Wild first season in expanded Big 12 comes down to final weekendShare Tweet Share Share Email Buffet dining has long been celebrated for its variety and abundance. However, as customer expectations evolve and technology reshapes industries, buffets are experiencing a revolution that is transforming the traditional “all-you-can-eat” experience into a modern, efficient, and personalized culinary adventure. The Rise of Smart Buffets Technology has become the cornerstone of innovation in the buffet industry. Restaurants are integrating smart solutions to streamline operations and enhance Golden Corral Menu customer experiences. For instance: AI-Powered Food Monitoring : Smart sensors and AI systems help monitor food levels, ensuring popular dishes are refilled promptly. This reduces waste and keeps diners satisfied. Touchless Technology : In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, touchless serving solutions—such as automated food dispensers and digital menu with liteblue login systems—have gained popularity, ensuring hygiene and safety. Digital Reservations : Apps and online platforms allow diners to book buffet slots, reducing overcrowding and offering a seamless dining experience. Data-Driven Dining Experiences Buffet restaurants are now leveraging data analytics to understand customer preferences better. Using point-of-sale systems and customer feedback tools, restaurants can identify trends such as which dishes are most popular or which times of day see the highest traffic. This data enables restaurants to: Optimize menus to align with customer tastes. Adjust food quantities to minimize waste. Offer personalized promotions to frequent diners. Sustainability at the Core Environmental consciousness is reshaping buffet practices with Golden Corral Prices . Many establishments are adopting sustainable practices such as: Composting and Recycling : Leftovers and waste are managed more responsibly through composting and recycling programs. Sourcing Locally : Partnering with local farmers and suppliers reduces carbon footprints and ensures fresher ingredients. Smaller Portions : Offering smaller portion sizes encourages diners to sample multiple items while reducing food waste. Immersive Dining with AR and VR Some high-end buffet restaurants are taking customer engagement to the next level with augmented and virtual reality. Imagine an AR menu that displays 3D visuals of each dish or a VR experience that transports you to the origins of a dish’s ingredients. These immersive technologies not only entertain but also educate diners, creating a memorable dining journey. Challenges and Opportunities While technology offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges for buffet operators. The initial cost of implementing advanced systems can be prohibitive, and training staff to use new technologies requires time and resources. However, the long-term advantages—such as improved efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced customer satisfaction—make it a worthwhile investment like Liteblue did. Conclusion The buffet industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. By embracing technology, prioritizing sustainability, and enhancing personalization, buffet restaurants are not just adapting to modern demands—they are redefining the dining experience. As these trends continue to evolve, the future of buffets promises to be as diverse and satisfying as the offerings on their tables. Read More articles at https://goldencorralmenu.us/ & https://iliteblue.us/ The Future of Buffets The buffet industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. By embracing technology, prioritizing sustainability, and enhancing personalization, buffets are not merely adapting to changing times—they are leading the charge toward a smarter, greener, and more engaging future. As these trends continue to evolve, the future of buffets promises to be as diverse , innovative, and satisfying as the offerings on their tables. Related Items: Buffet dining , dining Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Why is Langham Hotel’s Private Dining so Famous From Fine Dining to Casual Eats: The Best Restaurants for Every Occasion Dine like Royalty: The Most Luxurious Restaurants You Need to Experience CommentsNEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of iLearningEngines, Inc. AILE . Shareholders who purchased shares of AILE during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/ilearningengines-loss-submission-form/?id=113431&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: April 22, 2024 to August 28, 2024 ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's "Technology Partner" was an undisclosed related party; (2) the Company used its undisclosed related party Technology Partner to report "largely fake" revenue and expenses; (3) as a result of the foregoing, the Company significantly overstated its revenue; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. DEADLINE: December 6, 2024 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/ilearningengines-loss-submission-form/?id=113431&from=3 NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of AILE during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is December 6, 2024. