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bmy88 login register BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A far-right populist took the lead in Romania’s presidential election Sunday, electoral data showed, and will likely face leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks, an outcome that rocked the country's political landscape. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, led the polls with around 22% of the vote, while Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, or PSD, trailed at 20.6%. Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, or USR, stood at about 17.4%, and George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, took 14.3%. After polls closed at 9 p.m. local time (1900GMT), 9.4 million people — about 52.4% of eligible voters — had cast ballots, according to the Central Election Bureau. Thirteen candidates ran for the presidency in the European Union and NATO member country, and will go to a second round on Dec. 8. The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Georgescu, 62, ran independently and was not widely known. He outperformed most local surveys, sending shockwaves through Romania's political establishment. After casting his ballot on Sunday, Georgescu said in a post on Facebook that he voted “For the unjust, for the humiliated, for those who feel they do not matter and actually matter the most ... the vote is a prayer for the nation.” Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, told The Associated Press that Georgescu’s unexpected poll performance appears to be a “large protest or revolt against the establishment.” “The mainstream political parties have lost the connection with regular Romanians,” he said. “You don’t have strong candidates or strong leaders ... there are weak candidates, weak leaders, and the parties in general are pretty much disconnected.” Georgescu lacks an agenda, Andrei added, and has a vague and populist manifesto with positions that are “beyond the normal discourse." His stances include supporting Romanian farmers, reducing dependency on imports, and ramping up energy and food production. He also has a rapidly growing on the social media platform, TikTok. Ahead of Sunday's vote, many expected to see Simion, a vocal supporter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, face Ciolacu in the second round. He campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on him entering the country over security concerns, and he is banned for the same reason from neighboring Ukraine. Ecaterina Nawadia, a 20-year-old architecture student, said she voted for the first time in a national election on Sunday and hopes young people turn out in high numbers. “Since the (1989) revolution, we didn’t have a really good president,” she said. “I hope most of the people my age went to vote ... because the leading candidate is not the best option.” Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country’s next government and prime minister. Andrei, the political consultant, said Romania's large budget deficit, high inflation, and an economic slowdown could push more mainstream candidates to shift toward populist stances amid widespread dissatisfaction. Ciolacu told the AP before the first-round vote that one of his biggest goals was “to convince Romanians that it is worth staying at home or returning” to Romania, which has a massive diaspora spread throughout EU countries. Other candidates included former NATO deputy general secretary Mircea Geoana , who ran independently and obtained about 6%; and Nicolae Ciuca, a former army general and head of the center-right National Liberal Party, which is currently in a tense coalition with the PSD — who stood at 9.3%. Geoana, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, told the AP before Sunday's vote that he believed his international experience would qualify him above the other candidates. Lasconi, a former journalist and the leader of the USR, said she sees corruption as one of the biggest problems Romania faces and that she supports increased defense spending and continued aid to Ukraine.St. Petersburg council rejects immediate repair to Rays' ballpark roof after first giving approval

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Tyler Johnson's 24 points helped Mercer defeat West Georgia 86-72 on Wednesday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MACON, Ga. (AP) — Tyler Johnson's 24 points helped Mercer defeat West Georgia 86-72 on Wednesday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MACON, Ga. (AP) — Tyler Johnson’s 24 points helped Mercer defeat West Georgia 86-72 on Wednesday. Johnson added five rebounds for the Bears (4-4). Ahmad Robinson scored 13 points and added five rebounds. Alex Holt had 12 points and shot 5 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line. The Wolves (0-10) were led by Shelton Williams-Dryden, who posted 23 points and 11 rebounds. Demetrus Johnson II added 12 points for West Georgia. Rickey Ballard also put up 11 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementThe Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____

Why Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance is important even after missing College Football Playoff

NoneCHICAGO (AP) — Cairo Santos had a field goal blocked — again. DeAndre Carter muffed a punt in the second half. And those were just the special teams mistakes for the struggling Chicago Bears. Santos' blocked field goal and Carter's turnover were part of another sloppy performance for Chicago in its fifth consecutive loss. The pair of miscues helped set up two of Minnesota's three touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime victory . The Bears (4-7) closed out a miserable three-game homestand after they won their first three games of the season at Soldier Field. They were in position to beat Green Bay last weekend before Santos' 46-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the final play of the Packers' 20-19 win . “It’s tough. ... When things just aren’t going your way, you gotta put your head down and just keep going to work,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “It’s not easy to do but that’s kind of where we’re at.” Chicago and Minnesota were tied at 7 when Caleb Williams threw incomplete on third-and-4 at the Vikings 30 early in the second quarter. Bears coach Matt Eberflus sent Santos out for a 48-yard attempt, but it was knocked down by defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. “I think it was the penetration with the trajectory of the ball,” Santos said. “Had the ball started 3 or 4 inches to the right of both those guys' hands, I think it still goes in through the uprights.” Brian Asamoah returned the blocked kick 22 yards to set the Vikings up with good field position. Sam Darnold then capped a six-play, 53-yard drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Jalen Nailor for a 14-7 lead with 6:29 left in the first half. It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. Santos also had a 43-yard try blocked in the fourth quarter of a 35-16 victory over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. The Bears became the first NFL team to allow three blocked field goals in a season since the Browns and Ravens each had three blocked in 2022. “Whenever that happens two games in a row we’ve got to make sure we take a hard look in terms of the protection, the technique and who we have in there,” Eberflus said. “So it's going to be a big thing to look at.” Chicago trailed 17-10 when it forced a Minnesota punt midway through the third quarter. Carter warned his teammates to get out of the way, but it hit the ground and bounced off the inside of his right leg before it was recovered by Bo Richter at the Bears 15. The Vikings turned the mental error into Aaron Jones' 2-yard touchdown run and a 24-10 lead. “Gotta get out of the way of the ball. That’s on me,” Carter said. “I let the team down today. Game shouldn’t have been in the situation it was in. I felt bad for the guys.” Santos and Carter both played a role in a late rally for Chicago. Carter had a 55-yard kickoff return, and Santos got an onside kick to work before making a tying 48-yarder on the final play of regulation. But the Bears stalled on the first possession of overtime, and Darnold drove the Vikings downfield to set up Parker Romo's winning 29-yard field goal. “We're losing in the most unreal situations,” Bears receiver DJ Moore said. “Now it's like the luck's got to go in our favor at some point.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Ruben Amorim had warned the “storm would come” after his dream start as Manchester United boss. And, sure enough, United were blown off course by high balls into the box as Arsenal ’s set-piece specialists finally made up some ground on leaders Liverpool in the title race. Mikel Arteta ’s men are still seven points behind but from the reaction of the buoyant crowd after the final whistle at the Emirates you would think the margin is much closer. But at least Arsenal can start to believe and dream again. And Arsenal are doing it the route one way in a method to make Tony Pulis proud. They had 13 corners to United’s none and Arsenal have now scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season which is seven more than anyone else. