Things To Do In SW Florida

Orlando is marking the 100th day of the Epic Universe era. Universal Orlando’s new theme park, which debuted May 22, burst onto the scene during a very hot summer with positive reviews for its detailed design and elaborate attractions.

But international sociopolitical issues clouded the blue skies, and operational delays tempered the happy talk for some visitors, experts say.

“There’s stuff that you can control, and there’s stuff that you can’t control,” said Len Testa, owner of Touring Plans, a vacation-planning site.

“I think in the overall context of what we’re seeing in leisure travel around the United States, Epic did as good as it could possibly do,” he said. “Las Vegas would take Epic’s numbers right now.”

Those who go to Epic have upbeat responses, Testa said. Its restaurants are well-regarded and, according to surveys, the rides are rated higher than the ones at sister park Universal Studios Florida, he said.

“We can tell from our app that people seem to be spending more time in Epic than the other Universal parks,” Testa said. “So, those are all good signs. It means that the stuff that they built is resonating with fans.” read more

By Alex Brown, Stateline.org

Across the country, state leaders are racing to fast-track wind and solar projects before the expiration of federal tax credits to support clean energy.

Colorado is directing state agencies to prioritize permits for projects that might qualify for the credits. Maine regulators are moving up timelines to purchase new power, hoping to give developers a head start on construction.

And renewable industry leaders are pressing governors and lawmakers to clear bureaucratic backlogs and connect projects to the grid in the narrow window that remains.

Federal clean energy tax credits have been essential to the financing of wind and solar projects across the country, and a key part of states’ plans to transition to wind and solar power.

Following President Donald Trump’s moves to quickly phase out those credits, pending projects have a tight time frame to start construction before their eligibility expires. But states have long struggled to speed up permitting decisions, reduce regulatory hurdles and add new power to the grid. And the clock is running out. read more

By KRYSTA FAURIA

TORONTO (AP) — At 77 years old, Geoffrey Hinton has a new calling in life. Like a modern-day prophet, the Nobel Prize winner is raising alarms about the dangers of uncontrolled and unregulated artificial intelligence.

Frequently dubbed the “Godfather of AI,” Hinton is known for his pioneering work on deep learning and neural networks which helped lay the foundation for the AI technology often used today. Feeling “somewhat responsible,” he began speaking publicly about his concerns in 2023 after he left his job at Google, where he worked for more than a decade.

As the technology — and investment dollars — powering AI have advanced in recent years, so too have the stakes behind it.

“It really is godlike,” Hinton said.

Hinton is among a growing number of prominent tech figures who speak of AI using language once reserved for the divine. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has referred to his company’s technology as a “magic intelligence in the sky,” while Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, has even argued that AI could help bring about the Antichrist. read more

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

Stocks are losing ground on Wall Street in morning trading Friday, pulling the market down from its latest all-time highs, after a closely watched measure of inflation showed prices mostly held steady last month.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7% a day after climbing to a record high. The benchmark index is set to end August up 1.9%, which would be its fourth straight month of gains.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also came off its own record high, shedding 164 points, or 0.4%, as of 11:15 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was 1.1% lower.

Losses in technology weighed on the market, offsetting gains in health care and other sectors.

Dell Technologies slid 8.5% for the biggest decline among S&P 500 stocks a day after the company reported second-quarter revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations, but noted that margin pressures and weakness in PC revenue.

Among other tech companies in the red: Tech giant Nvidia fell 3.1%, Broadcom dropped 4.3% and and Oracle was 6.7% lower. read more

Matcha — a green tea powder deeply rooted in Japanese tea ceremonies — has surged in U.S. popularity in recent years. Its vibrant green color has become a social media staple, flaunted by influencers and wellness-conscious consumers.

Related Articles

• 
  100 days of Epic Universe: Rave reviews, long waits, speculation

• 
  States fast-track wind, solar permits and contracts to beat Trump’s deadline

• 
  AI Apocalypse? Why language surrounding tech is sounding increasingly religious

• 
  Stocks pull back from their latest all-time highs on Wall Street

• 
  Key US inflation gauge holds mostly steady though core inflation ticks higher

Performative as it may seem, matcha is also addictively delicious — at least to some. To others, it just tastes like grass. But as anyone who has developed a habit for the earthy beverage will tell you, it’s also incredibly expensive.

I couldn’t possibly count how much I’ve paid for matcha since I first started drinking it in 2020 and if I could, I’d be embarrassed. In a moment of weakness, I once spent $11.50 on a latte, an unusually high price even for New York City, where I live. read more