I loved visiting Mrida, Mexico, which feels more laid-back and less crowded than Cancn.Mrida has beautiful architecture and excellent cuisine for a range of budgets.There's nothing like exploring the area's cenotes, which are unique fresh-water chambers. Mexico is a really popular spot for tourists.One of its most-visited cities is Cancn, with its famous nightlife and beautiful beaches, which make it an especiallypopular spot for college spring-breakersfrom the US.I wished I could have afforded to go there in college with my friends. But now that I'm in my late 30s, I'm not looking to party hard when I visit Mexico I want history, adventure, and culinary delights.Luckily, I found all of the above in Mrida, which is about 200 miles inland from Cancn. With millions of fewer tourists annually, Mrida also feels less crowded and more relaxed than Cancn.I adore the city so much, and I think it's perfect for anyone looking for laid-back adventure in lieu of nonstop beach parties.I still dream of the city's historic architecture Mrida has many colorful buildings. eyetravelphotos/Shutterstock Located on the tip of the Yucatn Peninsula and founded on the site of an ancient Mayan city, Mrida is both historic and beautiful.With its distinct blend of Mayan design and 16th-century Spanish colonial architecture, the city's history can even be felt as you walk around it.It has an array of beautiful churches and arches that made me want to stop in my tracks and its brightly-colored homes in shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow look straight-up dreamy.In addition, the city has a range of impressive museums dedicated to topics such as Mayan culture and Mexican music.Mrida has culinary delights to accommodate a range of budgets and dietary preferencesNo matter your budget, you'll likely eat very well here. In my experience, Mrida's casual restaurants are just as fantastic as its higher-end contemporaries.Local watering hole The Negrita Cantina is not to be missed. It feels like the special kind of place where you'll know everyone's name by the end of the night.Its scrumptious food, like ceviche and aguachiles, and wide selection of tequila and mezcal always impresses me and it frequently has live music that keeps visitors dancing through the morning.La Chaya Maya is my go-to stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It serves some of the best chilaquiles and margaritas and many meals cost under $10.If you're willing to spend more, Museo de la Gastronoma Yucateca (also known as the Museum of Yucatecan Gastronomy or MUGY) is a solid choice.The restaurant offers a great selection of craft cocktails and local cuisine, as well as many options for people with a range of dietary restrictions.Lastly, the area has incredible cenotes Cenotes can look otherworldly. Carlos. Galvez/Shutterstock Mrida and the area around it are famous for its cenotes, which are sinkholes or pits filled with fresh water that's often swimmable. Seeing one of these unique chambers has long been on my bucket list.I especially enjoyed going on a cenote-seeing journey with Magic Cenotes + Hacienda Tour through Airbnb Experiences. My day trip included a visit to two separate cenotes, a well-rounded guided historical tour, and a homemade lunch in the home of a local resident. I had a fantastic time and made many international friends I still keep in touch with.The tour was definitely a highlight of my time in Mrida and I can't wait to go back to see even more of the wonderful city.