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba - off his backside - scored second half goals to inflict a first defeat on new United boss Ruben Amorim . And this was some baptism and welcome to English football for Amorim because every time Arsenal put the ball into the box the United defence looked in panic mode. Arsenal certainly were not their free-flowing selves and United clearly have a better tactical plan which was missing under Erik ten Hag ’s reign. But when trying to play pretty stuff did not work in a turgid first half, Arsenal went route one and bulldozed United with set pieces. It did also show that Arsenal have different ways of winning and now they are finally building some momentum. They have beaten Nottingham Forest , West Ham and now United as they are putting some rhythm together. It is still early days for United but they are harder to beat and it was a game of few chances in an awful first half. Gabriel Martinelli skewed wide and Thomas Partey could not guide another big chance towards the net. Amorim made a change at half time, bringing on Amad for Tyrell Malacia which was designed to give the visitors some more attacking threat. But Arsenal did step up a gear after the restart. Martinelli’s pace caused problems down the left but they were always most likely to score from a corner. Are Arsenal geniune title challengers? Share your thoughts in the comments below Sure enough, Rice’s in-swinging corner caused chaos at the near post and Timber’s back header flew into the net to bring the Emirates to life after 54 minutes. It was what the game - and Arsenal - needed. Amorim made a treble change as he brought on Marcus Rashford , Joshua Zirkzee and Lenny Yoro with the latter making his long overdue United debut after injury to replace Harry Maguire who looked distinctly unimpressed at being subbed. Arsenal nearly got a second from the same route. Another Rice corner was flashed in to the near post, Zirkzee unwittingly headed it backwards and only Manuel Ugarte’s clearance off the line from his own teammate stopped the ball going in. United finally came out to play. Zinchenko was booked for a pull back on Amad and it presented Bruno Fernandes with a well-positioned free kick. Up rose Matthijs de Ligt and his header produced a sensational save from Arsenal keeper David Raya. But it was Arsenal now with the momentum. Of course their second came from another corner. This time it was Saka’s delivery, Thomas Partey headed it back across goal and it deflected in off Saliba’s backside. Arsenal had more chances but Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino could not take them but the Gunners still won through. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duolingo, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOL), the world's leading mobile learning platform, announced today that it has appointed Bonnie Ross as an independent board member. Ms. Ross is a pioneering visionary with 30 years of experience working in the gaming industry. Most recently, she served as Corporate Vice President for Microsoft and Head of the Halo franchise. In her leadership role, she was instrumental in advancing the Halo franchise, leveraging a dedicated and talented team to incorporate cutting-edge technology and storytelling. She led the expansion of Halo’s reach into transmedia, contributing to its evolution into a global phenomenon with over $6 billion in consumer spend, spanning games, live-action series, novels, and consumer products. “A core principle at Duolingo is ‘make it fun’, because learning shouldn’t be boring,” said Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo. “Bonnie has deep experience in creating fun and innovative gaming experiences and building iconic global franchises. I couldn’t be happier to welcome her to our board.” "As an enthusiastic Duolingo user, I’m inspired by the platform’s ability to make learning entertaining and engaging. It fosters a competitive and social learning environment and challenges me to keep making daily progress, particularly in my quest to impress Lily,” said Ms. Ross. “I’m eager to contribute to Duolingo’s mission of making high-quality education fun and available to everyone." During her career at Microsoft, Ms. Ross developed or published many top titles, including Zoo Tycoon, Mass Effect and Gears of War . In 2019 she was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame for her contributions to the gaming industry and for her efforts to promote STEM learning and diversity, as a co-founder of the Women in Gaming community. She currently serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University. About Duolingo Duolingo is the leading mobile learning platform globally. Its flagship app has organically become the world's most popular way to learn languages and the top-grossing app in the Education category on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. With technology at the core of everything it does, Duolingo has consistently invested to provide learners a fun, engaging, and effective learning experience while remaining committed to its mission to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. Contact Information Investors: Deborah Belevan, IRC, CPA ir@duolingo.com Media: Sam Dalsimer press@duolingo.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6411a015-afbc-4c08-8893-6f29bdd7924d

The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” People are also reading... There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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AI girlfriends have become a lot more popular over the last two years. One study found there were only 100 searches a month for AI girlfriends in 2021, but there are currently over 1.6 million this year. Many women have started looking for relationships as well. AI is changing the future of love. It is going to have both positive and negative impacts in the years to come. Technology has drastically changed human relationships over the past decade. Online dating became mainstream when Tinder took off. AI technology is likely to have the same impact. Many men are using AI girlfriends as a substitute for conventional relationships. A smaller number of women have sought AI relationships, but that figure is growing as well. This is going to change relationships between men and women in numerous ways. Men and women might not take each other for granted anymore One of the biggest reasons why many people stay single is that they are very picky. However, some people stay in unhealthy relationships because they can't stand being alone. Their partners often take them for granted and don't do anything to meet their needs. AI relationships are likely to change this frustrating reality. People who are sick of having selfish, emotionally neglectful, or abusive partners might turn to AI partners instead. People will need to get used to the fact that their partners can easily find love elsewhere, which means they won't be able to take their partners for granted anymore. AI relationships can save struggling marriages Some people are concerned that AI girlfriends and boyfriends will destroy marriages. Some marriages have already failed due to other reasons. Therefore, it is understandable that AI companion platforms can cause the same problem. However, the opposite seems to be true for many people. A well-known news outlet published an article last year about a married man who entered a relationship with an AI partner. This man was struggling with depression during a rocky stage of his marriage. He wasn't sure that his relationship with his wife would survive, so he turned to a digital companion instead. His AI girlfriend provided emotional support, which made him happier. This helped make his relationship with his wife stronger. He eventually told his wife about his AI girlfriend, and she wasn't upset. She actually seemed happy that he was able to make a change that strengthened their marriage. This could be true for a lot of other people. They may feel that it is worth having an AI partner during a difficult part of their marriage. They may find that it will help make things better. Neurodivergent people will have an opportunity to form relationships Many people with neurodivergence have difficulty finding partners. Some research shows that only 5% of people with autistic spectrum disorder are married. AI companions may provide an option for people with autism, bipolar disorder and other mental health issues trying to find someone. They may find a partner when they would otherwise be alone. AI can reduce mental health problems caused by abuse and painful breakups Over a third of women and a quarter of men have been in physically abusive relationships. The number of people who have been in emotionally abusive relationships is even higher. All forms of abuse cause significant mental health problems. Breakups and divorces can also cause mental health problems. One survey found that 30% of people have depression months after a breakup. AI companions can be a much-needed solution to this problem. People don't have to worry about mental health issues from an AI partner because their partner will never leave them. AI Relationships can help inexperienced people develop social skills for future relationships A growing number of young people have limited social skills. There are a number of reasons for this epidemic, including a lack of social experiences from the pandemic, spending too much time on social media, and working remote jobs instead of dealing with coworkers in person. As a result, many people have limited social skills, which makes it harder for them to find a real partner. AI companions can help solve this problem. AI relationships can cause some people to have one-sided views of real relationships AI relationships can have a lot of positive effects. However, they can also create some problems. One issue is that people with AI girlfriends or boyfriends can become accustomed to one-sided relationships. After all, the AI is programmed to meet their needs and doesn't ask for anything in return. This can create a lot of negative problems in committed relationships with real people. They may not be used to needing to show empathy to their AI partner, so