Open Thread: The Chemistry Of Snowflakes

The Nuggets didn’t have a very merry Christmas, but they at least salvaged a happy new year. In their first game of 2025, they picked up their third consecutive win, 139-120 over the Hawks, by pulling away in a 41-24 third quarter when a dose of defense was desperately needed. They distanced themselves with a 12-0 run a few minutes into the second half, led by some tough shot-making from Michael Porter Jr. “I think as the year’s gone on and on, we’re getting better and better (offensively),” Porter said. Nikola Jokic amassed 23 points, 17 rebounds assists and 15 assists in 29 minutes.

Crocodile Dundee was 1986 movie that struck gold and became an international sensation. It cost roughly 8.8 million dollars to make and grossed around 328 million dollars. Paul Hogan became a star as well as crocodiles in general. Today we learn that Burt, the giant crocodile that featured in hit Australian comedy Crocodile Dundee, has died at around 90 years-old. Crocosaurus Cove, an aquarium and exhibition space in Darwin, Australia, where Burt was housed, announced the news on social media, saying that the crocodile “passed away peacefully” and was “estimated to be over 90 years old” In Crocodile Dundee, Burt features in a scene where American reporter Sue Charlton (played by Linda Kozlowski) is rescued by Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) from a crocodile attack.

Colorado’s Jade Masogayo, left, is defended by TCU’s Sedona Prince on Jan. 1, 2025, at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. (CU Athletics) Fast break Why the Buffs lost: CU played good enough defense but didn’t generate enough offensively. The Buffs hit just 35.3% of their shots and had 17 turnovers, which TCU converted into 16 points. Three stars: 1.

Sean Payton found the courage to cut Russell Wilson and absorb a $53 million cap hit this season, freeing the Broncos to find something foreign for the past eight years: hope. His name is Bo Nix. As he stood at the podium on a raw Wednesday afternoon before the last regular regular-season game, the quarterback exuded confidence that belied his experience. This is the guy you think can’t beat Carson Wentz? That’s cute. We have no idea what Nix’s career will look like, not until the Broncos upgrade the weapons around him with a pass-catching tight end (Tyler Warren, please) and a No.

LAS VEGAS — The Tesla Cybertruck that caught fire and exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday, killing the sole occupant, was rented in Colorado and driven to Nevada, according to Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. McMahill said investigators were able to track the truck’s journey from Colorado to Las Vegas as the driver stopped at charging stations along the route. The truck was rented via the Turo app.

By TY O’NEIL and ANITA SNOW LAS VEGAS (AP) — One person died and seven others were injured Wednesday when a Tesla Cybertruck that appeared to be carrying fireworks caught fire and exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, authorities said. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials told a news conference that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and they were working to get the body out.