Categories
Uncategorized

How to Create an Online Course With AI (Outlines, Quizzes, and Draft Lessons)

Learn how to create an online course with AI: outlines, draft lessons, and quizzes, with copy-paste prompts and a free WordPress option inside!

The post How to Create an Online Course With AI (Outlines, Quizzes, and Draft Lessons) appeared first on Themeisle Blog.

Categories
Entertainment

Secrets Behind Nickelodeon’s Rugrats, Doug, SpongeBob & More Revealed

Nicktoons secrets, RugratsIf you were watching the first Nicktoons slate during its original run, you might have a few rug rats of your own running around by now.
But there’s also no preferred demographic when it comes to…
​E! Online (US) – Top Stories

Categories
Sports Fox

Cowboys’ Reenergized Defense Is A Match For Elite Offense With Super Bowl Dreams

OXNARD, Calif — New Dallas Cowboys cornerback Cobie Durant knows what a winning culture looks like. Durant, who spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, nearly helped his old team play in their third Super Bowl over the course of a decade this past year. Now, the fifth-year pro is being tasked with helping turn around a Cowboys’ defense that was statistically the worst in football last season — and he’s already making an impact in trying to turn things around. During an intense, fully padded practice on Sunday, Durant and other Cowboys defensive players celebrated every pass deflection and forced turnover by rushing the field before aggressively trash-talking in the faces of Dallas stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. “Every day we come out here, we want to compete at a high level and do your one-eleventh,” Durant told me. “And it’s on display every day we come out here. High energy, everybody doing their part and bringing what we do in the classroom and make it come to life on the field.” While Durant has brought an energy to the Cowboys’ defense so far in training camp, he’s not the key person who joined Dallas this offseason to revitalize that unit. Defensive whiz and new coordinator Christian Parker has been the heart of the reenergized unit. Parker was hired by the Cowboys to run their defense after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive backs coach over the last couple of seasons, working under Vic Fangio in Philadelphia and Denver. And what has helped Parker form such a quick connection with his unit (which features eight new starters) is his age. The 34-year-old has brought a culture shift, wearing a pair of Jordan 11s, navy blue sweats and a cut-off hoodie with white sleeves while calling plays on a radio along the sideline during practice. “That’s dead,” Parker screamed, high-fiving coaches and players nearby as his defense stuffed a red-zone run. Durant said not only is Parker detailed, but his youthful energy is infectious. “He’s a real players’ coach who’s willing to listen and see what our thoughts are,” Durant, who is only five years younger than Parker, told me. “And also helping us as defensive vets and as a unit. It’s good to have a coach pour into you and allow you to just be you when you’re on the grass.” “He’s very direct. He knows what he wants out of his guys, and he does a really good job of teaching and communicating,” edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku added about Parker, who is also the youngest defensive coordinator in Cowboys history. “But he’s a cool guy at the same time. He’s very chill, very relatable. He’s got some swag to him.” And as the Cowboys’ defense has been fired up and ready to fight back at the offense, Lamb has taken notice. “It’s fire, man,” Lamb said. “I embrace it. I love it. It’s good to see your defense come out with that type of energy, that type of fire, that type of aggression early on. And for our offense, they leave us no choice to either bow down or fight back and to get back on top. “And I know one thing about us: We won’t bow down to anybody.” However, Parker had some bumps in his early days at training camp. Parker said he’s not a fan of the flood of access available to fans and media at training camp practices, which includes live streams and videos from 11-on-11 team drills posted on social media by folks in attendance. Parker noted that he picked up things as a coach for other teams watching those same videos. But owner Jerry Jones isn’t changing his training camp policy — the more eyeballs on his team, the better, and Parker is learning to adjust to the constant attention on “America’s Team.” But as for on-field matters, one of the key chess pieces for Parker’s defense is first-round pick Caleb Downs, who provides the versatility Pro Bowl defensive back Cooper DeJean offered for the Eagles. The Ohio State product is working at safety and slot cornerback, showing up in pass coverage over the two days I watched practice, including breaking up two passes intended for Lamb. A physical presence who provides leadership and playmaking ability, Downs is expected to thrive in Parker’s scheme. “He’s a guy who’s not afraid to fail and is not going to make the same mistake [twice],” Durant told me. “And that’s what you want in this league. When you come in, and you see all these big names, with some guys that could mess with your confidence. With him, it doesn’t faze him.” And while Parker might not like the amount of access outsiders have at Cowboys camp, the team’s practices have been all about football this year, which is a big change from last year. Gone are the constant headlines generated by the contentious Micah Parsons contract negotiations and eventual trade to the Green Bay Packers. That’s allowed Brian Schottenheimer to take an old-school approach to practice as he enters his second season as head coach. On Saturday, Schottenheimer lit into coaches and players for what he deemed a lackadaisical approach to the start of practice. “I just felt like the energy was a little bit off,” Schottenheimer said. “I felt like we broke stretch in bag (drills) and went to circuit drills, and the coaches weren’t as organized as I thought they should be. And so, I’m always going to point out what I feel. And I think they got the message and ended up putting together a hell of a practice.” Schottenheimer also has players run gassers at the end of practice for extra conditioning. “It’s probably painful because you just did a whole practice,” receiver George Pickens said about the end-of-practice conditioning. “But definitely conditioning is another component of the game that can definitely give you an edge over guys.” Obviously, the Cowboys hope that those conditioning drills will be part of what gets them over the hump as they seek their first Super Bowl title in over three decades. Prescott has made it clear in the opening weeks of training camp that he and the team have the Lombardi Trophy in their sights, going as far as to say he’s “manifesting” it to happen. Parker, Schottenheimer and Prescott will get a good test of where those dreams stand during a joint practice against the Rams at Los Angeles’ Woodland Hills headquarters on Tuesday. Last year, the Cowboys were overwhelmed by the Rams’ bevy of playmakers, with Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams going up and down the field for scores in a foreshadowing of what was to come in 2025. Durant is hoping for a different result against his former team this year. “I’m overly excited,” Durant told me. “I went up against that offense for four years. It’s a high-powered offense. You got Matthew Stafford, the running backs in the backfield and the wide receiver core — it’s a sight to see when you’re in practice going up against it. “But now I’m here with the Dallas Cowboys, running a new defense with new guys on this defense. And now you’ll actually get to see what the guy next to you is really about, going against another offense.” And Schottenheimer is highly anticipating Tuesday’s practice, too. “I want to see these guys play,” Schottenheimer said. “I want to see the same passion and play style that they do against our guys. I want to see them do it against them. But it’s a building block, another ramp-up.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Categories
Sports Fox