they may be in for a rude awakening when they have a relationship with a real human. In order to understand the impact AI girlfriends will have on society, it is important to know why some men will seek them out. There are a lot of reasons that men may want to find an AI girlfriend. Some of those stereotypes of men who use these services are not very flattering, but they don’t apply to all men. Here are some of the demographics of men who tend to be attracted to AI girlfriend services . Men in open relationships looking for an additional partner There are obviously some ethical considerations about having an AI girlfriend as a married man. However, it isn't always wrong for married guys to have an AI girlfriend. AI girlfriends can be especially appealing to men in open relationships. Their wives may even be more open to the arrangement since they aren't as likely to feel threatened by an AI girlfriend as a regular woman. Their AI girlfriend can help meet their emotional needs while their wife is away, sick or otherwise too busy to talk to them. Men with very specific types Some men are looking for very specific types of women to date. They may have a preference for a woman who shares their unique religion or a preference for a woman of a different race. They may also have a very niche worldview that most women they meet on dating apps are not likely to share. AI girlfriends to help men find their perfect partner. This means that men don't have to choose between compromising on important traits would being alone. Men who aren’t very smooth with women Some men struggle to find a partner because they don't have the best social skills. Young men who missed out on conventional social experiences during the pandemic and those who spend a lot of time playing video games tend to have the hardest time finding a partner. AI girlfriends are great for guys who are not your typical Casanova in real life. Their online partner will be a lot more forgiving of their limited social skills. Men who are seeking a living apart together relationship You can read a number of posts on Reddit about the Living Apart Together movement. The idea is that you can have a partner that you share a life with even if you don't live in the same home. Unfortunately, this is one of those ideas that is only really popular on Reddit. It can be very difficult to find women in real life who want a Living Apart Together arrangement. This is another huge benefit of having an AI girlfriend. An AI girlfriend, by definition, will not be living in your home. Men who have been burnt in previous relationships Everybody has relationship baggage as they get older. Both men and women have dealt with manipulative, selfish and unempathetic partners. Some men have been in relationships with women who were emotionally or even physically abusive. AI girlfriends can be a safe option for men who have dealt with terrible partners in the past. They can have a harmonious, loving relationship without having to worry about abuse. Men aren’t the only ones that are likely to look for AI partners. There are numerous reasons that women may want to use them as well. Women who have been victims of domestic violence A substantial number of women have been in abusive relationships. AI partners can be a much safer option for them. Women who are tired of men who don’t do their share around the house One of the biggest reasons that women don’t want to pursue relationships is that they are tired of having to do all of the housework and childcare. They may prefer to have an online partner instead of having a man that they need to clean up after. Successful women who are tired of dating men who are insecure about having a breadwinner wife The economy has changed a lot. More women than ever are in the workforce, and women are outpacing men in getting college degrees. This means that more women are the breadwinners in their relationships. Unfortunately, many men are insecure about this, which makes it harder for women to find partners. Women don’t have to worry about this with AI companions. Their AI partner will never feel emasculated about having a girl boss for a partner. There are a number of great platforms for people seeking AI partners. The best are shown below. AIgirlfriend.com has not been around as long as most other AI girlfriend services like Replika. However, it is already becoming a very popular platform for men seeking an online partner. There are a number of reasons that AIgirlfriend.com is worth checking out: The AI girlfriends on this site are very realistic. Many men say that they can't even tell the difference between them and a regular woman. AIgirlfriend.com can be the perfect option for men who aren't satisfied with other AI girlfriend websites that they have tried in the past. You have a lot of flexibility to customize your partner. Some of the lower-tier AI girlfriend services require you to choose from one of the existing models. Others that let you customize your partner don't always offer a lot of flexibility. AIgirlfriend.com gives you a lot more options to create the ideal partner. AIgirlfriend.com is committed to protecting your online privacy. Chats are encrypted, so you don't have to worry about them being exposed by hackers. You can enjoy the same level of confidentiality that you would get with a regular partner. Anyone interested in finding an AI partner may want to consider creating an account with AIgirlfriend.com . It stands head and shoulders above many of the other AI girlfriend sites. DreamGF is a fabulous AI girlfriend platform that lets you choose from over a dozen existing partners. You can make changes needed to turn them into your dream partner. DreamGF isn’t free, but the service is reasonably priced. You will need to purchase tokens to send messages and use other features on the site. You can also get more tokens by inviting your friends to join. Nomi.AI has become a very popular AI companion platform. It uses sophisticated machine learning technology to offer the best possible experience. The AI companions on Nomi.AI are trained to remember important details so they can continue offering better services. This site is especially helpful for introverted men who are struggling to form relationships in real life. Men with limited social batteries have stated that it was a lot easier to have a relationship with their AI companion here because they could interact with it as little or as much as they wanted. There are many reasons that both men and women are turning to AI companions . They can use their digital companions to meet their emotional needs without having to deal with the abuse and fatigue that can come with regular human relationships. The experiences will change how people interact with real people as well. AI is definitely going to redefine love for decades to come.Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews. I ignored my Dad's advice about saving money and investing until I saw him retire a decade before his peers. Now, he and my stepmom get to enjoy retirement while they're young and healthy, and they spend their time traveling the globe. They live below their means, invest in retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, and rental properties, and have a back-up plan. As a child, there's no joy like opening a birthday card and seeing crisp dollar bills fall out. Growing up, my Dad tried to convince me that this cash, when saved, symbolized an opportunity for my future self. I'd hold my birthday money up to the light to see the watermark and try to picture my future self enjoying this money, but all I could see was my current self enjoying 7/11 Slurpees, top-ups for my pre-paid cellphone, and band tee shirts. When I got my first job in high school, my Dad printed an article about the power of compound interest and put it in my purse with a note: "Start investing early, Lizzie." My money left my checking account almost as soon as it entered that summer, and not because it was being funneled into a retirement account. Even after I graduated from college and got "grown-up jobs," I didn't start saving. I contributed to my 401(k) for a while, only to empty it when I quit my job and used the money to road trip around the U.S. I just never quite understood the point of letting my money sit around in someone else's pocket for decades until, hopefully, I could one day spend it — not when there were so many things I could spend it on now. Then I watched my Dad retire at least a decade before many of his peers, and my entire perspective changed. My stepmom retired even younger after my Dad convinced her to join him in his plan for early retirement. Hoping it wasn't too late for me to get my finances on track, I asked them how they did it. How my parents retired early My Dad had always planned to retire early . He was frugal and highly practical growing up⁠ — my sister and I ate a lot of $0.50 frozen pot pies and didn't get new sneakers until there were holes in our current ones. He was generous with stuff that mattered, though, like educational opportunities that could set us up for a better future. But education is an investment; shoes are not. He understood that money invested usually provides more value to your life, in the long run, than money spent. You invest first, then you spend. My stepmom, on the other hand, never had plans to retire early until she started dating my Dad. When he told her he wanted to retire by 50, she looked at him incredulously. "I told him, there's no freaking way," she recalled to me. She played along anyway. As it turns out, his goal wasn't so unrealistic. My Dad would have been on track to retire by 50, which was a stretch goal, but the 2008 recession decimated his retirement accounts . However, he was able to eventually recover and