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case. WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: The Gross Law Firm 15 West 38th Street, 12th floor New York, NY, 10018 Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com Phone: (646) 453-8903 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nasdaq Private Market (NPM) , a leading provider of secondary liquidity solutions to private companies, employees, and investors, announced today that it has promoted Rotem David, Parul Dubey, Sharif Khaleel, and Chris Setaro to new roles on its Executive Leadership Team. Rotem David has been promoted to Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO). At NPM, he is an active member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. In Mr. David’s new role, he will lead NPM’s product and technology divisions worldwide, responsible for setting and executing the product roadmap as well as effectively bridging the gap between product vision and technical feasibility. He will oversee tech infrastructure, engineering, QA, and product. Mr. David has spent more than 10 years building out NPM’s portfolio of products which offers liquidity and data across various transaction and client types. Prior to NPM, he held lead engineering roles at SecondMarket and Nasdaq, Inc and is credited with helping to pioneer the first tender offer solution revolutionizing the way private companies provide secondary liquidity to their shareholders. Parul Dubey has been promoted to Managing Director and Head of the Private Client Group. In her new role, she now joins the Executive Leadership Team. Ms. Dubey will lead the development of NPM’s retail business to service individuals, family offices, and mid-sized entities. Previously, she was General Manager of the Capital Markets division, where she helped build the business from inception. Ms. Dubey was instrumental in launching several capstone products, including buy-side auctions and SecondMarketTM. Prior to NPM, she worked at Wellington Management as an Investment Specialist responsible for global fund launches and distribution for private equity and healthcare hedge funds. Ms. Dubey also held investment roles at a buyout firm and served on the Board of Steven Feller P.E. (a portfolio company). She started her career at PIMCO, servicing managed separate accounts for sovereign wealth funds, central banks, and family offices in the Middle East and Africa. Sharif Khaleel has been promoted to Managing Director and Head of Institutional Trading. At NPM, he is an active member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. In his new role, Mr. Khaleel will lead the trading desk, overseeing relationships with institutional clients and broker-dealers. He has nearly 25 years of financial services experience. Prior to NPM, Mr. Khaleel was a Managing Director at Zanbato, where he specialized in executing institutionally sized blocks of private securities. Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Portfolio Trader at BNY Mellon. Mr. Khaleel has also held various roles on the buy side, including Derivatives and Risk Analyst at Stillwater Investment Management, Senior Trader at Farallon Capital Management, and International Portfolio and Macro Trader at BlackRock, where he spent over four years. Chris Setaro has been promoted to Chief Compliance, Regulatory, and Risk Officer. At NPM, he is an active member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Setaro will now oversee all compliance, regulatory affairs, and risk management functions for the company worldwide. Prior to NPM, he was a Senior Vice President and the Head of Global Risk at Forge Global Inc. Previously, Mr. Setaro was the Global Chief Compliance Officer of SharesPost, Inc. and Chief Compliance Officer for its broker-dealer subsidiary SharesPost Financial Corporation. Earlier in his career, he was a Vice President at Nasdaq, Inc. serving as the Chief Compliance Officer for several of its broker-dealers. “As our business continues to evolve, we are focused on adding talented people and valuable resources to strengthen our company and core products. I am confident that Rotem, Parul, Sharif, and Chris will each position us for continued success and accelerate our ambitions to be a key partner to participants across the private market ecosystem,” said Tom Callahan, Chief Executive Officer, Nasdaq Private Market. “I am proud of their commitment to NPM thus far and look forward to their future contributions.” NPM partners with some of the world’s fastest-growing, venture-backed private companies to facilitate company-sponsored liquidity programs. Its electronic SecondMarketTM trading marketplace is gaining adoption by sellers and buyers who trade private company shares. The company’s Transfer and Settlement product efficiently manages share transfer activity from match through settlement for some of the most sophisticated private companies and