DENVER — Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert broke new ground over the weekend when she became the first sitting member of Congress to offer personalized messages for sale — starting at $250 — through the video platform Cameo . The Windsor Republican, who won election to a new congressional seat this month after moving across the state, started the account Saturday. The website allows customers to buy personalized video messages from celebrities. On Monday morning, Boebert advertised her messages starting at $250, though she stopped taking requests by 10:45 a.m. mountain time. “Whether you or someone you know needs an America-first pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatever’s on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me,” Boebert says in an introductory video. Brandon Kazimer, a Cameo spokesperson, confirmed that the account belonged to Boebert. Boebert’s office declined to comment Monday. Kazimer said she’s the first sitting member of Congress to sign up for the service as talent. At least two other former members of Congress, George Santos of New York and Matt Gaetz of Florida, have sold videos on the platform. Santos joined Cameo soon after he was expelled from Congress last year over allegations he exploited office for personal financial gain. Gaetz, who is a friend of Boebert’s, joined the service Friday, days after he withdrew his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to be the U.S. attorney general following allegations that he paid a teenage girl for sex. Boebert does not appear to have advertised the service on her other social media accounts on X or Facebook. Congressional rules will limit how much Boebert can earn from the videos. In 2023, members were limited to making $31,815 in outside income beyond their annual $174,000 salaries. She will have to report any earnings from Cameo on her annual disclosures. The law also prohibits people from using their public office to make outside money, said Kedric Payne, a vice president and senior director of ethics for the Campaign Legal Center. Ultimately, the restriction is meant to give voters confidence that elected officials aren’t using public office for personal gain — or putting that gain ahead of their public service. Boebert describes herself on Cameo as “Not your typical Colorado Republican politician. Jesus loving, Constitutionalist, America first, freedom fighter.” An earlier version of her Cameo page listed Boebert as a politician and categorized her as a political commentator, but it was updated to list her under the influencers category. Because she doesn’t use her title or appear to use other facets of her public job for the videos, such as filming in her congressional office, “that should take away any concern she’s trying to use her public job for personal gain,” Payne said. He added that the limit on outside income also anticipates these kinds of problems by limiting the incentive for members to spend more effort on outside business ventures than their public service. But, he noted, people can cross that line quickly if it’s not clear if they’re acting in their public or private capacity. The earned income that’s subject to the annual cap is considered separate from passive income made through things like stock market investments, Payne said, because it is actively made by selling goods and services. “We’ll be watching to see if this becomes a trend,” Payne said of the Cameo side work. “If this is just a one-off where someone does this for a month or so, that’s one thing — but if it becomes a trend, where members of Congress are trying to act as influencers and get paid, that could point to a bigger problem.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.None
Looking Into Republic Servs's Recent Short InterestAI Ease Unveils Free AI Background Generator for Effortless Image Enhancement 12-24-2024 06:34 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire In the digital world, great visuals are a must for standing out, be it for professional photographers, e-commerce sellers, or content creators. However, creating the perfect background for your images can be time-consuming and costly. Thankfully, with the power of AI, you can create stunning backgrounds without the hassle. The article explains how to make an AI background online using the ai background generator online [ https://www.aiease.ai/ai-background/ ]. This tool is 100% free, AI-powered, has no limit on usage and does not require any account creation. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/35116d754bd8ae72a951a9835ed1f32d.jpg Step 1: Upload and Remove To begin with the AI background generator, you are to upload the image to edit. Be it a portrait, a product photo, or any other kind of image, just click the "Upload" button on the AI Ease platform. Once uploaded, the tool instantly starts working to remove the existing background from the image in a matter of seconds. This happens automatically and makes the preparation of your image for further steps easy. The AI-powered tool works remarkably well with the most minute detail at AI Ease. It automatically detects the foreground subject and lets you perfect the background without having to mess around with the edges or fine details of your subject. This step will eliminate the need to manually remove the background, saving you time and effort. Step 2: Creating AI-generated Backgrounds After removing the background, it is time to select a new backdrop for your image. AI Ease provides two strong modes to generate AI backgrounds: AI Scenes and Custom. * AI Scenes You can choose any of the background templates available the moment you enter "AI Scenes" mode. Among the most common backdrops for AI scenes, you will find marble, wood, texture, indoor settings, and more. From a simple neutral background for product photography to an artistic scene that would improve your portrait, everything will be at your disposal. With an AI background generator, all background scenes are created professionally in style, well-chosen, and match your subject. Such scenes will suit users when they want to accomplish a certain goal fast without any compromise on image quality that of an e-commerce product photography solution, a personal portrait shoot, or otherwise. * Custom Mode Those who would love a personal tone would like the "Custom" mode in AI Ease. It is a text-to-AI background for those cases when one needs exactly what he or she sees, be it product imagery with unique sceneries or some personalized background for other creative work. All you have to do now is describe the background you intend to use. For example, say, "a vintage wooden desk with soft natural light filtering in," and let AI magically create an image for what you have typed. Then, this custom mode used a large language model full of state-of-the-art text-to-image algorithms. This gives you the capability to create backgrounds that are highly unique to your needs, whatever they