retire at 55. My stepmom retired at 49. Both my Dad and stepmom worked in sales and marketing for a high-tech company by way of degrees in electrical engineering, so it's worth stating up front that they both earned salaries that most would consider more than comfortable. Regardless, most people — my non-engineer self included — can apply the advice they gave me. 1. Set a goal, create a budget, and track your progress Setting clear goals and tracking your progress will make all the difference. It wasn't until my stepmom checked in on their progress and saw their money growing according to plan that she believed they could retire early. "I realized it was real," she told me. "When you make saving a priority, retirement becomes possible. Money makes more money, and it makes it surprisingly quick." The first thing they did was figure out exactly how much money they'd need to comfortably retire when my dad hit 50 and live off that money well into their 90s. Their retirement budget included a salary equal to their pre-retirement pay and line-item expenses for things like healthcare. After creating a retirement budget, they worked backward to figure out how much money they'd need to save each year to reach that goal by age 50, taking into account the expected rate of return on their investments. Then, they cut spending and invested all their extra earnings to meet that goal. They regularly checked in with their budget and did a full progress assessment every six months. Eventually, they started meeting with a financial advisor for these biannual check-ins, and they've continued them in retirement to ensure they're still where they need to be. 2. Avoid lifestyle inflation Lifestyle inflation, or increasing your cost of living every time your income increases, is one of the most insidious ways to destroy a retirement plan. It often lands folks in debt. For my parents, living below their means was essential to retiring early. They invested at least half of any raise. My Dad's bonuses at work were invested in rental properties that could generate income. When they got married, my parents bought a house that was priced at half of what they could actually afford. They also didn't go overboard on cars. Our whole family has always driven Hondas, and my parents drive a car until it stops running. They did get all of us kids cars, but we got old, used cars for a couple grand — mine was a 1990 Acura Integra — and paid for them in cash. 3. Invest aggressively ... and diversify Like most people, a 401(k) was central to my parents' retirement plan. They took full advantage of employer matching from the start and worked up to maxing their 401(k)s as early as possible. My stepmom also runs a consulting business, so she opened a SEP IRA , which is an option for folks who are self-employed. Because they wanted to retire early, my parents had to have other investments they could rely on for retirement income. Retirement accounts, like a 401(k) or SEP IRA, shouldn't be touched until you've actually reached retirement age (591⁄2). If you withdraw funds early, you'll incur a hefty penalty. So, my parents also invested in stocks , bonds, and rental properties to provide income until they turned 591⁄2. After the recession, my parents bought foreclosed houses in cash at extremely low prices. They renovated the houses, doing all the work themselves to save money, and then rented them out. These properties now serve as income generators for the early years of their retirement as well as a safety net, as they can be sold off one by one. My parents know that they could weather a 30% cut in what they live off of thanks to the properties — they would still be fine. In addition to rental income, they've set up a bond ladder to live off of in the short term. For the next four or five years, bonds maturing will provide them with income each year. 4. Consider a part-time backup plan for income My stepmom is younger than my Dad and planned to work a little longer. However, rather than continue with the company where they'd both worked, she decided to start her own consulting business online that would help her transition to full-time retirement. My stepmom still does consulting work on the side for "fun money." They've used this consulting income to go on a safari in South Africa, take their parents to Germany, and throw a big anniversary celebration with the whole family in St. Thomas, where they now live part of the year. If anything ever happened to one of their income sources, they could always lean on my stepmom's consulting. Why early retirement was important to my parents A lot of people my age (20s and early 30s) can't envision retiring at all, let alone early, so it surprised me that my Dad had been planning early retirement since he was my age. I asked if any life experiences or lessons had helped him gain that foresight at such a young age. "I think it was your Dad's mom dying young and Alzheimer's running in the family," my stepmom offered. "He felt like he really wanted, while he was in good health, to have his own life." My Dad agreed. "That was part of it," he said. He also brought up my aunt, his sister, who died of cancer. When he saw how quickly she went from perfectly healthy to very sick, they doubled down on their plan to retire. "I could've kept working, but when your aunt passed within six months of being diagnosed I said, 'Why are we waiting?' I just wanted the freedom to do what we wanted when we wanted." "We enjoyed [our work], but it was like, this isn't what I am," my stepmom added. "This isn't what I want my whole life to be." Now, they spend almost half the year in the Caribbean, learning to play guitar, going on sailing trips, and doing volunteer work. They've traveled all over the globe, spending several months road-tripping to the best U.S. national parks, exploring Europe, spotting wildlife in South Africa, cruising the Panama Canal, and visiting relatives. Watching them, I've learned that saving money is the opposite of letting it sit around collecting dust. If invested properly, that money grows indefinitely, and it will probably do a lot more for me in the long-run than spending it would. My stepmom framed it in a way that really resonated with me. "It's not your money, it's your future self's money," she said. Think of saving and investing as a form of self-care for your future self. Your future self will thank you. This article was originally published in December 2019. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors that serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAdvisor and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Start your search now.None

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston's performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world's largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team's ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski's job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson's future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he's even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It's also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson's backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland's full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What's not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he's made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn't: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” Winston has done something else Watson couldn't: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski's system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb's go-ahead TD run. RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh's edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLBROOMFIELD, Colo. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended October 31, 2024 , provided season pass sales results for the 2024/2025 season, updated fiscal 2025 net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. guidance and reaffirmed fiscal 2025 Resort Reported EBITDA guidance, announced capital investment plans for calendar year 2025, declared a dividend payable in January 2025 , and announced first quarter share repurchases. Highlights Net loss attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was $172.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to net loss attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. of $175.5 million in the same period in the prior year. Resort Reported EBITDA loss was $139.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which included $2.7 million of one-time costs related to the previously announced two-year resource efficiency transformation plan and $0.9 million of acquisition and integration related expenses, compared to a Resort Reported EBITDA loss of $139.