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As the year draws to a close this holiday season and blessed Christmas time, it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the immense contributions of those who work tirelessly to feed, clothe, and sustain us. As a farm journalist, I’m blessed to witness individuals’ dedication, resilience, and innovation across the agricultural industry. Each of you — farmers, suppliers, processors, government workers, and consumers — play a vital role in shaping our food systems and communities. For this, I am deeply thankful. To the farmers: Your commitment to the land and livestock is genuinely inspiring. Whether you’re tending crops or caring for animals, your work embodies the heart and soul of agriculture. Through early mornings, long days, and unpredictable weather, you persevere. Your resilience ensures that there is produce to stock the shelves, tables are full, and communities thrive. As journalism is for me, agriculture is not just a profession — it’s a calling. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. You face challenges head-on, whether it’s market fluctuations, environmental pressures, or labour shortages. Yet, you continue to adapt, innovate, and find solutions. From precision farming techniques to regenerative practices, your efforts pave the way for a more sustainable future. To the suppliers: You keep the wheels of agriculture turning. From seed and equipment providers to technology innovators, your work ensures farmers have the tools they need to succeed. In a world where efficiency and sustainability are paramount, your contributions enable farmers to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. You are partners in every sense, supporting the backbone of agriculture. Your innovation drives progress, whether it’s developing climate-resistant seeds, advancing precision agriculture technologies, or ensuring the availability of critical inputs during challenging times. Your work supports farmers and empowers them to achieve greater success. To the processors: You transform raw products into the goods that nourish us all. Your precision, creativity, and commitment to quality add value to everything agriculture produces. It’s not just about feeding people; it’s about creating experiences, sustaining traditions, and supporting health and wellness. You bridge the gap between the farm and the table, and your work is a testament to the importance of every link in the supply chain. Amid supply chain disruptions and shifting consumer demands, you adapt to ensure high-quality products reach markets near and far. Your efforts drive economic growth and unite communities around shared meals and traditions. To the government workers: Behind the scenes, you support the policies and programs that make agriculture viable. Your efforts shape the agricultural sector’s framework from research and development to trade negotiations and food safety regulations. Your dedication ensures Canadian agriculture remains competitive and sustainable in a rapidly changing global market. Whether addressing climate challenges, supporting rural development, or fostering international trade, your work lays the groundwork for a thriving agricultural ecosystem. Your commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders strengthens the foundation of our food systems. To the consumers: You are the reason agriculture exists. Your choices shape the direction of the industry, and your support fuels its growth. Whether buying locally sourced produce, supporting sustainable practices, or simply sharing appreciation for the farmers and workers who make it all possible, you play an essential role in this intricate system. Your connection to the food you consume strengthens the bond between farm and fork. As consumers increasingly seek transparency and sustainability, your voices guide the industry toward practices that align with these values. By choosing to support local farmers, organic options, or fair trade products, you make a tangible impact. As we celebrate Christmas and the New Year, take notice of the spirit of gratitude and community that binds us all. Agriculture is a collective effort, and each role is essential. In this season of giving, may we extend our appreciation to those who work tirelessly to ensure that we have enough — not just at the holidays but throughout the year. Let us also recognize the sacrifices made by those in agriculture who often work through the holidays to care for livestock, monitor crops, and ensure the continuity of our food supply. Looking ahead to 2025, let’s remain hopeful and committed to fostering a sustainable, innovative, and inclusive agricultural industry. May we support one another, embrace challenges with courage, and celebrate the big and small victories that make this journey worthwhile. Let us acknowledge the power of community and collaboration as we face future uncertainties. By working together, we can build an agricultural system that not only meets the needs of today but also secures a prosperous future for generations to come. I leave you with this thought from Galatians 6:9: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.” This verse reminds us that perseverance and faith yield rewards, even when the road ahead seems challenging. May this verse encourage us to keep progressing with faith, hope, and perseverance. