50jili app download for android
(Bloomberg) -- Treasury yields rose on Monday as traders continue to see a slower pace of interest rate reductions by the Federal Reserve next year and the potential worsening of country’s fiscal backdrop under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. The rise in longer-term Treasury yields outstripped that of shorter maturities, adding to the yield-curve steepening momentum of recent weeks. The gap between 10-year yields and those that mature in two years is hovering at about 25 basis points, up from nearly zero at the start of the month. Two-year yields were at one point 51 basis points above those of 10-year notes earlier this year in late June, in a so-called inverted yield curve pattern. The moves Monday built on a rise in yields last week following US central bank officials latest quarterly projections — dubbed the dot plot — in which they halved estimates for the total amount of rate reductions next year. The forecasts, according to the median level, also notched higher the outlook for the Fed’s long-run rate, taken in the market as a proxy for the central bank’s neutral policy level. “The long-end has been kind of flexing its muscles, with investors lifting risk-premium they see in the debt,” said Andrew Brenner, head of international fixed income at NatAlliance Securities. “The fiscal situation is one factor behind the rise in long-end risk premium as well as the outlook for more supply. Overall what we are seeing is a normalization of the yield curve.” Interest-rate swaps contracts show that traders are betting on less than the two-quarter point cuts officials signaled in their dot plot. Through the end of 2025, the contracts are pricing in just 0.33 percentage points of rate reductions. There are no Fed officials slated to speak this week. Treasuries remained under selling pressure Monday despite a weaker-than-expected report on US consumer confidence and solid demand at an auction of two-year notes. Confidence unexpectedly sank in December for the first time in three months on concerns over politics and the outlook for tariffs and economy. What Bloomberg Strategists Say ... “In its latest dot plot, the Fed has implicitly outlined a real neutral policy rate of 100 basis points, a rate it has raised successively this year. While the real neutral rate may not be that high, Treasury 10-year yields need to reflect both the skepticism that the Fed policy is on auto pilot and that the real neutral rate may be more elevated than its dot plot estimate.” — Ven Ram, Cross-Assets Strategist, Dubai Click here to read the full report Treasury securities received solid demand at a $69 billion sale of two-year notes on Monday and ahead of the sale of $70 billion in five-year notes on Tuesday and $44 billion in seven-year notes on Thursday. “Despite the suggestion from the dot plot that the Fed may decelerate the pace of easing over the course of 2025, the 2-year versus 10-year yield curve did not re-flatten,” said Chris Ahrens, a strategist at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. “This may be signaling that there is a transition occurring whereby fiscal concerns and general policy uncertainty will lead investors to demand a higher term premium on long-term Treasuries,” he said. Tuesday will be a shortened trading session for both bonds and stocks in the US ahead of Wednesday’s Christmas holiday. Equity markets will shutter on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. New York time while bond trading will end an hour later. Trading will resume on Thursday when focus turns to economic releases and the weekly jobless claims report. (Updates rates throughout.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Rescuers reassess safety in search for woman they think fell into a Pennsylvania sinkholeWOBURN, Mass., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLIN ), a global leader in AI-powered marketing technology, today announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2024. "HawkSearch is the leader in AI-powered product discovery. This year we nearly doubled our sales contracts, launched a new HawkSearch site every week, had better than 103% net revenue retention for HawkSearch, and released 5 AI products under the HawkSearch brand,” said Ari Kahn, Bridgeline's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We begin 2025 with the largest sales pipeline in the company's history, an AI product suite that both existing customer and new customers need, and an outstanding industry reputation from customers and analysts.” Financial Highlights - Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Bridgeline Digital, Inc. will hold a conference call today, December 23, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Ari Kahn, and Chief Financial Officer, Thomas Windhausen, will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period. The details of the conference call and replay are as follows: Bridgeline Digital Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Call Monday, December 23, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET Once registered, participants will receive dial-in numbers and unique PIN number. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss), and Non-GAAP adjusted net earnings (loss) per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, non-cash warrant related income/expense, changes in fair value of contingent consideration, restructuring and acquisition-related costs, amortization of debt discounts, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects. Bridgeline uses Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) as supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share are calculated as net income (loss) or net income (loss) per share on a diluted basis, excluding, where applicable, amortization of intangible assets, change in fair value of warrants, stock-based compensation, restructuring and acquisition-related costs, goodwill impairment charges, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects. Bridgeline's management does not consider these Non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these Non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company's financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these Non-GAAP financial measures. To compensate for these limitations, Bridgeline management presents Non-GAAP financial measures in connection with GAAP results. Bridgeline urges investors to review the reconciliation of its Non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures, which is included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Bridgeline's financial performance. Our definitions of Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) may differ from and therefore may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. As a result of the limitations that Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP adjusted net income (loss) have as an analytical tool, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Bridgeline Digital, Inc. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, business operations and the business of our customers, suppliers and partners; our ability to retain and upgrade current customers, increasing our recurring revenue, our ability to attract new customers, our revenue growth rate; our history of net loss and our ability to achieve or maintain profitability, instability in the financial markets, including the banking sector; our liability for any unauthorized access to our data or our users' content, including through privacy and data security breaches; any decline in demand for our platform or products; changes in the interoperability of our platform across devices, operating systems, and third party applications that we do not control; competition in our markets; our ability to respond to rapid technological changes, extend our platform, develop new features or products, or gain market acceptance for such new features or products, particularly in light of potential disruptions to the productivity of our employees resulting from remote work; our ability to manage our growth or plan for future growth, and our acquisition of other businesses and the potential of such acquisitions to require significant management attention, disrupt our business, or dilute stockholder value; the volatility of the market price of our common stock, the ability to maintain our listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market; or our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls as well as other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of such risks could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Bridgeline Digital, Inc. assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law. About Bridgeline Digital Bridgeline is a marketing technology company that offers a suite of products that help companies grow online revenue by driving more traffic to their websites, converting more visitors to purchasers, and increasing average order value. To learn more, please visit www.bridgeline.com or call (800) 603-9936. Contact: Bridgeline Digital, Inc. Thomas R. Windhausen Chief Financial Officer [email protected]Automotive Aftermarket M&A will Continue to Attract High Investor Interest in 2025
Thomas Frank unhappy with officials in game with Brighton
The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously passed one of the largest outdoor recreation packages aimed at supporting public lands and bolstering the nearly $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation industry. The “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act,” which passed the House in April, includes more than a dozen individual bills that will enact sweeping policy changes around public lands and recreation, including streamlining permitting processes, funding parks and green spaces, and modernizing technology to enhance visitor experiences. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get our free email newsletters — latest headlines and e-edition notifications.
Who Owns the World’s Biggest Gold Mines?Vandy QB Diego Pavia now waits as federal judge takes injunction request under advisement
Kano gets first female commissioner of police HauwaWASHINGTON — H.W. Crocker III thinks Western civilization is in trouble. He supports conservative Christian moral values and has decried the rise of a new, secular America where a growing number of people answer “none” to surveys asking which religion they practice. He’s lauded the Confederacy and its soldiers and generals in books like the “Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War” and “Robert E. Lee on Leadership.” And, this year, he picked up a new job: communications consultant for Sen. Josh Hawley’s Senate campaign. Hawley’s campaign paid Crocker $55,000 for communications consulting between May and November, according to campaign finance records. While it’s unclear how large a role Crocker played in the campaign, the decision to bring him in comes as Hawley appears to be at the forefront in pushing a socially conservative political message driven by religion — particularly Christianity. Hawley is at work on a book that calls for a religious revival in America, tentatively titled “The Awakenings: The Religious Revivals that Made America — and Why We Need Another.” It comes as the Missouri Republican has spent the past year honing a message that the Republican Party should focus on promoting the working class while defending faith, family and God — a bet that leaning into Christian beliefs is a winning strategy for Republicans, casting the party as the country’s moral compass while the left drives America into hedonism. With President-elect Donald Trump winning a second term and Republicans in control of Congress, Hawley’s push will find a receptive audience. He has a key ally in the White House, Vice President-elect JD Vance, who can help push Hawley’s agenda, particularly when it comes to promoting social and economic policies aimed at the working-class voters who make up the Republican Party’s base. Already, the ideology has started to gain more influence in Missouri. A state lawmaker has filed a bill to put the Ten Commandments in public schools. A Kansas City-area pastor who says there is no difference between church and state was elected to a state Senate seat. It has some Kansas City-area religious leaders concerned, like the Rev. Stephen Jones with the First Baptist Church