After a judge on Thursday ordered an evidentiary hearing into The Onion's winning bid to purchase Infowars, Alex Jones site resumed operations and claimed the sale has been blocked. But Onion CEO Ben Collins countered this in an update posted on Bluesky and X on Saturday, writing, We left the hearing with clear next steps to complete the sale. According to Collins, a court date has been set for a week from Monday, when the process is expected to be completed, and Infowars asked for permission to continue publishing in the meantime. The long and short of it: We won the auction and you're not going to believe this the previous InfoWars folks aren't taking it well, Collins wrote.On Thursday, the person overseeing the auction told us that The Onions bid for InfoWars, along with the Connecticut Sandy Hook families, won, Collins wrote in the thread.We havent heard anything that changed that except, of course, from the guys currently running InfoWars, doing InfoWars stuff. Jones has unsurprisingly called the auction rigged, and in a livestream on X said that lawyers for Elon Musks social media site have gotten involved and attended the hearing, Mother Jones reported.The Onion only went up against one other bidder in the auction for Infowars: First United American Companies, which is associated with a website that sells Jones supplements. The company reportedly bid $3.5 million. The dollar amount of Global Tetrahedrons (The Onions parent company) bid has not been disclosed, but its been backed by families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Per Bloomberg, trustee Christopher Murray, who is liquidating Jones estate, said these families have agreed to waive their potential recovery and give it to all other unsecured creditors that Jones owes.There was a status conference with the judge overseeing the auction on Thursday, shortly after we were deemed winners, Collins, who formerly covered disinformation and online extremism as a reporter for NBC News, wrote in the thread on Saturday. The judge had some questions about process and some assets. Were glad hes doing that, since our bid with the families is clearly the best and transparency is even better. He added further down: We expected all of this, obviously. Buying this site was always going to be fun later on, but annoying right away. The fun part is still to come.Collins plan for Infowars is for it to relaunch as the dumbest website on the internet. The nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety will reportedly be the sole advertiser at launch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/the-onion-won-the-auction-for-infowars-and-was-given-clear-next-steps-to-complete-the-sale-ceo-says-222134454.html?src=rss

Its Half-Life 2s 20th anniversary, and in celebration, Valve has released a special update that adds the Episode One and Episode Two expansions to the base game so you can play it all straight through, along with a two-hour documentary, developer commentary, and much more. The game is also free on Steam until November 18. Valves announcement itself is an interactive experience grab the gravity gun at the bottom of the page and you can pick up just about anything on the screen and toss it around (including that can, which you can then put in the trash).Every map in Half-Life 2 has been looked over by Valve level designers to fix longstanding bugs, restore content and features lost to time, and improve the quality of a few things like lightmap resolution and fog, the team says. The release notes are extensive, including updates to the graphics settings, gamepad controls and the Steam Deck menu. Valve's also published some old demo videos from Half-Life 2's development.ValveThe anniversary celebration also brings good news for anyone who didnt manage to snag a copy of Raising the Bar, the 2004 behind-the-scenes book thats since become a coveted collectors item: an expanded second edition is coming in 2025. This new version adds concept art from Episode One and Episode Two, plus ideas and experiments for the third episode that never came to be.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/valve-celebrates-half-life-2s-20th-anniversary-with-a-big-update-174316547.html?src=rss

Don't miss Gnomon's free livestream next Thursday, 21 November on the concept art of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, where Senior Concept Artist Jared Krichevsky reveals his ZBrush and KeyShot workflow for the movie.https://www.gnomon.edu/news-and-events/events/behind-the-scenes-of-godzilla-x-kong:-creature-design-with-jared-krichevsky

Framestore's new VFX breakdown for Deadpool & Wolverine features a host of alternate-universe Deadpools, including the boggle-eyed, CG-enhanced, oddly adorable DogpoolWatch the full video on the Framestore YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JUB55LfLQM

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

According to Microsoft's web page about its presence in China, the company has operated there since 1992.