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to each of you. May your hearts be full, your tables abundant, and your year ahead filled with blessings. Thank you for all you do to make agriculture the vital, vibrant industry it is today. — Harry Siemens is a farm journalist, podcaster, speaker, writer and communicator Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.caAFP – “I’m holding an illustrated book of cheeses,” said a delighted customer, Tomoyo Ozumi, at a growing kind of bookshop in Japan where anyone wanting to sell their tomes can rent a shelf. The concept brings back the joy of browsing real books to communities where many bookstores have shut, and gives readers more eclectic choices than those suggested by algorithms on online sellers, its proponents said. “Here, you find books which make you wonder who on earth would buy them,” said Shogo Imamura, 40, who opened one such store in Tokyo’s bookstore district of Kanda Jimbocho in April. “Regular bookstores sell books that are popular based on sales statistics while excluding books that don’t sell well,” Imamura, who also writes novels about warring samurai in Japan’s feudal era, told AFP . “We ignore such principles. Or capitalism in other words,” he said. “I want to reconstruct bookstores.” President of book review site All Reviews and president of three shelf-sharing bookstore Rokurou Yui in Tokyo’s Kanda Jimbocho district, Japan. PHOTO: AFP ABOVE & BELOW: Rokurou Yui working at his bookstore; and the shelf-sharing bookstore Passage. PHOTO: AFP PHOTO: AFP ABOVE & BELOW: Bookshop owner and novelist Shogo Imamura and creative director Kashiwa Sato; and a bookshelf at bookstore Honmaru Jimbocho in Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP PHOTO: AFP His shop, measuring just 53 square metres, houses 364 shelves, selling books – some new, some used – on everything from business strategy and manga comics to martial arts. The hundreds of different shelf renters, who pay JPY4,850-JPY9,350 (USD32-USD61) per month, vary from individuals to an information technology company to a construction firm to small publishers. “Each one of these shelves is like a real version of a social media account, where you express yourself like in Instagram or Facebook,” said the store’s creative director Kashiwa Sato, 59. For now his store Honmaru – meaning the core of a Japanese castle – is only in Tokyo, but Imamura hopes to expand to other regions hit hard by bookstore closures. A quarter of Japan’s municipalities have no physical bookstores, with more than 600 shutting in the 18 months to March, according to the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture. Imamura in 2022 visited dozens of bookstores that have managed to survive the tough competition with e-commerce giants like Amazon, some by adding cafes or even gyms. “But that is like putting the cart before the horse. Because if a gym is more profitable, 90 per cent of the shop may become a gym, with 10 per cent for bookselling,” Imamura said. Rokurou Yui, 42, said his three shelf-sharing bookstores in the same Tokyo area are filled with “enormous love” for shelf owners’ favourite books. “It is as if you’re hearing voices of recommendations,” Yui told AFP . Owners of regular bookstores put books on their shelves that they have to sell to stay in business, regardless of their personal tastes, he said. “But here, there is no single book that we have to sell, but just books that someone recommends with strong passion and love for,” he said. Yui and his father Shigeru Kashima, 74, who was a professor of French literature, opened their first shelf-sharing bookstore, called Passage, in 2022. They expanded with two others and the fourth opened inside a French language school in Tokyo in October. Passage has 362 shelves and the sellers help attract customers with their own marketing efforts, often online. That is in contrast to conventional bookstores that often rely on owners’ sole sales efforts, he said. On weekends, Yui’s store sometimes “looks as if it were a crowded nightclub with young customers in their 10s, 20s, 30s” with edgy background music playing, he said. Customers and shelf-owners visit the bookstore not only to sell and buy books, but to enjoy “chatting about books”, he said.
The expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Gauahar Khan buys Mercedes-Benz C-Coupe worth nearly Rs 1 Crore; photos go viral
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Throughout the last three months, 4 analysts have evaluated Agilent Technologies A , offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish. The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 0 1 2 1 0 Last 30D 0 1 1 0 0 1M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 0 0 1 1 0 3M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $146.25, a high estimate of $160.00, and a low estimate of $135.00. Marking an increase of 1.74%, the current average surpasses the previous average price target of $143.75. Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis The standing of Agilent Technologies among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Eve Burstein Bernstein Lowers Market Perform $135.00 $140.00 Rachel Vatnsdal JP Morgan Lowers Overweight $160.00 $165.00 Luke Sergott Barclays Raises Underweight $145.00 $135.00 Vijay Kumar Evercore ISI Group Raises In-Line $145.00 $135.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to Agilent Technologies. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company. Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Agilent Technologies compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Agilent Technologies's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations. Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of Agilent Technologies's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Agilent Technologies analyst ratings. Discovering Agilent Technologies: A Closer Look Originally spun out of Hewlett-Packard in 1999, Agilent has evolved into a leading life science and diagnostic firm. Today, Agilent's measurement technologies serve a broad base of customers with its three operating segments: life science and applied tools, cross lab consisting of consumables and services related to life science and applied tools, and diagnostics and genomics. Over half of its sales are generated from the biopharmaceutical, chemical, and advanced materials end markets, which we view as the stickiest end markets, but it also supports clinical lab, environmental, forensics, food, academic, and government-related organizations. The company is geographically diverse, with operations in the US and China representing the largest country concentrations. Agilent Technologies: Delving into Financials Market Capitalization Analysis: With an elevated market capitalization, the company stands out above industry averages, showcasing substantial size and market acknowledgment. Revenue Challenges: Agilent Technologies's revenue growth over 3 months faced difficulties. As of 31 July, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -5.62% . This indicates a decrease in top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Health Care sector. Net Margin: Agilent Technologies's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 17.87% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability. Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 4.65%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital. Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.58%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets. Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.5 . How Are Analyst Ratings Determined? Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter. Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors. Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now? Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. Click here to stay ahead of the market . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Toast. Our analysis of options history for Toast TOST revealed 10 unusual trades. Delving into the details, we found 40% of traders were bullish, while 60% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 4 were puts, with a value of $516,830, and 6 were calls, valued at $233,590. Expected Price Movements Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $40.0 to $48.0 for Toast over the recent three months. Insights into Volume & Open Interest In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Toast options trades today is 370.89 with a total volume of 2,738.00. In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Toast's big money trades within a strike price range of $40.0 to $48.0 over the last 30 days. Toast Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Noteworthy Options Activity: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume TOST PUT TRADE BEARISH 01/16/26 $6.3 $6.1 $6.25 $40.00 $375.0K 158 600 TOST PUT SWEEP BULLISH 01/17/25 $4.4 $4.3 $4.3 $47.00 $71.8K 32 1 TOST CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/17/25 $3.05 $2.94 $3.01 $43.00 $45.1K 1.4K 159 TOST CALL TRADE BEARISH 06/20/25 $9.15 $8.95 $9.0 $40.00 $45.0K 913 50 TOST PUT SWEEP BEARISH 12/06/24 $0.45 $0.44 $0.45 $42.00 $44.8K 104 1.0K About Toast Toast is a us-based restaurant technology company that provides point-of-sale, payment processing, and various software services to 127,000 restaurant locations across the United States as of September 2024. The firm generates sales from software subscription fees, as a percentage take rate from each financial transaction it processes, from loan origination and servicing fees from its Toast Capital arm, and from hardware installation and professional services. Unlike competitors, Toast intermediates every payment transaction on its platform, processing some $126 billion in gross platform volume in 2023. The firm's product offerings span point-of-sale systems, inventory and payroll management, delivery integration, e-commerce ordering, reservation management, and loyalty programs. