elon Musk’s xAI has raised $6 billion in funding, the next step for the tech executive’s disruptive AI startup. Musk has long been a proponent of safe AI research, leading him to co-found OpenAI. Since cutting ties with OpenAI, Musk founded xAI. The company has been growing rapidly, including plans to to 1 million GPUs. In its latest round of funding, the startup $6 billion from a host of investment companies. xAI’s progress is accelerating rapidly. We have closed our Series C funding round of $6 billion with participation from key investors including A16Z, Blackrock, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Kingdom Holdings, Lightspeed, MGX, Morgan Stanley, OIA, QIA, Sequoia Capital, Valor Equity Partners and Vy Capital, amongst others. Strategic investors NVIDIA and AMD also participated and continue to support xAI in rapidly scaling our infrastructure. The company took the opportunity to tout the progress it has been making on its AI models. xAI’s most powerful model yet, Grok 3, is currently training and we are now focused on launching innovative new consumer and enterprise products that will leverage the power of Grok, Colossus, and X to transform the way we live, work, and play. The funds from this financing round will be used to further accelerate our advanced infrastructure, ship groundbreaking products that will be used by billions of people, and accelerate the research and development of future technologies enabling the company’s mission to understand the true nature of the universe. xAI is primarily focused on the development of advanced AI systems that are truthful, competent, and maximally beneficial for all of humanity. Musk has positioned Grok as a less politically correct AI model, one willing to tackle topics ChatGPT, Gemini, and others won’t touch. The round of investment is a significant vote of confidence in xAI, and should go a long way toward helping further xAI’s ability to challenge the industry leaders.

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This week offers a mix of professional achievements, family harmony, and personal growth for Scorpio natives. The beginning of the week highlights a boost in reputation and recognition, especially in your workplace. You’ll find yourself more efficient and productive, earning praise from colleagues and seniors alike. Family life is harmonious, with an atmosphere of mutual respect and laughter strengthening your bonds. Midweek shifts your focus to financial matters, as discussions about property, investments, or long-term planning dominate your attention. This is an auspicious time to deliberate on major decisions, especially those involving family assets or joint ventures. Toward the weekend, expect an active social calendar as invitations from friends or relatives come your way. You’ll enjoy meaningful interactions that not only bring joy but also expand your network. The week concludes on a positive note, leaving you feeling accomplished and emotionally fulfilled. Love and Relationships Love and relationships take a positive turn for Scorpios this week. For those in committed relationships or marriage, the week starts on a high note as mutual support and understanding deepen your connection. You’ll feel closer to your partner, and discussions about future goals or plans are likely to bring you even closer. Singles, meanwhile, may experience exciting developments midweek, such as meeting someone intriguing through a professional or social setting. Midweek also favors rekindling old flames or exploring unspoken feelings in an existing connection. By the weekend, a shared outing or heartfelt gesture will help you strengthen the emotional and romantic aspects of your bond. Family dynamics will also improve, adding to your sense of security and happiness. Education and Career Students and professionals alike have a productive week ahead. For students, the beginning of the week might be slightly challenging in terms of staying focused, but determination and structured effort will lead to success. Those preparing for competitive exams or academic presentations will find midweek particularly favorable for achieving their goals. On the career front, Scorpios will shine as their skills and efficiency receive recognition. If you’re employed, expect positive feedback or even opportunities for growth, such as new responsibilities or projects. Entrepreneurs and business owners can explore new avenues for collaboration or diversification. Networking midweek will bring unexpected opportunities to the forefront. The weekend is ideal for planning future strategies and solidifying your long-term objectives. Money and Finance Financially, this week is stable with opportunities for growth. Early in the week, you might focus on increasing your income or securing long-term financial stability. Discussions related to family assets, property, or investments are likely to arise midweek, and this is a favorable time to make informed decisions. Avoid impulsive spending during the weekend, as social activities might tempt you to overspend. Instead, channel your resources into savings or investments that align with your future goals. Support from family members or a partner may help ease any financial concerns, and by the end of the week, you’ll feel more secure in your financial position. Health and Well-being Health remains steady for Scorpio natives this week, although you might feel the effects of overwork or stress during the middle of the week. The high demands of work and social engagements could lead to fatigue if you don’t maintain a balanced routine. Incorporate relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or simple breathing exercises to rejuvenate your mind and body. Pay attention to hydration and nutrition, as neglecting