British online bank Zopa is on track to double pre-tax profits and increase revenue by more a third in 2024, CEO Jaidev Janardana told CNBC.

Chances are good youve never considered the need for a digital estate plan. But youve definitely experienced the aggravation of forgetting a password to a rarely used site, as well as the answer to the security questions, as well as the password to the disused email account connected with the site.The circular frustration of not being able to get into your own account is one of the hallmarks of the digital age. But we often dont think about the unpleasant corollary: How will your loved ones access your online accounts and assets if they dont have your login credentials and youre not there to answer the security question about the first concert you attended? (It was Milli Vanilli, and youll carry that secret to your grave.)We live online these days, which means an estate plan needs to cover more than just tangible assets. Heres how you can create a digital estate plan that will ensure your loved ones can access your online assets.What are your digital assets?Its helpful to start with an inventory of any assets, records, or files you own that are stored online, on the cloud, on a mobile device, or on your personal computer. These might include any or all of the following types of assets:Email accounts: Make sure you list them all, including the Yahoo email address you only use to sign up for discounts.Social media accounts: While you may care more about your LinkedIn account than the Instagram profile you rarely use, it will be helpful for your loved ones to know about all of them.Online banking accounts: Would anyone know you have an online-only savings account if your statements are emailed to you?Loyalty program benefits: These may include credit card miles and points, and they may or may not be transferable, depending on the loyalty program.Cryptocurrency wallet: If your family does not have the key to your crypto wallet, any cryptocurrency or NFTs you own will be lost forever.Domain names, blogs, or websites you maintain: Your family may wish to sell these assets.Photos, videos, or other data stored on the cloud: Without access to the cloud, your family may lose these important files.List your digital liabilities tooWhile your digital assets may be part of what you want to leave to your family, you will also need to account for any digital liabilities you may have. These might include:Credit card and payment accounts: This may include access to your Apple Pay or Paypal account.Dating or gaming accounts: Though you may not want anyone to know who you connected with or what games you played, your heirs will need to know which accounts you have so they can cancel payments to them.Online subscriptions: Canceling your Stitch Fix or Hulu subscription will be much easier if your family knows about the accounts.Retail sites: This includes things like Amazon and eBay.Online utility accounts: Trying to figure out who provides your internet service, cellphone service, and electricity could be a major headache for your loved ones.Know the obstacles to accessHaving a full inventory of your digital assets and liabilities is an excellent start, but just knowing what you have will not necessarily be enough for your family to access your accounts. There are two main obstacles your heirs will encounter when trying to access your digital accounts:Password protectionThe passwords that keep fraudsters from wreaking havoc on your accounts can also keep your family from accessing your digital life after you die. Password protection can keep your heirs out of everything from your laptop and cellphone to your crypto wallet.Setting up a password manager can help provide access to your familyin some cases. With a password manager, your heirs will only need a single password to access your accounts, and the manager stays current with your passwords even if you change them.Just remember that having your login credentials may not be enough for your family to access all of your accounts, since some may require you to use the services own tools gain access after your death. You will need to find out the necessary procedure for every account you want to pass on to your heirs.Criminal and data privacy lawsUnfortunately, not all sites allow heirs to access your account on your behalf just because they have the password. Both criminal laws and data privacy laws can limit access to your digital assets unless you have given express permission for your heirs to gain access to your accounts after your death.The law is attempting to catch up to the new landscape of digital assets. The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) provides estate executors and fiduciary agents with a way to legally manage accounts even if digital assets are not included in an estate plan. However, this law has not passed in every state.How to grant posthumous accessTo make certain that your heirs have access to your digital life, you will need to specifically grant permission in your will or power of attorney document. However, just giving permission in your general estate plan doesnt ensure access because they will be relying on RUFADAA. The law will grant your executor only the narrowest level of accessand they will likely need to provide a number of documents to each company to receive that access.This is why you should write a letter outlining your digital assets that is separate from your will (since anything included in your will becomes a public document).The letter does not need to be written by an attorney or notarized. It simply needs to provide specific instructions to your executor about which assets you have, how you want them handled, and how to gain access to them. This is where you will list any password information as well as handover processes required by specific service providers.Put the letter in a secure spot, along with your will and power of attorney, so that it wont fall into the wrong hands but your executor can easily find it.Inheritance in the digital ageEstate planning is already a complicated processand adding digital assets and liabilities just increases the complexity.To make closing up your digital estate easier on your family, start with an inventory of your online assets and liabilities. That will help you determine what your loved ones will need to get into your accounts, whether it is just login credentials or a specific process required by the online service.You will also need to grant express permission for your executor to access your accounts in your will and provide them with a letter outlining how to gain access.Digital estate planning may take time and effort, but providing clear guidance for your online assets is far better than making your loved ones try to remember if your first pets name was Mokey, Mokie, or Moky.