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Toast, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Where Is Toast Standing Right Now? With a trading volume of 3,984,979, the price of TOST is up by 1.6%, reaching $43.69. Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought. Next earnings report is scheduled for 79 days from now. What Analysts Are Saying About Toast 5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $40.2. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* An analyst from Baird persists with their Neutral rating on Toast, maintaining a target price of $38. * An analyst from Compass Point downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $49. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wedbush keeps a Outperform rating on Toast with a target price of $45. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Underweight rating on Toast with a target price of $25. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from DA Davidson keeps a Buy rating on Toast with a target price of $44. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Toast, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Pressure washers are the best tool for blasting grime off surfaces around the backyard. Yet they seem like one-note appliances. Once you've restored your patio to its original color, there doesn't seem much else you can do with a pressure washer. When you consider that these appliances cost hundreds of dollars, this seems like a waste of money. However, there are some extra uses for a pressure washer that make it a much more useful yard tool. As a product tester, I've tried plenty of pressure washers, and I've used them for more than just cleaning driveways . Here are five bonus uses for a pressure washer. 1. Clean gutters One unusual way to use a pressure washer is to clean gutters. Many companies sell pressure washer gutter attachments like this at Amazon , which let you reach up to gutters without a ladder and blast dirt and gunk out of gutters. However, there are a couple of things to bear in mind with this technique. The first is that it's very messy. It's a quick solution for cleaning gutters, but expect to be covered in dirty water. The second issue is that its usefulness depends on nearby trees and the time of year. In the fall, this might not be the wisest move if you have buckeyes or other hard tree seeds nearby. Blasting these out of a gutter at high speed can be dangerous. This is also true if you have gutting next to a bitumen roof or asphalt shingles. Rain dislodges little pieces of gravel from bitumen roofs into the gutters over time, and asphalt shingles shed little granules over time. It can be dangerous to spray these all over the yard at high speed. Instead, you could use a leaf blower with an attachment, or remove them by hand. The best way to prevent messy gutters, however, is to fit gutter guards like these at Amazon , which prevent the gutters from getting clogged in the first place. 2. Strip paint One of the biggest disadvantages of pressure washers can actually be a benefit with a little imagination. If you overdo it with a pressure washer on furniture, wood, or walls, you can strip paint off them. If all you were trying to do was wash the surface, this is a huge disadvantage. If you want to strip paint, however, this is incredibly useful. Say you've just moved into a new home, and the previous occupants left the wooden fences or deck an ugly shade of gray. Perhaps someone has left some graffiti on the side of your house. With a powerful enough pressure washer, you can blast it right off without damaging the surface underneath. This saves hours of backbreaking labor scrubbing at the paint, or the noxious fumes of a paint stripper. If you strip the paint from wood, just remember to dry out the wood and seal it up with wood sealant afterward to prevent it from rotting. This affordable electric pressure washer is perfect for more delicate tasks like cleaning gutters. The low-profile body work makes it easy to carry around a yard. A little pressure washer like this will do the trick on rugs and garbage cans. I've loved every Kärcher washer I've tried - it's a good product at a low price. For hardcore cleaning like stripping paint, you need a heavy-duty gas-powered pressure washer like this. It reaches up to 3600 psi. 3. Clean tools and equipment Pressure washers are also great for cleaning yard tools. Cutting grass in early spring means a