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If you’re interested in improving your finances, seeking guidance from a qualified financial advisor can be a game-changer. Finding an advisor who aligns with your goals and values is key to a successful partnership. Here are four positive signs you’ve found the right financial advisor, plus one red flag to watch out for.
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Posted on: November 12, 2024, 03:39h.
Last updated on: November 12, 2024, 03:39h.
The planned sale of Concord Casino has hit new roadblocks with the current owner’s attorneys putting the blame on New Hampshire state officials.
Casino owner Andy Sanborn was ordered to find a buyer for the charitable gaming property after his casino license was suspended.
The likely buyer of the casino has not been named publicly. But the person has been involved in the pre-sale meetings.
Sanborn is eager to sell the property, and there’s an interested buyer, according to Sanborn’s legal team.
“There is no criticism of the buyer’s background,” Attorney Adam Katz, who represents Sanborn, was quoted by New Hampshire Public Radio. “There is no criticism of the buyer’s credentials. There is not one blemish on the buyer’s record that the suitability letter cites. The buyer is spotless from the perspective of the state.”
He [Sanborn] wants to put this mess far in the rearview mirror,” Katz added. “Mr. Sanborn clearly has worked to sell. The only problem is the chicanery from the state.”
But New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Jessica King disagrees.
“There is no evidence the state is actually trying to prevent anything,” she said. “This narrative that the state is trying to obstruct and prevent the sale is simply false.”
She explained the New Hampshire Lottery Commission met with the buyer, “many, many, many times,” according to the New Hampshire Journal. The new owner must be approved by the state.
“It [the commission] has had constant communication with the buyer. It has gone out of its way to ensure that the buyer had all of the things necessary to complete a suitability determination, and thereafter has continued to talk to the buyer,” she added.
The issues were the subject of a hearing on Friday before Hearing Officer Gregory Albert. As the two sides continue to fight, Sanborn has been given extensions to complete the sale of the casino.
Last year, Administrative Hearing Officer Michael King told Sanborn to sell the casino within six months.
In October, Sanborn was indicted on state theft charges for allegedly inflating his revenue in order to qualify for state COVID funds, getting about $140K more than he was entitled.
State officials also have investigated Sanborn, a former state senator, for how he spent $844K in COVID relief funds earmarked for the Concord Casino.
He used some of the money to allegedly buy two Porsche cars and a Ferrari. The Ferrari was for his wife, Laurie Sanborn, a state representative, authorities said. The relief fund wasn’t meant to be used for casinos, officials claim.
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Yesterday, Ice Universe said that Samsung could release the One UI 7 beta next week – but only for the US and South Korea. However, people in Europe and India may not have to wait long as the first One UI 7 beta builds for the Galaxy S24 series have already been spotted on Samsung’s servers.
Firmware version ZXKB was spotted for the SM-S928B, which is the model number of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sold in Europe and India. The first internal test builds were reported in May.
One UI 7 beta firmware for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
One UI 7 was officially unveiled at SDC 2024. It is based on Android 15 and promises to refresh the look of the custom skin, to provide smoother animations, boost performance, more customization and other improvements. However, the stable release is not expected until next year.
There is another developer conference, SDC Korea 2024, which might bring more details about One UI 7 and it is scheduled for November 21 (next week).
Source (in Italian)
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The initial buzz for Apple’s mixed-reality headset has died down, but new apps and experiences are still arriving for consumers who plunked down $3,500. The UK broadcaster Channel 4 just dropped a dedicated streaming app for the headset, which lets users watch stuff in “ground-breaking cinema-style.”
Channel 4 is the first UK broadcaster to take this step. The app leverages the tech inside the headset to overlay streaming content on the real world, which allows for a “full-screen viewing experience” of stuff like The Great British Bake Off and Taskmaster, in addition to multi-screen view.
