TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. INTRODUCES TETRA OASIS TOTAL DESALINATION SOLUTION (TETRA OASIS TDS) AND RESULTS FROM PERMIAN BASIN BENEFICIAL RE-USE PILOTTim Parlatore joins The LeadNone
The game industry is no stranger to boom-and-bust cycles, in which scores of opportunistic developers fall over themselves to release copycat competitors to the latest massive hit, and most, if not all, fail. Perhaps the biggest instance — and certainly the most embarrassing for almost everyone concerned — was the race to release the mythical “ WoW killer” : a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that would unseat Blizzard’s global megahit, World of Warcraft , and earn its makers millions of dollars in monthly subscription revenue until the end of time. It turned out to be an industry-wide epic fail — and I had a ringside seat to this unfortunate spectacle. My career in games journalism began in 2004, just a few months before WoW was released. My obsessive love of the game threatened to tank that career before it had really begun, but instead I turned it to my advantage, specializing in covering a genre of game that was too arcane and time-consuming for most staff writers and editors to get their heads around. I traveled to scores of preview events for MMO hopefuls that public relations reps would optimistically tout as “ World of Warcraft , but for soccer,” or “ World of Warcraft , but for vehicular combat.” In 2008, I was hired by Eurogamer as the editor of its short-lived MMO section — let’s not pretend that we in the press were immune to the same wrongheaded gold-rush thinking — and discovered firsthand exactly why the whole enterprise was doomed to fail. One reason is that World of Warcraft — especially during its 2004-to-2010 heyday — was simply too good to beat. But another is that hit-chasing, not a great strategy at the best of times, is almost impossible to pull off in the world of social, online games. The hits garner intensely loyal, invested audiences who play them month in, month out, and who aren’t really looking for something else to move on to. Those audiences are hermetically sealed within their own fandoms and care much less about shiny graphics or other technical advancements, while the constantly updated games have plenty of room to innovate and evolve the genre within themselves. The time-honored tactic of “just slap a big license (like Star Wars) on it” is less effective in this sphere, too, because the appeal of famous characters and storylines doesn’t necessarily apply — the players are more invested in their communities. Yet the industry continues to make this critical error with online games. Just look at the spectacular crash and burn of Concord earlier this year, itself just the latest of countless attempts to elbow Overwatch off its hero-shooter throne. In the spirit of constructive learning, and only a little bit of schadenfreude , let’s look back at some of the games that failed to put a dent in World of Warcraft ’s hegemony... and the few that did. The failed WoW killers The Lord of the Rings Online (2007): This entry is perhaps a little unfair, since various people had been trying to make a Middle-earth MMO based on Tolkien’s works long before Blizzard had even thought of WoW . The original developer, an MMO specialist called Turbine, probably thought it was just making another niche online game before publisher WB Games got unduly excited about its potential. The game was fine, but clearly a generation behind WoW in terms of its design. People still play it, though! Age of Conan (2008): Oh dear . The first and most instructive case of post- WoW hubris came from Funcom, a Norwegian specialist that got way out of its depth trying to push cutting-edge graphics, gore, sex, and dynamic real-time swordfighting into an MMO based on Robert E. Howard’s lusty fantasy world. Publisher Eidos put all its chips down; I remember attending an absurd press event staged in Oslo’s 1952 Winter Olympic park, which had been transformed into a medieval setting with horse-riding barbarians and fireside feasting. (A PR rep I was with got very drunk and stole a sheepskin rug, roaring incoherently into the Scandinavian night while wearing it around his shoulders.) The game was a mess at launch, and tanked hard. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (2008): EA’s big play made sense on paper; the Warhammer license is probably as close as you can legally get to the Warcraft setting, and developer Mythic’s Dark Age of Camelot was beloved by the MMO hardcore. The game was lavish and expensive but limited in design, too focused on massive player-versus-player combat whereas WoW excelled at embracing almost every possible play style. Warhammer Online was shut down in 2013. APB: All Points Bulletin (2010): A Grand Theft Auto-style massively multiplayer game boasting intense levels of player customization, and masterminded by GTA’s creator himself, David Jones? What could go wrong? Everything! APB was stacked with ambitious features but notably lacked, you know, gameplay. Also, Jones’ company Realtime Worlds, which had previously made the excellent Crackdown for Xbox, was in far too deep. A disastrous launch was followed within a couple of months by the developer going bankrupt and APB getting shut down. Another company bought and relaunched it, but didn’t succeed in putting an actual game in there. Rift (2011): The MMO gold rush wasn’t just about games; entire companies sprang up, drawing huge investment on the promise of some revolutionary technology or other. Trion Worlds was one example that boasted fancy server-side tech that was supposed to take MMOs closer to the fully simulated cloud-gaming dream. Unfortunately, its flagship fantasy MMO Rift was very boring. Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011): Smarting from the failure of Warhammer Online , EA was nevertheless up for another crack at smashing WoW , armed with the Star Wars license, its star in-house developer BioWare, and an apparently limitless budget. The hype was off the charts, but BioWare’s expertise was in single-player games. Everybody bought it, played the story through, and moved on, which is... not the idea. BioWare didn’t give up, though, and steadily built out a proper massively multiplayer game around the story campaigns. After a successful free-to-play relaunch, The Old Republic still has an audience. Guild Wars 2 (2012): Guild Wars 2 is actually a fantastic game, easily the best on this list — I feel bad including it. It has refined combat and employed several genre-defining ideas that were later copied by WoW , Destiny , and others. But the scope of this relatively streamlined game was not equal to the hopes publisher NCSoft loaded on it — and the ever-expanding WoW presented a moving target that could never be caught. WildStar (2014): NCSoft, a big player in Korea, made its most determined attempt to crack the West with WildStar , a game by former Blizzard devs with a very Warcraft-y color palette and art style. It was cute, expensive, action-forward, and had some fun ideas, but it was also very obviously a trend-chasing mishmash with no reason to exist beyond trying to top WoW . NCSoft shut it down and closed developer Carbine in 2018. The game almost did kill WoW Final Fantasy 14 (2013): The prize for perseverance goes to Square Enix, which simply didn’t give up — and which, importantly, had reasons other than competing with Blizzard to be making an MMO. Final Fantasy 11 had been a pre- WoW hit in 2002; the first attempt to follow it up with FF14 in 2010 was a disaster, but Square Enix bravely scrapped it and asked producer Naoki Yoshida for a complete do-over. It was a question of honor, if anything. Yoshida’s reboot ruled, and Square Enix didn’t falter when it didn’t immediately do WoW numbers, but continued to invest. FF14 steadily got bigger and better, and it was ready and waiting when Blizzard stumbled through a succession of PR disasters and lackluster WoW expansions in the late 2010s and early 2020s. WoW streamers and players starting leaving for FF14 in droves, and Square Enix’s game is, at last, the competitor that WoW has always deserved. Analysis Fantasy Gaming PC World of Warcraft World of Warcraft
TikTok asks Supreme Court to block ban as Jan. 19 deadline nearsAnticipating Two-Way Efforts Between The CPTPP And China: Global Times Editorial
MEXICO CITY — It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. That’s why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to avoid a full-blown trade war might be more about doing enough for both sides to claim success. Even a quick phone call — two days after Trump threatened 25% tariffs against his southern neighbor — seemed to change the tone: Trump said on social media that the Mexican president agreed to “stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.” Sheinbaum, meanwhile, assured her constituents that she touted to Trump Mexico’s existing approach to migration, which she stressed respects human rights, and that a new deal to collaborate would avoid new tariffs, without providing specifics. The whole exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s first term, when he threatened to send troops to shut down the border and then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded by sending the national guard to help apprehend migrants. The move had a limited immediate effect, but sent a strong image that proved enough to at least avert tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico. Trump’s threats have a “dual objective,” said Palmira Tapia, a political scientist currently working for the government of the State of Mexico. The U.S. president-elect, she said, is simultaneously seeking to appeal to his constituents and strengthen his hand in talks on migration, drugs and trade. Sheinbaum also faces two challenges: She now must find a way to appease Trump to avoid tariffs that could hit 11% of Mexico’s gross domestic product, while also avoiding the perception — at home, and in the White House — that she will easily bend to demands from up north. “She’s talking to Trump, but she’s also talking to the Mexican public. It has to do with giving a dignified response before her voters, but at the same time trying to stop Trump,” said Catalina Perez Correa, a researcher at the Supreme Court’s Center for Constitutional Studies. “She’s saying, ‘I’m not going to let myself be stepped on by Trump.’ She’s saving face in front of the Mexican public.” Migration reality Mexico has long been a stomping ground for the U.S. when it comes to migration policy. It’s been tasked under successive U.S. presidents with beefing up its border security, increasing highway checkpoints and removing migrants from freight trains they often board. Even though migration rose far beyond the 2019 levels in the years after Lopez Obrador’s show of militarizing the border, Mexico has remained an at-times willing partner, accepting most of the millions of migrants who were quickly turned away from the U.S. border during the pandemic. But it hasn’t always been eager to help: The Biden administration often viewed AMLO, as the former president was known, as needing frequent reminders of its expectations for him on enforcement. In 2023, Biden Cabinet officials even visited AMLO in Mexico City just days