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A former chess coach says a member of the Taliban vice squad told him: "Playing chess is forbidden. Buying a chess set is forbidden. Even watching it — is forbidden." Why was the game banned?

The former leader of FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, Dan Stein, retired this year after more than 40 at the helm of the organization. The right-wing group has long fought to reduce immigration and for tougher border controls. Under President Trump, Stein's once-fringe ideas are now being enacted.

When we worry about the declining rates of literacy and a lack of reading skills, it's often about children. But how often are adults reading these days? And what are we reading? A new NPR/Ipsos poll finds out.

The order, for now, overturns actions that limited DOGE's access to sensitive private information. In a separate case, the court said DOGE did not have to share internal records with a watchdog group.

The Borrego Springs Film Institute is proud to present the Twelfth Annual Borrego Springs Film Festival! Featuring five days of exceptional independent films, community panels at the Borrego Springs Library, not to mention top-notch parties, galas and award ceremonies with attending filmmakers and festival pass-holders. The 12th BSFF opens on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, with a day of free screenings - no tickets necessary - at the Library, and continues Thursday through Sunday, with screening Blocks presented at BSPAC, and concluding with an Awards Ceremony at the theater, on Sunday evening, Jan. 19, 2025. This year we’re screening 93 films, with a wide range of styles and genres, and we’ve got several BSFF alumni filmmakers returning to the festival with brand new shorts to debut to our audience, plus a terrific slate of Filmmaker and Community Panels being presented at the Borrego Springs Library, free and open to the public. Festival Passes and Block Passes (for screenings at BSPAC) can be purchased on our website. Borrego Springs Film Festival on Facebook / Instagram

Self-publishing one’s photographs in an on-demand photobook is more than just a fad. For more than two decades, photographers have embraced the process of creating, designing, and outsourcing their bodies of photographic works into small-edition books using various publishing software. By moving their images from the screen to the page, to an object one can hold in their hand, share with others, and memorialize visual projects into “a thing itself,” the photobook is the new paradigm shift for the photographic medium. This online course will introduce the history of the photobook in the context of early 20th century photography to the 21st century, challenging one to ask, “Why the book?” Within this context, the purpose of one’s book will be explored. Surveying and selecting individual images within a series, then editing images into a cohesive body of photographs, will drive the design, including creating dynamic layouts and prototype mock-ups for review. Using presentation software, such as Keynote or PowerPoint, one’s first look will be to critically examine scale, sequence, the visual space of each page, text, and other construction elements to heighten the experience of one’s photographs within the flow of a book. This is not a course on how to use publishing software. As the course proceeds, various publishing sources will be introduced and scrutinized from simple construction options to complex ones. Students will compare their level of skill with these proprietary software sources, selecting the best in regard to which book format has an acceptable degree and “ease of handling.” Further considerations for a publisher will be the design options needed to communicate the book’s purpose, selection of various papers, binding, and of course what is the final cost and turnaround time to hold the book in one’s hand. Requirements for successful completion of the course: Participants need a body of photographic works to create and design their book. The selection of a book design software is cost-free, but publishing costs for one book usually start at about $25 plus shipping. Turn around times are usually 6–10 business days. The course meets online consecutively for five weeks, taking one week off to outsource to publisher. There will be a final online class meeting (6th week) to review and celebrate one’s completed book! Max students: 12 Visit: https://www.ljathenaeum.org/class/102 Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Instagram and Facebook

The memo obtained by NPR says troops would be used in activities, including in "night operations and rural interdiction," as well as "guard duty and riot control" inside detention facilities.

The festival is a premier film showcase of Asian American and international cinema with more than 170 films from 35 countries over 11 days.

Musk joined with GOP critics who say the multi-trillion dollar plan to enact the president's domestic priorities doesn't go far enough to cut federal spending.

The FDA says 26 people, nine of whom were hospitalized, have gotten sick across 15 states. It is still figuring out where the cucumbers were distributed — and warning people to take extra precautions.