may be in nature. Step 3: Download and Share Once you are pleased with the new background, it is now full-time to complete your creation. Just click the "Download" button, and your image is saved. Instant download-you are ready to go with your newly enhanced image for anything you may need: an e-commerce store, social media post, or personal project. Being able to download and share right from the platform makes this whole process seamless and efficient. The AI background generator, courtesy of AI Ease, promises quality that you can assuredly use down to professional or even personal projects with confidence. Save your time and up your game in your content without fuss, as you can directly download and share your images instantly. AI-Powered Technology for Better Results The background generator at AI Ease is driven by advanced AI algorithms to ensure that every background it generates is visually stunning and professionally crafted. It works in the background to ensure smooth processing, accuracy, and quality results. With the added advantage of being completely free, users can generate unlimited high-quality backgrounds with no subscriptions or sign-ups required. Elevate with AI Background Templates Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the AI background generator by AI Ease is the wide array of background templates it will offer. The variety of marble, wood, and textured backdrops within these AI background templates is designed to answer the most in-demand needs concerning visual content. Whether you shoot products, create artwork, or capture portraits, AI scenes from AI Ease guarantee that the most professional, stable, and visually pleasing backgrounds are literally at your fingertips online. These templates are designed to complement your images, not overwhelm the subject. Each scene is carefully composed to provide a balanced backdrop that will let your subject be the focal point while the background sets the perfect setting. Try for Free One of the best features of the AI background generator by AI Ease is that it's completely free. Whether a professional photographer, a businessman, or just a hobbyist, one can generate high-quality AI backgrounds for his/her images without spending even a single penny. Just pay a visit to the website of AI Ease, upload your image, and get started with generating backgrounds. Because the tool is user-friendly, there are no special skills or prior experiences with photo editing software needed to work with it. Whether for your website, social media, or e-commerce store, AI Ease gives you an easy way of adding oomph to your images in a very fast and efficient manner. Personalize from Text Prompts The full customization option is a whole new dimension introduced by the AI Background Generator. You will be able to create backgrounds that are unique for your images with text prompts. Be it simple, elegant, complex, or artful, the "Custom" mode generates a background that fits your requirements to the dot. The features that make it useful for the enhancement of product photography include providing an effect of background that suits either your brand or your product in question. Thanks to this great functionality provided by AI Ease, backdrops can be easily created to fit with one's vision without too much work and resource input compared to traditional photo shoots or very expensive stock images. Make Products Shine The quality of product images can make or break a sale for any e-commerce business. For e-commerce sellers, AI Ease's free online AI background generator is something that completely revolutionizes their selling game. Using either "AI Scenes" or "Custom" mode, the sellers can add professional-looking backgrounds to the photos of their products and present their merchandise in a visually appealing way. The tool elevates your product images, creating a distinction with competitors for the attention of prospective buyers. Be it fashion clothes, accessories, or other in-home products that one sells, this AI-powered software makes it an easy approach to generating fabulous product images that will surely impress your customers' senses. Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/59d715f2c41d9cd802f1c3f53454a2f6.jpg Conclusion AI Ease's AI background generator makes creating quality backgrounds for your images a whole lot easier. This is a no-cost, AI-powered utility that can be used with either pre-set scenes or custom-created backgrounds using a text prompt. Be it photography, e-commerce, or content creation, AI Ease makes the job look all that easy and efficient. All one has to do to achieve professional-quality images is go through a few simple steps: upload your image, pick or customize your AI-generated background, and finally download the result. Added to this factor of free, unlimited, and easy to use, AI Easy turns out to be very helpful for anyone who desires to make AI backgrounds online. Media Contact Company Name: Aiease Contact Person: Mike Hasy Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ai-ease-unveils-free-ai-background-generator-for-effortless-image-enhancement ] State: New York Country: United States Website: https://www.aiease.ai/ This release was published on openPR.Top stories in Ottawa in 2024
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) (“Solaris” or the “Company”), today announced a financial and operational update for the fourth quarter 2024 as well as updates to its growth capital program to further support the Solaris Power Solutions segment in response to rapidly evolving customer demand. Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial and Operational Update The Company is increasing its fourth quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA* guidance to a range of $36 million to $39 million, compared to its prior expectation for a range of $33 million to $36 million. The primary drivers behind the updated range are continued enhanced utilization levels and improved cost absorption in the Solaris Power Solutions segment. The Company expects to deploy an average of approximately 250 MW during the fourth quarter, which reflects full utilization of its currently available asset base. In its Solaris Logistics Segment, the Company expects results to be relatively in line with expectations, which should continue to support strong total company operating cash flow generation in the fourth quarter. Solaris Power Solutions Growth Capital Update The Company recently placed orders for 9 additional 16.5 megawatt (“MW”) gas-fired turbines to support rapidly accelerating customer demand, totaling approximately 145 MW in incremental generation capacity. Solaris now expects to exit first quarter 2026 with approximately 680 MW of generation capacity. The Company expects to invest up to $120 million for the new turbine order, including ancillary equipment. Additionally, the Company expects to invest approximately $40 million in Selective Catalytic Reduction (“SCR”) technology to