after Christmas to urge him to do more as a record number of migrants reached the border. Under pressure from the White House during the U.S. election, Mexico helped it decrease border crossings by 65% over an 11-month period starting in December 2023. To do so, Mexican authorities have been detaining migrants in the north of the country and busing them south. There, they are forced to wait until they get an official appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S. — which can take months, if it ever happens at all. It’s all resulted in more than double the number of apprehensions of undocumented migrants between January and August compared with a year earlier, although Mexico has deported few. Experts have said that’s creating a humanitarian crisis in some of the southern cities where migrants are shipped off to. It’s also ratcheting up tensions with some locals, who argue that there aren’t enough jobs or resources to accommodate the newcomers. “What they’re doing now in Mexico is militarization of the border,” said Perez Correa. To further reduce border crossings into the U.S., Mexico could either carry out mass deportations or offer more opportunities to migrants in its territory. Both scenarios seem unrealistic. Simply increasing deportations would go against Lopez Obrador’s policy — which Sheinbaum inherited — of trying to address the problems in their origin countries that pushed them to leave, and it would be an expense for Mexico. After Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, she reiterated her government offers migrants options for international protection in its territory or “voluntary or assisted return” to their countries. The second option doesn’t seem feasible either: Most people want to go to the U.S., where they expect to have higher-paying jobs, more family or community support, and greater safety than in Mexico. Chemical diversions Deaths related to fentanyl — the cheap, synthetic opioid — have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. That’s why reining in the flow of the drug was on Trump’s list of demands. Should recent history be any indication, intervention is never simple. The U.S. arrest of a Mexican alleged drug leader has led to prolonged shootouts in recent months. And in any case, some academics argue simply confiscating more drugs means traffickers learn to produce more, to meet U.S. demand. So far, Mexico has worked to improve its technical capabilities to detect illicit substances at its ports, especially precursor chemicals and fentanyl. “The Navy has provided material and personnel to all ports for the fulfillment of these tasks, the personnel have the necessary training to be able to detect these substances,” said Captain Jose Barradas in an interview at the Manzanillo port, in the state of Colima. “All merchandise that arrives is prone to review under strict security protocols.” Sheinbaum also picked former Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch to lead a new national security strategy, a move that was read inside Mexico as a signal of her willingness to increase enforcement in areas where the previous administration had been more hands-off. There’s more that could be done — but it would be hard. Trying to seize these substances at ports is insufficient because synthetic drugs tend to be very small, making them more difficult to detect than traditional drugs, said Victoria Dittmar, researcher at Insight Crime. Those who produce them often innovate with their recipes and use new chemicals that are not illegal. “Mexico can open collaboration paths with the private sector, with the chemical industry, because they know perfectly well its supply chains and the vulnerable areas where there could be diversions,” she said. “This collaboration is essential.” Mexico can also work to identify intermediaries that connect fentanyl producers with chemical suppliers abroad and in the country, people who work in certain companies and are authorized to divert these substances, according to Dittmar. Still, “the main weakness is not putting demand reduction as a priority, to prevent overdose deaths,” Dittmar said. “It’s a shared responsibility. It’s not just the fault of Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, but it’s an issue that affects the entire North American region.” A senior Mexican official said that the country’s actions to address drug trafficking have moved the nation in the direction of the fentanyl crackdown that Trump is demanding. The official cited a new law that will allow for coordinated intelligence efforts that is due to be implemented next year. History repeats It’s plausible that in the medium-term Trump will lower the intensity of his threats because a trade war would be the worst case scenario for both countries, said Tapia, the political scientist. But until then, she said, “Sheinbaum is on trial as to how well she will do” relative to her predecessor, who had a respectful relationship with Trump and often praised him. One strategy that Sheinbaum could pursue: Finding ways to give Trump the appearance of political victory. That was part of the rationale behind AMLO’s deployment of the National Guard — a move Trump still talks about now. “We got thousands of Mexicans patrolling our border free of charge,” he boasted at a recent event about his relationship with AMLO. “He’s a socialist,” Trump said. “But these are minor details.” ——— (With assistance from Eric Martin, Carolina Millan and Ramsey Al-Rikabi.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts defense started this season struggling. It couldn't stop the run, couldn't keep teams out of the end zone, couldn't get off the field.