Speaking of Taskmaster, the broadcaster also announced an environment based on the comedy game show. Environments on the AVP transform the world around the user, so people can watch Taskmaster while sitting in a room inspired by Taskmaster (cue that Xzibit Yo Dawg meme.) Other streaming apps have their own environments. Paramount+ offers one based on SpongeBob Squarepants and Disney+ now includes one set in Iceland.
This app doesn’t feature access to the recently-released Taskmaster VR experience. That one’s still tied to Steam VR and Meta Quest. By most accounts, it’s a pretty bad game, so the Vision Pro isn’t missing much.
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Sony has announced that it’s lowering the suggested retail price of the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition as we enter the holiday shopping season. But you’ll want to act fast, as the discount ends Christmas Eve, and is only available while supplies last.
Update 11/12/2024 4:25 p.m. ET: Sony has yanked the original version of the new PlayStation 5 TV ad and replaced it with a version that is nearly identical, but doesn’t include information on a temporary price drop for the console. Kotaku has contacted Sony for clarity on the situation, but at this time it’s unclear if the deal is still happening or not.
Original story continues below
On November 12, Sony released a new television ad for the PlayStation 5 that will likely run across cable and websites as parents around the country decide what to buy their kids (or themselves) for Christmas. To convince people to buy a PlayStation 5, Sony’s new ad announces that the PS5 Slim Digital Edition will be marked down to $380.
Normally, a PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition costs $450. So this is a discount of $70. (I’m not factoring in things like shipping, tax, etc.) This new temporary discount, which ends on December 24, means that you can now buy a PS5 Slim and a digital game while paying about the same (or less) than you would normally for a game and a new PS5. That’s nice.
However, keep in mind that this deal is only on the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. So if you want a PS5 with a disc drive, you’ll have to either buy that console or buy a disc drive separately. And uh, good luck with that. It should also be noted that the Slim doesn’t come with a vertical stand. You’ll need to buy that separately.
Finally, let’s not forget that when the digital-only PS5 initially launched, it was just $400. Then, Sony raised its price after the launch. So when you factor that in, this means the PS5 Slim that Sony is selling during the holidays is only $20 less than it was four years ago. Bleh.
Also, this deal doesn’t apply to the recently released PS5 Pro, which still costs an eye-watering $700. It might be Christmastime, but Sony ain’t discounting its newest and most expensive console anytime soon. Do you want ray tracing this holiday season? You gotta pay up.
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Laser cleaning is a revolutionary, eco-friendly process that efficiently removes rust, paint, oxides, and other contaminants from metal surfaces. It’s increasingly popular across various industries due to its precision and ability to clean without damaging the underlying material. In this guide, we’ll explore the five key steps in the laser cleaning process and why it’s becoming the preferred choice for industries.
When the laser beam strikes the material’s surface, the contaminant layer (like rust or paint) absorbs the energy, which breaks the molecular bonds, causing the layer to vaporize. The process only works if the laser’s energy is above the threshold for that specific material, ensuring precision cleaning.
This precision is especially useful when working on materials like aluminum or steel, where the contaminant layer (rust, oil, or paint) can be removed without damaging the base metal.
This method speeds up the cleaning process while preventing the base material from overheating. Pulsed lasers allow for precise, high-speed cleaning, making them ideal for industrial applications requiring rapid contaminant removal.
Moreover, laser cleaning produces no chemical waste. This not only makes it safer for employees (no need for harsh chemicals or personal protective equipment) but also ensures compliance with environmental standards.
Pre-welding treatments to remove rust and contaminants
Post-welding treatments to remove oxides from stainless steel
Surface preparation to improve paint adhesion
Oxide removal on specialty alloys
Paint removal on damaged parts or production lines
Thanks to its ability to selectively remove layers, laser cleaning is also ideal for projects involving complex surfaces or materials.
Laser cleaning is reshaping industrial cleaning practices by offering an efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. By targeting specific layers with precision, it ensures thorough cleaning without harming the base material. If you’re interested in learning more about how laser cleaning could benefit your industry, consult a laser cleaning expert to explore the right solution for your needs.
