Things To Do In SW Florida

If you want to become educated regarding all types of annuities, I recommend you go to the website of Stan Haithcock at stantheannuityman.com. You can request, at no cost to you, brochures on every type of annuity, including the pros and cons of each type. The brochures are not written from the point of view of a sales pitch for using his services. They will be valuable to you whether you use his services or not.

You can listen to his podcasts at no cost to learn about the basics of annuities. His podcasts are very educational, and they are presented in a way you will understand whether you should be considering annuities. He points out you should only purchase an annuity if you understand the contractual guarantee you are obtaining from any annuity you consider.

If you have not reached age 50, you should not be considering annuities, nor should you consider them if you have reached age 80.

Haithcock will discuss with you the pros and cons of different sources of assets that you can use to fund the annuities. For example, he will review with you the pros and cons of whether you should be considering annuities within the structure of a traditional IRA or 401(k). read more

By BARBARA ORTUTAY

Intel Corp. is shedding thousands of workers and cutting expenses as its new CEO works to revive the fortunes of the struggling chipmaker that helped launch Silicon Valley but has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

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In a memo to employees Thursday, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel plans to end the year with 75,000 “core” workers excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and attrition. That’s down from 99,500 core employees at the end of last year. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction.

“I know the past few months have not been easy. We are making hard but necessary decisions to streamline the organization, drive greater efficiency and increase accountability at every level of the company,” Tan wrote. read more

SeaWorld Orlando has capped off its list of haunted houses that will be in the lineup for the 2025 edition of Howl-O-Scream, the theme park’s fifth year to host an after-hours scare fest.

The latest announced house, which has  theming new to the event, will be called Widow’s Nest. The official description involves cobwebs, a Victorian orphanage and the Black Widow.

“Driven mad by grief and obsession, she spins her creations from silk and bone, stitching together a web of terror that traps all who dare to enter,” the official website reads.

Previously announced mazes include the Rave Yard (“dancing with the damned for eternity”), the Collector’s Curse (monstrous mutations), Farm 51 (extra-terrestrial in the backwoods) and Water’s Edge Wellness Center (“where the line between the living and the dead is blurred”).

Light reading: A watching guide for new Disney Starlight parade

Howl-O-Scream also will include six scare zones and five themed zones. SeaWorld also has announced the return of “Monster Stomp,” a dark stage show that incorporates Jack the Ripper, percussion, dancing and more on stage. read more

Visit Florida picked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ communications director Friday to lead the state’s tourism marketing efforts.

The organization’s board of directors voted to hire Bryan Griffin with an annual salary not to exceed $215,000. The decision came on the same day DeSantis publicly backed his ally for the CEO job at Visit Florida.

Griffin, a Tampa native, touted his Florida roots and deep Capitol relationships while asking for the board’s support.

“We will promote the shared values and unique features of Florida, including our world-class amenities, unique natural and historical sites and our commitment to public safety and order for all who visit,” he said.

Griffin succeeds Dana Young, who announced her retirement in December.

Visit Florida leader who survived House efforts to kill agency stepping down after 6 years

In his new role, he’ll be responsible for building the state’s tourism brand. A public-private partnership, Visit Florida works to attract tourists and conventions through marketing campaigns and public relations. read more

The long-awaited nighttime parade for Magic Kingdom has hit the streets. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is now regularly scheduled for two runnings per night at the theme park.

Lately, new Orlando park offerings have been just as advertised. Sure enough, Epic Universe boasts distinct, immersive worlds. SeaWorld Orlando’s Expedition Odyssey is, indeed, a picturesque virtual tour of the Arctic.

And Walt Disney World’s lead-up to Starlight was spot-on, with a drip-drip-drip release of float designs, music details, expected characters and back story.

But there’s nothing like the real thing, right before our eyes. Here are some musings I had after seeing Disney Starlight three times over two days.

It’s lit

The pre-opening renderings of the floats were accurate and representative, yet they don’t capture the intensity of the elaborate lighting in motion. It’s more active than I anticipated.

That includes the digital screen work, with pixels galore and changing imagery. For instance, the centerpiece candle aboard the “Encanto” float morphs into a new visual that gives it an even more glowing sort of “wow!” factor. read more