Miss USA and Miss America are often confused but the pageants are quite different.Women aged 18 to 28 can compete in Miss America. All women 18 and over can now compete at Miss USA.Miss USA has a swimsuit round, which Miss America got rid of in 2018.Do you know the difference between Miss USA and Miss America?They're the two biggest pageants in the country, and both involve a sash and crown. But that's where most of their similarities end.From eligibility requirements and prize packages to swimsuit versus talent competitions, here are all the differences between Miss America and Miss USA.How did the Miss America and Miss USA pageants begin?Miss America predates Miss USA by 31 years. The first pageant held in September 1921 was part of a strategy to bring tourists to Atlantic City after Labor Day, according to the Miss America website. It was won by a 16-year-old named Margaret Gorman, competing as Miss Washington, DC.The Miss America website states that the pageant also featured a "bathing beauty review," which was an "act of rebellion during a time when women weren't permitted to wear swimsuits in public." Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA in 1952. CBS via Getty Images Miss USA began because of a very different act of rebellion. In 1951, the new Miss America winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for pictures in a swimsuit. Catalina, a swimwear company sponsoring the competition, was upset by her decision so it decided to create its own pageants.In 1952, Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA, and Armi Kuusela from Finland became the first Miss Universe. Every winner of Miss USA has continued to compete at the Miss Universe pageant. Nine American women have won Miss Universe since its inception the most of any country.What are Miss USA and Miss America's different eligibility requirements?To be eligible to compete in Miss America, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 28. Women between 14 and 17 can compete in Miss America's Teen, its sister pageant.Miss America contestants cannot be married or have children. It's a rule that past winners, including Grace Stanke and Camille Schrier, have defended in interviews with Business Insider.The Miss America pageant also previously had a strict "anti-boyfriend" rule. However, current Miss America Madison Marsh, who is engaged, told BI in February 2024 that the policy has changed under CEO Robin Fleming."She has been saying it's a new day at Miss America, and she really meant that," Marsh said. "There are a lot of outdated rules that have gone away, one being that you can't be engaged and be Miss America."Miss USA has significantly changed its eligibility rules in the past two years. The pageant began allowing married women and mothers to compete in 2023, and 2024 was the first year that all women aged 18 and over were eligible (the previous cutoff age was 28). Women between 14 and 19 can compete at Miss Teen USA.How are Miss USA and Miss America judged?While many pageant queens compete at Miss USA and Miss America, the competitions consist of different rounds.Miss USA contestants are judged on three rounds: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview.All three rounds previously held equal weight in the contestants' final scores. But under the leadership of Laylah Rose, who became president and CEO in 2023, the interview now makes up 50% of the total score, while evening-gown and swimsuit are each 25%. Rose also decided to remove questions involving politics, sex, or religion from the interview round, which disappointed many past contestants.Unlike Miss USA, Miss America features a talent competition. It also has evening wear, interview, and fitness rounds. The pageant removed its swimsuit round in 2018, announcing that it would no longer judge contestants based on their "outward physical appearance." Kate Michael at the 2007 Miss America pageant. AP Photo/ Jae C. Hong What are the different prizes for Miss America and Miss USA?According to its website, Miss America was one of the first organizations in the country to offer college scholarships to women which it began doing in 1945.Instead of offering scholarships, the Miss USA Organization has typically paid the winner a salary for their yearlong reign. In past years, the prize package has included an apartment in New York or Los Angeles for their time as Miss USA.Why are Miss USA and Miss America controversial?The Miss USA and Miss America pageants have had their share of scandals.Sam Haskell ran the Miss America Organization for 12 years before he stepped down in 2017 after his vulgar and offensive internal emails about past Miss America winners were leaked to the press.In the 2023 A&E docuseries "Secrets of Miss America," Mallory Hagan, who won in 2013, said Haskell repeatedly spread false rumors about her sex life. Haskell said Hagan slept with more than 25 men in one of the emails, which were leaked to The Huffington Post.Haskell resigned from the organization days after the emails were published. He was replaced by former Fox News host and Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson, who took over at the beginning of 2018. Carlson resigned in June 2019 after Cara Mund, who was Miss America at the time, spoke out against her leadership. Mallory Hagan after being crowned Miss America 2013. Associated Press/Isaac Brekken The Miss America Organization is also currently embroiled in a legal battle between Robin Fleming and Glenn F. Straub.Fleming accused Straub of fraud, defamation, and trademark infringement over the Miss America brand in a 32-cause complaint that BI obtained. The lawsuit came after Straub filed for bankruptcy and told Miss America board members that Fleming was using the organization's scholarship fund to pay her legal fees.In the complaint, Fleming said Straub's bankruptcy filing was fraudulent because he does not own Miss America and the organization has no debt."I just feel very strongly that this is a case about standing up and having your voice heard," Fleming told BI in December.Miss USA made headlines in October 2022 when then-president Crystle Stewart was suspended after contestants said that year's pageant had been rigged. The Miss Universe Organization said it found no evidence of rigging during its investigation, though Stewart and the organization parted ways.The pageant was back in the headlines after Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava gave up their crowns in May 2024. It was the first time in the pageant's 72-year history that a woman had given up her title.Both pageant queens said they could not share details publicly due to nondisclosure agreements that Rose made every contestant sign before they competed at Miss USA 2023. But their mothers, Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava, told BI in an interview in May that their daughters experienced "eight months of torture and abuse" while working with Rose. UmaSofia Srivastava and Noelia Voigt both resigned their titles in May. Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited After Voigt and Srivastava relinquished their titles, Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus resigned in solidarity and Miss Teen USA first runner-up Stephanie Skinner refused to assume Srivastava's title. Paula Miles and Kimberly Nicewonder who both ran state pageants for the Miss USA organization for over three decades also resigned in 2024 due to Rose's leadership, as they told BI. Rose did not respond to previous requests for comment on the resignations and Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava's statements.The Miss America 2025 competition will take place on January 5. It can be streamed on the Miss America YouTube channel.