Set on a serene campus featuring adobe walls and eucalyptus trees, Canyon Ranch Tucson offers a unique travel experience. This Arizona property is credited with creating the wellness resort concept. But one of its latest trendy offerings isnt focused on the top-notch spa, excellent cuisine, or hiking trails that tend to get raves from well-heeled travelers.Rather, its a multiday immersion trip focused on the experience of, well, doing nothing at all. The Mastering Sleep Retreat, which started in 2022, offers guests the chance to attend lectures about how supplements and exercise impact their rest; get sleep assessments and overnight monitoring from board-certified physicians, registered nurses, and dietitians; and learn science-backed strategies to overcome stress and strain and get on a better sleep cycle at home.[Photo: Canyon Ranch]The experience is one example of the current boom in sleep tourism, which has been fully embraced by luxury boutiques and industry giants including Hilton and Marriott. Overlapping with the ever-expanding wellness industry, sleep tourism is a $640 billion global market that may top $1 billion by 2028, according to HTF Market Intelligence estimates.Park Hyatt properties offer sleep suites furnished with Bryte smart beds, whose AI-powered mattresses purport to unlock restorative sleep. At Kamalaya Koh Samui resort in Thailand, guests can indulge in traditional Chinese medicine as well as IV therapy and hyperbaric oxygen and ozone treatments. Even mattress maker Hstens opened up a Sleep Spa hotel in Portugal in 2021.Guests can get sleep analysis from medical professionals; AI-enhanced, technologically sophisticated beds that provide better sleep; pillow menus; and special diets and services to restore the bodys rhythms and guarantee an exemplary rest. Sleep meditations, sleep trackers, and sleep playlists can be found at discerning hotels across the world.Sleep is just one piece of the puzzle, says Chekitan Dev, a distinguished professor at Cornell Universitys School of Hotel Administration. Sleep well goes with eat well, exercise well, play well, work well, and love wellall potential parts of a hotel stay.[Photo: Hilton]Sleeps big momentSleepboth our cultures obsession with it, and the clinical drive to better understand our nocturnal liveshas been a current fascination. When Rebecca Robbins, a Harvard professor and sleep researcher, started studying the topic in 2009, she says it was far from a sexy field; her mentors openly questioned her decision to devote her career to our non-waking hours. Now she works as an adviser and consultant to the Hilton hotel chain, just one of the myriad hospitality giants seeking to cash in on our fitful existence (and find another selling point to stand apart from short-term rental options).Wellness is an integral part of everything, and its just almost common sense for these hotels in these hospitality groups to do this, says Anthony Vennare, cofounder of Fitt Insider, a wellness industry newsletter. I look at it almost like a negative check. Why arent they doing these things?Mental health, diet, fitness, social media, and hustle culture have all contributed to Americas national sleep deficit; only a third of us get enough rest each night. But the true shift that sent sleep studiesand sleep tourisminto overdrive was the COVID-19 pandemic, Robbins says.During the first few weeks of the pandemic, despite the stress of the moment, most people stayed home and experienced extra sleep (studies estimate about 25 minutes on average). Robbins called this a global controlled experiment to showcase the value of more rest. Along with the enhanced wellness focus that came out of the pandemic, this awakening helped cement a larger cultural interest in more and better rest.The response has been a rise in what Fitt Insider calls more investment and spending on the sleep stack: wearables, bedding, apps, therapeutics, and other tools to get better rest. And, of course, a larger market for sleep tourism.