For further guidance, contact Renovate Rx to discover our customizable workstations, production line solutions, and OEM laser systems tailored to your cleaning requirements.
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As the seasons change, Montréal’s beloved winter festival, Igloofest has emerged out of hibernation for the announcement of their 17th edition. From January 16 to February 8, 2025, winter warriors will trek to the Old Port throughout the winter’s chilliest nights – proving once again why this is the coldest dance party in the country.
The 2025 lineup offers an avalanche of options for every music fan. Heavy-hitters like Steve Angello, Adriatique, and Zeds Dead are bound to heat up the crowd, and underground selectors including Four Tet, Skepta bringing his Más Tiempo concept. Not to be forgotten, the series kicks off with Michael Bibi making his much-anticipated Montréal debut, ensuring this edition is one for the books.
Check out the full Igloofest 2025 lineup below. General admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase online – don’t miss your chance to be part of this epic winter celebration.
Featured image: WAKTR
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by Grant Wiggins & The TeachThought Staff
Admit it–you only read the list of the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, not the whole book that explains each level and the rationale behind the Taxonomy. Not to worry, you are not alone: this is true for most educators.
But that efficiency comes with a price. Many educators have a mistaken view of the Taxonomy and the levels in it, as the following errors suggest. And arguably the greatest weakness of the Common Core Standards is to avoid being extra-careful in their use of cognitive-focused verbs, along the lines of the rationale for the Taxonomy.
1. The first two or three levels of the Taxonomy involve ‘lower-order’ and the last three or four levels involve ‘higher-order’ thinking.
This is false. The only lower-order goal is ‘Knowledge’ since it uniquely requires mere recall in testing. Furthermore, it makes no sense to think that ‘Comprehension’ – the 2nd level – requires only lower-order thought:
The essential behavior in interpretation is that when given a communication the student can identify and comprehend the major ideas which are included in it as well as understand their interrelationships. This requires a nice sense of judgment and caution in reading into the document one’s own ideas and interpretations. It also requires some ability to go beyond mere rephrasing of parts of the document to determine the larger and more general ideas in it. The interpreter must also recognize the limits within which interpretations can be drawn.
Not only is this higher-order thinking – summary, main idea, conditional and cautious reasoning, etc.–it is a level not reached by half of our students in reading. And by the way: the phrases ‘lower-order’ and ‘higher-order’ appear nowhere in the Taxonomy.
2. “Application” requires hands-on learning.
This is not true, a misreading of the word “apply”, as the text makes clear. We apply ideas to situations, e.g. you may comprehend Newton’s 3 Laws or the Writing Process but can you solve novel problems related to it – without prompting? That’s application:
The whole cognitive domain of the taxonomy is arranged in a hierarchy, that is, each classification within it demands the skills and abilities which are lower in the classification order. The Application category follows this rule in that to apply something requires “comprehension” of the method, theory, principle or abstraction applied. Teachers frequently say, “If a student really comprehends something then he can apply it.”
A problem in the comprehension category requires the student to know an abstraction well enough that he can correctly demonstrate its use when specifically asked to do so. “Application,” however, requires a step beyond this. Given a problem new to the student, he will apply the appropriate abstraction without having to be prompted as to which abstraction is correct or without having to be shown how to do it in this situation.
Note the key phrases: Given a problem new to the student, he will apply the appropriate abstraction without having to be prompted. Thus, “application” is really a synonym for “transfer”.
In fact, the authors strongly assert the primacy of application/transfer of learning:
The fact that most of what we learn is intended for application to problem situations in real life is indicative of the importance of application objectives in the general curriculum. The effectiveness of a large part of the school program is therefore dependent upon how well the students carry over into situations applications which the students never faced in the learning process. Those of you familiar with educational psychology will recognize this as the age-old problem of transfer of training. Research studies have shown that comprehending an abstraction does not certify that the individual will be able to apply it correctly. Students apparently also need practice in restructuring and classifying situations so that the correct abstraction applies.