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024, which included $1.8 million of acquisition and integration related expenses. Pass product sales through December 3, 2024 for the upcoming 2024/2025 North American ski season decreased approximately 2% in units and increased approximately 4% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through December 4, 2023 . Pass product sales are adjusted to eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by applying current U.S. dollar exchange rates to both current period and prior period sales for Whistler Blackcomb. The Company has made certain adjustments to its guidance for net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. primarily related to a gain recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which impacted Real Estate Reported EBITDA. For fiscal 2025, the Company now expects $240 million to $316 million of net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. and reaffirmed its Resort Reported EBITDA guidance of $838 million to $894 million . The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share of Vail Resorts' common stock that will be payable on January 9, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 26, 2024 and repurchased approximately 0.1 million shares during the quarter at an average price of approximately $174 for a total of $20 million . Commenting on the Company's fiscal 2025 first quarter results, Kirsten Lynch , Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our first fiscal quarter historically operates at a loss, given that our North American and European mountain resorts are generally not open for ski season. The quarter's results were driven by winter operations in Australia and summer activities in North America , including sightseeing, dining, retail, lodging, and administrative expenses. "Resort Reported EBITDA was consistent with the prior year, driven by growth in our North American summer business from increased activities spending and lodging results. This growth was offset by a decline in Resort Reported EBITDA of $9 million compared to the prior year from our Australian resorts due to record low snowfall and lower demand, cost inflation, the inclusion of Crans-Montana, and approximately $2.7 million of one-time costs related to the two-year resource efficiency transformation plan and $0.9 million of acquisition and integration related expenses." Regarding the Company's resource efficiency transformation plan, Lynch said, "Vail Resorts continues to make progress on its two-year resource efficiency transformation plan, which was announced in our September 2024 earnings. The two-year Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan is designed to improve organizational effectiveness and scale for operating leverage as the Company grows globally. Through scaled operations, global shared services, and expanded workforce management, the Company expects $100 million in annualized cost efficiencies by the end of its 2026 fiscal year. We will provide updates as significant milestones are achieved." Turning to season pass results, Lynch said, "Our season pass sales highlight the compelling value proposition of our pass products and our commitment to continually investing in the guest experience at our resorts. Over the last four years, pass product sales for the 2024/2025 North American ski season have grown 59% in units and 47% in sales dollars. For the upcoming 2024/2025 North American ski season, pass product sales through December 3, 2024 decreased approximately 2% in units and increased approximately 4% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through December 4, 2023 . This year's results benefited from an 8% price increase, partially offset by unit growth among lower priced Epic Day Pass products. Pass product sales are adjusted to eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by applying an exchange rate of $0.71 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar in both periods for Whistler Blackcomb pass sales. For the period between September 21, 2024 and December 3, 2024 , pass product sales trends improved relative to pass product sales through September 20, 2024 , with unit growth of approximately 1% and sales dollars growth of approximately 7% as compared to the period in the prior year from September 23, 2023 through December 4, 2023 , due to expected renewal strength, which we believe reflects delayed decision making. "Our North American pass sales highlight strong loyalty with growth among renewing pass holders across all geographies. For the full selling season, the Company acquired a substantial number of new pass holders, however the absolute number of new guests was smaller compared to the prior year, driving the overall unit decline for the full selling season. New pass holders come from lapsed guests, prior year lift ticket guests, and new guests to our database. The Company achieved growth from lapsed guests, who previously purchased a pass or lift ticket but did not buy a pass or lift ticket in the previous season. The decline in new pass holders compared to the prior year was driven by fewer guests who purchased lift tickets in the past season and from guests who are completely new to our database, which we believe was impacted by last season's challenging weather and industry normalization. Epic Day Pass products achieved unit growth driven by the strength in renewing pass holders. We expect to have approximately 2.3 million guests committed to our 42 North American, Australian, and European resorts in advance of the season in non-refundable advance commitment products this year, which are expected to generate over $975 million of revenue and account for approximately 75% of all skier visits (excluding complimentary visits)." Lynch continued, "Heading into the 2024/2025 ski season, we are encouraged by our strong base of committed guests, providing meaningful stability for our Company. Additionally, early season conditions have allowed us to open some resorts earlier than anticipated, including Whistler Blackcomb, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stevens Pass. Early season conditions have also enabled our Rockies resorts to open with significantly improved terrain relative to the prior year, including the opening of the legendary back bowls at Vail Mountain opening the earliest since 2018. Our resorts in the East are experiencing typical seasonal variability for this point in the year, with all resorts planned to open ahead of the holidays. We are continuing to hire for the winter season, and are on track with our staffing plans and have achieved a strong return rate of our frontline employees from the prior season. Lodging bookings at our U.S. resorts for the upcoming season are consistent with last year. At Whistler Blackcomb, lodging bookings for the full season are lagging prior year levels, which may reflect delayed decision making following challenging conditions in the prior year." Operating Results A more complete discussion of our operating results can be found within the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024 , which was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following are segment highlights: Mountain Segment Mountain segment net revenue increased $0.8 million , or 0.5%, to $173.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily driven by an increase in summer visitation at our North American resorts as a result of improved weather conditions compared to the prior year, which generated increases in on-mountain summer activities revenue, sightseeing revenue, and dining revenue. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in lift revenue from our Australian resorts as a result of reduced visitation from weather-related challenges that impacted terrain and resulted in early closures in the current year, and a decrease in retail/rental revenue driven by the impact of broader industry-wide customer spending trends which negatively impacted retail demand, particularly at our Colorado city store locations. Mountain Reported EBITDA loss was $144.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , which represents a decrease of $4.5 million , or 3.3%, as compared to Mountain Reported EBITDA loss for the same period in the prior year, primarily driven by our Australian operations, which experienced weather-related challenges that impacted terrain and resulted in early closures, as well as incremental off-season losses from the addition of Crans-Montana (acquired May 2, 2024 ), partially offset by an increase in summer operations at our North American resorts, which benefited from warm weather conditions late in the season. Mountain segment results also include one-time operating expenses attributable to our resource efficiency transformation plan of $2.0 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , as well as acquisition and integration related expenses of $0.9 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Lodging Segment Lodging segment net revenue (excluding payroll cost reimbursements) increased $5.4 million , or 6.9%, to $83.8 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily driven by positive weather conditions in the Grand Teton region, which enabled increased room pricing and drove increases in owned hotel rooms revenue. Additionally, dining revenue and golf revenue increased each primarily as a result of increased summer visitation at our North American mountain resort properties. Lodging Reported EBITDA was $4.4 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , which represents an increase of $4.6 million , as compared to Lodging Reported EBITDA loss for the same period in the prior year, primarily as a result of favorable weather conditions which drove increased visitation in the Grand Teton region and at our mountain resort properties. Lodging segment results also include one-time operating expenses attributable to our resource efficiency transformation plan of $0.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 . Resort - Combination of Mountain and Lodging Segments Resort net revenue was $260.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , an increase of $5.9 million as compared to Resort net revenue of $254.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Resort Reported EBITDA loss was $139.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , compared to Resort Reported EBITDA loss of $139.8 million for the same period in the prior year. Real Estate Segment Real Estate Reported EBITDA was $15.