The U.S. Open is notoriously loud, garish, rude, drunk and completely indifferent to more than a century of decorum and tradition. Thank God.
Month: August 2025
mapo/Getty Images
- My daughter studies at Auburn University, and I panicked when I got a text alert from the school.
- There seemed to be a threat at her school, and heavily armed officers were on campus.
- It turned out to be a hoax, and I was proud of how my 22-year-old handled it.
On August 27th, at 6:06 p.m. ET, I’d just pulled into a spot at Target when my phone buzzed. I immediately felt my heartbeat move into my throat as I saw it was an AU Alert, from Auburn University, where my oldest daughter is a student. “Heavy police presence at RBD Library. Please avoid the area,” the text read.
For most of the day, I’d been thinking about the horrific school shooting in Minneapolis that had happened just that morning — the image of a woman, running barefoot, shoes in hand, toward Annunciation School, had been seared into my mind.
Now, the alert conjured images of the same thing happening to my daughter, and I was 900 miles away, too far to run to her.
I didn’t know where my daughter was
I started to panic. Where was Sophie? Was that day her busy day of classes or the lighter day? I couldn’t remember and forced myself to take a breath. Within minutes, she texted the family group chat, “Is there anything on the news about Auburn rn? We just got an alert about cops at RBD.”
Courtesy of the author
I told her I got the alert, and she went on to say people were posting different things on YikYak, and it was hard to tell what was actually going on. I reassured her that her dad and I would keep checking and let her know. Meanwhile, she confirmed that she was in her apartment, getting ready to leave for class, but she didn’t feel safe doing so.
My inner mom voice was screaming, “Do not go! Nowhere in this world is safe, ever.” While I was mentally panicking, I knew I needed to do what I’ve always done with my kids, and that was to portray an outward sense of calmness and confidence in her ability to make the decision. I encouraged her to reach out to her professor and classmates, and texted, “Do whatever you think is right, love.”
She sent us videos of heavily armed cops on campus
We had some back and forth about how there’d been a rash of school shooter hoaxes, including at Villanova University, on move-in day, no less. She hadn’t heard about that and was surprised. She also didn’t know about the heartbreaking events of the morning.
Meanwhile, she sent a several-second-long screen recording of police, in full tactical gear, assault rifles drawn, moving through the RBD Library. I caught a glimpse of a kid walking down the stairs wearing a backpack and imagined what a surreal experience that must’ve been. While I knew my kid was safe, I worried about her friends and other people’s kids.
My 22-year-old daughter tends to be level-headed in potentially scary situations. She wrote, “I know it’s probably nothing, but idk, you never know.” She shared screenshots of communications with a couple of her friends, and the tone was one of caution rather than fear.
I felt a small sense of pride in their handling of the situation. No one was being dramatic or trying to incite panic in the group.
At 6:52 p.m., my daughter texted, “We’re all clear.” At the same time, my phone buzzed with an AU Alert: “ALL CLEAR. Police responded to a false report of a possible threat on campus. Authorities determined there was no threat to campus.”
There’s no parent handbook that teaches us how to handle this
Once it was a confirmed hoax, I realized I’d been sitting in the parking lot in my car for more than 45 minutes, my life on pause until I knew she was OK. I walked into the store feeling relieved, but thinking how that could’ve been so different, and I wouldn’t have been able to get there fast enough. I thought about the parents waiting to be reunited with their children in Minneapolis and the stark reality that there’s no handbook on how to prepare for an event like this. We shouldn’t have to.
I’ve tried to teach my kids to move through life with a sense of awareness instead of fear. This experience, a first for my daughter and me, reminds me of the influence we all have as parents to instill fear in our children or empower them. But I also don’t want her or me to experience this ever again.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The Robert Morris Colonials will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Lee Corso picks Ohio State over Texas in final ‘College GameDay’ appearance [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
Passenger train derails in Egypt, killing at least 3 and injuring 94 [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
Stans attempts to reframe the song as the realest connective tissue possible between an impossibly huge star and the fans who always stayed committed.
“We’re very sorry for the inevitable disappointment, frustration and inconvenience that this situation causes,” the band told their fans.
The arrival of the Venezuelan vessel Manuel Gual in Mariel, Cuba marks the official launch of the ALBA-TCP maritime route, a strategic corridor for food sovereignty and regional integration amid U.S. sanctions, reports 24brussels.
A new chapter in Latin American and Caribbean integration has commenced with the docking of the Manuel Gual at the Mariel Special Development Zone in Cuba. The vessel transported 6,100 tons of food and essential goods, signifying the formal initiation of the ALBA-TCP maritime route. This corridor is aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, promoting food sovereignty, and mitigating the impact of external sanctions on member nations.
This inaugural voyage is not merely a logistical operation—it is a political and symbolic act of resistance, unity, and regional self-reliance.
This shipment, deemed a “solidarity mission” by officials, includes staple products such as rice, corn, vegetable oils, canned goods, and raw materials for local production—crucial supplies for Cuba, which continues to grapple with severe economic challenges due to the enduring U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade, alongside global supply chain disruptions.
The Manuel Gual, having departed from La Guaira, Venezuela, was met with an official ceremony and high-level attendees. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized the significance of the moment, describing it as “strategically significant and deeply human,” and highlighting the route’s embodiment of cooperation and mutual support among the Global South.
Orlando Maneiro, Venezuela’s ambassador to Cuba, commended the event as “the beginning of a new stage in regional maritime transport”, emphasizing its potential to lower logistical costs, enhance trade efficiency, and open new avenues for industrial and agricultural growth across the ALBA-TCP bloc.
