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Why is Christmas abbreviated as 'Xmas'?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Have you ever seen a decoration or a sign labeled as "Xmas" instead of "Christmas" and wondered why? There's an answer for that, and it's a bit older than you may think.Contrary to popular belief, Xmas is not a way of shortening the word to save space nor is it an attempt to remove "Christ" from the word — quite the opposite actually.According to Dictionary.com, the use of Xmas first started in the mid-1500s as just another way of writing it. X wasn't meant to be read in the "ecks" way we say it in English today but was rather meant to be read in its Greek form, "chi." Chi is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christos), which translates to (Jesus) Christ. How to help prevent suicides during the holidays X was adopted as a way of representing Christ across languages, considering all of the ways it can be written. Other less common abbreviations using this style are Xpian and Xtian, which both represent the word Christian.Even in its first marked...

Shohei Ohtani gives a Porsche to Joe Kelly’s wife for his No. 17 with the Dodgers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

By the Associated PressAfter the wife of reliever Joe Kelly offered her husband’s uniform number to help lure Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-way star responded by giving her a Porsche.Related ArticlesMLB | Shohei Ohtani reveals dog’s name at Dodgers’ introduction MLB | Roberts confirms Ohtani meeting, making Dodgers first team to publicly acknowledge talks The Dodgers shared a video showing Kelly’s wife, Ashley, who had launched what she dubbed her #Ohtake17 campaign in the hope that the free agent from Japan would sign with the team. She showed him all the No. 17 garb her family had that could be repurposed for Ohtani and his family and offered to change the name of the couple’s baby, Kai, to ShoKai.In the video posted this weekend, she opens the front door to reveal a silver sports car parked in front of the house.“It’s yours, from Shohei,” a man at the door says to the stunned woman. “He wanted to gift you a Porsche.”Her response...

At least 68 killed in central Gaza in airstrike, adding to weekend's bloodshed

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — At least 68 people were killed by an Israeli strike in central Gaza, health officials said Sunday, while the number of Israeli soldiers killed in combat over the weekend rose to 15. Associated Press journalists at a nearby hospital watched frantic Palestinians carry the dead, including a baby, and wounded following the strike on the Maghazi refugee camp east of Deir al-Balah. One bloodied young girl looked stunned while her body was checked for broken bones.The 68 fatalities include at least 12 women and seven children, according to early hospital figures.“We were all targeted,” said Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members including his daughter and grandson. “There is no safe place in Gaza anyway.”Earlier, the Health Ministry in Gaza gave the death toll as 70. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.As Christmas Eve fell, smoke rose over the besieged territory, while in the West Bank Bethlehem was hushed, its holiday celebrations called off...

Brentwood 15-year-old Heritage High student missing since Wednesday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

(BCN) -- Brentwood police are looking for a missing 15-year-old girl. Demari Powell was last seen Wednesday morning after being dropped off at the bus stop for Heritage High School, where she didn't attend that day. She was also reportedly seen in downtown Brentwood that same day as well. Fremont PD seeks assistance finding missing 14-year-old girl Demari is 5'2 and approximately 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black bandanna on her head, white zip hoodie, pink spaghetti strap shirt, black and white bell bottoms, and fluffy pink flip flops. Anyone with information regarding Demari can call Brentwood police dispatch at Brentwood police at (925) 809-7911or 911. Callers may remain anonymous. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Shortcomings of Bengals, backup QB Jake Browning were apparent in blowout by Steelers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals’ confidence and playoff hopes came crashing down in Pittsburgh two days before Christmas.Cincinnati had won three straight games to sneak back into the playoff picture. But the Bengals badly needed to beat the Steelers on Saturday to stay there. Instead, Cincinnati (8-7) took a thorough beating by one of the worst offenses in the league.Jake Browning, making his fifth start in place of the injured Joe Burrow, threw three interceptions on ill-advised passes. And the Steelers exploited the Bengals’ other weaknesses. Cincinnati couldn’t run the ball — What else is new? — and the defense couldn’t contain Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback.The Steelers (8-7) hadn’t managed to score 24 points in a game since Oct. 22. On Saturday they led 24-0 at the half en route to a 34-11 win.The Bengals’ collapse is hard to explain. With Rudolph at quarterback, practice-squad call-ups at linebacker and safety, and...