in Kansas City. “They will not help Christianity,” Jones said. “They will hurt it. They’ll domesticate it, I guess it is the right word to use. They’ll domesticate the message of Christianity and take away the elegance of its truth. And I don’t want that to happen.” At the Capitol, Hawley responded “no comment” when asked what role Crocker served on the campaign and whether Crocker was serving as a speechwriter — as he once did for California Gov. Pete Wilson in the 1990s. Hawley’s campaign has previously said Hawley writes his own speeches. Over the past month, since winning reelection, Hawley has refused to talk to The Star on any subject without providing any explanation, saying he will not comment “now or in the future.” Crocker did not respond to an email sent to a publicly listed email address. Embracing the Confederacy In August 2023, amid a national conversation about American masculinity and the struggles young men appear to be facing, Crocker offered up a solution: Young men should follow the example of Confederate soldiers. His essay, which referenced his book “Robert E. Lee on Leadership,” focused heavily on the religion of Confederate soldiers, framing the debate over whether to take down statues memorializing the Confederacy as an effort to remove tributes to Christian men. “The torn-down statues celebrated Christian men: men who put duty above self, who prayed, who believed in self-sacrifice, righteousness, service, and heroism (and recognized it in others), who trusted in God and relished life as a gift,” Crocker wrote, saying they stood in contrast with young men and women who he deemed “the most anxious, depressed, shallow, irreligious, unpatriotic, and immoral generation in American history.” His portrayal of Confederate soldiers dates back to the Civil War, when white Southerners claimed their army was a Christian army, while the Union was composed of atheists, socialists and immigrants, despite the fact that many Christians fought for the Union and pushed for the abolition of slavery. That narrative particularly took hold after the Civil War, as the “Lost Cause” — the myth that the war was not about slavery, but was instead about preserving the Southern way of life as Southern Democrats maintained a commitment to white supremacy — spread across the country. Its influence could be found in the monuments and statues dedicated to the Confederacy, which were even erected in states like Missouri — a slave state that never left the Union, but whose people served in the armies of both the Union and Confederacy. Kansas City had its own battle over Confederate statues in 2020, as city leaders tried to remove monuments that could be associated with racism. But there is still a monument to Confederate soldiers at Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery, looming over a historically Black neighborhood, even though Missouri remained in the Union through the war. W. Fitzhugh Brundage, a professor at the University of North Carolina who studies the Civil War and American South, said the Lost Cause still holds an appeal for a wide swath of Americans, particularly people who are skeptical of a strong federal government. He said it can be seen as one of the final moments before the federal government took on more significant power, allowing the Confederacy to be portrayed as a road that wasn’t taken. Brundage said Lee became such a potent figure in the Southern mythology because there was a large public record of his faith in letters to friends and family, because he expressed uncertainty about slavery in some letters and because he was the subject of a biography that portrayed him as a saint-like figure. But Brundage noted that Lee also fought for the states attempting to preserve the institution of slavery and expressed racism in many of his letters. “In the current environment, removing a statue of Robert E. Lee then becomes a signifier of an attack on Christian evangelical tradition, an attack on people who are in favor of limited government, an attack on anyone who doesn’t embrace the notion of reconciliation and compensation,” Brundage said. “So that that’s why I think it remains a potent symbol.” Sharing Christian nationalism Crocker began working on Hawley’s campaign in May, according to campaign finance records. That means he was on the campaign’s payroll when Hawley gave a speech embracing Christian nationalism at the National Conservatism Conference in July. “The Left’s primary purpose is to attack our spiritual unity, our common loves. They want to destroy the affections that link us one to another and substitute a set of altogether different ideals,” Hawley said in the speech. “The Left preaches its own gospel, a creed of intersectionality, of deliverance from tradition, from family, from biological sex — and of course, from God. They regard the faith of our fathers as a fetter to be broken. They deem our common moral inheritance as cause for repentance.” Crocker made a similar argument in an essay about the importance of faith in The Catholic Thing in May 2024, arguing that the political left has sought to promote selfishness instead of working toward the common good. “Such liberalism has, of course, brought us the ‘Nones’ – the rising tide of young people who profess no religion because they accept no reference points outside themselves,” Crocker wrote. “To them, faith and reason, history and philosophy, tradition and gratitude, are all irrelevant. All that matters is ‘me.’” It’s unclear what role, if any, Crocker played in the crafting of the speech. Communications consultants are common in political campaigns — some write speeches, while others research and write white papers to help with policy proposals and others just shape the general message of a campaign. Hawley has long relied on the political consulting firm OnMessage for his campaigns, using it as a one-stop shop for things like fundraising, developing ads and building a larger political strategy. Former Hawley Chief of Staff Kyle Plotkin is currently a partner at OnMessage and was a key consultant for Hawley on the campaign. Plotkin did not respond to a voicemail asking about Crocker’s role in the campaign. But while there are instances where Crocker