these could cause minor issues like headaches or indigestion. The weekend brings an opportunity for physical and emotional rejuvenation, especially if you spend time outdoors or engage in activities you enjoy. Focus on maintaining balance to keep your energy levels high throughout the week.Well, I managed to stick my big dumb old white guy foot in it again. An article in “The Atlantic” entitled “The Growing Gender Divide, Three Minutes At A Time,” spotlighted the work of singer/songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, one of a growing list of female singer/songwriters who have overtaken the “air waves” recently. Of course, to us elders this is nothing new. We saw a giant bloom of female singer/songwriters during the 60s and 70s. Some (but certainly not all) including Janis Ian, Judee Sill, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Laura Nyro and the legendary Carole King. I mentioned some of these artists in a comment and got the response that this was now the younger artists time to shine. Sigh... Every generation should be able to claim some music as its own and likewise some artists. But the hubris of younger people that insist that they “invented” something that a lot of us know has been here for a while..my teeth get on edge. In respect to all of the younger singer/songwriters, none of them would exist without the “confessional works” of Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian and Laura Nyro. Ask any current singer who their influences are and those names will continually pop up because THEY invented the “confessional” genre, along with the now mandatory piece where the artist sits at a white grand piano and soulfully plays a song consisting of four chords and no bridge. What can I say? Songwriting was taken a lot more seriously 60 years ago. And I know how this sounds. An old (white) guy complaining about how the music he grew up with was so much better and how nothing produced now could ever replace it. Well, nothing will. Those memories and the excitement of hearing some of these artists perform for the first time are unique to my generation. Sorry the younger folks missed out. And the newer stuff will take some time to find an emotional place in our hearts. However, there is quality work being produced now. How could there not be? I’ve already rhapsodized about Taylor Swift and Billie Ellish. I was pleased to see that artists like Ms. Carpenter (whose work stands out as both retro and futuristic), Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo and so many others either write or co-write all their tunes. I may have a problem with the specific musical formats they use, but, if it’s a solidly built song, I’m in. What frankly concerns me is the weight an artist’s political stance or how they identify themselves plays in their acceptance by an audience. That wasn’t always the case. In our day, artists were pretty much accepted as who they presented themselves to be. That all changed with David Bowie and Annie Lennox. Their androgynous appearances may have raised fans' eyebrows, but, in the end, it didn’t matter. If you had already connected with an artist based on their artistic expression, you went along for the rest of the ride. Social media has made these concerns almost as important as the music and that’s wrong. All art has to be considered for its own sake and not necessarily the particulars of its creators. After all, bad people often make great art. Nate Jones, writing for “The Vulture,” opined that Chappell Roan got too famous too fast and couldn’t deal with the pressure. Fame, as David Bowie once wrote, does change a person. How they handle it determines their longevity in the field of endeavor they’ve chosen. We’ve seen freak outs before. Axl Rose was famous for them. Gene Simmons of KISS walked out of an interview with Terry Gross. Jimi Hendrix walked off the stage at Madison Square Garden claiming he just didn’t “feel it.” The interaction between an artist and their audience is often crucial to a great gig. Larry David, when he was doing standup, would often walk out, tell one joke and, if he didn’t get the response he wanted, would not finish his set. Fame does weird things to a soul. The constant pressures and demands for your time, your energy, your artistry can wear a person out. Most artists today, like Adele, know when to take a break, assured that her fans will still be there when they return. Fame, if you’re not careful, will mess you up so badly (as it did for artists such as Amy Winehouse and the Gallagher brothers from Oasis) that you wind up losing everything you worked for and, in some cases, it’s too late to start again. I hope that younger artists learn longevity lessons from their elders. I hope they look at a career like Joni Mitchell’s, starting with her fresh-faced rise in Canada to a string of hits as well as lovers, to her enshrinement as the Queen Of Tell All Songwriting, to her recent illness and recovery. What a wild ride! Nevertheless, she persisted. Some would say that’s the price you pay for creating great art. I think it’s the price you pay for living. Every one of us has bad years and good days, terrible emotional pitfalls and moments of extraordinary grace. It’s up to us to use the good we’ve experienced in our lives to stay strong and support others and use the bad as life lessons and perhaps teach through example. RECOMMENDED • silive .com Iconic rock singer says famous comedian might be his brother Nov. 28, 2024, 10:15 a.m. Is there a new ‘Saturday Night Live’ episode tonight (11/30/24)? Nov. 30, 2024, 9:00 a.m. I’ll be listening. You should, too. Hold those magnificent grey heads high! Comments may be submitted to “Talk To The Old Guy” on Facebook.

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