In an ideal world, everyone who qualifies for an aid program ought to receive its benefits. But the reality is that this is often not the case. Before the pandemic, for example, nearly one-fifth of Americans who qualified for food stamps didnt receive them. In fact, millions of Americans who are eligible for existing social welfare programs dont receive all of the benefits they are entitled to.As I wrote in an earlier edition of this newsletter, a big part of the problem is the paperwork and the bureaucratic hoops people have to jump through in order to participate in certain programs. But whats often at the root of those hurdles is an all-too-common policy choice that lawmakers turn to: means testing that is, establishing eligibility requirements (like income or wealth thresholds) for social programs.Means testing a given social program can have good intentions: Target spending toward the people who need it most. After all, if middle- or high-income people who can afford their groceries or rent get federal assistance in paying for those things, then wouldnt there be less money to go around for the people who actually need it? The answer isnt so straightforward. How means testing can sabotage policy goalsImplementing strict eligibility requirements can be extremely tedious and have unintended consequences.For starters, lets look at one of the main reasons lawmakers advocate for means testing: saving taxpayers money. But thats not always what happens. Though theyre usually framed as ways of curbing government spending, means-tested benefits are often more expensive to provide, on average, than universal benefits, simply because of the administrative support needed to vet and process applicants, my colleague Li Zhou wrote in 2021.More than that, means testing reduces how effective antipoverty programs can be because a lot of people miss out on benefits. As Zhou points out, figuring out who qualifies for welfare takes a lot of work, both from the government and potential recipients who have to fill out onerous applications. The paperwork can be daunting and can discourage people from applying. It can also result in errors or delays that would easily be avoided if a program is universal.RelatedThe case against means testingTheres also the fact that creating an income threshold creates incentives for people to avoid advancing in their careers or take a higher-paying job. One woman I interviewed a few years ago, for example, told me that after she started a job as a medical assistant and lost access to benefits like food stamps, it became harder to make ends meet for her and her daughter. When lawmakers aggressively means test programs, people like her are often left behind, making it harder to transition out of poverty.As a result, means testing can seriously limit a welfare programs potential. According to a report by the Urban Institute, for example, the United States can reduce poverty by more than 30 percent just by ensuring that everyone who is eligible for an existing program receives its benefits. One way to do that is for lawmakers to make more welfare programs universal instead of means-tested.Why universal programs are a better choiceThere sometimes is an aversion to universal programs because theyre viewed as unnecessarily expensive. But universal programs are often the better choice because of one very simple fact: They are generally much easier and less expensive to administer. Two examples of this are some of the most popular social programs in the country: Social Security and Medicare.Universal programs might also create less division among taxpayers as to how their money ought to be spent. A lot of opposition to welfare programs comes from the fact that some people simply dont want to pay for programs they dont directly benefit from, so eliminating that as a factor can create more support for a given program.In 2023, following a handful of other states, Minnesota implemented a universal school meal program where all students get free meals. This was in response to the problems that arise when means testing goes too far. Across the country, students in public school pay for their meals depending on their familys income. But this system has stigmatized students who get a free meal. According to one study, 42 percent of eligible families reported that their kids are less likely to eat their school meal because of the stigma around it. Minnesotas program has proven popular so far: In September 2023, shortly after the program took off, the amount of school breakfasts and lunches served increased by 30 percent and 11 percent compared to the previous year, respectively. While it might not be politically feasible or, in some cases, necessary to get rid of means testing for all public subsidies, free school meals also offer an example of what a compromise might look like at the national level. Though Congress hasnt made school meals free to all, it passed a provision in 2010 that allows schools