could have shaped Hawley’s message, there are clear instances where Crocker is more of an ideological hard-liner than Hawley. Both men oppose abortion, but Hawley has said he doesn’t support banning abortion in the case of rape or incest. Crocker has argued abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. He once compared abortion to child sacrifice, saying that modern society has become so fixated on self-identity that it’s willing to allow people to sacrifice children in order to preserve their sense of self. “Child sacrifice is hardly a new thing. Sacrificing children to idols is typical of pagan societies. Today’s idolatry of choice is making idols of ourselves,” he wrote. “Christianity abolished child sacrifice and the old idolatry. If we are to abolish child sacrifice again, we will need Christianity to triumph over the new idolatry.” The speech embracing Christian nationalism caused concern among some Kansas City pastors and politicians. Jones, the Baptist pastor in Kansas City, said he’s concerned that politicians could corrupt the Christian message, causing it to be bogged down by partisan politics. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat and Methodist pastor, said he has made a point in his political career to separate his own religious beliefs from his role as an elected official — saying he once signed a bill approving riverboat gambling in Kansas City even though the Methodist Church opposed it. “The power of religion is illimitable,” Cleaver said. “And if a person believes what he or she is doing is God ordained, there are very few things they would not do. You can do a lot of bad stuff in the name of God.” Did Crocker and Hawley connect? While Crocker has worked as a speechwriter, most of his career has been spent in publishing. Along with his own writing — Crocker has written comic novels about George Armstrong Custer and the histories of the Catholic Church, the American Military, the British Empire and the Confederacy — he worked as an editor at Regnery Publishing. Regnery is also Hawley’s publisher — a business relationship formed when Simon & Schuster canceled the publication of his book “The Tyranny of Big Tech,” citing Hawley’s role in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. It is unclear whether Crocker and Hawley crossed paths through Regnery. A spokesperson for Regnery said Crocker is no longer an editor there, though he is scheduled to publish “Don’t Tread on Me” a history of the American military, in January 2024. But while there’s a clear connection in the publishing world, the work Crocker did for Hawley’s campaign would likely not include work on Hawley’s book. Hawley is legally allowed to use campaign funds on a ghostwriter, said Joseph Birkenstock, a lawyer who practices political law. But once those campaign funds are used, he’s not allowed to make a personal profit off the book — any profits would have to go to the campaign. “If you’ve used campaign funds to create it, you can’t turn around and make personal use of it,” Birkenstock said. “The legal principle that this is up against is the idea that you can’t make personal use of campaign funds. You can’t pay rent on your house, you can’t buy yourself a car.” Hawley has already received up to $127,500 for the book after entering a royalty agreement in 2023, according to Senate Financial Disclosure forms. ©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Donald Trump's TikTok Standoff: Supreme Court ShowdownUnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York
NoneBrentford boss Thomas Frank claimed Brighton forward Joao Pedro should have been sent off during his side’s goalless Premier League draw at the Amex Stadium. Pedro escaped punishment after swinging an arm at Bees substitute substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact. VAR reviewed the second-half incident but deemed there was no violent conduct. Frank and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler disagreed about the decision. “As I understand the rules, you can’t swing your arm to try to hit someone,” said Frank. “If you hit them or not, it’s a red, that’s the way I understand the rules.” Frank spoke to the match officials, including referee Andy Madley, about the flashpoint at full-time. “They haven’t seen the situation yet, not on TV afterwards,” said Frank. “To be fair to him, I think the angle can be tricky so that’s why you’ve got VAR.” Asked about Frank’s assessment, Hurzeler replied: “Interesting opinion. I see it completely different. “For me, it’s not a red card. He tried to get free from a person.” Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six top-flight games. Albion dominated for large periods and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken made some important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Brentford a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Hurzeler thought the jeers at full-time were unfair. “The team doesn’t deserve that because in all the games we had in the last weeks they were all good, they were all intense, they were all where we thought we deserved more” said the German, whose team have lost to Fulham and Crystal Palace and drawn with Southampton, Leicester and West Ham in recent matches. “We try to work hard to satisfy our supporters, we try to give them what they deserve, we try to make them proud. “But the Premier League is tough. We know there will be (tough) periods we have to go through, especially with this young squad. “We try to stick together, find the positive and keep on going.” Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. Frank, who is awaiting news on Flekken and defender Ben Mee, who also left the field injured, said: “I thought it was a fair point. “Brighton were better in the first half, no big, clearcut chances, and I thought we were better second half. “Overall, I’m happy with the performance, especially the way we defended. “We haven’t had too many clean sheets this season, so in that context I thought it was very impressive against a good Brighton team. “We know we have a lot of players out – we get two more injuries during the game. “The way the players showed their mentality and character and dug in was hugely impressive.”
