Metro Briefs

TORONTO — As the NBA season reaches its quarter pole, it no longer is too early to say it is too early. Which leads to the question of: What exactly are we fighting for? While much has been made about the parity (which in this case is a convenient code word for mediocrity) in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race, has a harsh reality also arrived? Is anyone catching the Cleveland Cavaliers, or, more to the point, the Boston Celtics? For the Heat, that matters, matters a lot, as they continue to sort out their future with Jimmy Butler, who, at 35, has been all over the map with his play. Until last season’s playoffs, there was the hype of Heat hope of a puncher’s chance against the Celtics no matter the seed. Then came annihilation, albeit with Butler and Terry Rozier sidelined.

By Sharon Rhodes Thoughtful gifts for friends and family are a Christmas tradition, showing loved ones that you’re thinking of them this holiday season. But a long shopping list can be pricey. If you are concerned about the cost of Christmas presents this year, these ideas will help you get gifts for everyone on your list on a budget. Christmas is a time to gather with loved ones, enjoy good food and experience holiday traditions, but gift giving is also a central part of the season.

We all snickered during Coach Gus Malzahn’s introductory news conference four years ago when a young TV reporter asked the question, “Do you have a good grasp of the pressure cooker you’re walking into here at UCF?” At the time, the question seemed hilarious considering Malzahn just came from college football’s ultimate big-time “pressure cooker” at Auburn, where he was fired after going 6-4 during a brutal pandemic-plagued regular season in which every game was within the conference.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year in the U. S. and an excellent opportunity to bag yourself a TV deal. Plenty of high-quality TVs are on sale this weekend, so you’re sure to nab a bargain if you act fast. Amazon makes an event out of Black Friday and often has excellent deals throughout Cyber Monday. Last updated on Nov.

CORAL GABLES — Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden may look serene at first glance, but beneath the resplendent orchids and majestic banyans, two invasive lizards are waging a turf war. The war started a few years ago when Cuban brown anoles, who have called South Florida home for about 100 years, came face to face for the first time with a new rival: crested anoles from Puerto Rico. As the two species, which look almost identical and occupy the same ecological niche, faced off, biologists were able to document who was winning, and more importantly, how quickly the losers were adapting to survive on new turf. A new study reveals that the losing species is adapting at a rapid pace, changing their behavior, but also their bodies.

If voters delivered any certain message on Nov. 5, it’s that they were angry enough not to take it any longer. There’s much to be angry about, but it’s harder to tell just what voters were protesting. To some so-called experts, they were angry at the “elites,” narrowly defined as people with college degrees and liberal social views on gender and religion who supposedly control the Democratic Party. The truth is, the elites who actually run our country care little about social issues.