[Photo: Hilton]Sleep is the new wellness retreatSleep has been a pretty big focus of the hotel industry since its inception. Even recent history has shown the value of making better rest a selling point: Consider the Westin hotel chains Heavenly Bed campaign of the late 90s, which sold the idea of a better nights rest with a more relaxing mattress. And for decades, one subset of hotel customers made a better nights rest a dealbreaker, according to Dev. Airline crews would sign lodging contracts guaranteeing higher floors, extra-dark blinds, special protocols for housekeeping and room service, and white noise machines.But that pales in comparison to the breadth and depth of sleep-related offerings on tap for todays guests.Mark Kovacs, VP of health and performance for Canyon Ranch resorts, says the types of treatments and techniques he used training elite athletes are now filtering down to the population at large. A five-night sleep retreat at the chains Lenox, Massachusetts, location earlier this year cost $8,800 per person.We see the value in people feeling good when they leave, versus needing a vacation once they finish their trip, he says, noting that hes increasingly seeing younger consumers, aware of the benefits of better sleep, invest in these kinds of experiences.[Photo: Canyon Ranch]Harvards Robbins says the sleep tourism concept really took hold over the last few years. And hotels see dollar signs, especially as a means of differentiating high-end experiences and resorts, and keeping high-earning frequent travelers coming back. A 2019 JD Power survey found that guests who experience better-than-expected sleep said theydefinitely will return to a hotel property.Robbins did a study with 600 travelers, asking them to rate their travel experience, and only a third said they were satisfied with their sleep; she sees that as a compelling opportunity for hotels seeking to improve guest satisfaction. As technology improves, and more wearables provide more direct feedback on better sleep, Kovacs believes the data will drive more sleep tourism spending.Robbins sees opportunities to take better care of all travelers who want more sleepadding after-hours massage services, for exampleand to cater more elaborate offerings for those traveling specifically to have a sleep/relaxation retreat. A Hilton property in Hawaii, Grand Wailea (the setting for the first season of White Lotus) offers wellness rooms with various sleep-optimizing amenities, including sleep-inducing meals, specialized jet-lag-reducing spa treatments, and lectures on the science of restfulness, for just over $1,000 a night, roughly $300 more than standard rooms.There has been pushback on the idea that all of these amenities actually do help with sleep, or that a temporary retreat, no matter how well-intentioned, can truly lead to a lifetime of better sleeping habits. Vennare believes that the sleep category will have its share of gimmicks and nonsense products, but with consumers becoming more aware of the benefits of sleep, with more money to spend on wellness, the offerings are not likely to go away.Robbins and others argue that amenities and services grounded in clinical data and research can help. For instance, a sleep retreat isnt going to help someone with medical issues such as insomnia or sleep apnea. But a thoughtful program that trains someone to recognize bad habits, establish a better routine, and recharge for a few days can make a positive difference.Some of this has been critiqued as analogous to greenwashing, Robbins says. Oh, you know, throw on a pillow menu, and you can get some nice press or whatever. But I think some hotels are doing it really, really well.And in the meantime, there seems to be no stopping the industrys growth.It will become standard practice that hotels invest in the consumers well-being, from sleep and comfort and a considered wellness perspective, Vennare says. There is zero chance that sleep does not continue to become a bigger focus for the consumer as a whole, when they travel, what they do, and the lifestyles they build.