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 , an increase of $9.7 million as compared to Real Estate Reported EBITDA of $5.4 million for the same period in the prior year. During the three months ended October 31, 2024 , the Company recorded a gain on sale of real property for $16.5 million related to the resolution of the October 2023 Eagle County District Court final ruling and valuation regarding the Town of Vail's condemnation of the Company's East Vail property that was planned for Vail Resorts' incremental affordable workforce housing project, as compared to the same period in the prior year, during which we recorded a gain on sale of real property for $6.3 million related to a land parcel sale in Beaver Creek, Colorado . Total Performance Total net revenue increased $1.7 million , or 0.7%, to $260.3 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Net loss attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. was $172.8 million , or a loss of $4.61 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to a net loss attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. of $175.5 million , or a loss of $4.60 per diluted share, in the prior year. Outlook The Company's Resort Reported EBITDA guidance for the year ending July 31, 2025 is unchanged from the prior guidance provided on September 26, 2024 . The Company is updating its guidance for net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc., which it now expects to be between $240 million and $316 million , up from the prior guidance range of $224 million to $300 million . The primary difference is due to a $17 million increase from the gain on sale of real property related to the resolution of the October 2023 Eagle County District Court final ruling and valuation regarding the Town of Vail's condemnation of the Company's East Vail property that was planned for Vail Resorts' incremental affordable workforce housing project, a transaction that has been recorded as Real Estate Reported EBITDA. Additionally, the guidance is updated to include a decrease in expected interest expense of approximately $2 million which assumes that interest rates remain at current levels for the remainder of fiscal 2025. These changes have no impact on expected Resort Reported EBITDA. The Company continues to expect Resort Reported EBITDA for fiscal 2025 to be between $838 million and $894 million , including approximately $27 million of cost efficiencies and an estimated $15 million in one-time costs related to the multi-year resource efficiency transformation plan, and an estimated $1 million of acquisition and integration related expenses specific to Crans-Montana. As compared to fiscal 2024, the fiscal 2025 guidance includes the assumed benefit of a return to normal weather conditions after the challenging conditions in fiscal 2024, more than offset by a return to normal operating costs and the impact of the continued industry normalization, impacting demand. Additionally, the guidance reflects the negative impact from the record low snowfall and related shortened season in Australia in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which negatively impacted demand and resulted in a $9 million decline of Resort Reported EBITDA compared to the prior year period. After considering these items, we expect Resort Reported EBITDA to grow from price increases and ancillary spending, the resource efficiency transformation plan, and the addition of Crans-Montana for the full year. The guidance also assumes (1) a continuation of the current economic environment, (2) normal weather conditions for the 2024/2025 North American and European ski season and the 2025 Australian ski season, and (3) the foreign currency exchange rates as of our original fiscal 2025 guidance issued September 26, 2024 . Foreign currency exchange rates have experienced recent volatility. Relative to the current guidance, if the currency exchange rates as of yesterday, December 8, 2024 of $0.71 between the Canadian Dollar and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada , $0.64 between the Australian Dollar and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia , and $1.14 between the Swiss Franc and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana in Switzerland were to continue for the remainder of the fiscal year, the Company expects this would have an impact on fiscal 2025 guidance of approximately negative $5 million for Resort Reported EBITDA. The following table reflects the forecasted guidance range for the Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 for Total Reported EBITDA (after stock-based compensation expense) and reconciles net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. guidance to such Total Reported EBITDA guidance. Fiscal 2025 Guidance (In thousands) For the Year Ending July 31, 2025 (6) Low End High End Range Range Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. $ 240,000 $ 316,000 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 23,000 17,000 Net income 263,000 333,000 Provision for income taxes (1) 91,000 115,000 Income before income taxes 354,000 448,000 Depreciation and amortization 295,000 279,000 Interest expense, net 174,000 166,000 Other (2) 21,000 13,000 Total Reported EBITDA $ 844,000 $ 906,000 Mountain Reported EBITDA (3) $ 818,000 $ 872,000 Lodging Reported EBITDA (4) 16,000 26,000 Resort Reported EBITDA (5) 838,000 894,000 Real Estate Reported EBITDA 6,000 12,000 Total Reported EBITDA $ 844,000 $ 906,000 (1) The provision for income taxes may be impacted by excess tax benefits primarily resulting from vesting and exercises of equity awards. Our estimated provision for income taxes does not include the impact, if any, of unknown future exercises of employee equity awards, which could have a material impact given that a significant portion of our awards may be in-the-money depending on the current value of the stock price. (2) Our guidance includes certain forward looking known changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration based solely on the passage of time and resulting impact on present value. Guidance excludes any forward looking change based upon, among other things, financial projections including long-term growth rates for Park City, which such change may be material. Separately, the intercompany loan associated with the Whistler Blackcomb transaction requires foreign currency remeasurement to Canadian dollars, the functional currency of Whistler Blackcomb. Our guidance excludes any forward looking change related to foreign currency gains or losses on the intercompany loans, which such change may be material. Additionally, our guidance excludes the impact of any future sales or disposals of land or other assets which are contingent upon future approvals or other outcomes. (3) Mountain Reported EBITDA also includes approximately $25 million of stock-based compensation. (4) Lodging Reported EBITDA also includes approximately $4 million of stock-based compensation. (5) The Company provides Reported EBITDA ranges for the Mountain and Lodging segments, as well as for the two combined. The low and high of the expected ranges provided for the Mountain and Lodging segments, while possible, do not sum to the high or low end of the Resort Reported EBITDA range provided because we do not expect or assume that we will hit the low or high end of both ranges. (6) Guidance estimates are predicated on an exchange rate of $0.74 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; an exchange rate of $0.67 between the Australian dollar and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of our Australian ski areas; and an exchange rate of $1.18 between the Swiss franc and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana in Switzerland. Liquidity and Return of Capital As of October 31, 2024 , the Company's total liquidity as measured by total cash plus revolver availability was approximately $1,024 million . This includes $404 million of cash on hand, $407 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement, and $213 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement. As of October 31, 2024 , the Company's Net Debt was 2.8 times its trailing twelve months Total Reported EBITDA. Regarding the return of capital to shareholders, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share of Vail Resorts' common stock payable on January 9, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 26 , 2024. In addition, the Company repurchased approximately 0.1 million shares during the quarter at an average price of approximately $174 for a total of $20 million . The Company has 1.6 million shares remaining under its authorization for share repurchases. Commenting on capital allocation, Lynch said, "We will continue to be disciplined stewards of our shareholders' capital, prioritizing investments in our guest and employee experience, high-return capital projects, strategic acquisition opportunities, and returning capital to our shareholders. The Company has a strong balance sheet and remains focused on returning capital to shareholders while always prioritizing the long-term value of our shares." Capital Investments Vail Resorts is committed to enhancing the guest experience and supporting the Company's growth strategies through significant capital investments. For calendar year 2025, the Company plans to invest approximately $198 million to $203 million in core capital, before $45 million of growth capital investments at its European resorts, including $41 million at Andermatt-Sedrun and $4 million at Crans-Montana, and $6 million of real estate related capital projects to complete multi-year transformational investments at the key base area portals of Breckenridge Peak 8 and Keystone River Run, and planning investments to support the development of the West Lionshead area into a fourth base village at Vail Mountain. Including European growth capital investments, and real estate related capital, the Company plans to invest approximately $249 million to $254 