Thomas Frank unhappy with officials in game with BrightonMicrosoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Impartner's Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive partner program growth and enhance business strategies. SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner , a leading provider of partner management and partner marketing automation solutions, today announced the availability of its Partnership Relationship Management (PRM) platform in Microsoft Azure Marketplace , an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Impartner customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Impartner PRM enables businesses to effectively manage and scale their partner ecosystems. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform offers real-time data synchronization, scalable cloud infrastructure, and enterprise-grade security. Impartner's PRM leverages Dynamics 365 to provide bi-directional data synchronization, streamlining partner management and optimizing the sales pipeline. Customers benefit from improved partner engagement, increased scalability through Azure, and secure compliance with global standards. Impartner's PRM includes AI-powered tools, such as an AI-driven chatbot, that enhance resource accessibility and partner engagement with 24/7 support. By integrating with Dynamics 365 and Azure, Impartner ensures customers can scale their operations and benefit from a cloud infrastructure that supports growth, efficiency, and innovation. "We're excited to make Impartner's PRM available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, enabling businesses to manage and grow their partner ecosystems more effectively," said Ryan Knapp , Global Head of Partnerships at Impartner. "By combining our advanced platform with Microsoft cloud infrastructure, we're helping companies streamline operations, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth. This integration opens up new possibilities for businesses to scale efficiently and innovate with confidence." "Microsoft welcomes Impartner to Azure Marketplace, where global customers can find, try, and buy from among thousands of partner solutions," said Jake Zborowski , General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace and trusted partners like Impartner help customers do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About Impartner Impartner is the fastest-growing, most awarded provider of channel management technologies, including its flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Partner Marketing Automation solutions. These tools empower organizations worldwide to effectively manage partner relationships, drive demand through partners, and accelerate revenue via indirect sales channels. For more information, visit impartner.com . For more information, press only: Lola Phonpadith Impartner Lola.phonpadith@impartner.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-partner-relationship-management-platform-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302339325.html SOURCE Impartner
While the holiday season is often a time rich with cheer, sentiment, love and family connections, it can also be a painful reminder of what once was or what many other people have but you don’t. "We’re shown this ideal version of the holidays, with partnered people, people with children, people with families in the matching pajamas with the gorgeous photos," said Shani Silver, a New Orleans-based writer, podcaster and author of the Substack newsletter Cheaper Than Therapy. But that notion excludes a massive number of people who won’t have "the cozy Norman Rockwell Christmas," she added, including those who are newly single or estranged from family, or have lost a partner or other family member. If you’re troubled by your situation, it’s OK to honor your feelings and keep the celebrations low-key or sit this holiday season out, experts say. But you don’t have to refuse to celebrate because you’re without a partner or family. This could be the holiday season in which you feel empowered to create new meaningful experiences with friends or the VIP in your life who is always there for you — yourself. Here’s how to figure out what’s best for you this holiday season. It’s time to shift your mindset Not having a partner or close family to spend the holidays with can bring guilt, shame and blame, said Dr. Ayanna Abrams, an Atlanta-based clinical psychologist. You don’t have the life you're "supposed" to have during this season, "and all of that exacerbates (your) feelings of loneliness and sadness," she said. You can still be filled with grief, especially if a breakup, estrangement or death was recent, Abrams added. "All of a sudden everything is different this year," she said, and you may be longing for the traditions you had with the person you lost. In such a transition, there’s no requirement to have the holidays look or feel the same as they always have, said Dr. Adam Brown, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at The New School for Social Research in New York. Just as there is nothing wrong with not having these things, there is also nothing bad about wanting and missing them. But there comes a point when dwelling in sadness or shame keeps you from motivating yourself to chart your own path forward and from recognizing the loving people remaining in your life. Silver encourages single people to "stop viewing your holiday season as a consolation prize." Your holiday season isn’t insignificant, said Silver, who has been single for 17 years. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t get to celebrate as fully as anyone else, and "a home with one person in it is still full," she said. "Each individual human being on Earth is a valid person." Hatching a new plan When you’re considering other ways to celebrate the holidays, think about what brings the most joy, Silver said. "We have this unique time available to us to define what we want to do as individuals, and a lot of people will never have that," she added. "Not viewing it as a burden, but viewing it as a benefit, is one of the ways that you can start to really enjoy this time." If you always went to holiday markets or drive-through Christmas light shows with your ex, you can enjoy those activities alone or with friends, Silver said. Did your ex hate ice skating while you always wanted to try it? Now’s the time. Try doing some holiday baking, watching a movie at home or in a theatre, going to a wine tasting or pop-up holiday experience, or cooking a recipe you’ve been eyeing forever. You can still put up a tree and mail out holiday cards, Abrams said. Drive or walk through beautifully decorated neighborhoods or travel to visit a friend. If you have friends or acquaintances in the same boat as you, get together for a holiday dinner like Silver did last year, or for other plans. You might feel like you don’t want to be a burden. But you never know what might happen if you tell a loved one that you’re feeling the need for connection and wondering what they’re doing for the holidays, Brown said. Maybe you’re sad about not having anyone leave you gifts under the tree, but you can do holiday shopping for things you’ve really wanted or organize a gift exchange among friends. To keep the element of surprise, Silver used to order themed mystery gift boxes or Advent calendars she’d wait until Christmas Day to open. For those shopping in person, some bookstores wrap books in paper and write a description on the exterior so you don’t know what you’re getting. Silver also focuses on gifting herself intangibles, such as knocking out work projects early to have more time off. How to cope with sadness Working with a therapist is one of the best ways to cope with struggles you may have during the season or other times of year, Abrams said. She recommended starting with one now, if needed, to get ahead of office closures. That’s especially true if you’re noticing any isolation, excessive sleep, trouble getting out of bed, substance misuse or loss of appetite. Sometimes distractions are necessary, experts said. You can’t always avoid the pain or eliminate it, but you can learn to tolerate and hold space for it, Abrams said. Self-care can help you cope and experience more joy this year, Brown said. Do what helps you feel good and process your feelings, including exercising, journaling, talking things out in a voice recording, nourishing your body and using your support system. When considering whether to join the festivities, many people tend to think in all-or-nothing patterns: You either go to all the holiday parties or none. You deck all the halls of your house or leave everything bare. "We usually take away a lot of opportunities to have some semblance of something we want to experience," Abrams said. Considering the middle ground can help — maybe you don’t go to a gathering but still send a white elephant gift. Or plan on attending but only staying for an hour or so. Try decorating, but maybe just one room. If grief strikes, stepping into another room or outside to cry, for example, is better than trying to repress emotion, Abrams said. Whether external or self-imposed, the pressure to just cheer up can make people feel a lot worse. (Cold air, though uncomfortable at first, can also be good for your mood, she said.) "You’re feeling this way because you are human," she said. Setting boundaries and expectations If seeing all the happy, romantic holiday posts feels too difficult, taking a break from social media or muting certain accounts may help, Abrams said. Shifting your mindset and how you compare yourself with someone else, on the other hand, may be in order, Silver said. "Being jealous is just one lens that you can choose," she said. "You can also choose to see it as, 'If it happened to them, it can happen to me.'" And if anyone asks nosy questions about your relationship status at a social gathering, you don’t owe them an answer, Silver said. You are just as worthy of dignity, respect and privacy as someone in a relationship. Preparing loose scripts of answers based on your boundaries and social dynamics can be useful, Abrams said, especially if you feel pressure to answer despite your feelings. You might say you don’t want to discuss it, that this season things are different or you just want to focus on the new. You could even preemptively let loved ones know via a text or phone call, which can save everyone an awkward moment. Regardless of what you do, Silver said she hopes you have as happy a holiday as anyone else — and urges you to choose the holiday season plans that you have the emotional bandwidth to handle. "Any way that you authentically want to spend the holidays is correct," she said.Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Impartner's Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive partner program growth and enhance business strategies. SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner , a leading provider of partner management and partner marketing automation solutions, today announced the availability of its Partnership Relationship Management (PRM) platform in Microsoft Azure Marketplace , an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Impartner customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Impartner PRM enables businesses to effectively manage and scale their partner ecosystems. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform offers real-time data synchronization, scalable cloud infrastructure, and enterprise-grade security. Impartner's PRM leverages Dynamics 365 to provide bi-directional data synchronization, streamlining partner management and optimizing the sales pipeline. Customers benefit from improved partner engagement, increased scalability through Azure, and secure compliance with global standards. Impartner's PRM includes AI-powered tools, such as an AI-driven chatbot, that enhance resource accessibility and partner engagement with 24/7 support. By integrating with Dynamics 365 and Azure, Impartner ensures customers can scale their operations and benefit from a cloud infrastructure that supports growth, efficiency, and innovation. "We're excited to make Impartner's PRM available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, enabling businesses to manage and grow their partner ecosystems more effectively," said Ryan Knapp , Global Head of Partnerships at Impartner. "By combining our advanced platform with Microsoft cloud infrastructure, we're helping companies streamline operations, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth. This integration opens up new possibilities for businesses to scale efficiently and innovate with confidence." "Microsoft welcomes Impartner to Azure Marketplace, where global customers can find, try, and buy from among thousands of partner solutions," said Jake Zborowski , General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace and trusted partners like Impartner help customers do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About Impartner Impartner is the fastest-growing, most awarded provider of channel management technologies, including its flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Partner Marketing Automation solutions. These tools empower organizations worldwide to effectively manage partner relationships, drive demand through partners, and accelerate revenue via indirect sales channels. For more information, visit impartner.com . For more information, press only: Lola Phonpadith Impartner Lola.phonpadith@impartner.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-partner-relationship-management-platform-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302339325.html SOURCE Impartner
Missed Out on Nvidia? Buy This Magnificent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Before It Soars at Least 43% in 2025.Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the marketSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean legislative push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law fell through on Saturday after most lawmakers from his conservative governing party boycotted the vote. The defeat of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The opposition parties who brought the impeachment motion had 192 seats, but only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. “The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. There are worries that Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office because his leadership took a huge hit. Many experts say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Woo repeatedly urged ruling party members to return to the chamber to participate in the vote, waiting several hours for them to come. At one point, Democratic Party leaders visited a hall on the floor below the main chamber where PPP lawmakers were gathered, attempting to persuade them to vote. After being blocked from entering, they angrily accused the conservatives’ leadership of preventing its lawmakers from voting freely. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” The passage of Yoon’s impeachment motion appeared more likely Friday when the chair of Yoon’s party called for his removal on Friday, but the party remained formally opposed to impeachment. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing and singing along to K-pop songs with lyrics changed to call for Yoon’s ouster. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.The Samsung Galaxy S series has consistently pushed the boundaries of smartphone technology, and the upcoming Galaxy S25 Slim is poised to be no exception. Rumors suggest that Samsung is developing groundbreaking camera technology that will allow for a significantly thinner and sleeker design without compromising image quality. This article delves into the potential innovations behind the Galaxy S25 Slim’s camera, exploring how it could revolutionize smartphone photography and design. A New Era of Slim Smartphones For years, smartphone manufacturers have struggled to balance the demand for increasingly sophisticated camera systems with the desire for slimmer, more pocketable devices. The camera bump has become a ubiquitous feature on modern smartphones , often detracting from the overall aesthetics. However, the Galaxy S25 Slim aims to change that. By integrating innovative camera technology, Samsung is reportedly working to eliminate the camera bump altogether, paving the way for a truly slim and elegant design. This advancement could mark a new era in smartphone aesthetics, where cutting-edge technology seamlessly integrates with sleek design. Potential Camera Innovations While Samsung has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the S25 Slim’s camera technology, several rumors and leaks provide tantalizing glimpses into what we might expect. One prominent rumor suggests that Samsung is developing a new type of periscope lens that can be folded and retracted within the phone’s body. This technology would allow for a high-quality zoom lens