investors. Its private market premium data product Tape DTM helps investors and entities better evaluate global investment opportunities. As an industry-leading provider in the secondary market, NPM has executed $55+ billion in transactional value across 760+ company-sponsored liquidity programs for venture-backed private companies as well as 200,000+ individual eligible shareholders and investors. About Nasdaq Private Market Nasdaq Private Market provides liquidity solutions for private companies, employees, and investors throughout each stage of the pre-IPO lifecycle. In 2013, the company was founded within Nasdaq, Inc. Today it is an independent company with strategic investments from Nasdaq, Allen & Company, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Citi, DRW Venture Capital, Goldman Sachs, HiJoJo Partners, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Wells Fargo. Learn more at www.nasdaqprivatemarket.com . Visit LinkedIn and X for the latest company news. Media Contacts Nasdaq Private Market Amanda Gold Chief Marketing Officer Amanda.Gold@npm.com Disclosures and Disclaimers NPM is not: (a) a registered exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; or (c) a financial or tax planner and does not offer legal or financial advice to any user of the NPM website or its services. Securities-related services are offered through NPM Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and alternative trading system, and member FINRA/SIPC. Transactions in securities conducted through NPM Securities, LLC are not listed or traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, nor are the securities subject to the same listing or qualification standards applicable to securities listed or traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. Please read these other important disclosures and disclaimers about NPM found here: https://www.nasdaqprivatemarket.com/disclosures-disclaimer/
A wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None
Warning - this article contains major spoilers for Squid Game season 2. The much-anticipated second season of Squid Game is finally here, with seven fresh episodes landing on Netflix this Boxing Day. This new installment of the wildly popular South Korean drama sees Seong Gi-hun (portrayed by Lee Jung-jae) devising a plan to dismantle the sinister games that previously awarded him 45.6 billion won after surviving a brutal series of challenges three years prior. With the assistance of police officer Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), Gi-hun infiltrates the games intending to shut them down but finds himself drawn back into competition when his strategy to lead the police to the island is thwarted. During the games, he forms alliances with his old friend Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan) and Oh Young-il, unaware that the latter is actually the enigmatic Front Man Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun) from the previous tournament. In this season, players are given the chance to vote on whether to proceed with the games after each round, creating a divide between the 'Xs', those who wish to quit, and 'Os', participants who choose to continue in hopes of splitting the grand prize, reports the Express . In the season's final episode, Friend or Foe, Gi-hun and several other Xs stage a revolt against the guards, ambushing them following a brawl that erupts the night after the third game and seizing their weapons. Gi-hun and Jung-bae's attempt to penetrate the upper echelons hits a calamitous snag when Dae-ho (Kang Ha-neul), touted as an ex-Marine, is sent off for more bullets and instead Hyun-ju (Park Sung-hoon) discovers him hiding out in the bunks. Elsewhere, In-ho with two companions finds a way to flank the guards holding Gi-hun and Jung-bae at bay, only to turn his gun on them and fake his own death over the radios. The seventh episode's nail-biting conclusion finds Gi-hun facing off with In-ho, now donned in his Front Man disguise to conceal who he is, for an ultimate showdown. After demanding to know if Gi-hun relishes "playing the hero", In-ho coldly murders Jung-bae right before him, leaving him shattered. Yet, Gi-hun's destiny remains uncertain, deliberately untold as we approach the oncoming season. Within the dorms, Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-shim) persuades Hyun-ju not to press on with a futile battle. The season finishes off with an intriguing snippet potentially lifted from a future season three episode, glimpsed just as the credits wrap up. We watch three contenders step into a new game zone, confronted by a robotic schoolgirl opposite her equally eerie robotic schoolboy counterpart. Involving red and green traffic signals, the sequence hints at Gi-hun and crew embarking on an altered version of Red Light, Green Light. With his strategies allowing a greater number of players to advance to the subsequent game, two motion-sensing robots positioned at both ends of the arena could guarantee that the next game will be utterly brutal. It appears that the games are set to