Another week, another excruciating loss under head coach Matt Eberflus. This time, they overcame a two-score deficit with under two minutes to go to force overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, only to run out of gas and lose on a walk-off field goal 30-27. At least it was entertaining, though. The Bears did their best to fight their way back after scoring just three points in the second and third quarters. Quarterback Caleb Williams continued to operate the offense effectively with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, having arguably the best game of his career. Unfortunately, Chicago's defense allowed Minnesota to drive the ball up and down the field, allowing long third-down conversions and failing to limit big plays in both the run and pass game. That was the deciding factor as the Vikings methodically drove all the way down the field for their game-winning field goal in overtime. At 4-7, the season is effectively over, which means the development of Williams and the other young core players is the primary objective moving forward. There continue to be bright spots, but the team is held back by Eberflus, who looks to be a dead man walking with six games remaining. Here are our takeaways from Sunday's loss: Through nearly three seasons, we are all aware of Eberflus' shortcomings as a head coach. He's not effective with challenges, there were more communication issues on the field, there have been special teams gaffes, and he's far too conservative in situations that scream for him to be aggressive. His one saving grace, however, has been that he calls a good defensive gameplan. That's out the window now after the Vikings methodically torched the Bears defense, getting out of third and long situations to move the chains all day long. This also comes just one week after the Packers marched down the field late in the game to turn the tides. If he can't do the job he once excelled at, then what else does he offer at this point? It feels like we're slowly, but surely, seeing the end of the Eberflus era. There are some who believe a coaching chance will come on Black Friday instead of the usual Black Monday after each NFL season. One can argue there's reason to keep him through the end of the year if the defense at least plays up to par. That's not happening anymore, and we have already seen one coaching move ignite this team. Eberflus has reached the point where you can't point to anything he does well, meaning his time has finally come. Coming into this game, it was clear that if the Bears were to have a chance, they would need Williams to shine. The Vikings had the best rush defense in the league, meaning the pass game was the only way to consistently attack their unit. Williams certainly did that and then some. The rookie had arguably his best game as a pro, completing 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. He also compiled a passer rating of 103.4, the third-highest rating Minnesota has allowed all year. Williams needed to be Superman—his offensive coordinator even told him as much. He put the team on his back when they needed him the most and led two very improbable scoring drives with under two minutes left. He went 6-of-9 for 67 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 125.7. That's two games in a row he stepped up in crunch time, something previous Bears quarterbacks had problems doing. Williams had plenty of great moments, but it's the resolve to keep fighting and delivering when his back is against the wall that has me very excited. With Thomas Brown calling plays, he's back on the upward trajectory. This hasn't been the season many people envisioned for Keenan Allen, but the veteran still knows how to torch the Vikings defense. Allen had the best game of his illustrious career last year when he caught 18 passes for 215 yards against the Vikings. While he didn't get close to those totals, he still had his best game of the season against Minnesota, catching eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He could have had a bigger day, too, had he not gotten his toe on the sideline after making a spectacular catch (more on that in a bit). Allen has clearly lost a step, but he seems to thrive when facing this chaotic defense. He's a valuable safety valve for Williams and made some big plays downfield that we simply haven't seen all year. Maybe he'll get two good games in a row as he's facing a Lions defense he had 175 yards against last year. It's been over four years since the Bears had a running back who could be a legitimate threat to catch passes out of the backfield. D'Andre Swift finally gave the team one once again. The veteran back has been invaluable to the offense this season, even after a rough beginning to the year, but he really shows up with some of his plays as a receiver. That was definitely the case on Sunday when he and Williams hooked up for one of the biggest plays of the day. Williams was flushed out to his right with Swift running with him. Running out of room, Swift made the heads-up play to turn upfield, where Williams launched an off-balance pass that hit the back right in the hands. Swift was able to track the ball, check the defender in front of him, and relocate the ball in the air before bringing it in, something that isn't easy to do for any player. The 30-yard play led to the first touchdown of the game. I wasn't