This milestone follows commitments made during the December 2024 ALBA Summit, where member states pledged to reinvigorate and expand regional trade mechanisms in response to escalating external pressures. The ALBA-TCP maritime route now stands operational, paving the way for future shipments among Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and other allied nations.
Geopolitical Context: A Regional Response to Imperial Blockades and Economic Warfare
The launch of the ALBA-TCP maritime route is part of the broader landscape of economic warfare, geopolitical containment, and the quest for sovereignty in Latin America and the Caribbean. Nations pursuing independent development models have long faced coercive economic measures, financial isolation, and political destabilization, frequently orchestrated or endorsed by the United States.
Cuba has endured a U.S. embargo since 1962, one of the longest-standing sanctions in modern history. Venezuela has faced comprehensive sanctions since 2017, limiting its access to international finance and essential imports. Nicaragua and Bolivia have similarly encountered sanctions and diplomatic isolation in recent years.
The ALBA-TCP maritime route serves as a direct response to these blockades, establishing a self-sustaining alternative to externally reliant trade networks.
Establishing a direct shipping corridor between Venezuela and Cuba reduces reliance on intermediary parties, navigates financial constraints, and ensures the delivery of vital goods without depending on U.S. dollar transactions or Western banking systems.
This initiative resonates with historical efforts at regional integration, emphasizing solidarity over profit and cooperation over competition while highlighting the geopolitical implications. In stark contrast to major powers whose naval forces operate in the Caribbean, the ALBA-TCP sends vessels laden with food, not weapons. As Rander Peñalver, Executive Secretary of ALBA-TCP noted: “While empires send warships to intimidate, we send vessels of life and hope.”
This divergence highlights an emerging ideological and strategic divide in the region, encompassing models based on mutual aid, state coordination, and anti-imperialism versus a system of dependency and market-driven exploitation. The success of the ALBA-TCP maritime route could inspire analogous initiatives globally, as countries strive to establish multipolar trade networks disconnected from Western influences.
Ceremony in Mariel: A Symbolic and Political Triumph for Regional Unity
The arrival of the Manuel Gual marked a significant milestone, framed not solely as a logistical achievement but also a political reaffirmation. The formal ceremony, presided over by Manuel Marrero Cruz, turned Mariel docks into a showcase of regional solidarity where symbolism and reality converged.
The ceremony underscored Cuba and Venezuela’s deep institutional and ideological commitment to the ALBA-TCP project, elevating the cargo event into a continental act of resistance.
The vessel delivered a donation of essential goods for Cuba’s economic recovery program, crucial in stabilizing supply chains, boosting production, and alleviating widespread shortages. Officials remarked this cargo represented more than just material assistance; it articulated a profound fraternity between the two nations facing shared challenges.
High-profile attendees included Gladys Martínez Verdecia, Political Bureau member, and representatives from several Cuban ministries. Their presence underlined the event’s national and international significance.
Jorge Méndez emphasized the arrival as an “unequivocal demonstration” showcasing that will and determination can overcome obstacles—directly referencing the U.S. blockade.
Maneiro highlighted the shipment as a realization of the visions of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, the founders of ALBA-TCP, who intended to “consolidate and strengthen Our America.” His statements framed the Manuel Gual as a floating emblem of peace, sovereignty, and defiance against imperialism.
In a definitive political message, Cuba rejected U.S. military deployments in the Caribbean and ongoing disinformation campaigns undermining Venezuela’s stability. “The Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution can count on Cuba’s solidarity,” asserted Jorge Méndez, underscoring that integration among ALBA-TCP nations embodies both the greatest victory and hope.
Economic and Social Impact: Strengthening Food Sovereignty and Local Production
The delivery of 6,100 tons of food to Cuba signifies more than mere relief; it constitutes a strategic investment in food sovereignty. Historically, Cuba has relied heavily on imports, rendering it vulnerable to economic fluctuations and external pressures. The current economic crisis exacerbates shortages and inflation, affecting living standards across the island.
This shipment aims to support public distribution networks, school feeding programs, and state-run agricultural cooperatives. Materials onboard will be utilized to generate flour, animal feed, and processed foods, aiding in the revitalization of dormant agricultural sectors.
By linking Venezuela’s agricultural and industrial capacity with Cuba’s human capital, the ALBA-TCP maritime route creates a complementary economic ecosystem.
Despite its economic hurdles, Venezuela possesses substantial production capabilities in grains, dairy, and processed foods supported by state agricultural initiatives. Cuba’s expertise lies in biotechnology, education, and healthcare, fostering a collaborative exchange of goods and services.
This exchange dynamic reflects the ALBA-TCP model, which eschews traditional donor-recipient relationships for a framework of horizontal cooperation.
The Mariel Special Development Zone is now primed as a pivotal node in fostering regional integration, equipped with resources to position it as a significant terminal for maritime trade among member states. Future shipments are anticipated to encompass machinery and medical supplies, expanding the trade portfolio and enhancing cooperative opportunities.
Political Symbolism and Regional Unity
The ALBA-TCP maritime route transcends economic purpose; it embodies deep political implications. Its initiation coincided with the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth, signifying a tribute to one of Latin America’s iconic revolutionary figures.
Cuban officials have proclaimed Latin America and the Caribbean a Zone of Peace, underscoring commitments to non-intervention and disarmament while condemning U.S. military presence in the region. The contrast is stark: where the U.S. employs military power, the ALBA-TCP promotes peace through trade and solidarity.
Carlos Luis Jorge asserted that each journey reflects the founders’ vision, with the bloc’s aim to construct a
Ukrainian drone strikes sparked a massive forest fire this week that came within miles of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s opulent mansion along the Black Sea, known as “Putin’s Palace.”
Man United grabs stoppage-time winner to potentially save Amorim’s job