Chargers show improvement under interim coach Giff Smith despite close loss

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

The Los Angeles Chargers looked like a different team under interim coach Giff Smith, even though it was a familiar result.The Bolts’ 24-22 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night was their sixth by three points or fewer this season and their league-leading 13th since 2020.The loss also eliminated the Chargers from postseason contention and dropped their record to 5-10. For all intents and purposes though, owner Dean Spanos pulled the plug on the season with the Dec. 15 firings of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after a 63-21 loss at Las Vegas.“The game plan was tight. I feel like all week long we had fun and executed,” safety Derwin James said. “We just came out a few plays short today. You’ve seen a team that was out there trying to fight hard.”The Chargers did two things against the Bills that weren’t evident in the past two games — they had energy and played disciplined. The defense allowed only three plays of 20 yards or more, including a 57...

Envían a un niño de 6 años que viajaba solo en un vuelo equivocado de Spirit Airlines

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

(CNN) –– Un niño de 6 años que viajaba solo en Spirit Airlines a visitar a su abuela en Fort Myers, Florida, fue enviado en un vuelo equivocado a Orlando.En una declaración enviada por correo electrónico a CNN, Spirit Airlines se disculpó con la familia y dijo que el 21 de diciembre el niño debía volar desde el Aeropuerto Internacional de Filadelfia al Aeropuerto Internacional Southwest Florida en Fort Myers.Pero, explicó Spirit Airlines, al niño lo enviaron “incorrectamente” en un avión con destino a Orlando.“El niño siempre estuvo bajo el cuidado y supervisión de un miembro del equipo Spirit, y tan pronto como descubrimos el error, tomamos medidas inmediatas para comunicarnos con la familia y volver a conectarlos”, dijo la aerolínea en un comunicado a CNN.WINK-TV, afiliada de CNN, habló con María Ramos, una mujer que identificó al niño como su nieto de 6 años.Después de que el avión en el que se suponía que debía estar inicialmente aterrizó y su nieto no estaba en él, ...

Alguien donó unos tenis Air Jordan inusuales a un refugio para personas sin hogar. Valen miles de dólares

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

(CNN) — Una misteriosa donación de unos tenis Air Jordan poco comunes que alguien dejó en un refugio para personas sin hogar de Oregon a principios de este 2023 hizo que más de US$ 50.000 que fueron recaudados en una subasta volvieran a la organización.Todo empezó en abril, cuando un par de tenis dorados fueron arrojados anónimamente por un conducto de donaciones en el refugio Burnside de la Misión de Rescate de Portland, según explicó a CNN Erin Holcomb, directora del ministerio de personal de la organización.James Free, quien fue persona sin hogar y ahora forma parte del programa de alojamiento de larga duración de la organización, encontró los tenis. Los zapatos, de aspecto único, fueron apartados porque parecían estar en perfectas condiciones, explicó Holcomb.Una rápida búsqueda en Google reveló que los tenias se parecían a un par de Air Jordan dorados que usó el director Spike Lee durante los Premios de la Academia 2019 cuando ganó su primer Oscar, según Holcomb.“As...

NBA MVP Joel Embiid won’t play in 76ers-Heat Christmas game because of ankle issue

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will not play in Philadelphia’s Christmas night game against the Miami Heat, with the 76ers ruling him out because of a sprained right ankle.Embiid did not fly with the Sixers on Sunday to Miami. He got hurt during Friday’s win over Toronto.It’ll be the fourth game Embiid has missed this season for the 76ers, who are third in the Eastern Conference and fourth overall in the NBA, entering Monday with a 20-8 record. He has been on a tear in December, averaging 40.2 points and 12.6 rebounds on 61% shooting in nine appearances so far this month.For the season, Embiid is averaging a league-best 35 points per game — on pace right now to win his third consecutive scoring title. He’s had at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in each of his last 13 games, the NBA’s longest such streak since 1972 when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 16 straight contests.Embiid played most of Friday’s game against the Raptors after hurtin...

Lions secure first division title since 1993 with 30-24 win over Vikings

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:44:32 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Detroit Lions clinched their first division title in 30 years, using two rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and 106 receiving yards and a third-quarter go-ahead score by Amon-Ra St. Brown to overtake the injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Sunday.Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off Minnesota’s Nick Mullens at the 5-yard line on an off-target pass to an open Justin Jefferson with 49 seconds left to seal the win. Mullens was picked off four times.Jared Goff passed for 257 yards without a turnover and David Montgomery had a rushing touchdown for the Lions (11-4). Detroit secured a home playoff game for the first time in 22 seasons at Ford Field, where an NFC North champions banner will soon hang. The last one was for winning the NFC Central in 1993.Mullens threw for two scores, a diving 26-yard catch by Jefferson with 29 seconds left in the first half and a 6-yard toss to K.J. Osborn that gave the Vikings (7-8) a 21-17 lead early in the third quarter one pl...