lot of wet grass clippings that stick to the underside of your mower and its tires. By far the fastest way to remove this grass is to wash it off with a low-powered pressure washer. However, be careful. Gardens expert and Head of Gardens at H&G Rachel Bull says 'Whatever you do, make sure to keep the pressure low and keep the water away from the engine or battery. High-pressure water can easily damage these parts.' Pressure washers are also great for power tool attachments that get stuck in the soil. If you use an aerator attachment in clay or silt soil, each of the dozens of tines can pick up clods or dirt. A pressure washer makes it easy to remove all this dirt. However, it's not just big appliances like lawnmowers. Pressure washers can be great for hand tools, too. When I've been working in heavy clay soil in winter, sometimes a pressure washer is the only thing to shift soil off the blade of my shovel so that I can oil it properly. Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger . She then trained and worked as a floral designer and stylist in London for six years, before joining the Homes & Gardens team. 4. Restore muddy doormats and rugs Many of us will have seen hypnotic rug cleaning videos on TikTok or Instagram reels, where a gross, muddy carpet is pressure-washed back to its former glory. Believe it or not, this actually works. My family and I were caught in a flood a few years ago without much warning; sandbags were out of stock nearby and the only thing we could use to keep the water at bay were old offcuts of rugs from the attic. In a shed out in the yard where we stored old carpets, the water covered them, and we thought they might be ruined. After the flood, left with a bunch of muddy, sodden carpets, I tried a pressure washer to get rid of all the dirt - and it all came right out. You needn't have circumstances like those. A pressure washer is a great way to clean a rug soiled by a muddy footprint. It's also the perfect tool to clean a high-traffic doormat - just be sure to keep the pressure levels low, or the coir will detach from the backing. There's no real technique for this. The easiest way is to hang the rug up from an outdoor laundry line and blast it with relatively low-pressure water. If you don't have a laundry line outdoors, just spread the rug out on a patio or lawn and wash it with the pressure cleaner. If you use detergent, don't wash the rug on a lawn - the soap will damage the grass plants underneath. 5. Freshen up garbage cans Outdoor garbage cans can be pretty disgusting and difficult to clean. It's hard - and frankly, gross - to reach in with a broom or a brush and remove debris and residue. A pressure washer is the best way to remove these leftovers. A hose or shower can work, but they often aren't high-enough pressure to remove stubborn stains. Instead, the water runs right over them without doing any cleaning, creating gross effluence at the bottom of the can that hasn't even cleaned anything. Instead, use a pressure washer - it can blast sticky messes right off the side of the trash can, and then you can just tilt the waste water out in your yard or down the drain. This has the added bonus of removing the food smells that can attract racoons and other pests. A good pressure washer can be useful all over the backyard - that's why it's such an annoyance when they break. Learning how to fix a pressure washer can extend its working life for years.
WINDSOR, Conn. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced an initial agreement with Insignia Financial (Insignia) to deliver superannuation member administration services. Insignia Financial supports around 1.1 million superannuation fund members through its wealth management offerings. Upon signing a final binding agreement, more than 1,000 team members in seven offices across Australia will transfer from Insignia to SS&C. The team will then leverage SS&C's in-house technology to automate processes and streamline operations while providing top-notch service delivery to Insignia's customers alongside SS&C's experts. "As a leading global provider of retirement solutions, SS&C is a trusted partner with extensive expertise in fund administration. We anticipate the collaboration with SS&C will provide our more than 1.1 million members with an improved experience delivered by contemporary technology, our people with the opportunity to be part of a large global enterprise, and greater cost efficiencies," said Insignia Financial's CEO Scott Hartley . "We look forward to welcoming Insignia Financial staff to the team and working closely with our new colleagues," said Bill Stone , Chairman and CEO. "Insignia Financial is one of the largest wealth management businesses in Australia and will be our largest client in Australia . This collaboration will put SS&C one step closer to becoming the leading superannuation administration provider in the region. As more funds look to partner with trusted external providers, we look forward to delivering the best technology and service to optimize superannuation administration for Australia's investors." About Insignia Financial Ltd. With origins dating back to 1846, today the Insignia Financial is a leading Australian wealth manager. Insignia Financial provides financial advice, superannuation, wrap platforms and asset management services to members, financial advisers and corporate employers. Further information about Insignia Financial can be found at www.insigniafinancial.com.au About SS&C SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut , and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com . Follow SS&C on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ssc-signs-agreement-with-insignia-financial-302326720.html SOURCE SS&C