to provide free meals to all students in districts where at least 25 percent (originally 40 percent) are eligible. The program showed that providing free meals to all lowered food insecurity, even among poor students who already qualified for free meals, by removing stigma. (The community eligibility provision now serves nearly 20 million students.) As for how universal programs can be paid for, the answer is, yes, imposing higher taxes. It might seem inefficient to give people a benefit if youre going to essentially take it back from them in taxes, but what you actually end up with is a much more efficient program that is more easily administered and doesnt leave anyone out. This story was featured in the Within Our Means newsletter. Sign up here.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Vunvytis Studio / Hito.ltSave this picture! Lukas MykolaitisArchitects: Barilari ArchittetiAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:542 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Lukas Mykolaitis Lead Architects: Sigita Kundrotaite - Savicke More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Vynvytis Studio is an unusual space located in the former cultural center of a paper factory in the industrial district of Kaunas, Petrainai. This project is designed for various activities meetings, celebrations, creative workshops, and other events that require a flexible and adaptable environment. The two-story structure allows the spaces to be used together or separately, depending on the nature of the event or the needs. Functionality and flexibility were the key design principles, which are also reflected in the concept of the inner courtyard. The courtyard was created as a natural extension of the interior spaces, integrating the building's history into a radically different, modern use.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The facade design subtly emphasizes the building's layers of time: architectural adjustments from different periods are highlighted by using subtly different shades of color. The sentence is clear and well-structured, but you can make it slightly more concise and impactful. This not only reveals the building's history but also creates a harmonious and visually appealing aesthetic.Save this picture!Save this picture!The architectural concept of the courtyard is based on the principle of contrast: strict, clean forms harmoniously blend with the lushly planted environment. The textures of soft plants soften the strict, clean architectural character, adding warmth, naturalness, and life to the space. The landscaping architect, la Maria Studio, created an exceptional plant composition for the space. The courtyard became the core of this spatial composition.Save this picture!Stylistically, the ground floor space differs subtly from the first floor. The first floor features a large hall with high ceilings, intended for larger events. On the ground floor, there is a bright, somewhat industrial, unfinished architectural style, less formal. Concrete floors and a seemingly disrupted border a wall baseboard. On the first floor, the main feature is a massive wall, which, as an analogy to a canvas, was used by the artist Gintar Konde to create a sculptural bas-relief depicting a party, dance, and action symbolizing the function of the space. The space, with its preserved and restored wooden parquet, aims to create an unobtrusive backdrop for vibrant events.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Kaunas, LithuaniaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeBarilari ArchittetiOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 05, 2025Cite: "Vunvytis Studio / Hito.lt" 05 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024727/vunvytis-studio-hitt&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Stack CommerceShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Hoping to make a career change in 2025? We hear you. Even though it can feel intimidating at first, you truly have so many optionsespecially if youre considering something as in-demand as the world of IT.These CompTIA prep courses can set you up for success in a number of different careers, and you can get lifelong access for $39.99 with code HOLIDAY20 for a limited time:CompTIA A+ Core 1 & 2: Prepare for roles like help desk technician or IT support specialist.CompTIA Network+: Ideal for aspiring network administrators, focusing on network setup and troubleshooting.CompTIA Security+: Step into cybersecurity as a security analyst or administrator, emphasizing threat management and network security.CompTIA CySA+: Train for a career as a cybersecurity analyst or threat intelligence specialist specializing in incident response.CompTIA Cloud+: Launch a career as a cloud systems administrator or engineer, managing and optimizing cloud-based solutions.Start working in IT with a little help from this CompTIA training bundle. Use code HOLIDAY20 to get it for $39.99 (reg. $493) through Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT.StackSocial prices subject to change.The Complete 2025 CompTIA Certification Training Super Bundle by IDUNOVASee Deal