Why UbD is what it is. In Application problems must be new; students must judge which prior learning applies, without prompting or hints from scaffolded worksheets; and students must get training and have practice in how to handle non-routine problems. We designed UbD, in part, backward from Bloom’s definition of Application.
As for instruction in support of the aim of transfer (and different types of transfer), the authors soberingly note this:
“We have also attempted to organize some of the literature on growth, retention, and transfer of the different types of educational outcomes or behaviors. Here we find very little relevant research. … Many claims have been made for different educational procedures…but seldom have these been buttressed by research findings.”
3. All the verbs listed under each level of the Taxonomy are more or less equal; they are synonyms for the level.
No, there are distinct sub-levels of the Taxonomy, in which the cognitive difficulty of each sub-level increases.
For example, under Knowledge, the lowest-level form is Knowledge of Terminology, where a more demanding form of recall is Knowledge of the Major Ideas, Schemes and Patterns in a field of study, and where the highest level of Knowledge is Knowledge of Theories and Structures (for example, knowing the structure and organization of Congress.)
Under Comprehension, the three sub-levels in order of difficulty are Translation, Interpretation, and Extrapolation. Main Idea in literacy, for example, falls under Interpretation since it demands more than “translating” the text into one’s own words, as noted above.
4. The Taxonomy recommends against the goal of “understanding” in education.
Only in the sense of the term “understand” being too broad. Rather, the Taxonomy helps us to more clearly delineate the different levels of understanding we seek:
To return to the illustration of the term “understanding” a teacher might use the Taxonomy to decide which of several meanings he intended. If it meant that the student was…aware of a situation…to describe it in terms slightly different from those originally used in describing it, this would correspond to the taxonomy category of “translation” [which is a sub-level under Comprehension]. Deeper understanding would be reflected in the next-higher level of the Taxonomy, “interpretation,” where the student would be expected to summarize and explain… And there are other levels of the Taxonomy which the teacher could use to indicate still deeper “understanding.”
5. The writers of the Taxonomy were confident that the Taxonomy was a valid and complete Taxonomy
No they weren’t. They note that:
“Our attempt to arrange educational behaviors from simple to complex was based on the idea that a particular simple behavior may become integrated with other equally simple behaviors to form a more complex behavior… Our evidence on this is not entirely satisfactory, but there is an unmistakable trend pointing toward a hierarchy of behaviors.
They were concerned especially that no single theory of learning and achievement–
“accounted for the varieties of behaviors represented in the educational objectives we attempted to classify. We were reluctantly forced to agree with Hilgard that each theory of learning accounts for some phenomena very well but is less adequate in accounting for others. What is needed is a larger synthetic theory of learning than at present seems available.
Later schemas – such as Webb’s Depth of Knowledge and the revised Taxonomy – do nothing to solve this basic problem, with implications for all modern Standards documents.
Why This All Matters
The greatest failure of the Common Core Standards is arguably to have overlooked these issues by being arbitrary/careless in the use of verbs in the Standards.
There appears to have been no attempt to be precise and consistent in the use of the verbs in the Standards, thus making it almost impossible for users to understand the level of rigor prescribed by the standard, hence levels of rigor required in local assessments. (Nothing is said in any documents about how deliberate those verb choices were, but I know from prior experience in New Jersey and Delaware that verbs are used haphazardly – in fact, writing teams start to vary the verbs just to avoid repetition!)
The problem is already on view: in many schools, the assessments are less rigorous than the Standards and practice tests clearly demand. No wonder the scores are low. I’ll have more to say on this problem in a later post, but my prior posts on Standards provide further background on the problem we face.