further enhance the emissions profile of the fleet in support of multi-year installations on selected locations. This expected approximately $160 million growth capital investment should occur primarily over the course of 2025, with equipment deliveries scheduled to occur from fourth quarter 2025 through first quarter 2026. “Demand for Solaris’ power-as-a-service offering continues to exceed our available capacity, providing us with the confidence to place this additional equipment order,” commented Bill Zartler, Solaris’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, the increasing site design and engineering complexities associated with the extending tenor of our contract fixtures presents an opportunity for Solaris to offer incremental ‘balance of plant’ equipment, such as the emissions control technology, that complements our power generation offering and is expected to enhance returns. This new equipment order will provide Solaris’ customers with near-term solutions in support of some of the most demanding ‘behind-the-meter’ power applications in operation today.” Footnotes: * Non-GAAP financial measure. Please see “About Non-GAAP Measures” below. About Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) provides scalable equipment-based solutions for use in distributed power generation as well as the management of raw materials used in the completion of oil and natural gas wells. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Solaris serves multiple U.S. end markets, including energy, data centers, and other commercial and industrial sectors. Additional information is available on our website, solaris-energy.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s expectations of business plans, strategies, objectives and anticipated financial and operating results of the Company for the three months ending December 31, 2024, including the Company’s future profitability, expected capital expenditures and the impact of such expenditures on performance, current and potential future long-term contracts, the Company’s business and financial performance and results of operations and other guidance included in this press release, and the other risks discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024 and in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on August 9, 2024 and November 7, 2024, respectively. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the factors discussed or referenced in our filings made from time to time with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. About Non-GAAP Measures Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations because it reflects the core operating results of the Company’s businesses and helps facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods. We define EBITDA as net income, plus (i) depreciation and amortization expense, (ii) interest expense and (iii) income tax expense. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus (i) stock-based compensation expense and (ii) certain non-cash items and extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains, losses or expenses. Although management believes the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measure is a good tool for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Solaris’s overall financial performance, the foregoing non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, no reconciliations of this non-GAAP measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure is available without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various reconciling items that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure, that have not yet occurred, are out of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted given we have not completed any reporting processes for the period presented. Preliminary Estimate This press release provides a preliminary estimate of our Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ending December 31, 2024. This preliminary estimate is derived from our internal records and is based on the most current information available to management. Our normal reporting processes with respect to the foregoing preliminary estimate have not been fully completed and, during the course of our review process on this preliminary estimate, we could identify items that would require us to make adjustments and which could affect our final results. Any such adjustments could be material. This preliminary estimate has not been audited or reviewed by our independent auditors nor have our independent auditors performed any procedures with respect to this information or expressed any opinion or any form of assurance on such information. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204678559/en/ CONTACT: Yvonne Fletcher Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations (281) 501-3070 IR@solaris-energy.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENGINEERING OTHER ENERGY UTILITIES OIL/GAS MANUFACTURING ENERGY MACHINERY SOURCE: Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 06:29 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 06:28 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204678559/en
MONTREAL — The Vegas Golden Knights exploded for five unanswered goals in the second period to roll over the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 on Saturday night. Tomas Hertl, Callahan Burke, Ivan Barbashev, Tanner Pearson and Keegan Kolesar each scored. Montreal’s Emil Heineman and Jayden Struble scored in the third before Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel collected his seventh of the season. Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill stopped 15 of 17 shots. Montreal’s Sam Montembeault gave up five goals on 25 shots before he was replaced in the third period by Cayden Primeau, who turned away two of three shots. Takeaways Golden Knights: Vegas recovered from losing back-to-back games earlier in the week with a second straight road win. Eleven different players registered at least a point in Montreal. Canadiens: The even-strength play that helped Montreal win four of five games vanished as the Canadiens regressed to its early season disarray at both ends of the ice. Key moment Less than a minute after falling behind 2-0, Montreal turned the puck over at the offensive blue line and Barbashev scored on a two-on-one rush. Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) stops Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) as Knights' Noah Hanifin (15) defends during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes Key stat Montreal allowed five or more even-strength goals for the sixth time this season. Up next The Golden Knights continue their road trip Monday in Philadelphia. Montreal hosts the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.UCF coach Gus Malzahn reportedly resigning to take Florida State OC job
A 501 deportee from Australia is back in prison -- but this time on the other side of the Tasman