Nikola Corp. stock falls Monday, underperforms market
A woman has been called “ungrateful” for ditching her birthday party after her friend ignored her wishes and threw a “full-blown house party.” In a recent post shared to the popular “ Am I The A**hole?” Reddit forum, a woman shared how her roommate, who she referred to as Sara, recently planned the party in their shared condo. She said that when her friend initially offered to throw the event, it was just going to be “a small birthday party,” since the Reddit user wasn’t a fan of big parties. “I was on board with it because I don’t like huge gatherings and prefer intimate celebrations with close friends. I have slight social anxiety as well,” she explained. The woman shared that leading up to the event, Sara said that the plan was to only have a few mutual friends over, before having cake and maybe watching a movie. While this idea was “perfect” for the birthday girl, things took a turn the day off, when she discovered the party was not small at all. “Sara had invited a ton of people—at least 50. Some were mutual friends, but a lot were people I barely knew or hadn’t even met before,” she continued. “She had also set up a bunch of party decorations, hired a DJ, and there was even a huge table of food and drinks. It felt like a full-blown house party, not the chill gathering I was expecting.” Right when she got to the party, she “felt overwhelmed,” since there was more attention on her than she initially expected. So, she asked Sara why the party was so big. “I pulled Sara aside and asked her why she invited so many people when we had agreed on something small,” she added. “She shrugged it off and said, “Oh, come on, it’s your birthday! I wanted to make it special!” She emphasized that while she “appreciated the effort” her friend made, this wasn’t the kind of party she wanted, so she didn’t stay too long. “I felt completely uncomfortable and anxious. After trying to stick it out for a bit, I just couldn’t handle it and decided to leave. I ended up going to a nearby coffee shop to calm down and clear my head,” she explained. When Sara texted her asking where she was, she told her she “wasn’t comfortable with the party” and “needed some space.” However, both Sara and the Reddit user’s friends aren’t happy about the birthday girl leaving the event. “She was upset and said I was being ungrateful for everything she did for me. Now some of our friends are saying I overreacted and that Sara was just trying to be nice by throwing me a big party,” the woman concluded. The Reddit post has quickly gone viral, with more than 1,600 upvotes. In the comments, multiple people defended that woman’s decision to leave her own party, since it wasn’t the kind of event she wanted. Some also gave her advice on how to handle the situation with her roommate. “The party was more than expected and made you uncomfortable, you shouldn’t have to stay in a situation that makes you uncomfortable even if it is your birthday party,” one wrote. “I would suggest talking to Sara about how you get overwhelmed in big crowds, especially with people you don’t know too well but that you loved the effort of her wanting to make it a special birthday.” “It’s not ‘nice’ to throw someone who is very vocal about not liking large, loud parties... in your (shared) home. I wish some of your other friends would have left with you, knowing how much you don’t enjoy this kind of setting,” another wrote. “You set a boundary, Sara crossed that boundary, you removed yourself from the situation. Believe it or not, that is the adult thing to do. Sara did nothing for you to be grateful for. Sara threw herself a party and invited you,” a third responded.
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is one of the many NBA legends who hold a unique admiration for LeBron James. But while others are in awe of James' exceptional game and long list of accolades, "The Answer" is more impressed by what "The King" accomplishes off the court. For A.I., has been the epitome of a role model, not just for young athletes but for individuals across all walks of life. Though Iverson mentioned this in a profanity-laden speech in front of random people, the reactions from the small crowd listening to him tell that he was on point. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Catch senior receiver Talyn Taylor in action on the football field for Geneva, and there’s a temptation to call the Georgia recruit a natural. He makes it look easy. It’s apparent the 6-foot-1 Taylor has plenty of inherited or God-given ability, smoothly reaching out to make a one-handed catch without breaking stride, winning a 50-50 battle for the ball or leaving a would-be tackler grasping for nothing but air with an elusive move after a catch. Add to that, Taylor has a strong work ethic that has helped him develop and refine those skills. “When he came in to take part in our summer program and what not, we all said, ‘This kid could end up being the best who has ever walked these halls,’” said Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen , who succeed Rob Wicinski in 2021, shortly before Taylor started his freshman year. “You could just tell he had that ‘it’ factor. “Obviously, he went above and beyond what we told him he could be. He made it come true.” That he has. Taylor, the 2024 Beacon-News/Courier-News Football Player of the Year, capped his high school career at Hancock Stadium in Normal by catching eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings in a 48-28 loss to East St. Louis in the Class 6A state championship game. Sixty two of those yards came after the catch. Overall, Taylor finished the season with 84 receptions for 1,617 yards and 24 TDs, adding two more scores on kick returns. Geneva’s Talyn Taylor (1) turns up the field after a catch against East St. Louis in the Class 6A state championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News) Four days later, the Class 8A all-state selection by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and the DuKane Conference’s offensive player of the year signed with powerhouse Georgia, winner of two of the last three NCAA championships. Talyn will graduate early from high school and start the spring semester at Georgia to take part in spring practice. His mother, Venus , is the head softball coach at North Central College. It’s been this way for Taylor from the very beginning. “I was pretty much always a wide receiver because of my speed,” he said. “I can throw the ball but never played quarterback. I really like running with the ball. Reverses and jet sweeps are fun. “It’s definitely an exciting position, involved in all aspects of the offense.” Geneva’s Talyn Taylor (1) catches a TD pass against Amundsen during a Class 6A first-round playoff game in Geneva on Saturday, Nov 2, 2024. (Sean King / The Beacon-News) While he’s aware of the criticism of 7-on-7 offseason leagues and events, Taylor is a believer. It may not be a be-all, end-all but he thinks it helped him. “I definitely thought it could be a big contribution to my success,” Taylor said of his travel team that draws players from the Chicago area. “You’re going up against other kids who want to compete. “We went to national events in states like Florida and Texas, definitely states they say are football states, and you faced really stacked teams with four and five-star recruits.” Lifting with teammates, a fitness class at school and summer workouts on their own helped his connection this season with senior quarterback Tony Chahino and previously Nate Stempowski . As a sophomore, Taylor totaled 801 yards receiving but that dropped to 512 yards last season when he was sidelined for over a month with a knee injury. He ended up with 2,930 career yards. Geneva’s Talyn Taylor (1) secures a pass as Cary-Groves Preston Walsh (3) and Oliver Antonelli (33) defend of a Class 6A state semifinal game in Geneva on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News) “What separates him from even other high-level kids is he can play anywhere on the field,” Thorgesen said. “Even big colleges recruiting him said that. We see it on a daily basis. He can play inside as a slot receiver or as an outside receiver. “He has a big enough frame, good wingspan, and his route running is superb. His athleticism and ball skills are elite as well. He’s the total package, and it showed on film and when he went to showcase events. It makes him one of the best receivers in the nation.” It made him the focus of opposing defenses, but that opened up windows for fellow receivers in senior Finnegan Weppner and sophomore Bennett Konkey , who had 1,037 yards and 548 yards, respectively. “The great thing about Talyn is not only that any time he touches the ball it can go for a score,” Thorgesen said. “But just what it opens up for everyone else when defenses try to take him away.”None