Update: Already people are arguing with me on Twitter as if I agree with everything said here. I nowhere say here that Bloom was right about the Taxonomy. (His doubts about his own work suggest my real views, don’t they?) I am merely reporting what he said and what is commonly misunderstood. In fact, I am re-reading Bloom as part of a critique of the Taxonomy in support of the revised 3rd edition of UbD in which we call for a more sophisticated view of the idea of depth and rigor in learning and assessment than currently exists.
This article first appeared on Grant’s personal blog; Grant can be found on twitter here; 5 Common Misconceptions About Bloom’s Taxonomy; image attribution flickr user langwitches
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This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
Crustless pumpkin pie has rich spices, creamy pumpkin, and a perfectly smooth texture. The custard holds its shape beautifully. Whether you’re keeping things simple or exploring a gluten-free option, this pie gives all the nostalgic vibes of the classic.
Skip the time consuming crust and go straight to the good stuff. This crustless pumpkin pie recipe is fabulous when you need a fuss free dessert that tastes great. For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post!
This crustless pumpkin pie recipe only takes 5 minutes to prep. It’s as simple as mix, bake, and enjoy! It’s an easy dessert that brings all the cozy, comfortable flavors of traditional pumpkin pie minus the extra effort.
Making a pumpkin pie without the crust is a fantastic way to simplify your baking while still making an amazing dessert. Here are some tips so it turns out perfectly!
This pie can be made a day or two in advance and be refrigerated until needed. It tastes even better as the flavors meld, making it perfect for holiday prep.
Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without pie! We bring back the classics every year, but I always like trying something new. Here are some of my family’s favorites to add to your traditional pies.
Pin this now to find it later
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9-inch pie pan with pan spray, preferably a baking spray with flour in it to help prevent sticking.
Add the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves to a large bowl and whisk until combined.
Add the eggs, pumpkin, and evaporated milk to the sugar mixture and whisk until smooth and evenly combined. Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a large blender at the same time and blend on high speed for about 20 seconds, until fully combined.
Add the pumpkin pie mixture to the prepared pie pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, until the very center has a slight wobble and the edges are fully set when slightly jiggled. Let the pie cool for at least an hour before chilling in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving. Top with whipped cream, if desired.
Calories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 209mgPotassium: 257mgFiber: 2gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 8434IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Every year, it seems like the holidays get here faster and faster! Once the end of summer rolls around, it’s a quick race to the end of the year. Even though the holidays are the most wonderful time of year, they can get hectic fast. And, if we aren’t careful, we can miss the true joy of the season.
Christmas planning is one easy way to make sure you stress less and enjoy the holidays with your family more. It allows you to avoid racing to the store late on Christmas Eve to buy those last-minute gifts. Instead, you can sit back and relax when the holidays are here, knowing that you’ve already got it all covered.
Here’s how I plan for the holidays now so I can save my sanity (and my family’s, too!).
Christmas Day is the same day every year… so why does it sneak up on us? We know it’s coming, and we also know that things are much less stressful when we plan ahead. So this year, do yourself (and your family) a favor by planning early. I know it’s hard to start thinking about the holiday season before we’ve even had Thanksgiving. Trust me though, your future self will thank you!
You probably have an image in your mind of how you want the holidays to be. But every year, it seems to look different. Some years, we’ve had a lot of Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. In other years, we’ve kept it more low-key. Make sure your Christmas planning is what you can realistically accomplish (and what you really want to do).
You might enjoy spending a lot of time decorating the tree, making cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you want a simpler Christmas season this year and don’t want to do all the things you feel like you “have to do” for the perfect holidays. Forget about replicating what you see on Pinterest and Instagram. Remember, it’s your holiday season, and you can do as little or as much as you want!
To start Christmas planning brainstorm your ideal holidays and what you can realistically make happen. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or travel you want to do this year.
Now that you have a big picture of what you want the holidays to look and feel like, it’s time to think about the details.
Before planning any events or buying anything, the best way to get a head start on Thanksgiving and Christmas planning is to create a budget. If you’re anything like me, the holidays always end up costing more than expected! That’s why creating a budget is such a great idea.