NFL Catchup: A Big Extension In Dallas, And What Is Aaron Rodgers Doing In Practice?

Preseason officially kicks off for 30 of 32 teams across the NFL this week, but contract matters continue to dominate the news. Monday featured a major contract agreement for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and an extension for New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry. Aaron Rodgers also did something relatively unusual at Pittsburgh Steelers practice, while there’s another update to share on Aaron Donald’s potential return to play. Here is the latest news from around the league. Star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has agreed to a three-year, $105.9 million extension with the Cowboys, NFL Network reported Monday. The deal for Williams reportedly includes $101 million guaranteed with $63.35 million due at signing. Williams is entering year two in Dallas after arriving at last year’s trade deadline. With a wave of massive contracts hitting the defensive line market this summer, all eyes now shift to the ripple effect on the rest of the league. “Usually, if you have two people wanting to get something done, it can get done. … Every deal is different,” Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones told reporters, via The Athletic. “You just hit certain bumps in the road where things don’t. It’s not because we don’t want to. … We’re always in the mode if it’s the right situation to do a deal.” Next in line for a payday at defensive tackle is Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Vita Vea, who requested a trade at the start of training camp. Maybe a new contract for Williams could reignite negotiations between Vea and the Buccaneers? Vea is entering the final year of his contract, which holds a $17 million base salary. The Cowboys put quite the investment into Williams before the extension. At last year’s trade deadline, they traded defensive lineman Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and the more favorable of their two 2027 first-round picks for Williams. The New England Patriots agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with tight end Hunter Henry on Monday, ESPN reported Monday. The extension reportedly carries a base value of $16 million with incentives that could raise the total value to $20 million, including $14.5 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old tight end had one year remaining on his previous contract and is now locked in through the 2027 season. Henry served as a primary target for quarterback Drake Maye last season, hauling in 60 receptions for 768 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took an unconventional turn during practice on Monday, lining up as an edge defender against his team’s second-string offense. Video captured the veteran quarterback working on defensive reps during team drills. The moment offered a lighthearted break during competitive practice sessions as Rodgers continues his training camp workload. As the 42-year-old Rodgers returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one more season, the quarterback made news over the weekend when he credited Mike Tomlin for helping him get his spark back last year. “I’m thankful for last year with Coach Tomlin, because he helped me get that love back, that deep love back for the game,” Rodgers told SiriusXM Radio. “That, you know, tearing my Achilles and going through a year of rehab, and just never feeling like myself, it just kind of beats you up a little bit, and I didn’t want that to be my ending in the game that I love so much, and Mike and being around the guys, got me that love back, and I was content in walking away.” While Tomlin left the Steelers this offseason, Rodgers nearly followed him until the team decided to hire one of his former coaches with the Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy, to replace him. “They hired Mike McCarthy, and I was like, ‘OK, maybe we need a full circle here, me and Mike need a full circle here,'” Rodgers said. Aaron Donald is continuing to spark rumors of his return. His trainer shared a video of Donald training alongside Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske. The video came a few days after Donald had an official workout with the Rams, only heightening the speculation that he’ll return. It’s been rumored that his decision could come soon, with Rams head coach Sean McVay saying in late July that Donald would likely make a decision later in August. Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection, has maintained an active training regimen following his retirement from professional football in 2024.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Categories
Entertainment

