> The House and Senate passed identical versions of the proposed ban as part of a broader defense spending bill that President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law. Once he does, it will be illegal for Americans to buy, sell, transport or even possess foreign-caught fins — something ocean conservation activists have long sought.

I'm not sure that's how attacking someone with a knife is supposed to work...

> Rules are rules. Animal control officials in Southern California have granted permission for a little girl to keep a unicorn at home, provided she follows strict guidelines.

> Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control this week shared a letter it received from a child named Madeline.

> The girl wrote: “Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one. Please send me a letter in response.”

> Director Marcia Mayeda replied with a letter along with a pre-approved unicorn license, a heart-shape license tag and a plush toy unicorn — until Madeline finds a real one. Photos of the license and Madeline’s letter were posted to the agency’s social media.

> The licensing letter included five conditions:

> 1. The unicorn must be cared for in compliance with all animal caretaking regulations set forth in Los Angeles county Code Title 10.

> 2. The unicorn is given regular access to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows.

> 3. The unicorn is fed one of its favorite treats — watermelon — at least once each week.

> 4. The unicorn’s horn must be maintained to be in good health. This requires polishing at least once a month with a soft cloth.

> 5. Any sparkles or glitter used on the unicorn must be nontoxic and biodegradable to ensure the unicorn’s good health.”

> Mayeda commended Madeline for her “sense of responsible pet ownership.”

Castorbeans

No, the grandfather is 76. He's the one who jumped in the pool and got the boy (and snake) out.

We don't learn how old the dad is. He's the one who separated the child from the snake.

The 76 year old is the grandfather actually, the article isn't as clear as it could be. He jumped in first and then the father separated the 5 year old from the snake.

TL;DR

> All of a sudden, Blake said, he saw the snake emerge, and the next thing he knew, the snake was "completely wrapped around" his son's leg and they were spiraling into the pool. He later told Australian news outlet 9 News that the python had wrapped himself "from the bite right up to around his knee joint."

> That's when his 76-year-old father literally jumped in to save the day. Within seconds he was in the pool, grabbing both the boy and the snake, still entwined, and handing them up to Ben. The father separated the two after about 15 to 20 seconds, he said, saying "it was somewhat of an ordeal."

> "I just grabbed it as close as I could to the head, squeezed and pulled," Ben Blake told 9 News.

> The boy was attacked just days before his sixth birthday, his father said, but has been doing OK after his father and grandfather told him the snake was not venomous.

I don't know. The journalists think it is, at least somewhere. They could be wrong.

"Black Friday" = Friday, November 25th

> Among the countries where Amazon will face strikes and protests, according to UNI Global Union: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey and the U.K.

TL;DR

> When Brown University's baseball season starts in February, one of the players taking the field will make history. Olivia Pichardo, a first-year student from Queens, N.Y., will be first woman on the roster of a Division I college baseball team in the U.S.

> Pichardo walked on to Brown's team following tryouts and a grueling assessment process – during which she immediately impressed the head coach, demonstrating her abilities as an infielder, outfielder and pitcher.

> "It's a workout common for baseball and allows us to evaluate athleticism and arm strength, as well as both offensive and defensive skills," said Brown baseball head coach Grant Achilles. "Olivia put together the most complete walk-on tryout I have seen from a player since becoming a head coach."