million in calendar year 2025. Projects in the calendar year 2025 capital plan described herein remain subject to approvals. In calendar year 2025, the Company will embark on two multi-year transformational investment plans at Park City Mountain and Vail Mountain. Park City Mountain – The transformation of Park City Mountain's Canyons Village is underway to support a world-class luxury base village experience. These investments will support Park City Mountain in welcoming athletes and fans from across the world who visit the resort as it serves as a venue for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. As announced in September, we are replacing the Sunrise lift with a new 10-person gondola in partnership with the Canyons Village Management Association in calendar year 2025, which will provide improved access and enhanced guest experience for existing and future developments within Canyons Village. The Company also plans to enhance the beginner and children's experience by expanding the existing Red Pine Lodge restaurant to upgrade the dining experience for ski and ride school guests, and by improving the teaching terrain surrounding the Red Pine Lodge. These investments are further supported by the construction of the Canyons Village Parking Garage, a new covered parking structure with over 1,800 stalls being developed by TCFC, the master developer of the Canyons Village, which is expected to break ground in spring 2025. Planning of additional investments at Park City Mountain across the mountain experience is underway and additional projects will be announced in the future. Vail Mountain – In October 2024 , the Company announced the development of West Lionshead area into a fourth base village at Vail Mountain in partnership with the Town of Vail and East West Partners. The new base village will reinforce Vail Mountain's status as a world-class destination, and is anticipated to feature access to the resort's 5,317 acres of legendary terrain, plus new lodging, restaurants, boutiques, and skier services, as well as community benefits such as workforce housing, public spaces, transit, and parking. In addition, the Company is developing a multi-year plan to invest in base area improvements, lift upgrades, and across the beginner ski and ride school and dining experiences. In calendar year 2025, the Company is planning to renovate guestrooms and common spaces at its luxury Vail hotel, the Arrabelle at Vail Square. Additionally, in calendar year 2025 the Company plans to invest in real estate planning to develop the West Lionshead area. In addition to embarking on two multi-year transformational investment plans, the Company is planning significant investments across the guest experience in calendar year 2025, including: Andermatt-Sedrun – The Company plans to replace the four-person fixed grip Calmut lift and the four-person fixed grip Cuolm lift with two new six-person high speed lifts that will increase capacity and significantly improve the guest experience at the Val Val area. The Company also plans to upgrade and expand snowmaking infrastructure at the Gemsstock area on the western side of the resort to enhance the consistency of the guest experience, particularly in the early season, and significantly improve energy efficiency. In addition, the Company plans to complete the previously announced upgrade of the Sedrun-Milez snowmaking infrastructure and improvements to the Milez and Natschen restaurants. Through calendar year 2025, Vail Resorts will have invested approximately CHF 50 million of a total CHF 110 million capital that was invested as part of the purchase of the Company's majority ownership stake in Andermatt-Sedrun. Perisher – At Perisher in Australia , the Company plans to replace the Mt Perisher Double and Triple Chairs with a new six-person high speed lift, following the capital spending in calendar year 2024 that is continuing into calendar year 2025 to be completed in time for the 2025 winter season in Australia . Technology – The Company will be investing in additional new functionality for the My Epic App, including new tools to better communicate with and personalize the experience for our guests. Building on the pilot of My Epic Assistant, a new guest service technology within the My Epic App powered by advanced AI and resort experts, at four resorts for the upcoming 2024/2025 ski season, the Company is planning to invest in more advanced AI capabilities in calendar year 2025. Dining – The Company plans to invest in physical improvements to dining outlets at its largest destination resorts to improve throughput. Commitment to Zero – The Company plans to continue investing in waste reduction and emissions reduction projects across its resorts to achieve its goal of zero net operating footprint by 2030. Breckenridge – The Company is making real estate related investments to complete the multi-year transformation of the Breckenridge Peak 8 base area, where the Company has enhanced the beginner and children's experience and increased uphill capacity with the introduction of a new four-person high speed 5-Chair, new teaching terrain, and a transport carpet from the base, making the beginner experience more accessible. Keystone – The Company is investing in acquisition and build out costs for skier services that will reside in the newly developed Kindred Resort at Keystone, a family-friendly luxury ski-in, ski-out lodging residence and Rock Resorts-branded hotel at the base of the River Run Gondola, including new restaurants, a full-service spa, pool and hot tub facilities, and the new home for the Keystone Ski & Ride School, and a retail and rental shop. The Kindred development follows the transformational lift-served terrain expansion project in Bergman Bowl, increasing lift-served terrain by 555 acres with the addition of a new six-person high speed lift, which was completed for the 2023/2024 North American ski season. In addition to the investments planned for calendar year 2025, the Company is completing significant investments that will enhance the guest experience for the upcoming 2024/2025 North American and European ski season. As previously announced, the Company expects its capital plan for calendar year 2024 to be approximately $189 million to $194 million , excluding $13 million of incremental capital investments in premium fleet and fulfillment infrastructure to support the official launch of My Epic Gear for the 2024/2025 winter season at 12 destination and regional resorts across North America , $7 million of growth capital investments at Andermatt-Sedrun, $2 million of maintenance and $2 million of integration investments at Crans-Montana, and $3 million of reimbursable capital. Including these one-time investments, the Company's total capital plan for calendar year 2024 is now expected to be approximately $216 million to $221 million . Earnings Conference Call The Company will conduct a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. eastern time to discuss the financial results. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at www.vailresorts.com in the Investor Relations section, or dial (800) 579-2543 (U.S. and Canada ) or +1 (785) 424-1789 (international). The conference ID is MTNQ125. A replay of the conference call will be available two hours following the conclusion of the conference call through December 16, 2024 , at 11:59 p.m. eastern time . To access the replay, dial (800) 753-9146 (U.S. and Canada ) or +1 (402) 220-2705 (international). The conference call will also be archived at www.vailresorts.com . About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge , Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America ; Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland ; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia . We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests, and our EpicPromise is to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, support our employees and communities, and broaden engagement in our sport. Our company owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to our mountain destinations, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Retail operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America . Learn more about our company at www.VailResorts.com , or discover our resorts and pass options at www.EpicPass.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements discussed in this press release and on the conference call, other than statements of historical information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the statements regarding fiscal 2025 performance and the assumptions related thereto, including, but not limited to, our expected net income and Resort Reported EBITDA; our expectations regarding our liquidity; expectations related to our season pass products; our expectations regarding our ancillary lines of business; capital investment projects; our calendar year 2025 capital plan; our expectations regarding our resource efficiency transformation plan; and the payment of dividends. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to risks related to a prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, including adverse effects on the overall travel and leisure related industries and our business and results of operations; risks associated with the effects of high or prolonged inflation, elevated interest rates and financial institution disruptions; unfavorable weather conditions or the impact of natural disasters or other unexpected events; the ultimate amount of refunds that we could be required to refund to our pass product holders for qualifying circumstances under our Epic Coverage program; the willingness or ability of our guests to travel due to terrorism, the uncertainty of military conflicts or public health emergencies, and the cost and availability of travel options and changing consumer preferences, discretionary spending habits; risks related to travel and airline disruptions, and other adverse impacts on the ability of our guests to travel; risks related to interruptions or disruptions of our information technology systems, data security or cyberattacks; risks related to our reliance on information technology, including our failure to maintain the integrity of our customer or employee data and our ability to adapt to technological developments or industry trends; our ability to acquire, develop and implement relevant technology offerings for customers and partners; the seasonality of our business combined with adverse events that may occur during our peak operating periods; competition in our mountain and lodging businesses or with other recreational and leisure activities; risks related to the high fixed cost structure of our business; our ability to fund resort capital expenditures, or accurately identify the need for, or anticipate the timing of certain capital expenditures; risks related to a disruption in our water supply that would impact our snowmaking capabilities and operations; our reliance on government permits or approvals for our use of public land or to make operational and capital improvements; risks related to resource efficiency transformation initiatives; risks related to federal, state, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; risks related to changes in security and privacy laws and regulations which could increase our operating costs and adversely affect our ability to market our products, properties and services effectively; potential failure to adapt to technological developments or industry trends regarding information technology; our ability to successfully launch and promote adoption of new products, technology, services and programs; risks related to our workforce, including increased labor costs, loss of key personnel and our ability to maintain adequate staffing, including hiring and retaining a sufficient seasonal workforce; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including their integration into our internal controls and infrastructure; our ability to successfully navigate new markets, including Europe , or that acquired businesses may fail to perform in accordance with expectations; a deterioration in the quality or reputation of our brands, including our ability to protect our intellectual property and the risk of accidents at our mountain resorts; risks related to scrutiny and changing expectations regarding our environmental, social and governance practices and reporting; risks associated with international operations, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates where the Company has foreign currency exposure, primarily the Canadian and Australian dollars and the Swiss franc, as compared to the U.S. dollar; changes in tax laws, regulations or interpretations, or adverse determinations by taxing authorities; risks related to our indebtedness and our ability to satisfy our debt service requirements under our outstanding debt including our unsecured senior notes, which could reduce our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures, future business opportunities and other purposes; a materially adverse change in our financial condition; adverse consequences of current or future litigation and legal claims; changes in accounting judgments and estimates, accounting principles, policies or guidelines; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 , which was filed on September 26, 2024 . All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All guidance and forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forecast or forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Statement Concerning Non-GAAP Financial Measures When reporting financial results, we use the terms Resort Reported EBITDA, Total Reported EBITDA, Resort EBITDA Margin, Net Debt and Net Real Estate Cash Flow, which are not financial measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Resort Reported EBITDA, Total Reported EBITDA, Resort EBITDA Margin, Net Debt and Net Real Estate Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, measures of financial performance or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, we report segment Reported EBITDA (i.e. Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate), the measure of segment profit or loss required to be disclosed in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, these measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. Additionally, with respect to discussion of impacts from currency, the Company calculates the impact by applying current period foreign exchange rates to the prior period results, as the Company believes that comparing financial information using comparable foreign exchange rates is a more objective and useful measure of changes in operating performance. Reported EBITDA (and its counterpart for each of our segments) has been presented herein as a measure of the Company's performance. The Company believes that Reported EBITDA is an indicative measurement of the Company's operating performance, and is similar to performance metrics generally used by investors to evaluate other companies in the resort and lodging industries. The Company defines Resort EBITDA Margin as Resort Reported EBITDA divided by Resort net revenue. The Company believes Resort EBITDA Margin is an important measurement of operating performance. The Company believes that Net Debt is an important measurement of liquidity as it is an indicator of the Company's ability to obtain additional capital resources for its future cash needs. Additionally, the Company believes Net Real Estate Cash Flow is important as a cash flow indicator for its Real Estate segment. See the tables provided in this release for reconciliations of our measures of segment profitability and non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Vail Resorts, Inc. Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 Net revenue: Mountain and Lodging services and other $ 187,050 $ 182,834 Mountain and Lodging retail and dining 73,162 71,442 Resort net revenue 260,212 254,276 Real Estate 63 4,289 Total net revenue 260,275 258,565 Segment operating expense: Mountain and Lodging operating expense 266,264 255,576 Mountain and Lodging retail and dining cost of products sold 28,947 31,295 General and administrative 106,857 108,025 Resort operating expense 402,068 394,896 Real Estate operating expense 1,491 5,181 Total segment operating expense 403,559 400,077 Other operating (expense) income: Depreciation and amortization (71,633) (66,728) Gain on sale of real property 16,506 6,285 Change in estimated fair value of contingent consideration (2,079) (3,057) Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net (1,529) (2,043) Loss from operations (202,019) (207,055) Mountain equity investment income, net 2,151

On a dark and snowy Christmas evening at the mountaintop cabin in the woods, you are enjoying the holiday vacation. After putting the children to bed, you decide it’s time to read. The holidays have been filled with so much glitter and joy that you want to immerse yourself in something much darker. Thankfully, you have brought some of the best Christmas horror books to read. You smile as you skim some of the titles, appreciating the author’s “punny” sense of humour despite the theme of the novels. However, once you begin to read, the cabin transforms into a vortex that pulls you into a different dimension of your imagination. The part that sends chills down your spine and makes the hair on your arms stand up straight. No, Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore, and there is no Wonderful Wizard of Oz to send you back home. Here in this place, there are only the Ghosts of Christmas Past and the Silent Screams of Christmas on a cold winter night at the cabin. If those books are not enough to get the wine flowing and your heart pumping two times faster, here are some of the best Christmas horror books available now. Long before Santa was a holly jolly fellow, creatures like Krampus, witches and other Yuletide monsters watched over children. It was a time when Christmas was dark, and misbehaving was almost unheard of. After all, you did not want to get a Krampus card. It was worse than being on the naughty list because horrible things happened to those who did not listen. Belanger takes a deep dive into the traditions of yesteryears in his 2023 novel, “The Fright Before Christmas,” which is horrifying because most of the Folklore is true. Imagine Christmas being something that you feared rather than celebrated. Reading this novel in a remote cabin in the woods might be more realistic than you expected, but it certainly enhances the drama. Deckker’s Silent Night: A. em freezes Christmas Horror follows Mia and her friends on vacation in a cabin that turns out to be anything but festive. Together, they must put aside their differences to confront the, leaving them with no way to escape. If Krampus and snow-driven demons are not enough to add a bit of coldness to your bones this holiday season, UnHoly Night, Humbug and many other Christmas horror novels are yet to be published. They will be coming out in December, just in time for the holidays, and will likely go on sale for Boxing Day. Image by from Writing has always been her passion and a voice for those who cannot speak. She considers herself fortunate to write every day and says her mantra is, "I drink coffee, write, and I know about people and technology." Her writing is diverse and can be found online on websites like LifeHack, You Have a Calling, Medium, TechCrunch and, She Knows.