How Malbec And Cabernet Sauvignon Differ

Ordering a glass – or bottle – of wine isn’t simply choosing red or white, but finding which grape varietal is most pleasing to your palate.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

Categories
Entertainment

Stassie Karanikolaou Speaks Out After Missing Kylie Jenner’s Birthday

Anastasia Karanikolaou, Stassie Karanikolaou, Stas Karanikolaou, Kylie Jenner,Even though she missed Kylie Jenner’s 29th birthday party, Stassie Karanikolaou is still keeping up with her friend.
In fact, the Better Half podcaster shared a sweet tribute to Jenner on Aug. 10,…
​E! Online (US) – Top Stories

Categories
Entertainment

Erin Foster Shows Off Bond With Stepmom Katharine McPhee in New Photo

Erin Foster, Katharine McPhee attend the David Foster Foundation banquetEverybody wants more Erin Foster and Katharine McPhee bonding moments.
The pair recently created some special family memories during a celebration for the Nobody Wants This creator’s dad David…
​E! Online (US) – Top Stories

Categories
Entertainment

Kristen Stewart Shares Rare Details on “Gentle” Wife Dylan Meyer

Kristen Stewart, Dylan MeyerKristen Stewart knows Dylan Meyer is nowhere near the twilight of her career.
In fact, the Twilight alum reflected on how impressed she is by her wife, who directed her in their new movie The…
​E! Online (US) – Top Stories

Categories
Alaska News

We are still fighting to ban Styrofoam in Alaska

A torn Styrofoam cup emerges with other trash from a melting pile of snow on April 26, 2026, in a parking lot by Northern Lights Boulevard in Midtown Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A torn Styrofoam cup emerges with other trash from a melting pile of snow on April 26, 2026, in a parking lot by Northern Lights Boulevard in Midtown Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

This year, Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have eliminated the use of polystyrene, best known as Styrofoam, in Alaska. We are interns at Alaska Community Action on Toxics, a nonprofit focused on the impacts of toxic chemicals and plastics on people’s health, the environment and Indigenous ways of life. We are still fighting to end the use of polystyrene — and we are tired of empty promises from politicians like Dunleavy.

We represent young women, scientists and Native peoples. Our voices are often left out of the conversation, yet we have the most at stake. Repeatedly, older generations tell us: “Sorry for the mess we’ve left you.” However, change can only be accomplished through collective and intergenerational action, and we need all ages to help now.

ACAT’s Environmental Health and Justice Program Director Vi Waghiyi from Savoonga always says: “These are burdens we did not create.” Yet they will greatly interfere with our traditions, identities and abilities to live healthy lives. Our Executive Director, Pamela Miller, also published an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News about how senseless Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 25 was.