impressed with how Eberflus coordinated this defense for much of the day, but the players need to be accountable as well, and it's clear this team is missing two significant leaders who have been out for quite some time. Defensive tackle Andrew Billings and safety Jaquan Brisker are two important members of this defense, and the void they have left due to their injuries is palpable. Brisker has been out for nearly two months with a concussion, while Billings tore his pectoral muscle a few weeks ago. Since Billings went out, the front four hasn't been the same. The pressure isn't there; Gervon Dexter has come back down to earth, and the run defense has gotten worse than it already was as Aaron Jones eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the Vikings. That also creates more pressure on the secondary, which has been worse without Brisker. He's a vocal leader and had something good going with Kevin Byard at the safety position. Now, backups like Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens are left to pick up the slack. These two players mean a lot to the defense, which hasn't been the same since they've been out. It's likely not going to get better without them, meaning we've seen the best this unit has to offer this year. Everyone is pointing to the fourth quarter and overtime decisions that impacted this game, but this one turned on its head in the first half following a big play to Allen. The veteran receiver caught a spectacular pass down the sideline from Williams that was originally ruled a catch. The offense did their best to run up to the field, but Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell quickly threw the challenge flag. Allen's toe barely hit out of bounds, and that call was reversed. Instead of having a first down at the six-yard line, the Bears settled for a 48-yard field goal attempt that was blocked, which led to another Vikings touchdown to make it 14-7. The Bears could have taken a touchdown lead but instead never led again. It's unfortunate since it was a great play by the quarterback and receiver that didn't result in any points. Just remember that play when dissecting the game because the Bears scored just three points from that point on until the final three drives. Did we all collectively find out that the sideline camera used at various NFL stadiums cannot be used for coaches challenges during the Bears game on Sunday? Following the failed challenge on Jordan Addison's catch and run, NFL on FOX's rules analyst Mike Pereira said sideline cameras are unable to be used to challenge plays because not every stadium has them. Mike Pereira explains why officials couldn't use the boundary cam on a review. "If a coach is challenged, you cannot use the boundary cam. There's not boundary cams in every stadium so there's a question of equity." — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) This is just a general takeaway unrelated to the game, but in an era where we have more angles than ever to review plays and legalized gambling is so prevalent, why would the NFL not take every advantage to get calls right by using the resources available? And why aren't they in every stadium? Soldier Field is archaic when it comes to NFL stadiums; surely everyone else can include them. The league owes it to everyone to make sure the calls are correct, and not using all of the equipment feels like a big failure.Superapp Grab Selects AWS as its Preferred Cloud Provider to Drive Technology Innovation and Growth
ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draft
Excellence Domestic Workers Services LLC Revolutionizes Domestic Labor Recruitment in the UAE with Tadbeer Visa ServicesThe final few weeks of the regular season in college football had been giving us a clearer picture as to who was going to make the College Football Playoff. With teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, BYU Cougars, and Colorado Buffaloes all making strong pushes in November, it appeared relatively easy to predict the 12-team field. And then Week 13 happened. We saw a total of seven top-20 teams lose, with four of those teams — the aforementioned Crimson Tide, Rebels, Cougars, and Buffaloes — getting upset by unranked teams. Now the playoff picture is anything but clear. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Despite the shake-up, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is claiming that there is one top-10 team that lost in Week 13 who is still sitting pretty to make it to the postseason. That team is the Indiana Hoosiers. After going into Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes as an undefeated team in the program's first-ever top-5 matchup, Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers got boatraced. The final was 38-15, but Ryan Day's Buckeyes dominated in every aspect of the game. However, because of the ensuing chaos after that game was done, the Hoosiers should still feel good about getting into the playoff, according to Klatt. “Indiana is firmly in the playoff. There is not a doubt in my mind and there is not a doubt in the committee’s mind," Klatt said on his podcast. "You might have had a doubt at the time the game ended on Saturday, but by the time the day ended in college football, everything broke the Hoosiers’ way that needed to.” Had complete and utter chaos not taken place, this might be a different conversation going into the