Jacksonville St. will go head-to-head with Western Kentucky in the 2024 Conference USA championship game on Friday. College football fans will be feeling a sense of deja vu, as these two teams just crossed paths on Saturday. The Hilltoppers earned a narrow 19-17 victory over the Gamecocks, but it's never easy beating the same team twice in one season. WATCH: Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky LIVE on Fubo Both teams finished the regular season with 8-4 overall records, but the Gamecocks' strong 7-1 conference record will give them home-field advantage in this contest. The Sporting News has everything you need to know about Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky, including TV and streaming information for the game. What channel is Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky on today? TV channel: CBS Sports Network Live stream: Fubo Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky will air on CBS Sports Network. Cord-cutters can stream the game on Fubo . For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $49.99, a $30 savings. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.) Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky start time Date: Friday, Dec. 6 Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 6. The game will be played at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala. Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky radio station Radio channel: SiriusXM channel 202 You can listen to Jacksonville St. vs. Western Kentucky live on SiriusXM . Coverage will be available on channel 202. Get SiriusXM for free for your first month. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels. Jacksonville St. football schedule, results 2024 Date Opponent Time (ET)/Result Aug. 29 vs. Coastal Carolina L, 55-27 Sept. 7 at Louisville L, 49-14 Sept. 14 at Eastern Michigan L, 37-34 (2OT) Sept. 21 vs. Southern Miss W, 44-7 Oct. 4 at Kennesaw State W, 63-24 Oct. 9 vs. New Mexico State W, 54-13 Oct. 23 vs. Middle Tennessee W, 42-20 Oct. 30 at Liberty W, 31-21 Nov. 9 at Louisiana Tech W, 44-37 (OT) Nov. 16 vs. Florida International W, 34-31 Nov. 23 vs. Sam Houston W, 21-11 Nov. 30 at Western Kentucky L, 19-17 Dec. 6 vs. Western Kentucky 7 p.m. Western Kentucky football schedule, results 2024 Date Opponent Time (ET)/Result Aug. 31 at Alabama L, 63-0 Sept. 7 vs. Eastern Kentucky W, 31-0 Sept. 14 at Middle Tennessee W, 49-21 Sept. 21 vs. Toledo W, 26-21 Sept. 28 at Boston College L, 21-20 Oct. 10 vs. UTEP W, 44-17 Oct. 16 at Sam Houston W, 31-14 Oct. 30 vs. Kennesaw State W, 31-14 Nov. 9 at New Mexico State W, 41-28 Nov. 16 vs. Louisiana Tech L, 12-7 Nov. 23 at Liberty L, 38-21 Nov. 30 vs. Jacksonville St. W, 19-17 Dec. 6 at Jacksonville St. 7 p.m. Related Links Full college football schedule 2024 Big Ten football news and rumors SEC football news and rumors Big 12 football news and rumors If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >Ay, Caramba! The Simpsons universe takes on the NFL in a Monday Night Football alt-cast on Dec. 9, 2024 (12/9/24) between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys . Fans can watch “The Simpsons Funday Football” with a subscription to Disney+ or ESPN+ . — Disney+, Hulu bundles start at $10.99 per month. — Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu bundles start at $16.99 per month. The animated event will take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium and begin with Homer Simpson eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys and quarterback Cooper Rush while Bart teams up with the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow . Marge and Lisa will be sideline reporters. ESPN’s Drew Carter , Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Conn. and also be animated. Here’s what you need to know: What : The Simpsons Funday Football game Who : Bengals vs. Cowboys When : Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 (12/9/24) Where : Springfield’s Atoms Stadium Time : 8 p.m. ET TV : N/A Live stream: Disney+ , ESPN+ Miss the original broadcast? The replay will be available to stream on Disney+ for 30 days. *** Here’s a story on ESPN’s alt-cast via the Associated Press: Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. RECOMMENDED • nj .com How to watch ‘The Simpsons Funday Football’ alt-cast (12/9/24) | LIVE STREAM, time for animated Bengals vs. C Dec. 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys FREE LIVE STREAM (12/9/24) | How to watch, time, TV channel for NFL Mon Dec. 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that he claims the West can't stopArsenal make Mikel Arteta proud after smashing Sporting LisbonBOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Don McHenry scored 29 points as Western Kentucky beat Kentucky Wesleyan 91-71 on Saturday. McHenry also contributed four steals for the Hilltoppers (9-3). Braxton Bayless added 18 points while going 7 of 10 (3 for 3 from 3-point range) while they also had five rebounds. Julius Thedford went 6 of 13 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) to finish with 17 points. It was the sixth straight win for the Hilltoppers. The Panthers were led in scoring by Quentin Toles, who finished with 15 points and six assists. Kentucky Wesleyan also got 14 points and six rebounds from Fatih Huyuk. Kennedy Miles also had 14 points and five assists. Western Kentucky took the lead with 5:32 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 46-41 at halftime, with Bayless racking up 13 points. Western Kentucky pulled away with an 8-0 run in the second half to extend a four-point lead to 12 points. They outscored Kentucky Wesleyan by 15 points in the final half, as McHenry led the way with a team-high 19 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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