AI is now firmly embedded in Meta's various apps. Screenshot: MetaShareYouve no doubt noticed artificial intelligence finding its way into every app, service, and hardware device. Its now unusual to see a tech product launch where AI isnt the main talking point. Meta is one of the companies pushing AI the hardest, with its own set of AI models, and a selection of AI bots and tools inside its own apps. (Experts and critics also say Meta may be taking their AI too far, which Meta responded to by removing multiple AI profile accounts.)If youve used Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram recently, then you may have spotted a new Meta AI bot, ready and waiting to be of assistance. Heres how you can make use of itand what your options are in terms of security and privacy.Youll find Meta AI front and center in Metas apps: In the Facebook Messenger app, for example, tap Chats and youll see a Meta AI input box right at the top, above your real life friends and family members. Tap inside that box, and you can start chatting about whatever topic you like. You can also tap Meta AI on the tab bar at the bottom.Its the same in the WhatsApp app (youll see the Meta AI logo on the Chats tab), and in the Instagram app (tap the message button, in the top right corner of the home tab, and Meta AI is at the top). The Meta AI logo is a glowing blue and purple circle, and its hard to miss as you use the apps.Meta AI is prominently displayed in your chats. Screenshot: Meta Theres another way to get Meta AI up, inside one-to-one or group chats with real people: Tag @MetaAI in your conversation, type out a prompt, and youll get the same response as you would if you were chatting to the AI bot directlyexcept, of course, the other chat participants will be able to see the message and response.The AI bot chats all use the same underlying model (called Llama), but your chats arent synced between the three apps. Unfortunately for AI skeptics, theres no way to hide or turn off Meta AI: You just have to ignore it if you dont want to use it. However, you can delete, mute, and archive Meta AI chats just like any other conversationjust long press on the AI chat in the main conversation list.If youve used an AI chatbot like Copilot, Gemini, or ChatGPT, then youll be familiar with the way these tools work: You can ask Meta AI to look up facts from the web, write poetry, or suggest ideas for something. You can get recommendations for podcasts, inspiration for a birthday party, or suggestions about how to fix a faucet leak.You can ask Meta AI for advice and instruction on just about any topicthough as usual with generative AI, be careful of putting too much trust in the answers. These AI bots are built to imagine new text, and that can lead to hallucinations. Sometimes Meta AI will reference the web (when looking up facts, for example)and when this happens youll see web links within the response. Tap on these links to check the facts.You can ask Meta AI questions about just about anything. Screenshot: Meta Image generation is included here: Just ask Meta AI to create or draw an image of whatever you like. It could be a cat sat on a wall, a cabin in the woods, or a person exploring the surface of Mars. The more detail you can add, the more closely the result is going to match your original visionand you can specify the style of the image too, whether its a photo, a painting, or something else.There are some interesting image-related tricks you can try: For example, you can use it to create a new profile picture for yourself. Two suggestions from Meta are imagine me as royalty or imagine me in a surrealist painting, so you can see whats possible. Youre also able to edit an AI-generated image by tapping and holding on it, then typing in your additional prompt.Meta AI can generate images for you as well. Screenshot: Meta Meta itself splits what you can do into three main sections: learn (summarize the history of the Universe), create (imagine dogs playing chess), and connect (plan a game night with friends). That gives you some idea of whats possible, and you can now interact with Meta AI with your voice if you wantjust tap the sound button to the right of the input box.One of the features recently added to Meta AI is the ability to use photos in your chatseither picked from your phones gallery or taken through the camera. You can identify objects and landmarks, create AI images based on existing photos, and more: Try snapping a picture of a cake and asking how to make it, for example.

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Made this scene in blender, used all the assets from blenderkit except the grass which is self made from scratch by using geo nodes (learned from a udemy course). submitted by /u/TanishR [link] [comments]