without the need for a protruding camera bump. Another possibility is the integration of sensor-shift stabilization technology, which moves the camera sensor instead of the lens to compensate for handshake and movement. This technology could potentially lead to significantly improved image stabilization, especially in low-light conditions. Furthermore, advancements in computational photography algorithms could play a crucial role in enhancing image quality and enabling new camera features, even with a smaller camera module. The Impact on Smartphone Design The Galaxy S25 Slim’s innovative camera technology could have a profound impact on smartphone design. By eliminating the camera bump, Samsung can create a truly slim and sleek device that is more comfortable to hold and carry. This could lead to a resurgence of slim smartphones, offering users a more elegant and pocketable alternative to the bulky devices that have become commonplace . Moreover, the S25 Slim’s design could inspire other manufacturers to explore new ways to integrate advanced camera technology without compromising on aesthetics. This could lead to a new wave of innovation in smartphone design, with a focus on seamless integration and minimalist aesthetics. My Thoughts and Expectations As a technology enthusiast and long-time user of Samsung smartphones, I’m incredibly excited about the prospect of the Galaxy S25 Slim. I’ve always preferred slim and elegant designs, and the idea of a smartphone with a truly flush camera is incredibly appealing. I believe that this innovation could be a game-changer for the smartphone industry, pushing the boundaries of both design and technology. I’m particularly interested in seeing how Samsung implements the rumored periscope lens technology. If they can achieve high-quality zoom capabilities without a protruding camera bump, it would be a significant achievement. I’m also eager to see how advancements in computational photography contribute to the S25 Slim’s camera performance. The Galaxy S25 Slim has the potential to be a truly revolutionary smartphone , combining cutting-edge camera technology with a sleek and elegant design. By eliminating the camera bump, Samsung could usher in a new era of slim smartphones, inspiring other manufacturers to follow suit. While we await official confirmation from Samsung, the rumors and leaks surrounding the S25 Slim paint a picture of a device that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in smartphone design and technology.
None
Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Impartner's Partner Relationship Management (PRM) platform to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive partner program growth and enhance business strategies. SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Impartner , a leading provider of partner management and partner marketing automation solutions, today announced the availability of its Partnership Relationship Management (PRM) platform in Microsoft Azure Marketplace , an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Impartner customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Impartner PRM enables businesses to effectively manage and scale their partner ecosystems. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Azure, the platform offers real-time data synchronization, scalable cloud infrastructure, and enterprise-grade security. Impartner's PRM leverages Dynamics 365 to provide bi-directional data synchronization, streamlining partner management and optimizing the sales pipeline. Customers benefit from improved partner engagement, increased scalability through Azure, and secure compliance with global standards. Impartner's PRM includes AI-powered tools, such as an AI-driven chatbot, that enhance resource accessibility and partner engagement with 24/7 support. By integrating with Dynamics 365 and Azure, Impartner ensures customers can scale their operations and benefit from a cloud infrastructure that supports growth, efficiency, and innovation. "We're excited to make Impartner's PRM available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, enabling businesses to manage and grow their partner ecosystems more effectively," said Ryan Knapp , Global Head of Partnerships at Impartner. "By combining our advanced platform with Microsoft cloud infrastructure, we're helping companies streamline operations, strengthen partnerships, and drive growth. This integration opens up new possibilities for businesses to scale efficiently and innovate with confidence." "Microsoft welcomes Impartner to Azure Marketplace, where global customers can find, try, and buy from among thousands of partner solutions," said Jake Zborowski , General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. "Azure Marketplace and trusted partners like Impartner help customers do more with less by increasing efficiency, buying confidently, and spending smarter." The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use. About Impartner Impartner is the fastest-growing, most awarded provider of channel management technologies, including its flagship Partner Relationship Management (PRM) and Partner Marketing Automation solutions. These tools empower organizations worldwide to effectively manage partner relationships, drive demand through partners, and accelerate revenue via indirect sales channels. For more information, visit impartner.com . For more information, press only: Lola Phonpadith Impartner Lola.phonpadith@impartner.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impartner-partner-relationship-management-platform-now-available-in-the-microsoft-azure-marketplace-302339325.html SOURCE Impartner