resume when Squid Game makes its comeback next year. But the question remains: can Jun-ho locate Gi-hun in time? Squid Game season 2 is available to stream on Netflix. Season 3 will be released in 2025.The extinction clock is accelerating on the Knott’s Xcelerator roller coaster that is quickly becoming an endangered species as the granddaddy of an aging class of thrill rides watches better-known kin drop like flies. Three rides similar to the 2002 Xcelerator , all of them younger than the Knott’s Berry Farm coaster, are currently out of commission: Top Thrill 2 (2003), Kingda Ka (2005) and Formula Rossa (2010). The first Intamin Accelerator coaster ever built, Xcelerator reopened in November 2023 after spending two years on the disabled list while getting a new hydraulic launch system installed. Xcelerator accelerates from zero to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds with the assistance of a hydraulic launch, according to Roller Coaster Database. The Xcelerator trains quickly transition into a 205-foot-tall vertical top hat element before sending riders plunging downward on a relatively short ride covering 2,200 feet of track in a minute. Over the past decade, three Intamin Accelerator coasters have been relocated, one has been closed and two are currently “standing but not operating” — Roller Coaster Database’s version of the disabled list. “Over time, I believe we’ve seen just about every one of these coasters shut down for an extended period of time to repair the launch systems,” according to Screamscape’s Lance Hart. ALSO SEE: Xcelerator coaster returns at Knott’s Berry Farm after two years on disabled list Six Flags announced in November that Kingda Ka would be removed from its Six Flags Great Adventure park in New Jersey and replaced by a new record-breaking launch coaster in 2026. “Kingda Ka has delivered more than 12 million rides since 2005,” Six Flags said in a statement. “What was cutting edge roller coaster technology 20 years ago has been surpassed by more modern advancements.” Ferrari World’s Formula Rossa and Cedar Point’s Top Thrill 2 are both eventually expected to reopen. Formula Rossa has been closed since January to repair the launch system — a process that can take a year or more, according to Screamscape. Cedar Point closed Top Thrill Dragster for the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons after a metal piece flew off the ride and seriously injured a woman waiting in the attraction queue in 2021. The rechristened Top Thrill 2 replaced the Intamin hydraulic launch system with a Zamperla electro-magnetic propulsion launch system in May — but the ride only operated for about a week before the park closed the coaster again due to mechanical issues. ALSO SEE: 1,000-foot-tall roller coaster about to become a reality The Intamin Accelerator coasters employ a hydraulic launch system with a rapidly spooling cable that pulls the trains to speeds ranging from 80 mph to nearly 150 mph. Intamin produced 14 of the lightning fast rides between 2002 and 2010. “These systems were a bit finicky, heavy on the maintenance side,” according to Screamscape. “It was typically a matter of ‘when’ the launch system was going to crap out unexpectedly. The repair process was always a lengthy and expensive one, so it was no surprise when Intamin decided to retire the launch system for good.” A few of the aging thrill rides have received new leases on life with state-of-the-art updates. Zamperla removed the old hydraulic launch systems and installed new magnetic launches on Top Thrill Dragster at Ohio’s Cedar Point and ThunderVolt at Canada’s Playland. Ferrari World removed the Formula Rossa hydraulic launch system over the summer, according to Screamscape. Screamscape estimates Xcelerator’s new hydraulic launch system should last 8 to 13 years. Knott’s paid $13 million for the Intamin extreme coaster in 2002, according to RCDB.
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Lioness Season 2 Episode 8 recap: Will the team survive?Dried Tha Khut Pwint produced from Anyar (central Myanmar) has received overseas orders majorly from Thailand and Malaysia. Medicinal dried Hgin Ngout Pwint, also known as Tha Khut Pwint has high consumption and being exported abroad. “It is time that dried Tha Khut Pwint sale is the best among other local foods. Tha Khut Pwint blossoms in monsoon but there are traders who have stocked them. We export it to Yangon as well as overseas, especially Thailand and Malaysia. Tha Khut Pwint can be eaten by cooked or made salad. It is medicinal and it is one of most-consumed food of Anyar,” said an official from Shwe Nyar Thu Anyar-produced foods distribution in Magway Township. Tha Khut Pwint is mainly produced from dry zone such as Magway and Taungdwingyi townships and the price gets slightly high now compared to last monsoon. “In local market, Yangon is the biggest buyer but we don’t have much orders from Mandalay. The price fell in monsoon when they blossomed and now slightly gets high,” he added. – Thit Taw/ZS
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