final week of the regular season, but because the SEC cannibalized itself so spectacularly, Cignetti should still feel confident in his team's standing. Should they beat the 1-10 Purdue Boilermakers in Week 14, they're in the playoff. “This is not a debate between Indiana and the SEC,” Klatt said. “After Saturday played out, and all of those seven teams in the top 20 ended up losing, here’s what you see — when the dust settled, Indiana is in a great spot, and firmly inside of the playoff, and not on the bubble.” There's still a chance that Indiana can play for an automatic bid and first-round by in the Big Ten Championship Game, but they would need both Ohio State and Penn State to lose on Saturday, which is not favored to happen. Regardless, though, it's more likely than not at this point that the Hoosiers are dancing on into the first round of the playoff at season's end. Related: Greg McElroy Names National Championship Contender Nobody is Talking AboutPolice hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.
Winners and Losers of Team USA Full Roster for 2025 4 Nations Face-Off
As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.Stock market today: Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meetingThe Rush for BDAG: 150% More Coins With BlockDAG’s BLACKFRIDAY150 Bonus; A Look at Fantom & Polkadot Price BoostsReform UK set to 'help Labour' in Scotland - 'anything's better than the SNP'
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (“Syntec Optics” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: OPTX), a leading provider of mission-critical products to advanced technology defense, biomedical, and communications equipment manufacturers, today announced the appointment of Michael J. Ransford as Site Manager. In this role, Ransford will oversee technology and operations. With over 30 years of experience in engineering, operations, and business leadership, Ransford brings a wealth of expertise to Syntec Optics. His impressive career began at the forefront of the internet revolution in the 90s, contributing optics to the critical infrastructure using DWDM technology. Syntec Optics can benefit from this knowledge for its data center optical connectivity products, the growth of which is driven by artificial intelligence deployment. Mike later worked at Semrock, which was subsequently acquired by publicly listed company IDEX, where he contributed to operational efficiency improvements during top-line growth. Syntec Optics can benefit from this background for building efficiency while scaling manufacturing. At IDEX, Ransford advanced to Site Manager, applying his knowledge to global facilities. He later became VP of Life Sciences Optics at IDEX, successfully consolidating multiple optics facilities in Rochester, NY, with the support of government aid. Most recently, he worked in the thin film coating business, an area of vendor improvement for Syntec. He worked closely with investors, leading operations to drive growth from optics M&A using rigorous financial and operational performance metrics. All of this experience benefits Syntec Optics in its long-term M&A strategy. “We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Syntec Optics team,” said Dean Rudy, CFO at Syntec Optics. “His extensive experience and leadership skills, coupled with his proven track record of driving operational excellence and business growth, will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our operations. We are confident that Mike will significantly contribute to our ongoing success.” Ransford holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. About Syntec Optics Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTX), headquartered in Rochester, NY, is one of the largest custom and diverse end-market optics and photonics manufacturers in the United States. Operating for over two decades, Syntec Optics runs a state-of-the-art facility with extensive core capabilities of various optics manufacturing processes, both horizontally and vertically integrated, to provide a competitive advantage for mission-critical OEMs. Syntec Optics recently launched new products, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite optics, lightweight night vision goggle optics, biomedical equipment optics, and precision microlens arrays. To learn more, visit www.syntecoptics.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to the transactions contemplated by the business combination and related agreements, future results of operations and financial position, revenue and other metrics, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of Syntec Optics, market size, and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors (some of which are beyond the control of Syntec Optics), which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Syntec Optics and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations which include, but are not limited to: 1) risk outlined in any prior SEC filings; 2) ability of Syntec Optics to successfully increase market penetration into its target markets; 3) the addressable markets that Syntec Optics intends to target do not grow as expected; 4) the loss of any key executives; 5) the loss of any relationships with key suppliers including suppliers abroad; 6) the loss of any relationships with key customers; 7) the inability to protect Syntec Optics’ patents and other intellectual