Things To Do In SW Florida

By KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Skype is dead. What now?

Microsoft’s shutdown of Skype on May 5 sent millions of users scrambling to find an alternative to the pioneering internet phone service.

Skype, which Microsoft bought in 2011, was beloved by a dwindling group of users who appreciated how it let them make cheap long-distance calls as well as communicate with other users through chat messages, voice or video calls.

Some liked its simplicity and ease of use — an advantage, for example, when setting up a communications app for an elderly parent living far away.

Or they just used it out of habit.

Skype was founded in 2003 and was among the first in a wave of communication services that used voice over internet protocol technology (VoIP), which converts audio into a digital signal.

Skype’s disappearance also inconveniences Americans and other expatriates living overseas who signed up because they needed an U.S.-based number to receive text authentication codes from, say, a bank back home. It was also handy for calling 800 numbers for free even if you weren’t living in North America. read more

By Amy Arnott of Morningstar

A summary of all your assets and liabilities is a crucial first step toward getting a better handle on your finances. Before you start putting together a net worth spreadsheet, gather as much information as you can to get the best sense of what it can tell you.

Overall net worth (assets minus liabilities)

The ultimate insight from a net worth statement is exactly what it says: the net worth number, which is simply assets minus liabilities. The number in isolation doesn’t tell you too much, but it is a useful benchmark to track over time. A negative net worth figure would obviously indicate room for improvement.

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Skype shut down for good, but users still have these alternatives

Lake zoning board endorses Embry-Riddle training facility in forest setting

Google will pay Texas $1.4B to settle claims the company collected users’ data without permission

The Savings Game: The latest updates on Social Security read more

The Deep Woods Ranch in Paisley may soon become an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University training facility.

By a 4-1 vote, the Lake County Planning & Zoning Board on Wednesday recommended a zoning change allowing the plan to move ahead, according to a report in GrowthSpotter, despite concerns from neighbors that the development would spoil the pristine surroundings. The Lake County Commission will have the final say on the matter. It’s scheduled for the commission’s June 3 meeting.

Owned by Kim Schmale, the 119-acre Deep Woods Ranch is surrounded by the Ocala National Forest in Paisley.

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By HALLIE GOLDEN, Associated Press

Google will pay $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims the company collected data on users without permission, the state’s attorney general announced Friday.

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In 2022, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Google, saying the search giant collected millions of biometric identifiers, including voiceprints and records of face geometry, through its products and services like Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Nest Hub Max.

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” Paxton said in a statement Friday. read more

Readers of my column know that IRA expert Ed Slott and his colleagues are among my major sources on the topic of retirement accounts. It’s their business to be up to date on the latest regulations, and they share this expertise with their clients and with members of the press like me.

In addition to his monthly reports regarding retirement accounts, Ed Slott and Co. also distributes a monthly report covering Social Security issues. These reports are prepared by Heather Schreiber, who is the founder and president of HLS Retirement Consulting LLC. She has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry, and holds the prestigious retirement income certified professional (RICP) designation from the American College.

As my readers know, I frequently write about Social Security issues, and depend on experts in Social Security for the latest information. I have found Ms. Schreiber to be a consummate professional, and a very reliable source for the latest information regarding Social Security issues. read more