Now, Alaska is falling behind other states: twelve states already passed statewide legislation to eliminate polystyrene. California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado have banned polystyrene packing peanuts, coolers and other food service products. More than 250 U.S. cities and counties already banned or placed restrictions on polystyrene. Even McDonald’s eliminated its polystyrene packaging in 1990.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and a supporter of the vetoed bill, emphasized the popularity of such measures on the House floor: “Three-quarters of Americans are concerned about plastic foam litter. Over 70% of Americans would support a national ban on foam food ware.” Several local Alaskan businesses submitted letters of support throughout the session, and the bill had bipartisan support, but this support seems to be futile.

Polystyrene contains the chemical styrene, a probable human carcinogen. Styrene has been linked to impaired nervous system function, increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma cancers, vision and hearing loss, and poor memory and concentration. Chemicals from polystyrene can leach into food and beverages, especially when heated. For example, the heat and acidity in hot coffee trigger chemical leaching from polystyrene cups, then these chemicals are absorbed by the fat in milk or cream, which is easily ingested by humans. Multiple studies in the 1980s found styrene in 100% of the human fat tissues they sampled, and polystyrene production and use has only increased since then. Many Alaskans have likely already experienced health harms from this ubiquitous leaching.

Alaskans rely on land and water for livelihood, nourishment and culture. Nationally, roughly 63% of the commercial seafood harvest is from Alaska. But in the ocean, polystyrene breaks down into microplastics from exposure to sunlight, waves and wind. Studies have detected high levels of microplastics in Alaskan waters, harming wildlife, contaminating ecosystems and threatening the population viability of commercial and subsistence fish. Wildlife often mistake floating foam debris for prey, then eat polystyrene or feed it to their young. This fills their bellies with plastic, causing lack of hunger, starvation and permanent injury. 

Further, polystyrene is effectively not biodegradable: it takes hundreds of years to decompose, if it decomposes at all. High wind and wave action breaks foam blocks into tiny beads that are practically impossible to clean up. This foam travels through waterways, causing harm all over the globe. Over 10 years ago, polystyrene and related materials were found in 23 of 28 beaches sampled throughout the Gulf of Alaska; notably, no beaches were free from debris.  

Alternatives to polystyrene include reusable serviceware, recyclable packaging and compostable products. Materials such as paper, cardboard and plant-based plastics are now common substitutes, and these options are more sustainable for food service providers and consumers alike. Some businesses are voluntarily opting out of polystyrene: Green Alaska Solutions provides plant-based, compostable alternatives for restaurants, businesses and events statewide, including rural villages. Their business partners highlight higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, with up to 15% increases in repeat customers after switching to compostable packaging. 

ACAT and its partners will continue to work with policymakers on legislation to eliminate polystyrene in food packaging. Local businesses in Alaska would save money and avoid penalty fees by acting now to adopt alternatives in anticipation of a state or federal ban. The municipalities of Bethel, Cordova and Seward have already successfully enacted bans on polystyrene food containers. 

To avoid polystyrene in your daily life:

  1. Bring an insulated metal mug for coffee instead of drinking from a hot foam cup — disposable lids are often also made of expanded polystyrene or other plastic. 
  2. Bring a metal container to pack hot food leftovers into instead of polystyrene food containers from restaurants. 
  3. Use shredded paper, perforated cardboard, or newspaper to pack items for shipping or moving instead of foam packing peanuts. 
  4. When renovating or building a structure, choose a non-toxic insulation that does not contain polystyrene.

Our faith in public institutions depends on what those institutions do. 

As we watched this carefully considered, bipartisan bill get dismissed without any convincing public justification, we took away a discouraging message. Years of testimony, scientific evidence and legislative work can be set carelessly aside, even when the proposed solution is reasonable and beneficial. 

We do not want cynicism to be the lesson we take from this experience. We remember fishing, swimming and enjoying clear rivers and oceans free from plastic and pollution. We will continue to fight for these reforms so that our children will too.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.

Categories
Uncategorized

Aaron D. Campbell: My WordPress Origin Story: The One-Line Patch That Changed My Career

I started using WordPress because it was a practical tool for client work. One tiny patch turned it into a community, a career, and a lasting lesson about what open source makes possible.

The post My WordPress Origin Story: The One-Line Patch That Changed My Career appeared first on Aaron D. Campbell.