property; 8) the failure to successfully execute manufacturing of announced products in a timely manner or at all, or to scale to mass production; 9) costs related to any further business combination; 10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; 11) the possibility that Syntec Optics may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; 12) Syntec Optics’ estimates of its growth and projected financial results for the future and meeting or satisfying the underlying assumptions with respect thereto; 13) the impact of any pandemic, including any mutations or variants thereof and the Russian/Ukrainian or Israeli conflict, and any resulting effect on business and financial conditions; 14) inability to complete any investments or borrowings in connection with any organic or inorganic growth; 15) the potential for events or circumstances that result in Syntec Optics’ failure to timely achieve the anticipated benefits of Syntec Optics’ customer arrangements; and 16) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in prior SEC filings including registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Syntec Optics does not give any assurance that Syntec Optics will achieve its expected results. Syntec Optics does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by law. For further information, please contact: Sara Hart Investor Relations InvestorRelations@syntecoptics.com SOURCE: Syntec Optics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTX)
'Mar-a-Lago Face': Laura Loomer denies claims of cosmetic surgeryAs the political narrative this week shifts to presidential pardons after President Joe Biden gave his son Hunter Biden a generous one on Sunday, many Americans wonder whether President-elect Donald Trump will use that power upon taking office for those who protested at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The — over 1,500 Trump-supporting Americans charged with federal crimes by their government for supposedly attempting an insurrection that day — have met a variety of punishments, with some receiving lengthy prison sentences and even solitary confinement. indicated 49 percent — almost half — of voters would favor Trump pardoning J6ers on a case-by-case basis. highlighted one astounding statistic in their report on that poll — even 68 percent of the Democrats polled favor handling the J6ers on a case-by-case basis. The poll was conducted Nov. 25-26 and included 879 likely U.S. voters. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points with 95 percent level of confidence. To grasp the significance of the poll results, we should examine the legacy media’s — and leftist politicians’ — narrative surrounding Jan. 6, 2021. We’ve been told for years repeatedly what a dark and tragic day this was. One year after the event, compared that day to Dec. 7, 1941 — the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. remarks by Biden on Jan. 5, 2024, in which he claimed on that day, three years earlier, “we nearly lost America — lost it all.” The legacy media coverage of Jan. 6 has been so extensive, there is not enough space here to log it all. The reader needs to only Google, “January 6” to watch hours of legacy news outlets’ coverage. Streaming services, too, provide no escape from the Jan. 6 narrative. The left cares so much about Jan. 6 that the satirical news site Babylon Bee made its own documentary mocking them, titled Biden, Harris and the media desperately wanted everyone to believe that Jan. 6 was a watershed moment in history akin to Sept. 11, 2001, or the assassination of . To be sure, that narrative saw momentum early, but we are almost four years removed from the event. Despite only 20 percent of voters surveyed favoring a full pardon for everyone involved, the aforementioned case-by-case support from Democrats and voters generally shows people aren’t buying this anymore. If the American people actually believed Jan. 6 was another Pearl Harbor, 9/11, or the day “we nearly lost America” would they be supportive of handling the participants on a case-by-case basis for potential pardons? Imagine if President Franklin Roosevelt had announced dealing with the Empire of Japan on a case-by-case basis or with al-Qaida. Those attacks were met with militarized and devastating force. The magnitude of the event warrants the response. Americans know Jan. 6 is a weapon of propaganda. The facts do not add up to the left’s narrative, as only one person died — an unarmed woman shot by a police officer — and the vast majority of those present were peaceful. Pardons must be issued to set things right. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Rage Against The Regime: Iran on BBC2: Beaten, gunned down - the women willing to die for democracy in IranGivingTuesday estimates $3.6B was donated this year, an increase from 2023
