Things To Do In SW Florida

PORT CANAVERAL — The Disney Treasure cruise ship’s arrival to Florida is something Disney Cruise Line is used to — the second ship of a new class preparing for its maiden voyage.

It’s what comes next that marks uncharted territory for the cruise line as it prepares to flood the market with seven more ships in seven years.

The line is running through preview sailings on Treasure ahead of its maiden voyage Dec. 21 when it begins normal seven-night Caribbean sailings, taking on the weeklong duties while its sister ship Disney Wish, which began sailing in 2022, continues short three- and four-night sailings from Port Canaveral.

“We’ve been really able to build on the launch of the Disney Wish and by following up with the Treasure almost right behind — certainly feels right behind — with new stories, new intellectual property, new character experiences,” Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager for Disney Cruise Line said during an interview on the ship. “Just sort of taking and building upon what we did with Wish and being able to add enough unique, different spaces and stories that it’s really interesting and exciting for guests and for our crew and for our cast.” read more

“The sky’s the limit!” said SoDough Square owner Rob Bair in response to major projects at Orlando International Airport that will bring a slew of popular local food offerings to terminals A and B.

Bair’s award-winning Detroit-style pizzeria is one of them. And he and his team were thrilled to be included in the plans, approved by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority on Wednesday.

Orlando airport’s multibillion-dollar spending spree will modernize aging terminals. Here’s what you get.

“It’s so exciting to be part of such a dynamic, high-traffic environment and to share our unique pizza with both travelers and airport staff,” Bair said. “Winning this bid is a tremendous honor, and our team is fully committed to delivering a high-quality dining experience that aligns with the airport’s mission and meets the needs of its guests. We are already hard at work on the next steps and look forward to transforming this new location into a must-visit destination.”

The project, said airport Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Angela Starke, is part of a concession master plan that will take “a holistic approach to dining and shopping experiences at Orlando International.” read more

The U.S. agriculture industry has started talks with Donald Trump’s transition team in a bid to advocate for the food business as the president-elect pledges tariffs and mass deportations.

Groups including the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agriculture powerhouses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. and Cargill Inc., and the International Fresh Produce Association, were among those involved in the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter. The National Council of Agricultural Employers also has a meeting on the books.

The groups are prioritizing topics such as Trump’s promised tariffs, which could upend trade with key commodity buyers like China and Mexico, as well as immigration, with U.S. agriculture becoming more reliant on foreign labor. Some industry advocates are lobbying for the expansion of a visa program for temporary workers, and others want China to stick to crop purchases pledged during the “Phase One” trade deal negotiated by Trump in his previous term, said the people who asked not to be named citing private talks. read more

SAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week.

Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said.

The medical examiner’s office has not released his cause of death, but police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.”

Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company.

Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. read more

By Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS)

Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists.

Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 adjustable open-ear wireless earbuds

We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct.

The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal.

The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. read more