Instead of buying things as you see them (hello, Black Friday on Amazon!), you have a better idea of what you need and how much you have to spend. That way, there won’t be as much surprise (or guilt) come January.
I start by creating a list of all of the things I need to buy based on these sub-categories:
Once you have a budget, you can plan (more fun) holiday things!
If decorating the house is a big part of your holiday, now’s a great time to assess what you have and what you need. If funds are tight, this is an easy place to cut costs — simply use what you already have.
I keep an inventory of our decorations in Notion (or use the Notes app on your phone). This lets me see what I have and what needs replacing/updating.
We keep it pretty simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). To get you inspired even on a budget, here are some simple DIY holiday-themed decor ideas:
All of these ideas meet my standards for 1) minimal supplies to make, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy to repurpose for other seasons. Win!
If you’re a Christmas card person, this may be a highlight of the season for you. Make sure to plan now so it doesn’t become overwhelming. If Christmas cards aren’t your thing, feel free to move on to the next section.
Here are my tips for stress-free Christmas cards:
Having the cards ready before Thanksgiving allows you not to have to worry about them. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, you can start addressing and sending them out.
Remember that if holiday cards become a burden, it’s okay to let them go this year (or every year!). You can redirect that time and money into other holiday activities.
Gift-giving can get overwhelming! The best way to tackle this part of Christmas shopping is to create a gift list. If you’re on a tighter budget (or want to simplify the holidays), a gift list is a great way to stay organized and not overbuy.
I start by listing items I want to buy for each person. The pressure to buy lots of gifts can overwhelm us. Several years ago, I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “want, need, wear, read” gift-giving philosophy. Each kid gets:
This simplified gift-giving philosophy has greatly decreased my stress level during the holidays. I do the same with my family members. Grandparents love to go on dates or have one-on-one time with the grandkids… and the grandkids enjoy it, too!
Don’t forget about other people you need to buy for… teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. These can even be simple DIY gifts (see the next section for more on this).
I love making homemade gifts! Not only does it make a special gift, but it doubles as a fun family holiday activity. DIY gifts are a great way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor. Every year my kids look forward to the special photobooks I make for each of them.
If you plan to make gifts, now’s the perfect time to get organized. Some gifts take a while to prepare, so you need to start early. Here’s what I recommend:
Another fun DIY project is to make your own gift wrap. It’s a nice way to recycle things in your home. Or, make wrapping paper with brown paper and paint or stamps. This is a good project for the kids to help with.
We always have fun making our favorite DIY recipes (like a body scrub recipe or homemade lotion bars) that family and friends love receiving.
Once you have gifts and decorations out of the way, it’s time to plan fun holiday activities. So we don’t miss out on any of our favorite holiday activities together, I make a point to put them on the calendar early. It’s fun to sit down with the family and brainstorm ideas together, too.
Here are some ideas that usually make it on the list:
I brainstorm and schedule these events about a week or two before Thanksgiving in case there are any Thanksgiving activities I want to include. I leave some free time in our calendar for things that might pop up at the last minute. I also try to schedule New Year’s events as they’re planned.
The last thing I plan for the holidays is the meals. If I’m hosting, I’ll plan the entire meal. If we’re visiting family, I plan a dish or two to bring.
Here’s what I do:
I use Real Plans, my favorite meal-planning app. It saves so much time!
By making my shopping list early, I can grab extra butter one week and maple syrup the next while I do my weekly grocery shopping. This helps spread purchases over a few weeks or months instead of one shopping trip (it also reduces my shopping list just before the holiday).
We all know it’s true… many of us moms look forward to the end of the holidays because it’s stressful.
Taking time to plan is a great way to truly enjoy the season with your family. It can help us let go of the overwhelm that can, unfortunately, come with the season. When you find yourself stressing about the holidays, take a deep breath and revisit these steps.
Check out the planning checklist below or click here for a more detailed printable version!
What do you do to stress less during this time of year? Leave a comment and let us know!
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