SANTA CLARA — When Isaac Guerendo trots onto the field with the first team Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, he will equal the same number of starts he had in five years of college football. Hard to believe, but Guerendo started exactly one time, and it came in his final college game at Louisville. Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, Guerendo carried 23 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns and added five receptions in a 42-28 loss. In 40 other games at Wisconsin and Louisville, Guerendo played in a shared backfield –something he’s done with the 49ers this season behind . With and Mason to follow soon with a high ankle sprain, Guerendo should get his biggest workload since his last college game. “I’m excited, but really it’s whatever it takes to win,” Guerendo said Wednesday as the 49ers (5-7) began preparations to host the Bears (4-8). “Whatever the plan looks like is what we’ll bring.” Guerendo will be backed up by Patrick Taylor Jr., who was on the roster earlier this season when McCaffrey was dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, then re-signed to the practice squad. Taylor was promoted Tuesday, and the 49ers also made a waiver claim on former Jets running back Israel Abanikanda. “I think he’s ready to go,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He had some ups and downs but got better through everything. I think he’s ready for this.” Guerendo, 6-foot and 219 pounds, has 42 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a gaudy 5.9 yards per carry. His 15-yard run in the third quarter was the 49ers’ lone touchdown in a 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers traded up to get Guerendo in the fourth round, only to see him sidelined with a hamstring strain in his first training camp practice. A speedy wide receiver at Avon High School in Indiana who also ran track and played basketball, Guerendo carried 10 times for 99 yards with a long run of 76 against Seattle and 14 times for 85 yards against Dallas. At Wisconsin, Guerendo played behind Jonathan Taylor, now a star running back for the Indianapolis Colts. He split time as a graduate student at Louisville with Jawhar Jordan, who rushed for 1,128 yards while Guerendo had 810 yards on 132 carries and a 6.1-yard average. The good news is Guerendo’s body hasn’t taken on the normal amount of abuse for a running back. And Guerendo feels he’s up to the challenge after playing 12 games with old-school running backs coach Bobby Turner. “I always give credit to Coach T for preparing everybody like they’re going to be the starter, so that when moments do come, you’re ready for it,” Guerendo said. McCaffrey appeared to have finally gotten untracked against the Bills, gaining 53 yards on seven carries before getting tripped up on a 19-yard burst in the second quarter. But the tackle injured his knee, Mason injured his ankle, and Guerendo became the lead runner for a team that is sixth in the NFL in rushing. Over time, Guerendo has become accustomed to the speed of the NFL game. “I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it, if you’ve got the right stuff, you get more reps and the more you adjust to it. How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how you have to hit it full speed and can’t hesitate. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.” McCaffrey, meanwhile, took to social media in the form of a to explain how he was feeling after his latest injury. He wrote of his love for football, how humbling it is and his desire to return. “This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours,” McCaffrey wrote. “You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I’m grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I’ll work smarter and harder to come back better from this.” For those who dream big, Shanahan said with a six-week time frame, McCaffrey could conceivably return if the 49ers reach the postseason. Those who didn’t practice Wednesday included edge rusher Nick Bosa (hips, obliques), left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion), Mason (ankle) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle). Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) were limited. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has cleared concussion protocol after missing the Buffalo game. Hufanga joined Greenlaw as practicing during a 21-day window. Shanahan said it’s more likely Greenlaw would be activated before a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12 than against Chicago. After recovering from an ACL tear last season, Hufanga has played in just two games this season. First, he was felled by an ankle injury, and then a wrist injury that needed surgery. When activated, he’ll play with a protective club on his right hand. “I was still dealing with the ankle. I was about to get it re-wrapped and for some reason my hand wouldn’t open,” Hufanga said. Hufanga said he’ll try to use the protective device as a benefit rather than a detriment. “I had a good friend back in the day who played with a club who had three picks in one game, so you never know,” Hufanga said. Left tackle Jaylon Moore acquitted himself well for the second straight game in starting in place of Williams. “It was OK, but you can always get better and that’s what I’m focusing on — the things I can get better at,” Moore said. Tight end George Kittle noted last week that Moore was at left tackle all through training camp during Williams’ holdout, so it’s not like he hasn’t been with the first team. “It definitely did help, especially being comfortable with the group,” Moore said. “The quarterback’s cadence, the guy you’re next to, all the small stuff comes into play.”Enzo Biochem Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results and Provides a Company Update
Temu Owner PDD Posts Slowest Revenue Growth in More Than Two Years - The Wall Street JournalTwo Austin softball stars sign with colleges